THESE FORUMS NOW CLOSED (read only)
Fun Stuff => BAND => Topic started by: Jackie Blue on 18 Jan 2008, 21:17
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This ain't your daddy's post-rock. From the very first of four epic 13-16 minute songs you are catapulted into heavy riff-rock the likes of which are not even comparable to Mogwai's "Glasgow Mega-Snake"; it's more primal and blues-based than that. It harkens back to 70s stoner rock; one can hear shades of early Sabbath, Blue Cheer, Hawkwind, and more modernly, Dead Meadow, Bardo Pond, Boris and Acid Mothers Temple.
Make no mistake, despite a decent amount of quiet time, this is a rock album from start to finish. Even the subdued portions of the tracks are groove-laden and propelled by bass lines rather than piano. This is utterly different from any other album this band has done before, and maybe this is the beer talking but I perceive it as the closest thing I've heard to a real revolution and breath of life into a genre/scene since OK Computer - though it sounds nothing like said album, it flies in the face of pretty much everything which is currently held as standard in the indie rock world in much the same way that OK Computer did.
It is perfectly understandable that it took them nearly three years to make this album because it is clearly a statement of purpose; a battle cry, a rallying point, and an absolutely uncompromising dedication to quality. There is nothing sloppy here, lyrically or sonically. None of the lazy bedroom nihilism that so dominates the very bands that Efrim's old band, GY!BE, kickstarted, such as Explosions in the Sky or Mono. ASZM have always steadily been reaching in the direction of shaking you about the head and shoulders and yelling at you to, in the words of Carla Bozulich, "Do something, why don't you fucking DO SOMETHING?!" but this record takes that attitude to 11.
They named their third album, in part, "This is Our Punk Rock"... but only now are they really delivering on that declaration. This music is angry, defiant, demanding to be heard. Full of bombastic moments and sneering, spastic vocal delivery, it is a true battle cry. "No heroes on my radio!" Erim chants on the title track, a brilliant evolution from his second-album maudlin declaration "Musicians are cowards".
Looks like he finally grew a pair of balls and wants you all to do the same.
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Well, I'm sold.
but this record takes that attitude to 11.
Plus points for a spinal tap reference.
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Grabbing it as we speak. Well, as I type before, during and after your post, 'cause I saw it posted in the mediafire thread and decided to grab it from my torrent site of choice. Will let you know what I think after a thorough listen.
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Wait, one of Efrim's bands mentioned with Hawkwind and Sabbath? Or Dead Meadow?
I think I just deafened my internal monologue with a silent girlish squeal of pure glee.
I mean, that sounds like it rocks hard, man.
And its being released in March.
Well I guess I'll either have to find an internet connection that won't cut me out (off campus, namely) or wait, which I think I might be cool with.
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Yeah
I think it's due out sometime in March
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Wait, one of Efrim's bands mentioned with Hawkwind and Sabbath? Or Dead Meadow?
I think I just deafened my internal monologue with a silent girlish squeal of pure glee.
I am not exagerrating or using poetic license, it really does sound like that.
Album of the year. Calling it now.
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I won't go that far. I'll allow a little bit of lenience in case there's another record this year that blows my mind as much as this one. Don't count on it happening, though.
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Oh dear god I want it so much.
I used to be so incredibly into this band and then I exhausted all the albums.
!!!!
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I have been incredibly excited for their next album since I saw them perform in October, giving the best concert I have ever seen (with some other help). I'm going to wait until tomorrow to give this a listen though; I feel I want to absorb this in its entirety, and I'm expecting a phone call soon. I will let you all know how it goes.
Oh, and Zerodrone, if This Will Destroy You's new album was the best post-rock since You Are There, where does this fit in?
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Oh, and Zerodrone, if This Will Destroy You's new album was the best post-rock since You Are There, where does this fit in?
This album isn't post-rock, at all. Honestly I wouldn't call any of the last three ASMZ albums post-rock; they've always been more grounded in folk/rock roots than the legacy of GY!BE that was prevalent on their first two albums.
This album is just plain rock music. Very much so.
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This is pretty fucking mind blowing. i think why its so good is because it is quite simply unlike ANYTHING else thats EVER been realeased. Fucking awesome.
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If your description is accurate you ought to listen to the new Black Mountain record, In The Future. It's fantastic and works along the same lines.
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This slays pretty hard so far. Efrim's vocals remind me a lot of Alan Sparhawk.
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If your description is accurate you ought to listen to the new Black Mountain record, In The Future. It's fantastic and works along the same lines.
I've been meaning to check them out for a while actually.
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Wait, one of Efrim's bands mentioned with Hawkwind and Sabbath? Or Dead Meadow?
I think I just deafened my internal monologue with a silent girlish squeal of pure glee.
This but with stronger language.
