xbxrx - Un Usper

xbxrx
Un Usper
(2009, self released)
RIYL = HEALTH, Blood Brothers, Ultra Dolphins, Daughters

It is been awhile since I’ve listened to a good palette cleanser; an album which simply steps out from the rest of my lengthy queue of albums I need to be listening to and says ‘screw the rest of this crap, lets go get a chocolate milk shake.’ I probably could have made that read a lot cooler and tougher (heaven knows xbxrx demand both), but in all honesty, I’m just not that cool or tough. That is, I haven’t been, but since I’ve started listening to the latest self released, palette cleansing album from xbxrx, Un Usper, I’ve been thinking, ‘you know what, maybe I am cool and maybe I am tough.’ Un Usper just exudes a self-assured swagger and blissful violence that can make even a geek like me feel like a dangerous punk superhero. I’m not a xbxrx expert by any means, but Un Usper certainly takes some progressive steps in culling the noisy elements of Sounds and matching it with the standard fits of rugged punk that the band regularly produces. It’s perfect for someone like me who has been waiting patiently for some good hardcore noise punk to really grasp onto, and within that arena of sound xbxrx have surely hit the mark. There is plenty of skree filled noise jams fitted next to ambling drums and guitar feedback interludes that’s built up this dynamic structure that is Un Usper. In addition to the fact that xbxrx have put out a great record, the band is the latest in recent memory to try out the pay-or-“donate”-what-you-want payment method for their work. They have uploaded the album to Mediafire, Rapidshare and elsewhere for quick accessibility along with a morality testing PayPal donation button on their home page. It is still an interesting idea and the album is surely worth some of your hard earned (depending on your job) money as a salute to the xbxrx's ear bleeding hardcore chops. Check it out now from the link below.

-Thistle

Dowload Un Usper from xbxrx's homepage

XBXRX - Sounds

XBXRX
Sounds
(08.2007, Important)
Verdict = Above Par Noise Rock Improvisations

Hanging up their spazz rock blitzkrieg momentarily, Sounds documents XBXRX dipping their toes into noisy improvisation. Wholly instrumental, Sounds follows the band as they burn through seven tracks of deafening squalor, enhancing the depth of their already toothy bite. I guess I should retract my opening statement. This is definitely spazzy and most certainly rock, however, gone is the structure that could once allow their tracks to be differentiated as “Songs.” Now, a new level of drug induced jazz has been added to the mix, so while it may be immediately recognizable as XBXRX, it is still perfectly conceivable that it a product of their making. The whole experiment is anchored on its incredible percussion. The drums flow forth like a waterfall of drum sticks, cymbals and drum sets all crashing together as they plunge into a sea of instruments below. Swelling, subduing and then swelling again, the album avoids some of the pitfalls of similarly cacophonous free noise rock albums by allowing you periods with which to breathe. Even so, this isn’t a crossover album by any means and would probably fail to be a necessary staple for most. For me however, in light of a recent push to avoid the sterility of the avant, the album still holds sway. There is enough rock among the smattering schizophrenic garble to insight repeat listens for purposes beyond anything intellectual. Which is to say: if you’re not moving to this record, you are listening to it wrong.

-Mr. Thistle

XBXRX - "Infancy of Millions Pt. 1"