Album Reviews

[[Syl]]

Clutch
Robot Hive: Exodus
This is a very hard album to quantify, especially since I've only listened to it a couple times all the way through. I know a lot of you might look at a review by me and think, "Oh, just more of that heavy metal stuff I'm not into." I'm telling you, you have to listen to at least a few of the tracks. There's about as much classic rock in this album as stoner rock. And there's something else you're not going to find much of these days: organ. That's right, on several tracks, the organ is just as prominent as the bass, and it fits.

For those that don't know Clutch, their songs can be a little bit out there. The closest I can compare it to is Primus... with a splash of Butthole Surfers (shame most people don't get past the name) and Monster Magnet.

A few samples from the album
"Burning Beard"

Shadow of the New Praetorian
Tipping cows in fields Elysian
Saturnalia for all you have
The seven habits of the highly infected calve

"Gullah"

You Babel rabble-rousers
In polyester trousers
Big bright cities.
Ain’t no doubt Vishnu missed you, then Kali kissed you,
Better get busy. Better get busy. Better get busy.

"Never Be Moved"

Woe be the architect of our city, cruel leveler, the hillock strangler.
Bold pusher of the cold bone index
Through the knotted bowels of the old alleyways.
Read the future a false haruspex.
Recall how he coaxed us out of the green plains.
All of us, dumb eyed at the sheer number. So long ago it does not matter.
Woe be architect in his slumber, for the Watcher never sleeps.
And on that day there will be rejoicing and dancing streets.

"10001110101"

Ribonucleic acid freak out, the power of prayer.
Long halls of science and all the lunatics committed there.
Robot Lords of Tokyo, SMILE TASTE KITTENS!
Did you not know that the royal hunting grounds are always forbidden?

And so on.

This is a good album, and it's only going to get better the more I listen to it. It's a step forward (in a way) from their last album, Blast Tyrant, even if I miss the sound of Elephant Riders and such.

[dANdeLION]

Organ....like a Hammond B-3, or a big, churchy pipe organ? I love the Hammond B-3; can't really visualize a pipe organ working well in rock. Spock's Beard uses the Hammond and a Mellotron all the time in their stuff, and I love it.

[[Syl]]

A Hammond, apparently.

[dANdeLION]

Heh, excellent. I'll check them out, just because of that.

[[Syl]]

Pelican - The Fire in our Throats Will Beckon the Fall

Fans of Pelican will not be disappointed by this release. It is still very indulgent, very rich, with the trademark use of repetition then variation. There's still plenty of down-tuned guitar that reaches right down into your stomach. There's still no vocals.

But this is not the same old Pelican. There is a lot less reverb and feedback, giving it a much more tight, clean sound. There is a lot of acoustic guitar used to great effect on this album, which is to say, it is not acoustic for the sake of acoustic. It sounds perfectly in place where it is used.

Here's what I love about Pelican. There are only seven tracks on this album, but it comes in at just about an hour of play. This is music without the limits of the radio-friendly (or single recording friendly) constraints. They aren't songs. They're music, orchestral, even.

I would recommend this album to metal fans, prog fans, maybe even classical or easy listening fans. With the exception of maybe country and rap people, there's something here for everybody.

Easy 9/10.

[Cheval]

Organ....like a Hammond B-3, or a big, churchy pipe organ? I love the Hammond B-3; can't really visualize a pipe organ working well in rock. Spock's Beard uses the Hammond and a Mellotron all the time in their stuff, and I love it.

Seen Deep Purple a few times and they use a church-type pipe organ for some songs.
Boston used one for "Foreplay/Longtime" during their second tour.

[sgt.null]

Bob Mould : Body of Song.

the long awaited/delayed new album from the noted ex-Husker Du/ex-Sugar guitarist/singer/songwriter. the album is a combination of all of his previous guises. hardcore guitarist of Husker Du, popsmith of Sugar, confessional songwriter of his early solo albums and the electronica aspects of his Loudbomb albums.

1) Circles : my wife's new favorite. a welcome return to New #1/Explode & Make Up territory. and a return to his poetic wording... "when I cry I see million of circles in the sky so blue."

2) (Shine Your) Light Love Hope: this would fit on his last album. more dance orientated.

3)Paralyzed: the forgotten Sugar single? really catchy, and his lyrics continue to amaze... "stuck in a place I don't remember, Was it Sunday or last November?" simple yet haunting and direct.

4) I Am Vision, I Am Sound : oddly reminds me of the Beatles. but in electronica/guitar driven groove. if that makes any sense. glad to hear his guitar sounding strong again. his bass playing sounds great as well. would like to hear him stretch out...

5) Underneath Days: not my favorite... i'm no prude, but the use of the f-word seems grating.

6) Always Tomorrow : great groove. great bass by Bob again. "trapped/syllable/glance/utterance crashed/turn away/fate/suffocate." this should be a rasio hit, in a perfect world.

