You have to listen to this

gotjuice · 03-07-2009, 10:58 PM

I really liked it. I'll let somebody else who's good at writing reviews provide the full-on thing, but I was hooked from Cut Self Not, which is a phenomenal opening track that definitely grabs your attention. The Fourth Introduction is also a fantastic song. Some other random observations on my second listen through.

Conceptual Separation of Self is kind of a puzzling track for me, because it sort of builds but then never really goes anywhere. It's got some nice cello work, but overall it doesn't really fit in with the flow of the rest of the album. I like it as a break from the angular, jagged songs that sandwich it, but at almost 7 minutes it slightly wears out its welcome. I do like it, though.

Study Complacency shows who influenced Minus the Bear.

If I wasn't sold on the album by now, the final 3 songs did it for me. Sea Song has some of the best guitar work on the album IMO, and ends with a solid 2 minute instrumental bit. The View From This Tower, my personal favorite song on the album, is just crazy good. If the band had been holding anything back up until this point, they let it all out on this song. Love the bassline. Once the vocals finally enter about 3 minutes in, the instruments build up around them, and then finally just let loose again when the vocals are done. The best part of me for this song is the drumming. A Missing Piece is a great way to bring the album back down from the high of the last song to a great close.

Overall I would give it an 8/10, and I'm already firing up Last.FM looking for similar stuff. Any recommendations would be amazing.

4ZZZ · 03-07-2009, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

PM for link.

Ouch! Not too many reviews for the last one. Bummer as this is such a good idea.

But I am up for this as usual. Hit me!

jackhammer · 03-08-2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotjuice

I really liked it. I'll let somebody else who's good at writing reviews provide the full-on thing, but I was hooked from Cut Self Not, which is a phenomenal opening track that definitely grabs your attention. The Fourth Introduction is also a fantastic song. Some other random observations on my second listen through.

Conceptual Separation of Self is kind of a puzzling track for me, because it sort of builds but then never really goes anywhere. It's got some nice cello work, but overall it doesn't really fit in with the flow of the rest of the album. I like it as a break from the angular, jagged songs that sandwich it, but at almost 7 minutes it slightly wears out its welcome. I do like it, though.

Study Complacency shows who influenced Minus the Bear.

If I wasn't sold on the album by now, the final 3 songs did it for me. Sea Song has some of the best guitar work on the album IMO, and ends with a solid 2 minute instrumental bit. The View From This Tower, my personal favorite song on the album, is just crazy good. If the band had been holding anything back up until this point, they let it all out on this song. Love the bassline. Once the vocals finally enter about 3 minutes in, the instruments build up around them, and then finally just let loose again when the vocals are done. The best part of me for this song is the drumming. A Missing Piece is a great way to bring the album back down from the high of the last song to a great close.

Overall I would give it an 8/10, and I'm already firing up Last.FM looking for similar stuff. Any recommendations would be amazing.

Glad you liked it. Volta do Mar are like an instrumental version of Faraquet. You may like This Town Needs Guns too.

Fruitonica · 03-08-2009, 08:42 PM

Well, better late than never.

The Texas Jerusalem Crossroads is one of the most ambitious debut records I've come across. A biblical epic, layered with irony and self reverence.
The music is an engaging blend of post rock and folk, most of the arrangements are great - some feel a little flat but I get the feeling that it's a deliberate move to tie in with the deadpan humour of record.
A lot of the humour is created in the chasm between the album's sprawling melodrama and Pearson's dry delivery and manufactured ego.

"When the Lord said, 'Son, tell the world before it explodes the glory of the Texas Jerusalem Crossroads.' I said, 'Lord I'll make you a deal. I will if you give me a smash hit so I can build a city on a hill."

The interchange from, 'Waiting to Hit' is funny and encapsulates the theme of the album perfectly. But, the lengthy spoken word sections don't all come off so well, and there were quite a few times I was wishing he would get back to singing.

I think the album's biggest flaw is it's sprawl, I consistently struggle to listen to it all the way through and when an album is so strongly based around a concept, that isn't what should be happening.

But, the individual elements are all good and when you string them together you get something even better. It's a shame that God didn't come through on his promise for a smash hit, because I would have loved to see what Lift to Experience would have created next.

4ZZZ · 03-14-2009, 09:25 AM

I have given this album a serious play as I generally enjoy this type of rock. I believe that sub genre wise it goes by the rather fun name of Math Rock. The very good Battles come to mind in terms of a reference point. That is not a bad thing at all as this is not a bad album. My major criticism is that there is no standout song that Battle had with say Atlas. Be that as it may in the end The View From This Tower offers a useful 9 track album that offers consistency. Headphones are particularly useful as the subtitles come to the fore. The standout song for me is Conceptual Separation Of Self. The use of strings gives it crossover appeal. An almost mournful feel that has me nodding along slowly. In the end not the greatest album ever but well worth a few listens.

Get into this thread guys and girls. This is what makes Music Banter what it is. A serious discussion on serious music. Not stupid threads on what your girlfriend/boyfriend etc etc likes and how you get annoyed etc etc.