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After struggling through various GYBE and ASMZ albums (and finding it to be extremely pretentious and boring) I'm a pleasantly surprised, this album is not shit. The riffs are decent and overall its quite an enjoyable listen. Definitely not album of the year, though.
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1,000,000 Died to Make This Sound
Ducks? Rabbits?
...Nah, but I like it. I think I could like it a lot.
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Kittens and puppies
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I've been waiting ages for this. I haven't heard it yet but I'm unspeakably excited. I'm even more excited, however, to see them live in Philly (in a tiny church no less) come May. It's going to be a long wait but well worth it.
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So, this album is incredible. Best thing I've heard in ages. I'm fairly sure this tops out anything I heard last year, and it's set the bar incredibly high for the year to come. Efrim's vocals are perfect beside the music, which is in turns gorgeous, breathtaking, and shocking in how it approaches a pure rock method. It's certainly a rock album, though taken with post-rock ideas in mind, it turns into something very different from what I've heard before.
They've announced an east-coast tour on their website, and I've very excited.
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PREDICTION OF WHAT PITCHFORK WILL GIVE THIS ALBUM:
7.8
Calling it now.
Cause you know, post-rock is just soooooo five years ago. It's all about Lil' Wayne now.
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All they'd need was some Timbaland production or a guest spot by T-Pain to get that 8.0.
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PREDICTION OF WHAT PITCHFORK WILL GIVE THIS ALBUM:
7.8
Calling it now.
Cause you know, post-rock is just soooooo five years ago. It's all about Lil' Wayne now.
I'm gonna say either 6.8 or 9.3. Depends whether it's cool to like Efrim now or not.
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I highly doubt it's cool to like Efrim anymore. Horses in the Sky got about a 7.3, I think.
And plus, this totally isn't artsy like Animal Collective.
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Yeah, Horses in the Sky got robbed like a blind hooker.
Not as robbed as Maserati, though, who got like a 4.8 for one of the best albums of the last year. It is obvious that post-rock is no longer cool.
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So I just went to the mediafire thread to download this and it just isn't letting me. I have not had a larger letdown for a while.
When does this officially come out, for the record? Specific dates? General months? "Sometime this year"?
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10 March 2008 (Europe), 25 March 2008 (rest of world)
Also, tour dates.
20 MAR 2008 Montreal, QC
La Tulipe
16 MAY 2008 Burlington, VT First Unitarian Univresalist
17 MAY 2008 Cambridge, MA Middle East
18 MAY 2008 Northampton, MA Pearl Street Nightclub
19 MAY 2008 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall Of Williamsburg
20 MAY 2008 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
22 MAY 2008 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church
23 MAY 2008 Washington, DC Black Cat
24 MAY 2008 Asheville, NC Grey Eagle Tavern
25 MAY 2008 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn
26 MAY 2008 Nashville, TN Mercy Lounge
27 MAY 2008 St Louis, MO Bluebird
28 MAY 2008 Des Moines, IA Vaudeville Mews
29 MAY 2008 Minneapolis, MN Varsity Theater
30 MAY 2008 Milwaukee, WI Turner Hall
31 MAY 2008 Chicago, IL Logan Square Auditorium
02 JUN 2008 Detroit, MI Magic Stick
03 JUN 2008 Columbus, OH Skully’s Music Diner
04 JUN 2008 Cleveland, OH Grog Shop
05 JUN 2008 Milvale, PA Mr Small’s Theatre
07 JUN 2008 Toronto, ON Lee's Palace
08 JUN 2008 Toronto, ON Lee's Palace
I'm definitely going to catch them in Montreal. Means I have to miss Ladyhawk and Immaculate Machine, who're playing together that night, but my last Silver Mt. Zion experience was the most amazing concert I've ever witnessed, so I don't believe I can miss this.
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the only way I could catch them on tour is skip the last two days of school and drive up to St. Louis, or as soon as School gets out drive to Minnesota.
Shit.
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Dude, thanks for those!
I'm so happy their playing on the 23rd in DC! It's the day right after my exams end. This is excellent!
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Yesssssssss, I am so happy they are coming to the midwest
I cannot wait for May 30 now
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25 MAY 2008 Atlanta, GA Drunken Unicorn
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Holy fucking shit they're actually playing Northampton.
I think I have to go, even though I hate the people who run Pearl St.
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To those that have seen them live before, would it be worth a four hour drive to get to a show?
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I am already making plans to skip a few days of school and drive a good 8 hours. So yes.
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I'm lucky that the show I'm going is on the weekend then
Although, I would've skipped classes anyways...
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A 4 hour drive for a show is nothing. That's not even a "road trip"!
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Yeah! Back in my day we had to walk barefoot in the snow for three days to see a post-rock gig.
Those arduous mountain treks kept all the "hipsters posers" away, let me tell ya!
