PERE UBU
St. Arkansas (Spinart)
Reviewed by John Sekerka

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David Thomas is a madman, one of rock's true originals, and, despite disappearing off the radar screen for years at a time, returns faithfully with a stellar record. A crossroads album on many levels, St. Arkansas is a deep dark delicious music journey that brings Pere Ubu to a new level. Like when Nick Cave decided to croon instead of scream, Thomas has discovered a new power in subtlety. He can still be quite obtuse, as with the stiflingly muffled vocal on "333," but has never been clearer and more playful than on the vibrant "Slow Walking Daddy." Ubu has evolved from frontal assault art punk hipsters to soulful lounge masters. The new career, one demanding attention, begins here.

© 2002 - John Sekerka