The Units (Jandek)
 Ready for the House

★★★

Three times four is twenty seven says Jandek on "First You Think Your Fortune's Lovely". It's been a long time since I've wanted to explore Jandek's discography. And I've had this specific album downloaded and waiting for over seven months in my library. But here I am, a tad underwhelmed by it all but eager for what's next.

It definitely is music for a mood and all these albums that have been like this really haven't been clicking with me recently. I recognize the desperation in it all and the rawness is hard to ignore. Imagine giving this a listen forty years ago, I would've been fucking scared. And the acoustic guitar he plays only amplifies the dread in his voice and lyrics of his tortured mind. 

I guess what holds it all back for me is that it's all a bit too similar. Not a lot of variation, perhaps except that last song. "European Jewel (Incomplete)" has a completely different feel to the guitar and the vocals seem just a tad more sturdy and confident. But as the title suggests it's incomplete and ends without warning. 

I've heard that his other albums go into different directions and I hope that's the case as I don't think I'd be that interested in listening to many more albums of this. I think that like a lot of "outsider" music it gets pigeonholed into this specific aesthetic that limits not only my future expectations but also what this music can mean to me. Hopefully this will change with the next one.

Favorite Song: European Jewel (Incomplete)

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