Cheer-Accident Track 29

Originally formed in 1981 by Chicago-based pianist and drummer Thymme Jones, Cheer-Accident has maintained an impressively eclectic approach to music-making throughout their lengthy career, releasing a slew of albums that range in style from noise rock to avant-prog to pop. Unsurprisingly for a band that has been active for well over twenty years, the line-up has shifted on more than one occasion (including the tragic and untimely loss of their then-guitarist Phil Bonnet in 1999), but throughout their career Cheer-Accident have continued to produce challenging and unique music; constantly refusing to pin themselves down to a single genre. 2009 saw the release of Fear Draws Misfortune on Cuneiform Records. A punchy, dark and consistently challenging slice of avant-prog, this album alone more than justifies their inclusion in these archives. Other albums of particular interest to avant-prog fans include 1988's Sever Roots Tree Dies and the more recent Introducing Lemon. Comparisons to Thinking Plague and other American RIO-tinged avant-prog bands are justified but they do little to capture the utterly unique spirit and sound of this band. Highly recommended for fans of complex (but uncluttered), highly-composed and unpredictable avant-prog.