Funland | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 12, 2009[1][2][3] | |||
Recorded | 2006 | |||
Genre | Experimental rock, improvised music | |||
Label | Smog Veil | |||
Producer | Joe Baiza, Joe Carducci, Dan McGuire | |||
Unknown Instructors chronology | ||||
|
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Rolling Stone | [4] |
Punknews.org | [5] |
Spectrum Culture | [6] |
Funland is the third album by American improvisational band Unknown Instructors,[1][7] featuring Mike Watt (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE, The Stooges, Dos, Banyan),[8] George Hurley (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE, Red Krayola),[8] Joe Baiza (Saccharine Trust, Universal Congress Of),[8] poet/saxophonist Dan McGuire.[7] The album features guest vocals by David Thomas (Pere Ubu)[1][9] and artist Raymond Pettibon.[7][10]
The album was recorded at the same time as the previous album, The Master's Voice.[11]
Mark Kemp of Rolling Stone gave the album three out of five stars.[4] Mike Villano of Metro Times praised the "experimental and eclectic sounds" as well as the vocals and said "If you didn't know better, in fact, you might think this is a lost Captain Beefheart album."[12] Punknews.org gave it three and a half stars calling it "a fantastic musical trip."[5] James Yates of Staten Island Advance said "the groove-heavy sinew and heady humor heard on "Funland" provides a singular trip that touches the deep recesses of mind and body, opening all kinds of guarded emotions and new possibilities" but found the 10-minute-long "No Chirping" indulgent.[7]
Brian Loeper of Spectrum Culture was less enamored with the album saying "Under no circumstances should anyone ever listen to this album" and giving it a single star.[6] Graham Sanford of Gapers Block also criticized the album sarcastically calling the band "the '80s punk/alt-rock set...equivalent of the Traveling Wilburys" and compared them to "The Magic Band as fronted by four Ken Nordines in search of a roadmap."[13]
| |
Studio albums |
|
Related articles |