The Oscars--Techno Primitivo
Bootleg Records   2005

Some bands are content to wear a path in the ground and tread it into a rut, while others are compelled toward evolution. It's hard to think of a band who've grown as much over their recorded history as the Oscars. That trend continues in a big way on their newest full-length Techno Primitivo. This is a listen that's anything but linear in concept yet retains a continuity the band haven't quite known until now.

On their past releases, the
Oscars have referenced both the Urinals and Sonic Youth at alternating times in their sound. The same could be said of Techno Primitivo, although at this stage of their growth the band have managed to assimilate their influences so well those attributes stay with them no matter how far they step outside the box. So, though this disc is easily the most diverse Oscars outing, it is also in many ways their most focused. The result is a rewarding listen sure to be a treat for educated ears, due to the layers of subtlty in this material.

Make no mistake,
Techno Primitivo not only marks the Oscars coming into their own stylistically, it also proves to be their to-date pinnacle from a songwriting standpoint. Both the album opening "Don't Wanna Know" and "Space Shuttle Challenger," with its beautifully blossoming dissonance, fulfill all the promise first exhibited on the earlier released fave "280 ZX"--the best of the Sonic Youth leaning material, here. Punkers will probably most favor "Battered Wife Syndrome" and the rockingest of this bunch "Stupifier." That said, the further the Oscars get away from what listeners are expecting of them, the more intriguing this album gets. An injection of synth gives "Beautiful Blondes" a slight Lost Sounds shading, while "Death Race" is the closest these guys have ever come to metal. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of this listen is that the songs here with a quirky, silly feel, typically the mark of throwaway tracks for practically any other band, are the moments the Oscars feel most unique and successful--see "Genuine Fakes," "Choo Choo," and "Parkinson's" for proof.

While many of their Memphis contemporaries garner more attention and praise, no other band brings all the good aspects of that rich musical community together quite like the
Oscars manage to. If you loved their previous releases, Techno Primitivo has plenty for you to be excited about. Of course, keeping you guessing is all part of the fun in listening to these folks and that will likely (hopefully) never change. Another lightyear's leap in growth from release to release from the Oscars. As sure a thing as you're likely to come across--get it.


                 
Score this CD directly from THE OSCARS

                                              
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