Idol Records
1999
Navigational
About This Album
Essentially the first South San Gabriel album in all but name. The first official SSG record wouldn't appear until 18 months later in Europe (the stateside version was a Centro disc called South San Gabriel Songs), but Navigational is certainly the style of laid-back record that would become the norm for the Centro-Matic side project. In July and August of 1998, leader Will Johnson, drummer Matt Pence, cellist/violinist Scott Danbom, and bassist Mark Hedman accepted the invitation of Jay Farrar (Son Volt) to record at his Milstadt, IL, studio, Jajouka. The band emerged from those sessions with over 60 songs, with most of the noisier, lo-fi, anthemic tunes appearing on The Static vs. the Strings, Vol. 1, and the majority of the quieter, more emotive tracks making up Navigational. That's not to say Navigational doesn't have its powerful moments. "Ordinary Days" may begin with a gently loping pace, but as it explodes into feedback-drenched crescendo, the listener gets a great example of Centro-Matic's rare ability to mix urgent, indie sentiments with shout-along, arena rock-style anthems. "The Massacre Went Well" is another explosive song, but perhaps the most effecting of these is the transcendent "Numbers One & Three," which begins with Johnson singing over a fingerpicked electric.
Track List (try tracks 2,3,4,5,10,14 and 15)

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