Oriphiel

Looks like someone's not takin' care of business.

Anyway, are you going to continue with your top fifty Beatles songs? I'm dying to know which is on top!

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Pet_Sounds

I was just planning on reviving that. Haven't listened to them in about a month. Stay tuned.

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Everybody's dying just to get the disease

Pet_Sounds

It's been a long time since I visited the Scrap Heap, and even longer since I began this project, but what better way to revive both than a review of an album by one of MB's most valuable members? Naturally, I speak of Plankton, friendly guitar wizard and the forum's unofficial dad. He's released three albums, which you can listen to and download here. I'll be reviewing my favourite, Krill, released in 2013.

I must confess to feeling some apprehension before I listened to Krill. I don't listen to much instrumental music other than classical and jazz, and Trollheart's admirable review compared it to Iron Maiden several times. I'm not really a fan of metal, with some exceptions, and they're not one of them. Still, perhaps instrumental heavy metal might appeal to me. Only one way to find out…

The album kicks off with "Flustraxion" (try pronouncing that), and my fears are relieved. This is great! There's some interplay between what I believe are two guitars. As someone whose guitar knowledge consists solely of the chords to "Edelweiss", I'm impressed.

"Waiting Impatiently" is next. It's not quite as heavy, and there's a nice solo that reminds me a bit of Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb". And then… holy cow. Plankton simply explodes.

All the music so far has been contributed by Plankton alone, but he's joined a guest on "Shoveled"--Dr. Martin Luther King. When I asked him (Plank, not MLK) about including this excerpt of a speech, I was informed that he wanted a dramatic feel. It certainly provides that, and appeals to my experimental tastes.

"Lights of an Unknown City" is next. It's my favourite track, building from a proggy intro to a powerful middle, then ending with some beautiful acoustic guitar, which gives me chills. I have limited experience with progressive metal, but that's how I'd probably describe this track.

Plankton's only living collaborator on Krill (his friend Keith, from Canada) enters the scene on the appropriately-titled "Canadian Mist". It's slower, with some lovely keys, played by the aforementioned Keith.

I consider "Son of Soothsayer" Plankton's signature song. It's the first one I heard (he played it in plug, I believe), it's the track I've seen him talk about the most, and it's also the epitome of his sound. Catchy, swaggering, and a real headbanger.

"Here We Go Again" is breathtaking. Although I wouldn't call it chaotic--everything has a definite direction--"wild" is definitely a word that comes to mind. It's probably the best example of Plank's skill.

"Xphereblotish" (whatever that means) continues the incredible guitar work. I'm picking up a bluesy vibe from this one--almost like a caged animal that can't quite break out, but you damn well that you're toast if he does.

Even with my ignorance of metal, I can hear Black Sabbath in "Screaming at an Empty Canvas". It reminds me a bit of "Paranoid"--a crushing representation of artistic frustation. This is also the first time the bass has really caught my attention.

The title track is next, in two parts. Some jangly acoustic begins it--reminds me a bit of The Byrds or even Boston. Then the drums and lead guitar come in. Despite its heaviness, it seems almost melancholy. It fades into Part 2, which follows the same general pattern, but more slowly. It creates an interesting effect of changing gears.

The last track, "Fields of Youth (For Hanna" is the calm following the storm, Plankton's tribute to his daughter. Despite the many fantastic solos on other songs, the guitar work here impresses more than anything else on the album. It's the perfect way to end a journey. The picture that came into my head as Krill came to a close was of Jonah waking up on land after being spit out by the great fish.

Plankton informs me that there is no intentional concept or storyline behind the album, but its songs mesh together so perfectly that as you listen, it's impossible not to feel that you're on a journey. Where it leads you is your decision.

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Everybody's dying just to get the disease

Josef K

lol

Plankton

Great review Pet_Sounds! Thank you!

Just a small note. It's funny that both you, and Trollheart, call my collaborator on Canadian Mist "Kevin", when I clearly told you both his name is Keith. I have the records to prove this if it goes to court.

lulz

Thanks again, it does fuel the fire to keep at it.

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Pet_Sounds

Wut? I like Captain Beefheart and Frank Zappa.

That's… bizarre. I did read Trollheart's review several times when I first listened to the album, so it must have been ingrained. I'll fix it.

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Plankton

Ken wants blood.

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Pet_Sounds

Trying to maintain good relations with a communist is like wooing a crocodile. You do not know whether to tickle it under the chin or beat it over the head. When it opens its mouth, you cannot tell whether it is trying to smile or preparing to eat you up.

- Winston Churchill

Today, I listened to The Beatles for the first time in about three months. What better time to revive my countdown?

The White Album is sketchy as a whole. However, it starts with formidable one-two punch. "Back in the U.S.S.R." is a great way to open an album--catchy, fun, and tongue-in-cheek. Being a Beach Boys parody, (Mike Love even helped Paul write it) it's also one of the first Beatles songs I heard.

Ringo walked out during the album sessions, so the myth is that Paul McCartney played drums on the song. While it's likely that Paul did most of it, each of the non-drummer Beatles recorded a drum track, and the final product is probably a composite.

It segues into "Dear Prudence", a lovely Lennon tune with nice fingerpicked guitar (a technique John picked up from Scottish singer/songwriter Donovan and would also use on "Julia"). I love the way it builds up, with each instrument coming in seperately.

What a shame the rest of the album didn't live up to those two songs.

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Frownland

Wha...? Happiness is a Warm Gun and While My Guitar Gently Weeps are some of The Beatles' best tracks. I'm sure everyone here expects me to love Revolution 9 but it's nothing special. Musique concrete made decades before that track puts it in its place.

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Oriphiel

Love Back in the U.S.S.R.! One of my favorites.

Hey Frownland, I think Pet_Sounds is saving Revolution Nine for later in his countdown, probably number nine... number nine... number nine...