Next please jackhammer

.

lucifer_sam · 03-14-2009, 10:41 PM

jackhammer could you do me a good one and PM me the Zodiac Zoo album? It looks really intriguing, and judging by other people's reactions to it it should be good.

EDIT: nevermind, review coming up as soonish...

jackhammer · 03-19-2009, 08:13 AM

There should be another album up but I will leave this for a while as it's not generating much response.

sidewinder · 04-15-2009, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

Glad you liked it. Volta do Mar are like an instrumental version of Faraquet. You may like This Town Needs Guns too.

Which Volta do Mar album would you suggest to a fan of Faraquet? They've been on my radar a while but nothing's pushed me to actually check out one of their albums.

jackhammer · 04-15-2009, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sidewinder

Which Volta do Mar album would you suggest to a fan of Faraquet? They've been on my radar a while but nothing's pushed me to actually check out one of their albums.

At The Speed Of Light and Day

sidewinder · 04-15-2009, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

At The Speed Of Light and Day

Thanks. That's the one I originally had on my list to investigate.

03-14-2009, 09:25 AM	#155 (permalink)
4ZZZ Forever young Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Brisbane Posts: 608	I have given this album a serious play as I generally enjoy this type of rock. I believe that sub genre wise it goes by the rather fun name of Math Rock. The very good Battles come to mind in terms of a reference point. That is not a bad thing at all as this is not a bad album. My major criticism is that there is no standout song that Battle had with say Atlas. Be that as it may in the end The View From This Tower offers a useful 9 track album that offers consistency. Headphones are particularly useful as the subtitles come to the fore. The standout song for me is Conceptual Separation Of Self. The use of strings gives it crossover appeal. An almost mournful feel that has me nodding along slowly. In the end not the greatest album ever but well worth a few listens. Get into this thread guys and girls. This is what makes Music Banter what it is. A serious discussion on serious music. Not stupid threads on what your girlfriend/boyfriend etc etc likes and how you get annoyed etc etc. Next please jackhammer. __________________ Terra Music Est Non A Vitium.

03-14-2009, 10:41 PM	#156 (permalink)
lucifer_sam Unrepentant Ass-Mod Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 3,921	jackhammer could you do me a good one and PM me the Zodiac Zoo album? It looks really intriguing, and judging by other people's reactions to it it should be good. EDIT: nevermind, review coming up as soonish... __________________ first.am

03-19-2009, 08:13 AM	#157 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	There should be another album up but I will leave this for a while as it's not generating much response. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

03-07-2009, 10:58 PM	#151 (permalink)
gotjuice Rose City til I die! Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Boise, ID Posts: 366	I really liked it. I'll let somebody else who's good at writing reviews provide the full-on thing, but I was hooked from Cut Self Not, which is a phenomenal opening track that definitely grabs your attention. The Fourth Introduction is also a fantastic song. Some other random observations on my second listen through. Conceptual Separation of Self is kind of a puzzling track for me, because it sort of builds but then never really goes anywhere. It's got some nice cello work, but overall it doesn't really fit in with the flow of the rest of the album. I like it as a break from the angular, jagged songs that sandwich it, but at almost 7 minutes it slightly wears out its welcome. I do like it, though. Study Complacency shows who influenced Minus the Bear. If I wasn't sold on the album by now, the final 3 songs did it for me. Sea Song has some of the best guitar work on the album IMO, and ends with a solid 2 minute instrumental bit. The View From This Tower, my personal favorite song on the album, is just crazy good. If the band had been holding anything back up until this point, they let it all out on this song. Love the bassline. Once the vocals finally enter about 3 minutes in, the instruments build up around them, and then finally just let loose again when the vocals are done. The best part of me for this song is the drumming. A Missing Piece is a great way to bring the album back down from the high of the last song to a great close. Overall I would give it an 8/10, and I'm already firing up Last.FM looking for similar stuff. Any recommendations would be amazing.

03-08-2009, 08:42 PM	#154 (permalink)
Fruitonica Pale and Wan Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Aus Posts: 917	Well, better late than never. The Texas Jerusalem Crossroads is one of the most ambitious debut records I've come across. A biblical epic, layered with irony and self reverence. The music is an engaging blend of post rock and folk, most of the arrangements are great - some feel a little flat but I get the feeling that it's a deliberate move to tie in with the deadpan humour of record. A lot of the humour is created in the chasm between the album's sprawling melodrama and Pearson's dry delivery and manufactured ego. "When the Lord said, 'Son, tell the world before it explodes the glory of the Texas Jerusalem Crossroads.' I said, 'Lord I'll make you a deal. I will if you give me a smash hit so I can build a city on a hill." The interchange from, 'Waiting to Hit' is funny and encapsulates the theme of the album perfectly. But, the lengthy spoken word sections don't all come off so well, and there were quite a few times I was wishing he would get back to singing. I think the album's biggest flaw is it's sprawl, I consistently struggle to listen to it all the way through and when an album is so strongly based around a concept, that isn't what should be happening. But, the individual elements are all good and when you string them together you get something even better. It's a shame that God didn't come through on his promise for a smash hit, because I would have loved to see what Lift to Experience would have created next.