The Way Things Work
Legends abound regarding the greatness of The Minutemen, and anyone not aware have an opportunity to witness Mike Watt and George Hurley’s innovative rocknroll in ‘We Jam Econo, the Story of the Minutemen’, currently playing in art theaters across the country. Now teamed with Joe Baiza and Jack Brewer of Saccharine Trust, along with upstart lyricist and vocalist Dan McGuire (compiler of the recent ‘Jamnation’ comp), the five-piece goes by the name Unknown Instructors. This debut release is packed with 15 tracks of improvisational prog-agit-free jazz-punk rock and minimalist beat poetic stylings.  High art indeed in the vein of the best of the German 70’s improv-proggers. “But for every tongue-in-cheek (self) reference, The Way Things Work offers a passel of head-swiveling musical ideas—the second-line shuffle that Hurley applies to "The New Bluesmen," the Jimmy Garrison-styled bass thrum that Watt brings to "Scansion." It's a sound that's virtually impossible to distill into a one-line description. Or is it?” –Dave Sprague