Gary Lucas & Gods and Monsters "The Ordeal of Civility"

(Knitting Factory) Lucas, known for his guitar wizardry on those two awesome 80s Beefheart albums, leads this group that's so "downtown" I wouldn't be surprised if his original plan was to clone 5 John Luries as a backing band. But when blatant downtown-ery is lcombined with an innovative fingerman like Lucas sincerely strange and wonderful soundwork springs forth. That an overall guiding aesthetic seems to be housing moments of sonic weirdness within extremely pleasant, super accessible songs makes the party all the better.