In Praise of: United State Of Electronica "U.S.E."

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Yeah yeah, you might think their band name is extremely cringeworthy...

But the debut album by United State Of Electronica, U.S.E., is certainly worth a listen. It's basically Daft Punk/Komeda gone Disneyworld (or at least their music has the "Disney Sparkle"), or (as noted by Ned in another forum) an album where every song sounds like the end of movie "Xanadu". In either case, there's this strange Kelly/Partridge Family sense of universal love and good times that is a theme in the tunes, but (thankfully) no actual musical relation at all. In fact, this album is not really that electronic after all -- most of the sounds are fleshed out on real instruments, just really tightly. All the Daft Punk vocoding elements are there, but with more guitar, and Komeda style melodies.

It's really hard to listen to the two tracks with rapping on them (given that the rapper sounds like a third-rate version of Stereo MC's... yes, a possibly fake British *rapping* accent.. I guess Mr. C of the Shamen did more damage than I thought), and having vocoder on track after track can be a little tiring, but the strength of this band shines through in the context of playing one of their tracks in a mix. It's so easy to find ways to pick on the group, yet I always come back to listening to this album anyway. Had they edited this album to just the first half, this would have been unstoppable.

Props and/or strikes for using the same debut album naming technique as Color Me Badd.

highlights: "Emerald City", "Climb the Walls (Umbrella Of Love)", "Open Your Eyes", "Takin' It All The Way"

donut bitch (donut), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:18 (twenty-one years ago)

My brief review of this will be in a column in the new Loose Lips Sink Ships -- really great album, indeed. Mike Daddino thought the Andrew WK element would put me off but I prefer to think of it as that element done right. ;-)

there's this strange Kelly/Partridge Family sense of universal love and good times that is a theme in the tunes, but (thankfully) no actual musical relation at all

Yes -- this is a Polyphonic Spree that you actually want to listen to. If you will.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:23 (twenty-one years ago)

thirded -- it's pretty light, fun etc etc, maybe this year's junior senior for me

Nick Sylvester, Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:27 (twenty-one years ago)

They opened for Aluminum Group during the last Noisepop -- never seen so many people packed onto Cafe Du Nord's little stage, they literally bring the party with them. By the end of the set it did get a little same-y, but they've got a puppy-dog energy that really won the crowd over. (My wife, mid-set: "they're all just so CUTE!")

Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:31 (twenty-one years ago)

This is actually a classic example of me not hearing a band because of their awful name. I have heard good things, especially about their live show, but have yet to see them. It's not so much a conscious thing, like I don't think, "Fuck them, their name is stupid," it's just that it's been a barrier to me hearing much more of them. I promise to reform and check them out.

Scott CE (Scott CE), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:32 (twenty-one years ago)

The name IS stupid and I would smack them around for it if I could.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:33 (twenty-one years ago)

There are too many of 'em, Ned! Don't try it!

Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:34 (twenty-one years ago)

I WILL BRING THE NONEXISTENT PAIN

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:37 (twenty-one years ago)

KILLA BEEZ GONNA SWARM

Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:38 (twenty-one years ago)

From what I hear, the last thing you want to do is get these guys angry. Before you know it, they'll launch off on some global crusade against Rockism...

Arh arh.

Evanston Wade (EWW), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:42 (twenty-one years ago)

stuff that sounds like "xanadu"? sign me up!

maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:46 (twenty-one years ago)

Musing more, United State Of Electronica are probably the first American band to almost completely accurately simulate Japanese pop production.

donut bitch (donut), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:48 (twenty-one years ago)

I want to hear this. Your description makes it seem a bit like a cheerful counterpart to My Computer's gloomy Vulnerabilia, which would suit me fine.

And I can deal with the crap band name, although I doubt I'll buy the t-shirt.

Paul in Santa Cruz (Paul in Santa Cruz), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 17:57 (twenty-one years ago)

it's grebt. my favorite Seattle album of the year so far, easily, and definitely my favorite live band locally. they're touring nationally right now. here is something I wrote about them recently.

Matos W.K. (M Matos), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 18:04 (twenty-one years ago)

stuff that sounds like "xanadu"? sign me up!

Hurrah for Maria! It's less the sound of that specific song per se as it is the splashy ridiculous and wonderful atmosphere of the end of the film, where it seems everyone goes collectively and beautifully insane.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 18:44 (twenty-one years ago)

i gave this away to another reviewer without even listening to it - the title put me off. now i'm all full of regrets.

