I lost track until a few years ago when mp3.com was in it's heyday and they had an artist's page. I ordered their album and have really enjoyed it. It's just the right kind of surreal, spoken word, rock I like. Many of their songs are stories. Others remember them fondly
My favorite songs of their's are Crossroads, Frank's Chair, and This is Ponderous.2nu appeared on the music scene at this time, releasing their only album, Ponderous, on Atlantic. The album was filled with pop-hooks, witticism, out-there references, surrealistic story-telling, and, most distinctly, far more sound effects and spoken-word passages than most other music that had broken the top 100 before that time. This explains why they weren't lumped and packaged with their successful Seattle brethren, who, ironically, were seen as more "alternative." Since then, one-hit-wonder King Missile and superstar artist Beck have made these styles and practices a bit more common. As with many other unsuccessful bands, it seemed a matter of being a bit ahead of their time (at least if you believe me...).
However, 2nu was a bit different than Beck and King Missile, and far different from Lou Reed or Frank Zappa, others that the above description may have evoked. The music was more accessible than Frank's, less somber and lighter than Lou's, not quite as deadpan as King Missile's, and, as for Beck, I love him, but let's remember who came first. And even he didn't use quite as many sounds and voices which left you wondering where they came from. (As a side note: the They Might Be Giants FAQ suggests 2nu, and the bands are comparable in imagination.)
They scored a small hit (number 46 on the pop charts) with the single, "This Is Ponderous," a song about a strange dream in which the narrator runs into his boss while skipping work (who happily doesn't recognize him) and into a strange assortment of other people, including a girl who talks with her eyes. This song did get limited top 40 radio airplay, at least enough that some people actually know what I'm saying when I talk about the band.
They eventually had a second song with radio airplay (albeit less), just before promptly disappearing of the face of the earth, leaving only their now-discontinued album as a reminder of their presence. It shows up now and then, usually in clearance bins since no one knows what the hell it is. IF YOU SEE IT PICK IT UP!! It is well worth the pocket change you'll pay, and, if you want something different, it with certainly provide that. (Hey, even if you don't, I know quite a few people still looking for a copy to call their own, so contact me if you've got a spare. From the bittersweet adventure of "Frank's Chair" to the involving mystery of "Her Name" to the all-out wise-cranking humor of "DDS Blues," this is an album worth having. Also look for the single, "This Is Ponderous," with the haunting, "She." These songs are also available at fellow 2nu fan Chris Robertson's site. .
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