7) Days of Rain: wow, i am stunned. my new favorite song. great lyrics, great vocals, great music, i even like the keys. sending this to friends.
depressed that he isn't coming to Houston based on this song alone.

Best Thing: lot like Sugar. great break up song.

9) High Fidelity : ex Sugar bassist Dave Barbe plays on this! so this is what they would have sounded like? makes me sad they broke up. it's a great grown up song. sounds like the song rolling over the end credits of a great movie that made you sad and wistful.

10) Missing You : could have been on Sugar's Copper Blue. great sadpop. great vocals...

11) Gauze of Friendship: confessional like Thumbtack. would love to hear this as a full acoustic number. a great song.

12) Beating Heart The Prize: Dave Barbe again. I wish these two would do an entire album together again. great ending song in the tradition of "Whichever Way the Wind Blows"

there you have it, a great album from start to finish. rush out and buy it. and if Bob comes to your town, go see him. he is in top form!

[[Syl]]

Nice review, Sarge.

[sgt.null]

Husker Du: New Day Rising (1985)

on the heels of the massive, sprawling double lp Zen Arcade came New Day Rising. a no less compelling album than many fans consider their best. include me in that group...

Bob Mould: Guitar/Vocals
Grant Hart: Drums/Vocals
Greg Norton: Bass

1) New Day Rising: the title track is the mantra "new day rising" chanted over and over again. with Bob's scream and Grant's impassioned and aching counterpoint. a beautiful song in it's simplicity, raw emotion making this song propulse.

2) The Girl Who Lives On Heaven Hill: Grant's amazing song, with one of my all time favorite lines..."she's got a big room and it's always a mess, worn out shoes and a worn out dress, a worn out smile that she'll wear some more and a worn out welcome mat out by the door." Grant played this last year on stage with the Foo Fighters.

3) I Apologize: Bob song, about a relationship gone bad. great chorus and great guitar. underated song, and I love how he sings "how 'bout it?"

4) Folklore: very political song, something they got away from. Bob's song. would like to hear this redone by Green Day or Bad Religion.

5) If I Told You: Grant's song. another relationship please. has a somewhat spoken piece that I need the lyrics for. great background vocals by Bob. I so want to hear this live.

6) Celebrated Summer : greatest version of my favorite song ever. "then the sun disintergrates between a wall of clouds." is going on my gravestone. mentions April, my birth month. has an acoustic middle with my epitath being sung. and the ending? Bob's song sounds like the end of the world. I love this song so much.

7) Perfect Example: Bob song, slows things down, great break song. and Bob's voice sounds great.

*) Terms Of Psychic Warfare: Grant song, great lyrics. but for some reason I always imagine an Irish Spring comercial when I hear the music on this version. my wife thinks I am odd.

9) 59 Times The Pain: great, great Bob song. some band named themselves after this song. great buildup in this song on the verses till Bob's strangled chorus. underated. great song.

10) Powerline: "What's this humming in my head? must be something I said" fantastic song, and I sing it whenever when we're driving past powerlines. excellent music, vocals and lyrics. Sugar (Bob's later band) used the ending bass in a song.

11) Books ABout Ufo's : my first two serious girlfriends loved this song from Grant. my wife loves this song. is it the loping guitar and bass? the barrelhouse piano? the suit, slightly surreal lyrics? is it Grant's immense shaggy dog pop mastery? could be that it is a great pop song pure and simple. maybe a perfect pop song.

12) I Don't Know What You're Talking About: one from Bob, short but compact. love the chorus and the guitar.

13) How To Skin A Cat : umm, very strange song. starting from someone lighting a pipe. to the strange cat skinning/ rat feeding speak along verses. guitar is odd. surreal song, you need to hear it for yourself. I'd love to know the story on this one.

14) Whatcha Drinkin': very punk song, a nice Bob break between the two songs surrounding it. great middle instrumentation.

15) Plans I Make: classic Bob ending sturm und drang. guitar is very muscular. he plays a Gibsob Flying V in the band, sounds like an army of guitars.

there you have it, a great album. run out and buy it. if you like the reviews, I will do more of some great albums you must own.

[lucimay]

Sarge..you DO do excellent reviews!

[deer of the dawn]

Organ....like a Hammond B-3, or a big, churchy pipe organ? I love the Hammond B-3; can't really visualize a pipe organ working well in rock. Spock's Beard uses the Hammond and a Mellotron all the time in their stuff, and I love it.

Seen Deep Purple a few times and they use a church-type pipe organ for some songs.
Boston used one for "Foreplay/Longtime" during their second tour.

Hellooo, Rick Wakeman with Yes, late 70s? Some of it was pretty ego-trippy, but who wouldn't trip out once in awhile with that kind of power behind you? Didn't Styx use one too?

[Obi-Wan Nihilo]

Wow. The threads that get revived around here.

[sgt.null]

Wow. The threads that get revived around here.

i should do more reviews.