Stationary Odyssey

"Head! Foot! and the Pink Axe" CD

Joyful Noise Recordings

Genre: post-rock, instrumental rock

February 2007

these folks have become something of an underground legacy when it comes to instrumental post-rock. they're like what explosions in the sky used to be, obscure but prolific caterers of epic, emotionally-fueled rock music that does all its talking without resorting to verbal communication. on head! foot! and the pink axe, which has some really lovely cover art and liner notes, they've really assembled a powerful, potent work of art. opening up with the urgency of an air raid on "me and you and gummi bears," this disc bursts open like a greasy whitehead. especially lovely was the strangely ennio morricone-like "lost, lonely, and vicious" and of course the crushing finale "my baby is black." as far as music like this goes, this record is a pretty strong assault from start to finish, though the late album "skeletons" and "the pink axe" add a much needed cool-down before the record draws to a close in blood n guts n glory. whew.

mp3s (from datawaslost.net): my baby is black

87%

youuuutube!!!!!!: lovely video of "my baby is black"

coxwell balaban

[Vitals: 8 tracks, , distributed by the label, released 2006]