Tracks from the exceptional 1998 UNKLE effort Psyence Fiction still rear their apocalyptic heads on everything from game trailers (check out "Lonely Soul" being used to hawk 2007's Assassin's Creed) to, uh, most mix CDs of mine ("Nursery Rhyme (Breather)" is a repeat offender). DJ Shadow has since jumped ship, but producers-cum-vocalists James Lavelle and Richard File have just thrown down the title of a new UNKLE undertaking: War Stories.
Unfortunately, DJ Shadow seemed to attract a much more stellar guest roster, or maybe it was just a little cooler to be anti-establishment in '98, but this album's lineup has me hurtin'. Radiohead's Thom Yorke traded in for Queens of the Stone Age's Josh Homme? Mike D vs. 3D (Massive Attack)? Gack.
Due July 24, War Stories was recorded by way of live studio tracking, rather than the customary turntables-and-a-microphone deal of the past, and we finally hear from James Lavelle in a vocal sense on the track "Hold My Hand." Session musicians include Twiggy Ramirez (Jeordie White, whom I passed in the mall once), Nada Surf's Matthew Caws (who will not play "Popular" live; I speak from experience), and the Eagles of Death Metal's David Catching, who performs multiple guitar duties on a handful of tracks.
CHARGE! (TRACKLIST!)
Disclaimer: I graduated from college this week and am therefore beginning to feel "old." This may or may not have resulted in a temporary hatred for anything not distinctly smacking of the 1990s and consequently dating me even further.
