Unwilling to Explain is the fourth album by American improvisational band Unknown Instructors,[3] featuring Mike Watt (The Minutemen, fIREHOSE),[3] George Hurley (Minutemen, fIREHOSE),[3] J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.),[3] and Dan McGuire.[3]

Unwilling to Explain
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 22, 2019[1]
RecordedDecember, 2011[1]
Venue
  • Bisquiteen, Amherst, MA[1]
  • Casa Hanzo, San Pedro, CA[1]
  • Cleanest Dirty Shirt, Toledo, OH[1]
  • tHUNDERpANTS, San Pedro, CA[1]
GenreExperimental rock, improvised music
Length43:35[1]
LabelORG Music[2]
ProducerMike Watt, Dan McGuire[1]
Unknown Instructors chronology
Funland
(2009)
Unwilling to Explain
(2019)

It was the first Unknown Instructors album that wasn't improvised[4][5] and the first to feature Mascis on guitar instead of Baiza.[5][6] The recording took quite some time with Watt recording bass tracks in 2011 and Hurley laying down the drums the following year.[7] Mascis' guitar work was recorded three years after that with Dan McGuire's vocals following.[7]

Reception

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David Arnson of Music Connection called it "truly interesting" but warned "Your mileage may vary on the Tom Waits- and Bukowski-influenced bop narration. The real take- away is Mascis’ fluid and expressive guitar work."[8] Razorcake's Michael T. Fournier praised it saying it "hangs together better than any of the group’s other records I’ve heard."[7] Mark Hughson of Jersey Beat said "If you’re into on-the-fly jazz rock you’ll be hard pressed to find better indie star power."[9]

Personnel

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Production
  • Dave Gardner - Mastering[5]
  • Mike Watt - Producer[1]
  • Dan McGuire - Producer[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Unknown Instructors – Unwilling to Explain". AllMusic. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  2. ^ "Unknown Instructors: Unwilling to Explain". Org Music. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d e Dan, Jen (January 28, 2019). "Song Premiere: "Acquainted With The Night" by Unknown Instructors". Rebel Noise. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  4. ^ Cohan, Brad (May 2, 2012). "Q&A: Mike Watt On Snapping Pics In San Pedro For on and off bass, The fIREHOSE Reunion, And Playing Stooges Covers". The Village Voice. Retrieved October 16, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c "Song Premiere: "Out in the Cold" by Unknown Instructors". The Big Takeover. February 11, 2019. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
  6. ^ "october 31, 2018". Mike Watt's Hoot Page. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c Fournier, Michael T. (May 20, 2019). "UNKNOWN INSTRUCTORS: Unwilling to Explain: LP". Razorcake. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  8. ^ Arnson, David (April 24, 2019). "Album Review: Unwilling to Explain by Unknown Instructors (7/10)". Music Connection. Retrieved October 26, 2019.
  9. ^ Hughson, Mark. "Avoid Electric Shock". Jersey Beat. Retrieved October 27, 2019.
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