Doin' the Woo-Hoo

The third (and, as of this writing, the last) collection of recordings by Detroit oldies terrorists King Uszniewicz & His Uszniewicztones to be unearthed by ethnomusicologists at Norton Records, Doin' the Woo-Hoo is actually their most chaotic set, suggesting that against all odds, the U-Tones actually got more feverishly inept with the passage of time. From the staggering group vocals and monotonal saxophone bleating of "Do Wah Diddy Diddy" to the tripping-over-its-own-feet downhill momentum of "At the Hop," Doin' the Woo-Hoo displays all the grace and easy charm of a sailor on shore leave hitting the nearest tavern, and let's face it, would anyone want King Uszniewicz any other way? Remarkable innovations on this album include King U embracing folk music ("If I Had a Hammer"), blue humor ("She Won't Turn Over for Me"), the great hits of the 1970s ("Crocodile Rock" and "Kung Fu Fighting"), and the Beatles ("From Me to You"), and by the time he and the Uszniewicztones get done with 'em, they all carry this band's signature sound -- namely, they sound like some sort of freak accident in a musical equipment store. It's hard to say if this stuff was supposed to sound like this or if King Uszniewicz's "career" was simply one long, grand accident, but Doin' the Woo-Hoo finds them ending their career (or putting it on pause) right where they started -- as the greatest awful band on Earth. No bowling alley could ask for more.