Sean M (Sean M), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 19:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Hurrah for Maria! It's less the sound of that specific song per se as it is the splashy ridiculous and wonderful atmosphere of the end of the film, where it seems everyone goes collectively and beautifully insane.

oh, i know the movie. its one of my favorites. ive got it on betamax, vhs and dvd -- if anyone needs to borrow it. need the soundtrack? yeah, i got that too.

right now, USE sounds like that scene where they're trying to merge the 1940's bandstand with 1980's rock.

actually, plain parade was approached about doing a show of theirs. i hope we get to do it. then again, i kinda hope we dont, so i can actually watch it instead of working the door and panicking.

maria tessa sciarrino (theoreticalgirl), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 19:16 (twenty-one years ago)

USE sounds like that scene where they're trying to merge the 1940's bandstand with 1980's rock

Hmmm...nah, a bit too formal. I'm thinking more the fashion store/pinball sequence, or the part where there's nothing but jugglers and roller skaters and tumblers in Xanadu itself. But we are splitting hairs, admittedly. ;-)

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 19:18 (twenty-one years ago)

It's basically Daft Punk/Komeda gone Disneyworld

My Kneejerk Sense tells me that between Cornelius - Fantasma and Plus-Tech Squeeze Box - Fakevox, there's probably no need for me to ever hear this.

Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 19:23 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't heard the latter, but the former is more playful sixties than playful seventies to my ears, so I would urge you otherwise, sir.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 19:41 (twenty-one years ago)

I admit an American take on that style of Japanese pop is intriguing, so hopefully it'll be in the UK when I get home next month?

Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 19:51 (twenty-one years ago)

BTW, Ned, Fakevox is a lot like Fantasma redone by twee e-rushing Bis-loving teenagers with Casio keyboards replacing Fantasma's hard-rock and slower moments with jazz/swing, breakbeat, power punk-pop and an 80s Eurodisco number. Predictably, I love it.

Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 19:58 (twenty-one years ago)

Hm! Could be fun, that. Hey, did you ever get the Disco Inferno disc?

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 19:59 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, my mum said I had "some records from California in the post" when I phoned her a few days after you sent it out. Thanks v. much, shame neither mum nor I can find anyone travelling from London to Ghana who'd bring me my growing stash of mail (and we know a fair no. of people who make the journey).

Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 20:11 (twenty-one years ago)

What bums. Mock them, with due bemusement.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 20:16 (twenty-one years ago)

Always.

My new mantra: "6 Weeks Left".

Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 20:21 (twenty-one years ago)

Haha! Hey Ned, an aunt just phoned me to say she'll be going to London over the weekend and (as always), will drop by my place to see my family. DI, here I come!

Barima (Barima), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 20:33 (twenty-one years ago)

Woohoo! The power of positive thinking!

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 20:35 (twenty-one years ago)

*I* LIKE THE RAPPING!

Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 21:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I salute you for your bravery in the face of our disagreement.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 21:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I also like the rapping. It reminds me of Turbo B from Snap!

Matos W.K. (M Matos), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 23:17 (twenty-one years ago)

It reminds me of Robin Scott a.k.a. M!

Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Wednesday, 5 May 2004 23:44 (twenty-one years ago)

Are they like the Cooler Kids? BEcause if they are, watch me hype the living shit out of them.

LC, Thursday, 6 May 2004 02:51 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't hear any Komeda influence? Maybe if the only Komeda track I knew was "A Simple Formality", i'd agree.

"Emerald City" is great btw, is that the single?

Michael F Gill (Michael F Gill), Thursday, 6 May 2004 12:47 (twenty-one years ago)

(For Ned) Plus-Tech Squeeze Box:

http://www.vroom-sound.com/psb/image/bbc_001.gif

http://www.surla.co.uk/bands.asp?band=psb

http://www.vroom-sound.com/sound/VRCD3311.html

Barima (Barima), Thursday, 6 May 2004 13:10 (twenty-one years ago)

I don't hear any Komeda influence?

