Punknews.org

|
Sign In | create an account

Chuck Dukowski Sextet

Eat My Life (2006)
Nice and Friendly

Reviewer Rating:

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

Published on December 5th 2006

The Chuck Dukowski Sextet are a relatively new musical powerhouse consisting of legendary Black Flag, Wurm, SWA bassist and SST alumni Chuck Dukowski, amazing artist Lora Norton on vocals, Lynn Johnston on horns, and Milo Gonzalez on guitars (although on this album he is only listed as a "guest," and is now a permanent member). Drums are played by Bill Stinson on this release, but by the looks of the band's MySpace page, it appears he is no longer a permanent member of the band.

This album features a wealth of guest appearances, some of them very well-known names; Joe Biaza of incredible SST band Saccharine Trust lends guitar to the tracks "Freedom" and "Xipe Totec," while Dukowski / Black Flag fan Flea of Red Hot Chilli Peppers fame lends mellotron and tambourine to the Velvet Underground cover "Venus in Furs." As for the music? It's completely mind-blowing, like little else you've ever heard before. There are a some echoes of Wurm and plenty of the distorted "punk-jazz" that was a staple of Black Flag. As a matter of fact, this album would not have been out of place on SST during the label's mid-`80s prime, but make no mistake -- this is an exciting and very new kind of music.

Many of the album's tracks feature no guitar at all and replace what would usually be done by a guitar with saxophone and clarinet, which may seem like an strange idea at first...until you realize that both Chuck Dukowski and his fellow Flag mate Greg Ginn's playing was often compared more to that of free jazz players like Ornette Coleman than to any bassists or guitarists. Given that Dukowski is the main mastermind behind this band, this move should now come as no surprise.

If I had to put this band into a category, it would be one hell of a long description -- post-hardcore punk free jazz?? I would rather just call it really good and intense music. Think of some of the more experimental SST "jam" bands, only with more direction and sonic power, not to mention better songs and absolutely wonderful vocals by Lora Nortan whom can switch seamlessly between beautiful crooning and violent screaming from song to song.

I know what many of you are thinking: Wouldn't it be cool to hear what a Black Flag song would sound like coming from this perspective? Well...you're in luck! The final song on this record is a Dukowski written Flag song and probably my favorite song of all-time PERIOD, and that song is of course "My War." The CD6's redition of the Flag classic is intense, to say the least. There are high-pitched sqealing horns in place of where would usually be Greg Ginn's high-pitched guitar sqealing and it adds to the intensity perfectly and Lora Norton hits the mic with more intensity than anyone has since Henry Rollins did on the original.

What are my favorite songs on the record? I'd go with the title track "Eat My Life," the haunting "Freedom," "Dreaming of the Endless Death," and, of course, "My War." In addition to having an absolutely amazing album, you also get amazing surreal artwork from Norton herself covering the entire booklet. If you are not familiar with the kind of SST pioneered brand of "jazz-punk" of which I speak, this may be an aquired taste, but no doubt if you like intense music then this album will be on your "best of" end-of-the-year list.

Login to rate this album

People who liked this also liked:

Please login or register to post comments.

What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?

Share your opinion by posting comments on the stories that interest you
Rate music and bands and help shape the weekly top ten
Let Punknews.org use your ratings to help you find bands and albums you might like
Customize features on the site to get the news the way you want.

misterspike (December 7, 2006)

OK ... that version of "My War" is horrible. No one can convince me otherwise.

wentz_equals_death (December 6, 2006)

chuck dukowski just emailed me thanking me for buying his cd. i like that. $8.00 for a compact disc AND email from him? score!

further, if dexter holland would do the same with his hot sauce... well, i'd still probably not bother to buy, but it'd be commendable on his end.

Anonymous (December 6, 2006)

FBI SPECIAL AGENT CRITICAL SKILLS

After qualifying for one of the Entry Programs, Special Agent candidates with one or more Critical Skills will be prioritized in the hiring process.

Accounting
Computer Science/Information Technology Expertise
Engineering Expertise
Foreign Language(s) Proficiency
Intelligence Experience
Law Experience
Law Enforcement or Other Investigative Experience
Military Experience
Physical Sciences Expertise
Diversified Experience

Accounting
To qualify under the Accounting Entry Program, candidates must:

Have been certified as a CPA; or
Possess a four-year Business degree with a major in Accounting or a related Business degree that included or was supplemented by 24 hours of accounting courses and an additional six semester hours of business law or other elective business courses. Also must possess two years of progressively responsible accounting work in a professional accounting firm or comparable public setting, such as a state comptroller or the General Accounting Office. The last year of experience must be as a manager, team leader, or other similar position which would provide experience in a variety of areas and allow for exposure to and experience working with higher level executives (i.e., partners and directors).

Computer Science/Information Technology Expertise
To qualify for the Computer Science/Information Technology Critical Skill, a candidate must either:

Qualify under the Computer Science/Information Technology Entry Program; or
Have managed a corporate network; installed and maintained server operating systems; established and maintained an Internet Service Provider; maintained and monitored performance on a TCP/IP or other protocol network; or maintained and performance tuned servers or Internet Information Services.

Engineering Expertise
To qualify for the Engineering Critical Skill, a candidate must have a degree in an Engineering related discipline. A degree in Architecture would also qualify.

Foreign Language(s) Proficiency
An applicant may qualify for the Language Critical Skill by qualifying for the Language Entry Program (i.e., passing both the listening and reading portions of the Defense Language Proficiency Test (DLPT) and demonstrating a proficiency of three or higher on the Speaking Proficiency Test (SPT) in a critical foreign language). For those applicants that qualify under an Entry Program, other than Language, they can qualify for the Language Critical Skill by passing the listening portion of the DLPT and demonstrating a proficiency of “2 ” or higher on the SPT in a critical foreign language. The following is a list of language skills that are currently deemed critical by the FBI: Arabic, Chinese - all dialects, Farsi, Hebrew, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Pashtu, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Urdu, and Vietnamese.

Intelligence Experience
To qualify for the Intelligence Critical Skill, a candidate must possess two years of substantial, full-time work experience in an intelligence area. Those areas include foreign counterintelligence, counterterrorism, and positive intelligence. The two years of experience may include periods of training that concentrates on intelligence. Full-time work experience as an Intelligence Analyst/Specialist, FBI Special Surveillance Group member, or a supervisor over those positions is sufficient. Candidates who possess undergraduate or advanced degrees in International Studies, International Finance, or a closely related discipline would also qualify.

Law Experience
To qualify for the Law Critical Skill a candidate must qualify under the Law Entry Program (i.e., have a JD degree from a resident law school).

Law Enforcement or Other Investigative Experience
To qualify for the Law Enforcement Critical Skill, a candidate must have at least two years of full-time investigative experience in a law enforcement agency.

Military Experience
To qualify for the Military Critical Skill, a candidate

wentz_equals_death (December 5, 2006)

this marks the first time i have ever purchased an album having heard absolutely nothing about/from it besides what was said in a punknews review. i hope it pays off... (8 bucks from their website free shipping = i made that much money just sitting here, reading the review, and placing the order -- that's right, i make money).

Osloboditelj (December 5, 2006)

The songs on their myspace are incredible, particularly that Venus In Furs cover. I need to pick this up.

someone-yeah (December 5, 2006)

My War is on their myspace if you really want to hear it.

Anonymous (December 5, 2006)

i am at college

but when ever i come home my friends and i all all gather in etheir a basement or a garage, plug in our guitars and set up the drums

then we play my war.

alot.

I NEED TO HEAR THIS