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]
| 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 | ||||
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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
editDavid 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
edit- 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
edit- ^ 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.