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El Oso

Whichever Chapter Covers Now (2005)
Contraphonic

Reviewer Rating:

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Contributed by: Jesse
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on August 30th 2005

They are described as "One of Milwuakee's hardest-working bands…El Oso's songs experiment with just about every sub-genre of indie rock" by some guy from OnMilwaukee.com. To be honest, El Oso experiments with every indie rock cliché that I could ever imagine. I really don't like listening to a song and saying, "That was totally Braid…that part is Guided By Voices...ooh look! Jawbreaker!" Top that all off with over the top vocals and extremely quiet production that no matter what sounds like someone is playing the record in the next room over, and you've got El Oso's 2005 release.

It's not bad. I've heard so much worse. But I honestly can't tell if I'm still listening to the same song I was two minutes ago or if it's a new song. Everything sounds the same. What a poor, mediocre release. Nothing is new. Everything is recycled from a list of three or four influential indie groups. Ho hum, poor me. I still have to write more in this review otherwise people will say it's too short.

So how about that…local sports team? How about the weather? We've been having a freak heat wave. Yeah, I know, like in the upper 90s with 75% humidity. Me and my dad were spreading mulch in the planters outside my parent's house. Can you believe it? I had just gotten back into the states and he already put me to work and…what's that? Oh yeah, this record's still going. Yeah, it just went from Jets To Brazil to Jimmy Eat World. Yeah, I'm still tryng to ignore it. Okay, well you have a good day now. Be sure to say hi to your sister for me. Hey, maybe she'd want this thing. Naw, just take it. Not like anyone would be interested in buying it.

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Anonymous (January 5, 2006)

ever wonder what these reviewers do in their spare time

Anonymous (January 1, 2006)

ouch.......ouch.......that's worse than the review AP gave maritime the first time around.

stevejonestherealbones (September 1, 2005)

score is for the post below. fred durst was right about you punknews girls.

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Anonymous (August 31, 2005)

Score is for this bitching back and forth. Skiba was totally right about you punknews boys.

- kara

stevejonestherealbones (August 31, 2005)

wow. i really want to hear what reviewer jesse's band sounds like, cause they obviously wouldn't think of drawing any influence from Jimmy Eat World or Braid or Jets to Brazil or Guided by Voices or Jawbreaker. they must seriously be the most original band in the entire world. man, do i want to hear those guys.

boy, i really want to read a review by you. i bet it will be the most insightfull thing in the world. i bet it will show me how truly amazing and epic a band can be when they are sucked off by a reviewer who thinks you can only critique a band if you yourself are in a band

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Anonymous (August 31, 2005)

seen these guys live and I have a couple of their MP3s that I enjoy thoroughly. score is for that stuff

Anonymous (August 31, 2005)

The kiwi cover is awesome.

Anonymous (August 30, 2005)

you enjoyed it because you are a moron

Anonymous (August 30, 2005)

Jawbreaker? Braid? GBV? Really?
These just seem like weird comparisons to me... those are pretty standard guitar/bass/drums bands while Oso at least has computer beats, piano, sometimes accordian and whatever. No big deal, to each his own... I just don't see (or I guess hear) those comparisons at all. I totally enjoy this record.

blade-runner (August 30, 2005)

Why exactly is the Kiwi Bird, native to New Zealand on the cover of a cd from a Milwuakee band?

That's not a sarcastic question.

blaubs21 (August 30, 2005)

damn man i like this record. maybe because a Mil town band is finally succeeding.

McGarnicle (August 30, 2005)

What's up with all these bands with "Bear" in their title? Bear Vs. Shark, Minus the Bear and now El Oso. I can't bear this anymore.

stevejonestherealbones (August 30, 2005)

This review sucks

Get off these guys, there's certainly alot worse out there

i know, thats why he gave those other guys one star and half star reviews....

makes sense to me

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com