a thread about USA Is A Monster

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Man, this band is crazy-intense. I saw 'em live over a year ago, and they're playing again in two days--very psyched. The only record of there's I have is Masonic Chronic (new-ish 12" EP). From what I've read about 'em, they've been at various times, a noise band, a psych rock band, a country rock band, and mostly a stoner metal band with elements of the others.

I also have the Ped X-Ing/Lazy Magnet 7" which has two USAISAM members doing folksy/country solo traxxx. Lazy Magnet is ex-drummer Jeremy and Ped X-Ing is Colin (vocals, guitar, drums, anything.)

What do you guys think about 'em? I'm most interested in hearing some of their earlier records or getting an idea of if they're worth picking up.

― Ian Johnson, Tuesday, 3 June 2003 22:58 (twenty-two years ago)

tom of usaisamonster, is also the man behind Elvish Presley, which has put out around 3 great records.

― jack cole (jackcole), Tuesday, 3 June 2003 23:01 (twenty-two years ago)

i think they're great - the "citizens of the universe" lp is probably a little better than _masonic chronic_ overall, a little harsher. it's like metal, but really fucked up metal strained through 80s hardcore and some vague idea of what 'psychedelic' is.

― your null fame (yournullfame), Tuesday, 3 June 2003 23:12 (twenty-two years ago)

IAN I SEE ALL YOUR THREADS!

― Jon Williams (ex machina), Tuesday, 3 June 2003 23:20 (twenty-two years ago)

sounds neat - I will check this out

― James Blount (James Blount), Tuesday, 3 June 2003 23:34 (twenty-two years ago)

I saw them at Local in Brooklyn a year or so ago, and they were selling DOZENS of CD-Rs of all their different stuff, real cheap. I remember them being loud as hell and wearing matching orange camouflage jumpsuits, which was great.

― Ben Boyer, Wednesday, 4 June 2003 00:12 (twenty-two years ago)

I never thought I would see USA Is a Monster on ILM. When I lived in C'ville Tom and Colin lived in my town and put on a lot of shows at the "pudHouse" one of my old roommates was in the first incarnation of that band but then she eventually went to law school. I gave her lots of my old clothes and would see them performing in like my old prom dresses and stuff. I wasn't really a fan of theirs. I thought Tom and Colin were nice, but Colin was scared of me and thought he was my nemesis. And they were the cause of chaos in 2 houses I lived in. Weird. I never thought they would make it. But I guess maybe they are different now.

― Carey (Carey), Wednesday, 4 June 2003 00:25 (twenty-two years ago)

http://www.massdist.com/ sells the USAISAMONSTER stuff on CDr for cheap. bunch of other crazy crap as well.

― your null fame (yournullfame), Wednesday, 4 June 2003 00:27 (twenty-two years ago)

They were really loud though, which is good unless they are performing in your house right when you get home from school and they do not stop playing even though it's obvious you do not want them playing in your house and you can't step anywhere because they have all their screenprinted 7 inch covers lying all over the floor and all you want to do is eat and relax and not have colin hit on you.

I had issues that year.

― Carey (Carey), Wednesday, 4 June 2003 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

five years pass...

So what do the ILM'er's here think about the band? They have put out four full lengths and two EP's and are doing their last show in May. Yeah I run Load and am biased beyond belief, but they have not received the love of half talents operating in the same universe. They don't sound like the noisy sound most of you run from when you see Load, I promise.

― lacipetersonskid, Thursday, 16 April 2009 01:58 (sixteen years ago)

They are great guys, and more pleasurable to do sound for than most bands where the drummer also sings.

― photoshop your disgusting ass partner into passive-aggressive notes (sarahel), Thursday, 16 April 2009 02:39 (sixteen years ago)

I used to see USA Is A Monster ALL THE TIME in Providence. Many great shows. Planning on going to their final gig.

― ian, Thursday, 16 April 2009 03:06 (sixteen years ago)

TBH while I really like all their records, they absolutely BRING IT live.

― ian, Thursday, 16 April 2009 03:07 (sixteen years ago)

latest one is hypnotic. too bad they're breaking up. the recent pitchfork joke of a review was so pathetic, dodging mentioning how prog it is in favor of ice kraut or something. 'skyscraper' 30 "weeping, grandiose" made lots more sense. ". . . iceberg tip, the hull on the ship. there's an awful lot of love that's got a make a little difference. sometimes i'm sure, i'm really quite sure that the obscure images have a great significance . . ."

― kamerad, Thursday, 16 April 2009 06:18 (sixteen years ago)

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