Illinois
What The Hell Do I Know?
Ace Fu
Why would a band from Pennsylvania call themselves Illinois?
The answer is not buried within the seven tracks that make up the group's debut album, What The Hell Do I Know?, but what you will find nestled inside of those songs are some truly outstanding examples of new music. Led by frontman Chris Archibald --who began writing and recording ideas for what would become this long EP in 2001-- Illinois are a special bunch of musicians that are difficult to put a finger on. Like Beck, the band (or perhaps Archibald himself, who handles all writing duties) borrows ideas from every sound-making instrument under the sun. No guitar pedal, keyboard effect, or banjo goes unexplored.
"Nosebleed" is by far the song most worthy of being put on a mix, a Myspace page, or an ipod; choose your poison. It's got a funky drum-machine beat, a plucking banjo instead of a guitar, and a very Jack White style of singing (so, of course I love it!). "I know what ya need/ is a good nosebleed." It's very White-Stripes-meets-Odelay-era-Beck, complete with the pseudo-rapping during the bridge.
Like any good introduction to a band you've never heard, this disc offers a varied selection of styles. From funky, to pretty, to playful it satisfies multiple palates.
Illinois has got my mouth watering and I now I want to feed.
