I think you're being too hard on Skeleton Key. Certainly not "prog-rock." They do have a bit of that spark that lacks most bands that would fit in their genre. I mean, really, Helmet or Tomahawk or Quicksand really didn't do anything that crazy, but they played rock that was good. That's pretty rare in and of itself. It's so hard to find simple music worth listening to. Hell, the Melvins and Sonic Youth could be called "alterna-rock" on some of their stuff. Still worth listening to though.

You're right though, Sleepytime Gorrilla music certainly is better (though I've never seen them live, everything that I've heard has been phenomenal). And Secret Chiefs 3 is da shit.

The enemy of my enemy is my friend.

Matt G

 zorn-list-request@mailman.xmission.com wrote:

Message: 5
Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 11:23:03 -0800 (PST)
From: Jorge Gallegos
Subject: skeleton key/sleepytime gorilla museum
To: zorn list

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Caught the Skeleton Key/Sleepytime Gorilla Museum show this weekend. Skeleton Key was a dissapointment. If you would take away the found metal banging you end up with what sounds to me as very conventional "alternative rock". Had to leave the room after a couple of songs. Meanwhile, Art Rock is alive and well with Sleepytime. There's a fine RIO slant on their music but with a more aggressive attack. Reminds me of the Art Bears or Thinking Plague with some Crimson power chords and a Bay Area sensibility (Caroliner, Thinking Fellers, etc.). Carla (from Tin Hat Trio) is phenomenal. She was flying on the violin from the opening song (blissful) on. Great stage presence, quite theatrical. Prog rock without the cheese. Their album doesn't completely do it for me. Most of it is great except for some moments that border on "rap metal" (the most horrible hybrid I can think of), but even these sounded good rearranged live. Their new material was superb and I was told that their next album will be out on Web of Mimicry, home of the astounding Secret Chiefs 3.