Jagjaguwar has become one of the most influential record labels in the music industry over the past few years. With artists like Bon Iver and Justin Vernon’s side project Volcano Choir, Angel Olsen, Moses Sumney, Dinosaur Jr. and albums released on the label by bands like Okkervil River and Sunset Rubdown, Jagjaguwar has shaped the way indie music has been developed in its 20-year history.
The record label’s newest release, “Sex & Food” by Unknown Mortal Orchestra, continues the eclectic nature of the label with the incorporation of a funk and psychedelic rock feel.
Because of the interesting title of the album, Ruban Nielson, the face of UMO, told Billboard, “Life is still like, “Sex & Food,”you know, no matter what’s going on. You still have to eat and you still have to sleep and you still have to kind of get on with your day, and you can’t just spend the whole day in a constant state of panic. That just doesn’t make any sense.”
That relaxed tone that Neilson takes in the quote really signifies the kind of sound the band has on this album. At times embracing a kind of marriage between psychedelic rock and funk, “Sex & Food” is an interesting listen with fantastic instrumentation throughout.
When the band embraces the funk aspect of the sound, that is when the songs shine, especially early in the album. With “Ministry of Alientation,” the Thundercat comparisons start to occur. Even though the bass is not as centered as what would be on a Thundercat album, the sound of some of the songs sound like different B-sides he could have worked on with his wonderful album “Drunk.” With the funky song “Hunnybee,” Neilson shines once again with a bouncy and funky ode to his daughter.
On the song “Everyone Acts Crazy Nowadays,” Neilson shines the most. Smack dab in the middle of the album, this song was the most complete on the album, having beautiful instrumentation layered beautifully while combining the funk aspect in the percussion with psychedelic elements in the guitar. The ending with the strings just put this song together in a nice little package.
But, I wish the band thought about adding more of the psychedelic aspect into the album instead on choosing between the two on each track. The nice combination that happens on “Everyone Acts Crazy Nowadays” does not happen on every song and when they are performing straight funk, it does not always sound original, more like Thundercat wannabes.
The potential with the psychedelic aspect is there, especially in the song “American Guilt.” Not sounding like anything else on this album this loud, guitar centered song sounded like something Jack White would perform, on the verge of really loud, garage-style rock.
“Sex & Food” was definitely a good album to listen to but it would be more memorable if the band further combined the two different genres. There were some great songs and fantastic instrumentation throughout the album, but the album as a whole would have been more memorable if they further embraced the marriage between the two genres.
Download: “Ministry of Alienation,” “Hunnybee,” Everyone Acts Crazy Nowadays.”
Grade – B
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