From: MURPH@MAINE.MAINE.EDU (M.A. Murphy)
Newsgroups: alt.music.alternative
Subject: Re: album by Mike Watt and Kira
Date: 12 Sep 92 00:30:20 GMT
 <1992Sep11.032650.23436@hubcap.clemson.edu>
Organization: University of Maine System

In article <1992Sep11.032650.23436@hubcap.clemson.edu>, tendico@hubcap.clemson.edu (Todd Endicott) says:
>
>In article <1992Sep10.195511.26474@Csli.Stanford.EDU>                         u (Mike Reilly) writes:
>mfreilly@csli.stanford.ed
>>
>>I seem to remember an article a while back that mentioned an album by
>>Mike Watt and his wife Kira. Anybody know the title etc. of this work?
>>
>Well, the "group's" name is Dos, and I believe the album is the same.
>Never heard it, but apparently it's just them playing bass and nothing
>else. Supposed to be pretty good, according to Trouser Press.

I reviewed the EP _Numero Dos_ in '89 along with the Bootstrappers' LP.
Here they are...  They are Copyright (c) 1989 by Michael A. Murphy.

========================================================================

                                       The Memory is a Muscle
                                       Spider Baby
Bootstrappers                          New Boots
Bootstrappers                          Taxista
Producer: Gary Smith              T    Flicker
Engineer: Paul Kolderie           R    Third Rail
New Alliance NAR 046              A    Media Dub
Released: 1989                    C    D-I-A-L-C-A-S-H
Total Time: 40:01                 K    X/Delta
Source - LP                       S    Their Faces Are Green and
                                          Their Hands Are Blue
                                       Presidential Apology
Rating - ****                          Mud
                                       Indeed
                                       Empty-Vee
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Numero Dos
Dos
Producers: Kira & Mike Watt       T    Don't Explain
Engineer: Ethan James             R    Heartbeat
New Alliance NAR 044              A    P.C.H.
Released: 1989                    C    I Worry, My Son
Total Time: 15:44                 K    Silence
Source - EP                       S    Number Six

Rating - ***

   _Bootstrappers_ is an album that really needs to be paid attention to
and  listened to  several  times.    It's not  something  to  put on  as
background noise or to sort of half-listen to (at least not until you've
listened to it 20 or 30 times to get 'comfortable' with it).

   There are a couple of tracks that you can get comfortable with pretty
quickly.  Two of them are "D-I-A-L-C-A-S-H" and "X/Delta", which venture
towards the familiar.    "X/Delta" could almost be  a Minutemen/fIREHOSE
song without vocals.  Almost.

   Since I mentioned  the Minutemen/fIREHOSE connection,  I  should tell
you that Bootstrappers are comprised of  George Hurley (drums)  and Mike
Watt (bass), the rhythm section for both the Minutemen and fIREHOSE, and
Elliot Sharp (guitar, bass clarinet).

   Most of the music on this LP is improvised - the trio worked out some
of  the  basic  structures beforehand.    Sharp  plays  a  double-necked
instrument (one neck strung  and fretted like a bass,  the  other like a
guitar)  which is run  through a myriad of effects and  also,  at times,
triggers a sampling  unit.   His bass clarinet was also  run through the
effects and sampler.

   Do yourself a favor  and don't file this one away  until you've given
it at least a dozen listens.  Me, I'm only on my fifth or 6th.   I'll be
spinning this at least  several more times over the coming  weeks to try
and comprehend just a little of what's going on here.

   _Numero Dos_ is a very interesting EP that takes what would appear to
be a limiting  environment (two bass guitars and  vocals)  and exploring
the  possibilities.   Dos'  (Mike Watt  &  wife Kira)   cover of  Billie
Holiday's "Don't Explain" is haunting,  setting the tone for the rest of
the pieces.   The use  of just bass(es)  give the entire  EP an ominous,
dark feel.    Good stuff  to lay  down,  close  your eyes  and slip  the
headphones on for.   Too  bad it's only an EP and you've  got to flip it
over just when you're getting comfortable.

========================================================================
-------

                                            Murph

                                            Michael A. Murphy
                                            MURPH@MAINE.BITNET

If you do not understand my silence
you will not understand my words.
Newsgroups: alt.music.alternative