World Class Listening Problem - Don Caballero > Reviews > so turn the volume up

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Not applicable
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Great American instrumental math rock
Disadvantages:	changed from earlier work

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

How many people have heard of Don Caballero? In fact there are two Don Caballero's, one instrumental math rock group from Pittsburgh, the second a character played by Joe Flaherty on a comedy sketch show Second City Television, and that's where the bands name comes from.

As this is the first (and probably the last) review about this band I feel it is necessary to give a little history about the band, and the east coast and mid west rock music scene.

The industrial heartlands of America and Canada faced dramatic upheaval in the 80's and early 90's, mass unemployment in these areas and shifts in population spawned many college bands whose music style was varied and experimental. With a hiatus in the music scene many teenage kids strived for something new.

Many of these college bands never made it out of college let alone their home towns. But some bands did, and made the college circuit meeting other bands along the way. The biggest math rock and indie scenes were based around Chicago and Montreal.
And it is here that Don Caballero was formed.

The band was formed in 1991 and released singles with local record companies. Things took off for them in 1993 with the arrival of Ian Williams a second guitarist, his style and song writing along with Damon Che who's drumming won him the nick name "The Octopus" They were signed with Touch and Go records, who achieved the coverage and exposure the band needed to break into the rest of the US and Europe.

Five albums later and the wide fan base they had won, were dismayed to here of the rift between Che and Williams. Williams left the band to pursue many solo and band project (one of which is a band called "Battles" check them out, they rock)

Che vowed never to work with Williams again, and it was in 2003 he re-formed Don Caballero again, much to the surprise of the mid west music scene, this time with band members from Creta Bourzia, who had based their style of music very closely to the Don's. So with the line up:-

Damon Che ……....drums
Jeff Ellsworth …….guitar
Gene Doyle ……….guitar
Jason Jouver ………bass guitar

They signed with heavy-metal label Relapse Records in 2005. And World Class Listening Problem was released 18th May 2006.

I guess most of you will not have heard of Don Caballero so let me give an overview to their music.

Trying to tie this band to a genre is somewhat difficult. They are a metal band with a somewhat math rock sound, and if you have heard early Don Caballero work you will find this different. Some tracks start out in a grungy west coast style, but the music twists and turns to more melodic phases.
With some instrumental bands you find the music heavy going and needs to be listened to, not so with this the tracks unfold in varying moods that keep you entertained without having to listen with both ears. I personally like this as driving music.

The stands out tracks that I would mention are tracks 5, 6 and 7.

Track 5:- Palm trees in the fecking Bahamas

A tongue in check number that to me cocks a snoot at American pop rock music. We find a very honky tonk rhythm running on this track, which morphs into a kind of Billy Joel style backing track half way through.

Track 6:- World class listening problem

The title track which deserves their best effort, and nearly convinces as well. A very busy track that demands you listen to it, as the lead guitars weave around asking questions of each other, punctuated of course by band leader Che on drums.

Track 7 Railroad cancellation

I am using the musical term fuge. The term means a piece of music that builds using one instrument at a time until each instrument has become involved in that piece of music, usually winding down with each instrument becoming silent until only one is left. Well this track is half a fuge, but no less a track because of it.

There is no doubt that Damon Che's influence is paramount in this album, his recruitment of a band that mimics the old bands sound is evident with Che putting his musical stamp on it, indeed if you like your drums high in the mix you will like this, and Che is undoubtedly an accomplished drummer.

So my conclusion.

For those you like their instrumental rock this is a must. It is not going to be the average rock fans cup of tea hence Che's rather defiant title "A world class listening problem"

Released on Relapse records

Available from Amazon at £11.99 or used from £5.89

Thank you for taking the time to read this.