Inouk

No Danger

(Say Hey Records, 2004)

I almost love this band, but it almost sucks. I attribute that to the fact that the brothers McMahon are mostly responsible for the writing on this slab. While the two are not given separate credits for each song in the liner notes, their voices and individual interests are easily heard. One of these fellows enjoys the false-seto and an occasional Julian Casablanca impression, like on “Island”. While the other brother lets loose with his version of the country/folk sound on “Somewhere in France” and “Cherry Orchard”. But beyond this simple split personality, the band cranks out some lack luster disco drumbeats and some Radiohead sounding drudgery. When they come out and simply let it fly the results are just short of inspiring. But when they go on a quest to be creative, they’re just short of awful. A few tracks evoke some early-era Pink Floyd (“Elected”, “Nudie Suit”). Most confusingly, though, are the steady flow of references to nudity, childhood and birth. Frankly, I’m not smart enough to make something up that’s interesting, so I’ll end this all by saying only that they have three guitars.

The Minor Leagues

The Pestilence is Coming

(Data Was Lost, 2006)

Well, everyone loves over inflated pop music nowadays.  There’s no blaming ‘em though.  When the music comes of well, there really isn’t anything as beautiful in the same way.  But when it doesn’t work out, what the listener ends up with is something so pretentious and intricate that it seems ridiculous solely because it exists.  The Pestilence is Coming falls somewhere between those two concepts and easily displays both during a play of the album.  Seeing as there a cluster fuck of pictures of contributors in the liner notes, The Minor Leagues don’t seem like a band so much as a concept and exchange of musical ideas to create albums. And really that doesn’t sound too bad.  But it’s not too good either.  The owws and ahhs combined with a bit of a fake British inflection can’t really bolster the basic rock of “Grand Opening”.  Without question, this track and the entire affair is well put together and simple all at the same time.  Occasionally that combo ends up birthing something brilliant, but not here.  The ska on “Cut the Company Ties” is surprising and entertaining, but a bit too jarring to have this concept album stand up. There is alota music on here and to innumerable indie fans, this self indulgent creation will be a good soundtrack to finishing up your hackneyed art school project at the last minute on a head full of beer and pot around 3 in the morning.