Not A Food (1996, CD)

CHEER-ACCIDENT

In case you were missing some of the CHEER-ACCIDENT dissonance, distortion, and daredevil rhythmic ideas (no doubt OD-ing on the melodicism of The Why Album) this is their Rock Update. Comparable to their (until recently) long out of print (unless you count the Neat Metal version, which doesn’t count) Dumb Ask CD in terms of its aggression, but with a much richer sonic palette. Adeptly engineered by Steve Albini.

Listen to a clip of Ice Cream And Lies from Not A Food.

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No Ifs, Ands or Dogs (2011, CD)

CHEER-ACCIDENT

CHEER-ACCIDENT’s 17th! This one rocks. And it pops. It even hops!
Yes, the second track (“Trial Of Error”) could very well be the birth of a brand
new subgenre, one that will surely never quite catch on: Mid-Hop. This song
serves as a microcosm of the album as a whole, which is to say it’s got a little
bit of everything: skewed-yet-danceable grooves, catchy melodies, layered
progressive rock density, and meticulously-sculpted guitar and synthesizer
textures.

Undoubtedly, the newest and shiniest feature of this recording is the debut
of singer Carmen Armillas, whose sensuous vocals invite the listener to bathe
in every nuance of these seductive melodies. And she’s right there on the
first tune, “Drag You Down,” fully inhabiting the song in all of its twists and
turns.

A facile way of describing this latest offering from CHEER-ACCIDENT would
be this: If Fear Draws Misfortune was prog with pop elements, then
No Ifs, Ands or Dogs is pop with prog elements. But that tidy description
falls woefully short of doing the music justice, for the years roll on, words
become impotent, and CHEER-ACCIDENT employs increasingly powerful
forms of insidiousness toward its navigation of a vast musical terrain.
Now more than ever, you’ll just have to listen to it…

Listen to a clip of Sleep from No Ifs, Ands or Dogs.

Dragons b/w Kazoo And Drums! (2016, 7″)

CHEER-ACCIDENT

Another summertime single! (Our third in seven years…) This thing
is half “art object” and half “odd occurrence.”

Art: Zack Wallenfang created the cover, which is definitely worth staring
at for many, many hours.

Occurrence: Somebody named “Grace Kulp” temporarily (we think)
took over the band and insinuated himself onto this recording by
singing and playing kazoo (and, well, writing the song). There’s a
pretty good chance that this will be the only song CHEER-AX will
ever record that’s about Dragons.

Confusing times! Expensive times, too, because we only made 100
of these, and they’re quite costly to manufacture. However, we can
still somehow guarantee that this precious piece of vinyl is worth it,
both aurally and visually.

Introducing Lemon (2003, CD)

CHEER-ACCIDENT

This one might even include the kitchen sink! 74 minutes of Dylan, Jamie, Jeff and Thymme firing on all cylinders.
Their most pristine recording to date, adeptly engineered by Steve Albini at his then-rather-new dream-of-a-studio, Electrical Audio. Two 20-minute songs serve as bookends for this sonic adventure, so don’t be in a hurry: Go ahead and immerse yourself in this multi-experiencial ride…

Listen to a clip of The Autumn Wind Is A Pirate from Introducing Lemon.
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Fear Draws Misfortune (2009, CD)

CHEER-ACCIDENT

After decades of looking longingly at each other, CHEER-ACCIDENT and
Cuneiform Records finally decided to consummate the relationship with
this CD.  C-A’s 16th full-length release delivers on every promise that
a convergence such as this might suggest:  finely-honed and intricate
compositional inventiveness, an intelligent blending of “rock” with
“non-rock” instrumentation, and an obstinate refusal to be anything
but themselves.

The music contained on Fear Draws Misfortune is simultaneously
sensitive and courageous, qualities that one would hope could live side
by side via the shared wisdom that results from a band who has persevered
through decades of thick and thin.
Listen to a clip of Sun Dies from Fear Draws Misfortune.

Variations On A Goddamn Old Man (2005, CD)

CHEER-ACCIDENT

The second in the series. This one is definitely a bit more “produced” than the first one, with the focus still being on mood, texture, and grooves. Is this Krautrock via the tape-saturated “There’s A Riot Goin’ On” while trying to find Robert Wyatt? And is that how one arrives at This Heat’s doorstep?

Listen to a clip of Await from Variations On A Goddamn Old Man.

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Variations On A Goddamn Old Man (2008, CD)

CHEER-ACCIDENT

Third in the series. We’ve established a pattern here. (Every three years…)
This one is very much the sister Old Man to the 2005 release. Sister Old Man? Does that even make sense?
Much tunefulness here as euphoria and melancholia seem to be battling it out.

Listen to a clip of Dana from Variations On A Goddamn Old Man.

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What Sequel? (2006, CD)

CHEER-ACCIDENT

The long-awaited (by whom?) followup to 1994’s seminal The Why Album. Just as long on tunefulness and even longer on ambition than its predecessor, this collection of pop gems is a satisfying listen both for folks who like a catchy tune and those who crave a bit more compositional intricacy.

Listen to a clip of All Over from What Sequel?.

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