The Unknown Mortal Orchestra was formed by Ruban Nielson after the breakup of his band the Mint Chicks, and on their self-titled debut album, he's more or less cast aside the noisy and aggressive sound for something much more fun. Basing the songs on funky, strutting beats is a good start. Throwing fuzzy guitars, chunky basslines, and bubbling keyboards on top is a nice second step. Finishing it off with Nielson's playful and child-like lyrics sung with an innocently open voice (which is usually distorted just enough to ...
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The Unknown Mortal Orchestra was formed by Ruban Nielson after the breakup of his band the Mint Chicks, and on their self-titled debut album, he's more or less cast aside the noisy and aggressive sound for something much more fun. Basing the songs on funky, strutting beats is a good start. Throwing fuzzy guitars, chunky basslines, and bubbling keyboards on top is a nice second step. Finishing it off with Nielson's playful and child-like lyrics sung with an innocently open voice (which is usually distorted just enough to make it sound pleasingly weird) is the perfect finish. The result is a record that fits right into the creepy candy, anything-goes musical style that stretches back to early Pink Floyd through the Flaming Lips to the Bees and Black Moth Super Rainbow. It's not groundbreaking in any way, but it is a lot of fun in a cheesily psychedelic and oddly danceable way. It's just as plausible for a track like "Thought Ballune," with its jaunty backbeat and silly lyrics about smiling alligators, to make teenage stoners giggle as it is to get a club full of indie kids to hit the dancefloor. The entire album plays out this way, blending funky breaks with changling guitars, and dubby atmospheres with big pop hooks, into a swirling mess of sound that never fails to make you smile. It could have turned into a self-indulgent mess at some point, but Nielson never forgets that while it's cool to make cool sounds, it's better to write cool songs. And every song on the record is quite cool, some are even really great. The opening "FFunny FFriends," with its summer day, hazy sound and naggingly catchy vocal line, is one. So is the punchy "How Can You Luv Me," which comes off like a Beck jam only without the meta-cutesy vibe. Really, you could single out any song on the album for praise or inclusion on a killer summer mixtape and you wouldn't go wrong. The Mint Chicks were a decent band, but with Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Ruban Nielson is onto something a lot more interesting and fun. ~ Tim Sendra, Rovi
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Seller's Description:
Good in good packaging. Originally released: 2011. Ex library copy. (WG) Moderate wear on CD/CASE. Typical library, stampings, markings, stickers etc. CD Case is a heavy duty plastic jewel case, not the standard CD Jewel case, please note ARTWORK IS CLIPPED PLEASE NOTE
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Seller's Description:
Fair. Ex-Library rental. Disc(s) are professionally cleaned and may contain only light scratches that do not effect functionality. Includes disc(s), case, and artwork. May be missing booklet. Disc(s), case, and artwork may contain library/security stickers and ink writing. ARTWORK IS UNORIGINAL AND PRINTED BY LIBRARY. Case and artwork may show some wear. Case may not be an original jewel case. All disc(s) are authentic.
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All our items include the original disc(s) in the original case. Your purchase funds free job training and education in the greater Seattle area. Thank you for supporting Goodwill's nonprofit mission!
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