The Samuel Jackson Five are a Norwegian band with a silly name and jokey song titles. They also make some of the most intelligent, tuneful, cathartic music I've heard, in a jazz-influenced style of post-rock. Emotionally resonant without being sentimental; equally given to bursts of raw energy and artfully hewn melodies.
Many songs are imbued with power via the rock-production standbys of wide punchy drums and searing electric guitars, but those sections gracefully give way to contemplative space and gorgeous violin bowing. SJ5 never let you feel too grounded--they push their sounds into a somewhat abstract headspace by weaving buzzy synths and warbly theremins in with the more recognizable instruments, and they're happy to straight-up destroy your skull with noise ("Person Most Likely to Enjoy the Taste of Human Flesh" features the most sublime cacophony).
But make no mistake, this album is a work of expert craftsmanship from top to bottom. Every band member plays with a perfect balance of expression and restraint. They're so good at layering sounds that a combo as simple as an electric guitar in sync with an acoustic one can sound like a completely new instrument. And I love the way they can change the character of a melody by re-contextualizing it with a different groove or bassline.
I've never heard another group quite like this. If you dig Easily Misunderstood make sure you check out their true magnum opus, Goodbye Melody Mountain.
