Props from Wantage Records
By Josh Vanek
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Folks who’ve been coming to Total Fest for a few years should remember the stalwart Missoula band called the Oblio Joes. Perhaps they’re slightly out of place among the heavy rockers, but the Obes (as we call them) play directly from their collective gut and variety is a key component of a balanced diet. Charting on the Wantage earphones right now is the new Oblio Joes CD, which is entitled “Let’s Decompose and Enjoy Reassembling.” The Oblio Joes are a spacey pop outfit and their music is like the Replacements, Elvis Costello and Harry Nilsson writing music in the jumbled back of a record store. Musically it’s sentimental, whimsical and is packed up to the walls with the gummiest pop hooks you’re going to encounter this side of the continental divide. The recording is top notch, loud and representative of every nice little tone they’re responsible for in the live setting. Damnation, it’s easy to let it repeat. I can’t honestly recommend the thing enough. |
