Music Review

''Nuclear War'' (2002)

EW's GRADE
B

Details Release Date: Nov 19, 2002; Lead Performance: Yo La Tengo

This Sun Ra cover is an odd choice (and this is a band that's remade everything from the Holy Modal Rounders' ''Griselda'' to Jackson Browne's ''Somebody's Baby''). At first, the call-and-response jam seems like a goof, but as the EP moves through four increasingly elaborate takes -- one with just vocals and percussion, another that adds kids chanting ''it's a motherf -- -er,'' a third featuring a free-jazz hornfest -- it turns strangely hypnotic.

Originally posted Nov 15, 2002 Published in issue #682 Nov 15, 2002 Order article reprints

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