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Sorry, you forgot to place the phrase uphill both ways into that old fart rant. You lose.
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One time I walked 10 miles to see a concert.
True story.
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Two dates in Toronto. Looks like I am sleeping in a gutter near Lee's Palace on June 7th.
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Holy fucking shit they're actually playing Northampton.
I think I have to go, even though I hate the people who run Pearl St.
Oh shit, oh shit. I may have to start walking.
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i once got chased from a train station after breaking in before being forced to huddle all night in a phone booth with 2 other people, this was after walking 5 (possibly only 2) miles from a gig i had attended. all because i wanted to see it through to the end- which was 3 in the morning. also im not actually a hobo.
true story.
also, i will most definately be acquiring this album by some means on my return home.
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This album is amazing. And I get to see them in March. So happy :D
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mannn theyre not coming anywhere near seattle!
what kind of shitty tour skips seattle!
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I agree with everything positive said about this album. It blows my mind. AND they are coming to Cambridge which is just fucking fantastic. That deserves a happy dance right there.
Zerodrone, I agree with you that pitchfork robbed Maserati with that 4.3. I love that album.
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That a cappella bit at the end of Blindblindblind gives me chills every time.
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so damn good huaglbulagual
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I would be incredibly happy if someone reuploaded this--the link never worked for me and still doesn't.
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Will do, it's on it's way.
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Efrim looks like Charley Manson. Thought I'd throw that out there.
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Efrim has more in common with Charlie Manson than physical appearance. :-)
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A failed blues career?
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I was thinking more "Leader of a crazy hippie cult of drug enthusiasts who believe in radical anarcho-communist ideals".
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Tomato, tomahto.
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(http://www.jimbo.info/weblog/archives/StatlerWaldorf.jpg)
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They do have a few key differences though, like that one of them makes really bad music and the other doesn't and one of them kills celebrities and there unborn babies and the other hasn't (yet).
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I was thinking more "Leader of a crazy hippie cult of drug enthusiasts who believe in radical anarcho-communist ideals".
Ah, that's what we've been doing wrong - instead of uniting the workers to overthrow the capitalist class and establish a system of free and federated collectives which would collectively decide upon matters affecting them, we should have been killing celebrities!
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They do have a few key differences though, like that one of them makes really bad music and the other doesn't and one of them kills celebrities and there unborn babies and the other hasn't (yet).
Actually, Charles Manson made some remarkably good music and he never killed anyone. It's not even clear that he told anyone to kill Sharon Tate or if his followers were just that stupid. Popular theory suggests that they thought they would find the Beach Boys' music producer in that house, as Manson was friends with the Beach Boys and claims they stole some of his songs.
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I do tend to agree with a sentence which has not been over ruled. Charles Manson was crazy man, cmon! Seriously, he thought the beatles song Happiness Is A Warm Gun, was a plea for America to take up Arms! Any sane five year old would realise that songs about fucking.
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*head explodes from an overdose of awesome from this album*
BOOM
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So I finally actually saw the LOST trailer that uses a bit of Born Into Trouble... in it (right before the season premire last week) and all I have to say to the people on other boards who have been vilifying Efrim for this decision - Get a fucking sense of perspective. It wasn't "20 seconds of music". It was more like five seconds of music and it took me a minute to even recognise the song, despite having listened to that album hundreds of times.
Lord, people can be so stupid.
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I had probably seen that commercial several times and never noticed it until I read about the people bitching. Eh. Let em have it--there's like, what, 30 people in that band? It has to be pretty hard to eat for them.
Also, Charles Manson's music was pretty great, you guys is whack
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I think this album improves ten fold with each listen. BlindBlindBlind is pure bliss, can't stop listening to it. His voice reminds me of Shane McGowan of The Pogues.
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I'm really torn on his voice. For some passages it works perfectly, but there are lots of moments where he goes off key and it just drives me up the wall. The beginning part of blindblindblind is the most egregious offender here.
Also I know diction is not exactly the most important thing about singing but half the time it sounds like his mouth is full of peanut butter and novocaine.
I think it bothers me because the lyrics, such as I can make out, are quite good and I'd like to be able to understand more of them.
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You know, I completely agree, sometimes I feel that his vocals can be a tad unnecessary when he does his vocal ornament, the one when his voice all of a sudden gets really high if you know what I'm talking about. It never seems on key. I like his voice most of the time but that thing he does sometimes feels over done. Don't get me wrong though, this band is incredible.
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I'm interested to see how the vocals translate in a live setting. I'm a little bit worried to be honest. I like the vocals, and I quite like the lyrics, most of the time but there are definitely those moments where it gets unpleasant. Who knows though. Maybe they'll be playing a lot of older stuff too (although I like "This is Our Punk Rock" best).