The Thing was originally formed in 2000 to play concerts and record music based around Don Cherry's compositions, along with original compositions. They've since played and recorded with Joe McPhee, with whom they released 3 albums, and joined with the Norwegian rock band Cato Salsa Experience for one album, again with Joe McPhee. Over the years they've expanded their repertoire to include work by Frank Lowe, James Blood Ulmer, Norman Howard, and rock bands like The White Stripes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and The Sonics. The music is fierce yet expressive, thoroughly modern jazz with a bite. This limited edition box set reissues the first two long out of print albums: The Thing, and She Knows, which is The Thing with Joe McPhee. The 3rd disc is a DVD of The Thing with Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore, recorded live at Oya Festival in 2005. The final disc is new release called Gluttony, recorded in December 2005, and is divided into 3 parts. Recommended.