Maybe not the greatest point of comparison. I wanted to use Tahiti 80, but a) they're just as recent as U.S.E., and b) they are FAR more boring than U.S.E.

donut bitch (donut), Thursday, 6 May 2004 18:00 (twenty-one years ago)

(pssst: you can order it from http://www.usemusic.com/)

Matos W.K. (M Matos), Friday, 7 May 2004 20:32 (twenty-one years ago)

I've been wanting to hear U.S.E. Guess I'll have to get cracking.

bimble (bimble), Saturday, 8 May 2004 00:26 (twenty-one years ago)

three weeks pass...
i swear i searched! arg. this is good tho.

juiceboxxx (juiceboxxx), Tuesday, 1 June 2004 21:25 (twenty-one years ago)

OK, I finally picked this up, and while I can't really comment on the whole album yet, this song Emerald City is a fucking gem. I was just driving around town listening to it over and over again in the sunshine. Maybe this won't translate well if you're not listening to it in the Seattle sun, but DAMN is it good for that. The reasons why is the new summer jam:

1. The neighborhood roll call/ "We LOVE IT" thing. Pits LA in the summer against Seattle in the summer. The Winner? I think you know the answer.

2. The fact that it proclaims 2004 in Seattle as the summer of love. This is a welcome relief from the previous 5 summers:

1999: The Summer of Despair
2000: The Summer of Rage
2001: The Summer of Overly Ripe Cantalope
2002: The Summer of Jigga Having Held it Down for Six Summers
2003: The Summer of Pabst

As you can see, a summer of love is just what the doctor ordered.

3. Because, dammit, the days ARE getting longer and love IS getting stronger. Can't you feel it?

Scott CE (Scott CE), Friday, 4 June 2004 22:02 (twenty-one years ago)

hell yeah.

Matos W.K. (M Matos), Friday, 4 June 2004 22:09 (twenty-one years ago)

I never had it so well!

Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Friday, 4 June 2004 22:16 (twenty-one years ago)

I've got this feeling we'll work it out--LA DISCOTECA! [glam-stop riff]

Matos W.K. (M Matos), Friday, 4 June 2004 22:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I think U.S.E., Scissor Sisters and Big & Rich should go on a mammoth cross-country tour this summer, sponsored by Fluxblog ("now with 50% more joy!") and PBR. Life would become too grand for words.

Sean Thomas (sgthomas), Friday, 4 June 2004 22:21 (twenty-one years ago)

i like listening to this album but then i always switch to am Radio Disney for the real shit

chaki_burger (chaki), Saturday, 5 June 2004 00:34 (twenty-one years ago)

real as opposed to what, pray tell?

Matos W.K. (M Matos), Saturday, 5 June 2004 00:36 (twenty-one years ago)

For the Metal Mike Saunders stuff? (Actually, I think Donut Bitch did say something about the sheer Disney quality of the album when he first talked about it to me.)

Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 5 June 2004 00:37 (twenty-one years ago)

i still can't get past the awful name

strongo hulkington (dubplatestyle), Saturday, 5 June 2004 00:38 (twenty-one years ago)

It's a HORRIBLE name -- but seriously, give it a try.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 5 June 2004 00:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I LOVE THE NAME :-p

Matos W.K. (M Matos), Saturday, 5 June 2004 00:40 (twenty-one years ago)

I talked to Craif Finn today. The Hold Steady and U.S.E. are touring the West Coast together, cuz they're both 'party bands'.

Mike Dixn (Mike Dixon), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 04:07 (twenty years ago)

EXCELLENT article/tour diary! A must read

I talked to Craif Finn today. The Hold Steady and U.S.E. are touring the West Coast together, cuz they're both 'party bands'.

AW SLIME!

donut debonair (donut), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 04:15 (twenty years ago)

(Okay, now's the time to ask, is 'AW SLIME' new slang or just something I've missed?)

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 04:19 (twenty years ago)

It's not just new slang, it's Le Coq slang!

donut debonair (donut), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 04:36 (twenty years ago)

The Hold Steady and U.S.E. are touring the West Coast together

Matos, did you hook this up?!?!?!?!

By the way, I totally expected the U.S.E. album to shrink on me in the past couple months, kinda like M.I.A. has, but it's a thing of timeless beauty.

Pete Scholtes, Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:57 (twenty years ago)

Matos, did you hook this up?!?!?!?!

I was about to say, he gonna be the MC?

"Matos here! ENJOY THIS BAND! Yeah!"

Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 14:59 (twenty years ago)

Wow, those two bands together = I get choked up just thinking about it.

Scott CE (Scott CE), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 15:10 (twenty years ago)

I didn't hook up nothing, but I am pretty happy about the pairing, obv.

