Music
Press
a free noise clinic in a single 47-minute composition . . . whenever a structure becomes apparent, the duo shifts directions at breakneck speed to deconstruct the inherent qualities of structure. it's very cool stuff, man.
- phoenix new times
[this is the new american national anthem] is a cd I got with no cover and no additional info whatsoever. the cd only says that this is supposed to be «the new american national anthem»... if you are old enough to remember hendrix high and chewing on stage while performing the anthem with his super distorted fender, just imagine him doing the same in a waaaaay less composite and orderly way and with a ton more drugs in his body. [rock / usadown] is a keyboard/guitar duo from nyc's east village. apparently they recorded this one 47 minute long track of guitar noise mayhem on a boombox. it's loud, it's long, it's love, it's 666, but most of all it's noisy, so try them out only if you dare.
- chaindlk.com
this arrived in the box, in a padded envelope but no explanation other than a sticker with the information above. going to the site explains that it is by dave unger (keyboards) and joe johnson (guitar) and was recorded direct to boombox. there are other pieces available from them either as downloads or burns. the site makes reference to jimi hendrix's star spangled banner, and i would also add the nice's america (which bernstein stopped them playing). this is simply 46 minutes of guitar and keyboard distortion and noise - with some brief passages that suggest melody, some rhythm - but mainly aural assault. cloth-ears here can't identify if there is a particular song being deconstructed but it's a hell of a fun time in hell. recommended for those seeking catharsis or the ambience that noise can bring.
- ampersand etcetera
there's nothing exactly wrong with the slew of bands that take the fuzzed-out mayhem of the mc5 out of context...until you hear one like this dc trio apply it to its original revolutionary function. get a load of love 666's post-white panther manifestos — a boundless array of screeds that are pro-drug, pro-violence and anti-just about everything else — and you may find yourself on the frontlines of the class war the band seems so intent on fomenting.
guitarist Joe Johnson's emphatic string-wrestling imbues the band's self-titled debut with the sort of metallized sun ra spaciness that characterized kick out the jams, a texture underscored by dave unger's distorted sine-wave keyboards. It's an extremely oppressive combination, but then again, you wouldn't expect breezy beer-commercial backing when a foam-flecked maniac is egging you on with words of wisdom like "fuck the man and fuck his plan...if you want to thank him for all that he's done / blow his fucking head off with your right to own a gun." this really ain't no party, no disco, no foolin' around.
- trouser press
Discography
love 666: love 666 (no label) * love 666: xtc b/w ar-15 (amphetamine reptile) * love 666 dope/guns comp: you sold me out (amphetamine reptile) * rock / usadown: this is the new american national anthem (feedback) * usadown: drugs (2008) (feedback)
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Bio
joe johnson, original guitarist for love 666 ("the most important underground band in america" - alternative press) has formed a new band, 'usadown'. the first incarnation of the band, with the winged skull playing keyboards, recorded 'this is the new american national anthem' in the summer of 2000, a 47-minute screaming white noise assault cut on a boombox. at the same sessions, they tracked an album of psychedelic country rock ballads called 'death in the usa', as yet unreleased.
johnson took usadown on the road for the first time in may 2007, touring on 'this is the new american national anthem'
in the intervening period, the band recorded 'drugs' in 2004, at legendary country hit parade omega studios in rockville, md. this session featured angel (ex-love 666) on drums and the winged skull playing keyboards. each member was on a different personal trip: the winged skull was playing songs off a completely different album of his own composition, angel was struggling with a health crisis that altered his style, and johnson was trying to ward off a serious drinking problem.
'drugs' should be equated with both the highest points and the complete decimation of the actual drug experience, i.e., the beautiful moments and the long periods of drifting, pain and non-functionality. it can be compared to neil young's 'tonight's the night', al pacino's 'the panic in needle park' . . . stark realism and the courage to let things fall apart. johnson thought the album was a complete failure at first, but after months of listening, he realized the context and value of it. and decided to put it out.
the 2007 tour on 'this is the new american national anthem' garnered critic's picks from the new york times, time out new york, the austin chronicle, the chicago reader, the phoenix new times and was unanimously well-received.
johnson is moving from phoenix to nyc this summer to start work on some new albums and play locally in preparation for upcoming us tours. current releases are on small local indie feedback.
some press:
"a free noise clinic in a single 47-minute composition . . . whenever a structure becomes apparent, the duo shifts directions at breakneck speed to deconstruct the inherent qualities of structure. it's very cool stuff, man." - phoenix new times on 'this is the new american national anthem'
'guitarist joe johnson's emphatic string-wrestling imbues the band's self-titled debut with the sort of metallized sun ra spaciness that characterized 'kick out the jams' - trouser press on 'love 666'
"if you are old enough to remember hendrix high and chewing on stage while performing the anthem with his super distorted fender, just imagine him doing the same in a waaaaay less composite and orderly way and with a ton more drugs in his body . . . " - chaindlk.com on 'this is the new american national anthem'
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