A curiously incomplete anthology of
Unwound's non-LP singles and compilation tracks -- two early singles,
"Kandy Korn Rituals" and
"You Bite My Tongue," are inexplicably missing, although one previously unreleased track,
"Mile Me Deaf," is included --
A Single History: 1991-1997 is nonetheless essential for fans of the Olympia-based noise rockers. Of course, like all such compilations, it's a rather hit-or-miss affair, featuring both utterly essential tracks like the whisper-to-a-scream dynamics of the quietly tense
"Eternalux" and the
Sonic Youth-like rocker
"Negated" to a few failed experiments and lesser efforts like the dull, detuned
"Said Serial." One particular standout is the epic
"The Light at the End of the Tunnel Is a Train," a ten-minute seeming improvisation with samples and found-sound vocals that sounds very much like what the experimental
post-rock leader
Justin Trosper and former
Unwound drummer
Brandt Sandeno would further explore on
the Replikants'
Slickaphonics. ~ Stewart Mason