CHICAGO XX

CHEER ACCIDENT are one of my favourite avant bands out of the USA, and man they have been on a run of late. Formed in 1981, they are more prolific now than they have ever been in the past. They have released six albums in the last three years, and I have none of those. "Chicago XX" is my most recent acquisition from this band from 2019, and they rose to the occasion here with an absolute classic for their 20th release. And no I'm not surprised.

This is the last album of that five album run that began with 2009's "Fear Draws Misfortune" that is right in my wheelhouse when it comes to their music. And this one might be my favourite along with that 2009 album and "Fades", my top three from them. We get eight tracks worth under 38 minutes, and once again they have surprised me. This is such a catchy and melodic album, but of course there are plenty of avant moments as well. I was just surprised at hearing song after song that has a heavy groove, are mid-paced, and are vocal led. Very uniform this recording, and it's been a while that I've had a song stuck in my head, but "Life Rings Hollow" accomplished that. More on that later.

In the press release the band states that they maybe shouldn't be rocking out so much at their advanced ages. You have to appreciate the humour of this band. Off the charts. They describe this album as "Harmony and dissonance, love and hate, oboes and drums...they all help to form this delicious and strange bed fellowship." They also mention that this might be their most gripping album vocally, and I agree, with three singers bringing the goods. Including drummer and band leader Thymme Jones, Greg Beemster who sings on but one track, and the main singer Carmen Armillas who impresses big time. Thymme plays a surprising amount of trumpet on this one, along with keyboards, of course drums, and more.

The 2 minute opener "Intimacy" features angular sounds that are almost industrial sounding, bringing about a strange combination of sounds that remind me of THE RESIDENTS and THE LEGENDARY PINK DOTS. I really like the 80's vibe with those bass synths on "Diatoms" that 3 minute third track. The synths pretty much growl here. Vocals join in and then an instrumental break that is experimental. I like when that guitar line kicks in around 2 minutes. My favourite track is "Life Rings Hollow". It was recorded in a different location that the rest of the songs and features a singer and musician who are only on this tune. That musician playing mellotron of all things. This song has been in my head on and off all last week. "So I took a little ride on the side of I won't be there". Love this one including the bass and mellotron.

"I Don't Believe" is the longest piece at over 7 1/2 minutes and is a top three with the previous track. It's not exactly ear friendly to start, but 1 1/2 minutes in to the end is all gravy. "Plea Bargain" and the earlier song "Diatoms" are in a tie for that third spot when it comes to favourite songs on here. I wish the next track "Things" was the closer, it would have been perfect. I put such a high emphasis on the opening and closing tracks and the closer here "Slowly For Awhile" just doesn't do it or me. A skippable finale unfortunately. It's slower than the rest and the vocals are annoying.

What an album though! So glad I picked this up this year, and how about that art work! Bringing CHICAGO's most famous band to mind with the script being in that same style as CHICAGO used to use. I really like what CHEER ACCIDENT created here. What a band!