Another sweet record cover from my collection. Illustration by Robert Rodriguez
UNI vs OCTI
Last week The Moth Podcast released a recording of Steve Burns, from the the kids show Blue’s Clues, recounting his rise to fame and a run-in with a buxom fan. I caught this randomly tonight and was surprised and impressed with his coolness. I was too old to be a fan of Blue’s Clues but my siblings enjoyed it, so naturally, I despised it. I’m glad to see he owned it and was able to move beyond such a typecast-able role.
The story he shares is great, but what caught my ear was the notes at the end of the podcast that mentioned he recently released an album of adult-oriented music and toured with the Flaming Lips.
While his own band, Steve Burns and the Struggle, was decent enough I found more interest in another project. In collaboration with Steven Drozd of the Flaming Lips, UNI vs OCTI is a kids album that rocks enough that anyone could enjoy it, especially FLips fans.
Most kids records are overly cheesy and not that enjoyable unless you’re 5 or a creeper. This record is nothing like that. While the subject matter is definitely kid oriented, it’s written in an intelligent manner and packs a thought-provoking punch. There are some songs that have a deeper theme, even a bit melancholic.
The last and lonely unicorn, sadly hangs his magic horn, he just read the news, and he doesn’t know what to feel. For the paper he read, just told him that he isn’t real . —The Lonely Unicorn is Never Giving Up
Combined with the amazing instrumentation of Steven Drozd and you have an odd and enjoyable album you can put on when you feel like a kid, want to cheer up, or forget where to poop.
via behance network
