Album Details

• Artist: The Uncredibles
• Album: The Uncredibles
• Label: Courant Records
• Year of Release: 2012
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: carlita on 2012-08-11

Visiting The Uncredibles' MySpace page, one is immediately greeted with several pop art pieces ironically depicting iconic images,  with some containing punchy phrases like a "band in a can" and a monkey drinking alcohol, with the phrase " I'm a drunk monkey, but thanks to The Uncredibles, I'm a drunk monkey with purpose" underneath. After viewing those images, it set the stage well to delve into the self-titled album which is free for download because "music should be free and available to anyone who wants it" (agreed) from Ben Daniel (the dude behind the band name) to discover as a listener whether I'd feel like the girl wistfully watching her red balloon blow farther and farther away like the girl on the album cover.

Beginning the album with a strongly worded song title called "F-ck Bono", it's a little punk/funk/classic rock/ska with a rockabilly twang. Yes, it may seem like an odd description but it's been a long time since I've heard a song cross this many genres before. You instantly notice that Daniel's scream/wail on several of the tracks is a blend of the quintessential 80's hair band frontman, perhaps Van Halen's David Lee Roth and the forlorn drone of Silverchair's Daniel Johns.  Venturing into grunge/garage band land which focused on sad self-reflection, pointing out injustices and satirical reality, he attacks politicians "who are running this town into the ground" on "This Town".

On "Settle Then Justify", you get into some Pink Floyd "Dark Side of the Moon" territory.  Searching for something but not finding it, there's angst on "All This Waitin'",  "Security on the Rocks" and boredom abound, waiting for drive or something to believe in, on "Summer Days". Ending the CD with the highlight, "I Wanna Go Home", Ben sings about being trapped perhaps in a barren desert, bleeding, trying to survive after being shot like a soldier in conflict. A lot of "underground" is covered and you'll find Daniel knows "how to use" melancholy and anger to his benefit on this record.

User Reviews and Comments