Unknown Mortal Orchestra Unknown Mortal Orchestra

The Unknown Mortal Orchestra was formed by Ruban Nielson after the breakup of his band the Mint Chicks, and on their self-titled debut album, he's more or less cast aside the noisy and aggressive sound for something much more fun. Basing the songs on funky, strutting beats is a good start. Throwing fuzzy guitars, chunky basslines, and bubbling keyboards on top is a nice second step. Finishing it off with Nielson's playful and child-like lyrics sung with an innocently open voice (which is usually distorted just enough to make it sound pleasingly weird) is the perfect finish. The result is a record that fits right into the creepy candy, anything-goes musical style that stretches back to early Pink Floyd through the Flaming Lips to the Bees and Black Moth Super Rainbow. It's not groundbreaking in any way, but it is a lot of fun in a cheesily psychedelic and oddly danceable way. It's just as plausible for a track like "Thought Ballune," with its jaunty backbeat and silly lyrics about smili