And Peter: the album is fucking MAGNIFICENT (though I don't feel like M.I.A. has shrunk at all for me).

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 21:03 (twenty years ago)

I don't know why people always expect the big happy fun stuff to diminish with time. I find that it never does, but melancholy music almost always fades a bit for me.

Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 21:46 (twenty years ago)

I still don't get the Hold Steady. I'll give it another try, but they just sound like an American bar band version of McLusky to me. I like the McLusky-ish aspects, but I kinda prefer the undiluted real deal.

Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 21:48 (twenty years ago)

I finally heard a track ("Emerald City") and it wasn't what I expected at all! Much more song-y than I thought it might be. I liked it though and will hear more.

Tom (Groke), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 21:53 (twenty years ago)

hint: LYRICS LYRICS LYRICS

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 21:53 (twenty years ago)

(that's for Perpetua)

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 21:53 (twenty years ago)

If that's the case then there's no chance for me, Matos! I only ever seem to hold good lyrics against songs I don't really like, it's the entire reason why I dislike Berman from the Silver Jews. (Ha, or most Bob Dylan!) In my mind, a bad song with bad lyrics is better than a bad song with good lyrics.

Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 21:56 (twenty years ago)

they're good songs w/good lyrics is the thing, though

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 21:58 (twenty years ago)

a bad song with bad lyrics is better than a bad song with good lyrics

wait, i was with you up until this point. how is that possible?

jaymc (jaymc), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 22:02 (twenty years ago)

I just can't seem to connect, Matos.

Jaymc, I find good lyrics in bad songs to be frustrating. It makes me think that the effort in the writing was misplaced, or that the lyricist should not be writing songs but instead writing poetry, fiction, or whatever else. Bad songs with bad lyrics are easily dismissed, and the complication of good aspects to bad or mediocre work is aggravating to me.

Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 22:07 (twenty years ago)

yr loss, dude

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 22:09 (twenty years ago)

I just tried again and it sounded a little better. I don't think they suck or anything, it just doesn't really work for me. It's one of those things that seems like something I ought to enjoy, but just don't. The Decemberists are exactly the same way.

Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 22:53 (twenty years ago)

I think that's fair, but I will also say that when people come around on Craig Finn, they tend to do it in a MAJOR way as a rule. Either way, the shows w/U.S.E. should be ridiculous.

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Tuesday, 19 April 2005 23:09 (twenty years ago)

party people EP gonna be available online anwhere?

hold steady + U.S.E. tour looks like the best thing ever; really wish the US wasn't as, feasibly, as far away as the moon.

etc, Wednesday, 20 April 2005 05:07 (twenty years ago)

Aliens can visit from the moon.

I'll have to see this tour so I can finally digest the Craig Finn Experience.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Wednesday, 20 April 2005 05:09 (twenty years ago)

three weeks pass...
MATOS GETS JUKEBoX JURY JIGGY WITH USE!

donut debonair (donut), Saturday, 14 May 2005 21:40 (twenty years ago)

Good stuffage. :-) (My distinction between USE and AWK up top of this thread still holds.) I like the reaction to Annie there. So are Of Montreal really all that, then?

Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 14 May 2005 22:14 (twenty years ago)

it is a death cab for cutie fan's idea of how to improve on daft punk
-- artiste (theartist...), August 30th, 2004.

Hey wait, did Matos use this as a guide for the Jukebox Jury, then?

Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 14 May 2005 22:18 (twenty years ago)

I did not. And the Of Montreal song certainly is--the album's pretty terrific as well.

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Saturday, 14 May 2005 23:10 (twenty years ago)

Hmm, will keep it in mind. I thought they were a bunch of Elephant 6 style feebs.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 14 May 2005 23:13 (twenty years ago)


I thought they were too, Ned. Have they somehow evolved?

jergins (jergins), Saturday, 14 May 2005 23:18 (twenty years ago)

They are Elephant 6, they've always been OK-ish, and now they're a lot better than that. Ned will still probably dislike them.

