The Uglysuit - "Chicago"

ABOUT THE UGLYSUIT

Young psychedelic sextet the Uglysuit construct big, catchy, sunny pop songs. The good-time feeling's something the Oklahoma City band clearly embraces: Sunflowers cover their eyes in one of their promo photos, another picture depicts a field of the plants in bloom. The words "psychedelic" and "Oklahoma" may evoke the Flaming Lips, but on the Uglysuit's self-titled Touch & Go debut, the guitar atmospherics, piano, keyboard, and layered voices backing frontman Israel Hindman are more comparable to a happier take on another Ugly band: Isaac Brock's Ugly Casanova. For all the elements, it's also a strikingly clean sound. The group's reportedly played together since their early teens, which could account for the seamlessness, as well as their ability to pull off the tracks shorthanded and without any help from the studio.

The premise of our new series Decomposed is to invite bands to perform in a stripped-down environment. In the Uglysuit's case, the six-piece becomes a three-piece and album standout "Chicago" becomes less anthemic and more insular and sad. On record, "Brownblue's Passing" propels itself with orchestral swells and instrumental flourishes; here, it's a knotty, folk ballad. And while the upbeat, marching "Iceland" makes use of Olivia Tremor Control/early oM vocal effects on The Uglysuit, in this unplugged rendition, Hindman & Co. sound just as good and gain a certain emotional rawness without the studio cushion. Sometimes when a band unplugs, it magnifies weaknesses. Other times, as happens here, it deepens your understanding of the group, adding a depth to material you thought you knew pretty well.

14 Comments

WOW! I wish you could download these songs. They sound great.
I never knew how the Uglysuit would sound as a stripped down folksy act, but they really sound fantastic. Whoever the female vocalist is has a great voice that complimented the lead singer's very well.

Posted by: musictastesgood

at 12/17/08 12:10 PM | Reply
Score = 3

Nice dutch, not!

Posted by: Chris at 12/17/08 5:48 PM | Reply
Score = 0

excellent boys. way to go.

Posted by: agnes at 12/17/08 11:04 PM | Reply
Score = 2

I didn't think there was a girl singer in the band. She adds a great singing part to the songs that she does. Right on.

Posted by: Jason at 12/18/08 9:23 PM | Reply
Score = 2

Who's the girl singer? Leslie Feist?

Posted by: Jim at 12/19/08 12:36 AM | Reply
Score = 0

Rebecca Marie Miller is the woman. Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything about her.

Posted by: Andrew at 12/19/08 9:20 PM | Reply
Score = 0

I love The Uglysuit. myspace.com/bravetheday & myspace.com/rebeccamariemiller

Posted by: Rebecca at 12/22/08 6:17 PM | Reply
Score = 0

sounds great rebecca! You chose wisely in letting her sing with you...look up brave the day , which was her former band in harrisburg Pa.

Posted by: josean at 12/22/08 8:08 PM | Reply
Score = 0

Rebecca you sound amazing. Cali is lucky to have you! I really dig this song!

Posted by: Bryden at 12/22/08 9:05 PM | Reply
Score = 0

Amazing band, you rock!! Glad you got to tour Europe, US - East Coast and West Coast!
I felt priviledged to make it to a few of your west coast gigs. Look forward to seeing you on your future tours!!
Jude

Posted by: Jude

at 01/06/09 10:55 PM | Reply
Score = 2

you guys rock! wish i could see you! my sister saw you guys on the 16 last night.she wished she could hear you play.

Posted by: erin lynch at 01/17/09 6:52 PM | Reply
Score = 0

I had to watch this twice. I was too busy drooling over Miller the first time that I wasn't sure if I heard an actual note of the song.

Posted by: Josh Anderson at 02/25/09 5:21 PM | Reply
Score = 1

I really like this song acoustic. I think I even like it better.

Posted by: Ella at 05/13/09 1:19 PM | Reply
Score = -1

does anybody know the tuning for this song? its been annoying me for ages now!

Posted by: Rachel at 06/16/09 12:30 PM | Reply
Score = 0