Bastro - Rode Hard and Put Up Wet (1988)/ Antlers Live (1991)

If Bastro is not a band that rings familiar in your dome well that perhaps is history's fault.

Time for a little Social Studies. Open your page to 182 please and follow along. Squirrel Bait from Louisville KY an up tempo shifting rock group broke up at the end of the 80's. Skag Heaven their crowning achievement is an interesting listen today. Not for its impressive musical nature per-say but because you will consistently get the feeling you've heard it before.  This could be because many argue that the group foreshadowed the grunge and math rock movements 90's (true).  Aside from being important on their own their dissolution actually caused more of a splash than anything else.  Here's the run down and you tell me.

Squirrel Bait Members:

Peter Searcy - Vocals (Big Wheel, Starbilly)

Clark Johnson - Bass (Bastro)

Britt Walford - Drums (Slint)

Brian McMahan -  Guitar (Slint, The For Carnation, King Kong)

David Grubs -  Guitar (Bastro, Gastr Del Sol)

_________________________________________

While most folks focus on the Louisville second coming of Jesus ( read: Slint) a lot of folks should be shifting their gaze toward the other more prominent group on this list. Bastro was certainly the more interesting of the two in my opinion. Their first EP Rode Hard and Put Up Wet (1988) is a widly pleasing  release.  Clear love of Big Black runs rampant with the the drum machine going full tilt but mathier elements do rear their head however subtle they may be. Each release after found the group settling into a post-hardcore punk style of melodic rock that smacks of the math we love today.

Sorry for being long winded but my point to this is that Bastro should be counted as the first modern math rock group. Sure we can all sit back and bandy about this influence and that influence through prog rock and modern comp but honest to flip here it is. If your still not entirely convinced check out Antlers live. released in 2005 these recordings were culled from various shows in 1991 and find the group at the end of their life span. The sound of which is true blue math in all its rough and ready glory.  John McEntire is punishing behind the kit (as well he should being a percussion major) and in my opinion the greatest of the early math drummers. Does the name sound familiar? that may be because McEntire went on to join Tortoise where he essentially became their musical leader.

If your at all interested in the roots of early math rock, or late 80's early 90's rock you can not pass this up. Seriously.

DEM LINKS BE DEADED PA!

Jaga Jazzist - One Armed Bandit (2010)

A Norwegian jazz ensemble that has a clear passion for electro-jazz kings Tortoise. They even have a small obsession with the vibraphone like Tortoise does! This of course can be excused instantly as the vibraphone is awesome. But thats really only a launching point for this adventurous young band who have been honing their craft over several releases. Their latest (and best in my opinion) has some very real proggy proggings . They of course have always flirted with such progressive trappings on previous releases but here the flag is waving high and proud. I enjoy the upbeat nature of the songs with different instruments being used almost at random.  For those of you that are not super into Jazz well I'd even say that this is for you also as it could be considered post rock as well.


One Armed Bandit (2010)

Tortoise - TNT

When this album dropped in front of my lap many years ago I remember the sort music mode I was in.  Just starting to realize the potential of genre's that I once thought "dead".  If there is one thing I have learned from listening to so much music through my life is that no genre is "dead".  But there was Jazz laid in front of me.  I could never break in no matter how hard I tried, that was until Tortoise.  Granted they do not travel specifically in straight Jazz it is certainly....... Jazzed up a bit with Electronic, dub and post rock elements.  This Chicago mega group had such a crazy streak of releases and then they drop TNT.  In my approximation they are at the height of the powers here, perfectly blending elements into something emotional, complex and most importantly fun.  A lot of Tortoise's miss hits as far as from an album stand point is missing the fun. I have Tortoise to thank for opening my eyes to the potential of jazz.

TNT

The Sea and Cake - Oui

If you want listen to the musical equivalent of french toast in bed on a snow day well here's your chance.  Made up of some extremely talented individuals this is by no means a pissing contest. The Sea and Cake are very chilled and more into drawing the mood of a piece out. Its only weakness for me would be that occasionally a song will outstay its welcome on a riff. This is some excellent night driving music and always makes me feel right at home. Featuring drum machine and live drums, crud loads of synths and Archer Prewitt's signature wispy vocals.  John McEntire (multi-instrumentalist of Tortoise) plays drums strictly here. And while they also share geographic location with Tortoise we are also treated to that amazing vibraphone we all know and love from them.   


Oui

Ui - Answers (2003)

 Post funk jazz rock

 This group owes much to artists such as Tortoise and the 90's new post-jazz crew. However Ui internalizes those feelings and comes out a fun funky post rock beast. Nothing too cerebral going on here, just relax and have a good time. A few songs even push you to DANCE! and when was the last time you could say that about your post rock?




ANSWERS