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Sunday, 15 May 2005 00:37 (twenty years ago)

Hey if they finally got their act together and stopped dwelling in the 'aren't we so evolved and interesting?' trap too many of their cohorts got bogged down in -- fucking Olivia Tremor Control (but I'll spare you) -- in favor of actually creating good songs and performances that assume music didn't die in 1971 or something, then roxor.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 15 May 2005 05:36 (twenty years ago)

can i chime in and say i was NEVER a fan of of montreal or their "cohorts" and i really like the new album?

s1ocki (slutsky), Sunday, 15 May 2005 15:48 (twenty years ago)

of montreal were never as reverent as olivia tremor control. it was more like an elementary school pageant in the old days. i still say they haven't changed all that much except for adding different elements to their sound probably mostly due to his making the records off on his own now like he used to do. as a synthpop album it is hard to compare it to other synthpop records because he crams so much into the songs and icy is probably only applicable to a few of the more minimal songs at the end. it took me a few weeks to love whereas I used to love everything he did instantly but i love it now and renounce the nonsense i wrote about it a few weeks back.

keith m (keithmcl), Sunday, 15 May 2005 16:47 (twenty years ago)

I still have that particular Of Montreal song on my site, you really should check it out. It's one of my favorite songs from this year and I never was very impressed by them before. I think the USE guy really nailed the song too.

Matthew C Perpetua (inca), Sunday, 15 May 2005 19:42 (twenty years ago)

that jukebox jury was great - todd edwards! I would've liked to have played them some cut copy, though.

etc, Sunday, 15 May 2005 23:21 (twenty years ago)

Yes, Ned, I had the same idea about Of Montreal and then I a) heard "Disconnect the Dots" and b) heard them IN THE EXACT SAME CONTEXT as U.S.E. did (i.e., watching them from the sidewalk at SXSW -- I said, "hey, aren't you guys U.S.E." and then proceeded to talk to Derek for 10 minutes), and I was like, hey this is kinda fun! And dancey!

jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 16 May 2005 05:41 (twenty years ago)

it's super dancey. that song is BEGGING and PLEADING to be mixed into Justus Kohncke's "Timecode."

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 16 May 2005 05:46 (twenty years ago)

Which one, Matos? "Disconnect the Dots" or "Wraith Pinned to the Mist"?

jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 16 May 2005 05:49 (twenty years ago)

i.e., watching them from the sidewalk at SXSW -- I said, "hey, aren't you guys U.S.E." and then proceeded to talk to Derek for 10 minutes

Hahah. I love how small the world is. Did they get all excited you recognized them?

Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 16 May 2005 05:55 (twenty years ago)

Well, they were definitely bemused -- I told them that I had just seen them two weeks ago in Chicago.

jaymc (jaymc), Monday, 16 May 2005 06:04 (twenty years ago)

"Wrath"

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 16 May 2005 08:59 (twenty years ago)

sorry, "Wraith"

Matos-Webster Dictionary (M Matos), Monday, 16 May 2005 08:59 (twenty years ago)

three months pass...
I see they're touring again. LA date is Monday September 19 at the Knitting Factory.

Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 28 August 2005 22:48 (twenty years ago)

three weeks pass...
they killed it last night! barely anyone at the show! they're playing tonight at cinespace!

huell howser (chaki), Tuesday, 20 September 2005 20:17 (nineteen years ago)

I'm going to catch them in Idaho next month, where I'll go out on a limb and predict that the attendance is similar.

Mr Deeds (Mr Deeds), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 03:23 (nineteen years ago)

anybody going to catch them in San Diego (at casbah) on weds?

tylero (tylero), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 03:33 (nineteen years ago)

Picked up the album the other day for cheap and I'm pleasantly surprised by it. I found it a little funny at first that all the songs basically seem to use the same instruments as "Emerald City" (those opening chimes come up like four times), but really there's a lot of variety.

Vinnie (vprabhu), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 17:31 (nineteen years ago)

I feel like "Climb The Walls" is hardly praised here, and I think it's their best song, so there's my shout-out.

billstevejim (billstevejim), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 21:17 (nineteen years ago)

i was totally avoiding it cuz of the horrible name, but a copy showed up in my mailbox last week (i assume they're touring again soon, hence the late promo) and it's actually not bad at all.

ken taylrr has gone off the internet because of you (ken taylrr), Wednesday, 21 September 2005 21:19 (nineteen years ago)

four years pass...

Anyone heard the new album, Loveworld?

M. Grissom/DeShields (jaymc), Monday, 26 October 2009 23:28 (fifteen years ago)

four years pass...

'It Is On' came on random today. Had completely forgotten about that one.

monoprix à dimanche (dog latin), Tuesday, 16 September 2014 09:44 (ten years ago)


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