25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die

**Janszoon** · 07-21-2010, 07:43 PM

17. Sons of Otis—Spacejumbofudge (1996)

So you think you're coping pretty well with the end of the world, savoring life, while it lasts, in a healthy and stable fashion. Then one night you're driving, late, on an empty country road. Maybe you've had a few too many drinks to be behind the wheel. Maybe not. But as you pass under a break in the tree branches you see it, the thing you've been forcefully ignoring for quite some time. It's hanging there, pale, cold and ominously huge. You shiver as the intro to Spacejumbofudge floats out of your car's speakers on a current of distortion and reverb.

Sons of Otis have, to say the least, a confusing history: dumped or otherwise departed from label after label, band member rotations, geographical relocations, even a name change early on. They're from Tortonto, sort of, though the only constant member of the band, Ken Baluke, is actually from Detroit, and as far I can ascertain, the original incarnation of the band, simply called Otis, was from Detroit as well. Baluke played everything on the first album and he plays everything except bass on Spacejumbofudge, I think, but don't quote me on that.

I guess in a way it's easy to classify Spacejumbofudge, and this band in general, as some kind of stoner doom metal or some other related sub-sub-genre but for me it stands alone. The most amazing thing about this album to me is its ability straddle seemingly opposing moods with ease. It's trippy and spacey but also heavy as fuck. It's laid-back, end of the day music but also somehow very ominous. And even though it's utterly effects-drenched it's somehow very rootsy.

07-21-2010, 07:43 PM	#39 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	*17. Sons of Otis—Spacejumbofudge* (1996)** So you think you're coping pretty well with the end of the world, savoring life, while it lasts, in a healthy and stable fashion. Then one night you're driving, late, on an empty country road. Maybe you've had a few too many drinks to be behind the wheel. Maybe not. But as you pass under a break in the tree branches you see it, the thing you've been forcefully ignoring for quite some time. It's hanging there, pale, cold and ominously huge. You shiver as the intro to Spacejumbofudge floats out of your car's speakers on a current of distortion and reverb. Sons of Otis have, to say the least, a confusing history: dumped or otherwise departed from label after label, band member rotations, geographical relocations, even a name change early on. They're from Tortonto, sort of, though the only constant member of the band, Ken Baluke, is actually from Detroit, and as far I can ascertain, the original incarnation of the band, simply called Otis, was from Detroit as well. Baluke played everything on the first album and he plays everything except bass on Spacejumbofudge, I think, but don't quote me on that. I guess in a way it's easy to classify Spacejumbofudge, and this band in general, as some kind of stoner doom metal or some other related sub-sub-genre but for me it stands alone. The most amazing thing about this album to me is its ability straddle seemingly opposing moods with ease. It's trippy and spacey but also heavy as fuck. It's laid-back, end of the day music but also somehow very ominous. And even though it's utterly effects-drenched it's somehow very rootsy. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm