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The Ever-Expanding Suckholes — Asking Directions to Her Hair
((Not on label) no#, 1998, MC)

by Dane Carlson, Published 1999-04-01

Asking Directions to Her Hair Cover art

Been looking for a band that defies classification? Here ya go. This Newark, New Jersey band is all over the place on this pre-CD cassette release. Their web page lured me in on a ‘King Crimson’ search. The promo states their music is somewhere in between King Crimson, Primus, Frank Zappa, and Phish, but the numerous tempo / style changes prevent the band from having any identity at all. These guys seem like they could use some time to refine this cacophony of styles as it comes off a bit rough. I can definitely hear the aforementioned bands’ influence in this music; the chord structure of Crimson, the arrangement style of Zappa and the way they use their influences can only but bring Phish to mind. The core of the band is Randy Draper (keys, bass, and percussion), Dave Levin (guitar and bass), and Matt Urban ("Cowbell, and other drums"). This album crosses a few too many borders, for me it lacked focus, but it’s a great start. Side 2 closes with "Hateful, Trumpeting, New Age Jazz from Hell" a great title and a good description of the music in general. Most of the songs tend to be pretty loose jams, and you just never know where the music will go next. The only song I found bad was the one vocal track, a Primus-like number with the keyboard player ranting in nearly unintelligible voice. As of now the CD version is still in the works. Given a little time this band could become pretty cool.

Filed under: New releases, Issue 17, 1998 releases

Related artist(s): The Ever-Expanding Suckholes

 

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