Albums by this artist

S.T.R.E.E.T. D.A.D. (2003)

Out Hud

S.T.R.E.E.T. D.A.D.

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» PIERO SCARUFFI | STAFF WRITER

Out Hud S.T.R.E.E.T. D.A.D. Kranky, 2003 RiYL: Liquid Liquid, Ui, Pell Mell, Can

After a host of promising EPs, Brooklyn, N.Y.'s Out Hud makes its full-length debut with S.T.R.E.E.T. D.A.D., featuring six tracks that hark back to the dance-oriented new-wave bands of the early 1980s, such as The Contortions and The Golden Palominos. Although some aspects of the group's live show (witless stage banter, synchronized dance moves, a member who wears a t-shirt with her own photo on it) threaten to turn the entire thing into an ironic joke, the excellent music here betrays no such mixed messages.

"Story Of The Whole Thing" is a monster revisionist piece of the reggae and funk tradition, enhanced with gothic overtones, a tinning guitar pattern, classical-sounding cello lines, and frantic hip-hop explosions. "Dad, There's A Little Phrase Called Too Much Information" is propelled by the steady beat and whirling electronics of European disco-music of the 1970s, then derailed by recurring and slightly discordant guitar patterns. It soars in a funk fanfare worthy of the glorious Love Of Life Orchestra.

"This Bum's Paid" dances around a light funky beat and a melodic bass line nicked from Pink Floyd. "Hair Dude, You're Stepping On My Mystique" and "My Two Nads" are more conventional dance tracks (the former a sensual disco ballad that opens with a threatening dissonant riff; the latter a hyperkinetic tribal funk maelstrom) that reiterate previous elements, but are still a lot of creative fun.

But the conceptual centerpiece of the album is the 12-minute "The L Train Is A Swell Train And I Don't Want To Hear You Indies Complain," a syncopated and tribal techno ballet that mixes chirping guitar tones, industrial-grade rhythms, and a symphony of quirky background sounds.

PIERO SCARUFFI | Piero Scaruffi runs the exhaustive music database Scaruffi.com. A native of Italy, he has also been praised for his work on the General Theory of Relativity, formal theories of the mind, and artificial intelligence. And no, we aren't making that up.