Wynona Riders (The) - Artificial Intelligence

Name: Wynona Riders (the)

Album: Artificial Intelligence
Year: 1997
Style: Punk
Similar Bands: Low Budgets, Dead Milkmen, Generation X, Clash
"One-Word" Review: Catchy Slacker Punk
Based Out Of: San Fran, CA
Label: LookOut! Records #162

Cover, Back, CD Tray, CD

Liner Notes & Lyrics, CD Back

Artificial Intelligence (1997)

1. Good Luck Bison 3:24
2. Sprang 3:45
3. Bang Bang Orangutan 3:29
4. Corrupted To Hell 3:16
5. Masquerade 4:26

Album Rating (1-10): 7.5

Members & Other Bands:

• Dave EC (Henwood) - Drums & Outrage (Vagrants, Pot Valiant, Filth, Toyboat, Crimpshrine, Greenday)
• Richie (Bucher) - Bass & Farm Noise Toys, Art (Albany Dread, Buggerall, Courtney & The Crushers, Juke, Prick, Soup, Sweet Baby, Top Ten, Unskilled Labor, Here Kitty Kitty, Crimpshrine, Raoul, Green Day, Hunx and his Punx, 2 Lazy Boys)
• John Silly (Selby) - Guitar, Vox (Bonstones, Three Years Down)
• Skip (Ron Greer) - Vox, Surly Disposition (Dead Kennedys, Here Kitty Kitty, The Killer Smiles, Running Man)
• Andro / Andy E (Ernst) - Recording, Keys (Sass, Andro & Ross, Diabolical Exploits, Julian Vilante, MC Sway & DJ King Tech, Toyboat, J Grooves, Subincision, Green Day, Link 80)

Unknown-ness: I don't thin i knew who this band was, but i did know Lookout! Records, and i trusted the discount CD bin at Philly Record Exchange when it was just below South Street for a $3 bin find. It can't b too serious of a record with such an obvious name-play. Assuming it will be goofy juvenile punk stuff.

Album Review: The band formed in 1988 under the name Miss Conduct, but changed to WR a year later. Later in their career, they also released an EP under the name The Nation of Wenonah (tribute to The Nation of Ulysses). It seems this EP was recorded just before they broke up for good...as "for good" not referring to their reunion shows in 2017. Current bands Bonstones (San Fran) & Running Man (IL/IA) feature members.

Lots of feedback fuzz and snotty vocals kick off the record. "Sprang" has a more slacker alternative punk aesthetic, while "Bang Bang" is the most in your face aggressive of the tracks. "Corrupted" sounds like if the Clash covered They Might Be Giants song "Spy." Masquerade is a straight up New Wave track.

Stand Out Track: Masquerade

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