by Nitsuh AbebeWhen Calvin Johnson remixed a Jon Spencer Blues Explosion track for the band, his only request for compensation was that the group record something with him. Sideways Soul is the result of this collaboration, and it's a near-brilliant pairing -- Dub Narcotic Sound System and the Jon Spencer Blues Explosion might not sound a whole lot alike, but their general aesthetics tie together perfectly, with the spacious basement realism of Johnson's recording highlighting the loose, bashing blues grooves of Spencer's group. This makes Sideways Soul (with Johnson handling vocals) sound a lot like a looser, less pop-oriented Dub Narcotic record -- Spencer, Bauer, and Simmons plow through their grooves with the cocky strut they're so great at, and Johnson's rumbling singing provides a running commentary on issues like current dance favorites in Olympia, WA ("Fudgy the Whale"). All of which makes for an incredibly fun record, filled with head-bobbing drum breaks, twangy grooves, and a serious sense of humor.