Post by thesoundmonitor on Nov 11, 2003 7:20:04 GMT -5
UNSANE
Lambhouse (The Collection 1991 - 1998)
(Relapse)
By Warren Wheeler
Hailing from the dirty, raw NYC noiserock scene, Unsane set the pace for many more commercially successful acts such as Helmet, Sick of it All, Boss Hog and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, while influencing countless others around the globe including Spite and The Mark of Cain. A career marred by tragic events - death of original drummer, the near-fatal bashing of founder/guitarist/vocalist Chris Spencer - Unsane’s music has a familiar, timeless quality about it. There’s no fancy industrial electronics or dropped D chords and funky bass-lines…. Unsane are raw, unadulterated power with emotions stripped bare and wounds exposed.
Lambhouse, then, follows that tumultuous career backwards from the bands’ near-classic Billy Anderson-produced Occupational Hazard to their first untitled release on Matador. The rolling riffs of ‘Over Me’ and the sliding movements in ‘Lead’ beat like no other, while earlier tracks such as ‘Out’ and ‘Blew’ pummel as intensely now as they did those many moons ago, with a hint of melody beneath it all.
This ‘best of’ collection also features a nice little DVD package with all the promo videos as well as the usual underground quality, live grotty gig footage. Of course one the finest (and cheapest) videos ever made has come from the mind of Chris Spencer. ‘Scrape’ is 3 minutes+ of skater stacks, which became a minor hit on MTV when it first released in 1995. Faceplant after crotchsmash it’s pure urban edge comedy with a Jackass edge - obviously before its time.
One disappointing feature about the release is the liner notes. Written by ‘music journalist’ Theresa Gubbins, it really only scratches the surface, and kind of reads like a drama-less novella rather a glimpse into musical history. Otherwise the booklet is classic Unsane - plenty of blood and gruesome crime scenes….
When bands/labels release ‘best of’ compilations they really are walking a fine edge of success. Yet if any artist that has ever visited the Relapse roster is deserving of such a collection, it be Unsane. Despite only releasing the one album on the label, Unsane will undoubtedly go down in history as one of underground rock’s greatest. And it makes available what has been previously difficult to get on Australian shores.
Lambhouse (The Collection 1991 - 1998)
(Relapse)
By Warren Wheeler
Hailing from the dirty, raw NYC noiserock scene, Unsane set the pace for many more commercially successful acts such as Helmet, Sick of it All, Boss Hog and Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, while influencing countless others around the globe including Spite and The Mark of Cain. A career marred by tragic events - death of original drummer, the near-fatal bashing of founder/guitarist/vocalist Chris Spencer - Unsane’s music has a familiar, timeless quality about it. There’s no fancy industrial electronics or dropped D chords and funky bass-lines…. Unsane are raw, unadulterated power with emotions stripped bare and wounds exposed.
Lambhouse, then, follows that tumultuous career backwards from the bands’ near-classic Billy Anderson-produced Occupational Hazard to their first untitled release on Matador. The rolling riffs of ‘Over Me’ and the sliding movements in ‘Lead’ beat like no other, while earlier tracks such as ‘Out’ and ‘Blew’ pummel as intensely now as they did those many moons ago, with a hint of melody beneath it all.
This ‘best of’ collection also features a nice little DVD package with all the promo videos as well as the usual underground quality, live grotty gig footage. Of course one the finest (and cheapest) videos ever made has come from the mind of Chris Spencer. ‘Scrape’ is 3 minutes+ of skater stacks, which became a minor hit on MTV when it first released in 1995. Faceplant after crotchsmash it’s pure urban edge comedy with a Jackass edge - obviously before its time.
One disappointing feature about the release is the liner notes. Written by ‘music journalist’ Theresa Gubbins, it really only scratches the surface, and kind of reads like a drama-less novella rather a glimpse into musical history. Otherwise the booklet is classic Unsane - plenty of blood and gruesome crime scenes….
When bands/labels release ‘best of’ compilations they really are walking a fine edge of success. Yet if any artist that has ever visited the Relapse roster is deserving of such a collection, it be Unsane. Despite only releasing the one album on the label, Unsane will undoubtedly go down in history as one of underground rock’s greatest. And it makes available what has been previously difficult to get on Australian shores.
