album of the week: 7.4

Man or Astro-Man?
Defcon 5…4…3…2…1
(2013)

why you'll love it: Evolved style of a one-of-a-kind rock band
why you'll hate it: no b-movie samples!

A couple years ago, I was sitting at my computer in the middle of the night, lost in a YouTube rabbit hole; as we all find ourselves doing every once and a while.  On this particular night, the subject was Man or Astro-Man?; a sci-fi surf rock group from the nineties.  I watched lo-fi clips of their incredible DIY stage show, with film projectors, tesla coils, space suits. I sip a glass of Scotch in one hand [RETCON] as I lamented a life regret, never seeing this band live.  

Only a month or so later, came a Man or Astro-Man? reunion.  That alone is a dream come true, but who could have imagined that would be followed up with their first new LP in over a decade?  What I'm getting at is that is going to be a very biased review.  MOAM? is a very simple concept, executed with a lot of flair.  Either you love it, or just don't see what the big deal is.  I fucking love this band.  I own two of their records, and don't even own a record player.  That's how stupid I am in my adoration.

If Man or Astro-Man? is new to you, Defcon 5…4…3…2…1 isn't exactly such a bad place to start.  They're a band most well known for their high-energy instrumentals, but there is an unusual amount of singing on this record.  There are a lot of actual songs.  At first I was turned off by this, and the slow grunge pace of them; but eventually grew to like it.  The content of the lyrics, and theme of the songwriting only makes for a more enjoyable and consistent album, that doesn't get as "samey" as even the most beloved MOAM? releases have.  Credit to Steve Albini, for tapping into MOAM?'s themes, and bringing them into this new generation with a gritty/dark edge.

This album isn't perfect.  There is filler in some of the "Defcon" tracks (which only serve as atmosphere).  The 35 minutes fly by as if they were only 10.  I think some of the songs near the end are a little too much like Sonic Youth, and fizzle this album out instead of escalate to a climax.  

I don't care.

It's fucking Man or Astro-Man? putting out new material and touring in the 2010's!  Just let me have this.