By: Carlos Aranibar
Rating: 2/11

If my current lack of facial hair and relatively low blood toxicity are signs that I’ve become a square, then the fact that I just couldn’t get into LA’s jam band, Underground Orchestra, is further evidence that I’ve become a walking IKEA ad.

There’s nothing that stands out about UO. The musicians sound talented enough. The music flows well enough to surely keep people gyrating, eyes closed, dirty blonde dreadlocks swaying. But it just doesn’t sound any different than other bands. Their songs play and play, but there are no sudden changes in tempo, no mind-blowing solos, no nasally vocalist to make it interesting.

When listening to music, it’s fun to listen for possible influences, either inferred by my own cognition or because the band covers a tune by a favorite artist. With Underground Orchestra, there are no interesting back stories or reference points, nothing gripping or exciting. It simply sounds like a good practice session that ran over a bit too long.