| Unwilling to Explain | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | February 22, 2019 [1] | |||
| Recorded | December, 2011 [1] | |||
| Venue | ||||
| Genre | Experimental rock, improvised music | |||
| Length | 43:35 [1] | |||
| Label | ORG Music [2] | |||
| Producer | Mike Watt, Dan McGuire [1] | |||
| Unknown Instructors chronology | ||||
| ||||
Unwilling to Explain is the fourth album by American improvisational band Unknown Instructors, [3] featuring Mike Watt ( The Minutemen, fIREHOSE), [3] George Hurley (Minutemen, fIREHOSE), [3] J Mascis ( Dinosaur Jr.), [3] and Dan McGuire. [3]
It was the first Unknown Instructors album that wasn't improvised [4] [5] and the first to feature Mascis on guitar instead of Baiza. [5] [6] The recording took quite some time with Watt recording bass tracks in 2011 and Hurley laying down the drums the following year. [7] Mascis' guitar work was recorded three years after that with Dan McGuire's vocals following. [7]
Reception
David Arnson of Music Connection called it "truly interesting" but warned "Your mileage may vary on the Tom Waits- and Bukowski-influenced bop narration. The real take- away is Mascis’ fluid and expressive guitar work." [8] Razorcake's Michael T. Fournier praised it saying it "hangs together better than any of the group’s other records I’ve heard." [7] Mark Hughson of Jersey Beat said "If you’re into on-the-fly jazz rock you’ll be hard pressed to find better indie star power." [9]
Personnel
- Mike Watt - bass
- George Hurley - drums
- J Mascis - guitar
- Dan McGuire - vocals
- Joe Baiza - vocals
- Stephen Haluska - harp [1]
- Leah Jenssen - cello [1]
- Dan Wenninger - saxophone [1]
- Production
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Unknown Instructors – Unwilling to Explain". AllMusic. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ "Unknown Instructors: Unwilling to Explain". Org Music. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e Dan, Jen (January 28, 2019). "Song Premiere: "Acquainted With The Night" by Unknown Instructors". Rebel Noise. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ Cohan, Brad (May 2, 2012). "Q&A: Mike Watt On Snapping Pics In San Pedro For on and off bass, The fIREHOSE Reunion, And Playing Stooges Covers". The Village Voice. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
- ^ a b c "Song Premiere: "Out in the Cold" by Unknown Instructors". The Big Takeover. February 11, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
- ^ "october 31, 2018". Mike Watt's Hoot Page. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ a b c Fournier, Michael T. (May 20, 2019). "UNKNOWN INSTRUCTORS: Unwilling to Explain: LP". Razorcake. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ Arnson, David (April 24, 2019). "Album Review: Unwilling to Explain by Unknown Instructors (7/10)". Music Connection. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
- ^ Hughson, Mark. "Avoid Electric Shock". Jersey Beat. Retrieved October 27, 2019.