The music of Oneida recalls an era when post-punk was a term that was thrown about. It was an easy way to label music that had the urgency of punk, but which careened off into interesting tangents. Favoring a robust musicianship, Oneida are back to rattle our expectations again with Expensive Air, their new record on Joyful Noise Recordings.
"Stranger" and "Reason to Hide" are sonic punches to the chest. Less brutal than something like The Jesus Lizard, say, these numbers from Oneida still suggest chaos. The instruments coalesce into a swirl of noise around a central riff with vocals nearly an afterthought. There's more nuance in "Here It Comes", a real highlight here. On this one, the guitars take a more prominent place in the aural assault.
After nearly three decades together, Onedia have lost little in effect. The intentionally primitive drumming by Kid Millions anchors cut after cut that sends a tingle down the spine. American alt-rock lives, it seems. And if Oneida are not reinventing the wheel here, they are at least riding it straight into the sun, all engines rattling and roaring all the way.
Expensive Air by Oneida is out on Joyful Noise Recordings.
[Photo: Landon Nordeman]