Music Library: U-Roy, U2, Uncle Tupelo, Unicorns, The United States Of America, Universal Congress Of, Universal Life And Accident

U-Roy - Rock With I (compilation, 1972-76). U-Roy was one of the originators of toasting, the style of monotone chanting over a reggae beat that was one of the roots of hip-hop, and these are some of his 1970s tracks.



U2 - Boy (1980), October (1981), War (1983), The Unforgettable Fire (1984), The Joshua Tree (1987). Beloved by some, but not by me. I didn't delete these out of some memory of discovering them when I was in 7th or 8th grade.

Uncle Tupelo - "Pickle River (Demo)," No Depression (1990), Still Feel Gone (1991), March 16-20, 1992, Munich Nachtwerk 12/2/92, Anodyne (1993), "Effigy," The Long Cut + Five Live (1994), Mississippi Nights St. Louis MO 5/1/94. I fell hard for this band in the early 90s, then dragged my friends to Wilco and Son Volt shows before either had released an album. No Depression seems pretty unsteady now, and Still Feel Gone is trying too hard to be a synthesis of the Minutemen and country music. The acoustic March 16-20, 1992 hits just right, though, and Anodyne sounds like the work of a band who found balance. Munich and St. Louis are bootlegs, but neither is all that dynamic. Their cover of CCR's "Effigy" from the No Alternative comp is freakin' excellent. The Long Cut + Five Live is, as advertised, a single from Anodyne with five live tracks at the end.



The Unicorns - Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone? (1993). Silly and fun indie rock from Canada.



The United States Of America - The United States Of America (1968). This was a psychedelic electronic band from the late 60s. They're sort of what I wish Van Dyke Parks were more like.



Universal Congress Of - Universal Congress Of (1987), Prosperous And Qualified (1988), and This Is Mecolodics EP (1988). UCO was a free/fake jazz outfit led by Joe Baiza, formerly of Saccharine Trust, that tried to blend skronk jazz with punk/hardcore rhythms.  Good stuff.



Universal Life And Accident - Centrifugado (1998). The great Che Arthur and Adam Reach, current of Pink Avalanche, were the creative force behind this excellent punk/metal-ish band. Unfortunately, I can't find any clips online. Worth searching out.