A Mediocre Attempt At My Album Reviews

[zeppy111]

I really like writing and hopefully I can use this as a place to show that writing and get some feedback/comments on it, as much of it leaves room to be desired.

Hope this can excite some people into giving some of the albums a bash/re-listen.

Guy

[zeppy111]

Windir – Arntor (1999)

Genre: Folkloric Black Metal

Intro:

Windir were a folkloric metal band coming from Sogndal, Norway. The band was influenced heavily by Norweigan folk music. The band is no longer functional as the lead vocalist and musician Valfur passed in 2004.

The band consists of:
• Valfar - vocals, accordion, and additional instruments
• Hvàll (Jarle Kvåle) - bass guitar
• Steingrim (Jørn Holen) - drums
• Sture Dingsøyr - rhythm guitar
• Strom (Stian Bakketeig) - lead guitar
• Righ (Gaute Refsnes) - keyboards

"Arntor" is the band's second full-length album.

Review:

The album begins with a beautiful instrumental intro with the main man Valfar playing the acordian before falling into the trap and the blast of the speed and power to come. The transitions between outright power and domination to the more relaxed and perfect musicianship is what really draws me into the album during the first couple of songs. The folk element to the album is of more appeal as I think it lets them show off their class and showcases the music so well by the flow of it.

The climax to the album would be the epic 10 minute long trip down awesomeness road, “Saknet.” As I said previous the flow between all-out war and shorter periods of a slower, less-intense musicianship is what really stands out. Words cannot actually do this album justice, you have to just pick it up and listen to it yourself.

For someone who does not particularly enjoy black metal I really enjoyed this album for start to end and it will definitely get many more plays.

9.5/10

Windir – Arntor, Ein Warrior

[Comus]

I love this album, it's in my opinion the finest thing Windir have ever done. Valfar was a genious, and even when the rest of the band joined for 1184 and Likferd they were still making great music. Nice review.

[zeppy111]

Bruce Hornsby & The Range - Scenes From The South Side (1988)

Genre: Rock

Intro:

Bruce Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player and song-writer, more famous for his stints with "Grateful Dead."

The band consists of:
Bruce Hornsby – vocals, piano, synthesizer, accordion
Peter Harris – guitar, mandolin
George Marinelli – guitar, mandolin
Joe Puerta – bass, vocals
John Molo – drums

"Scenes From The South Side" was the band's second release, following, "The Way It Is (1986)"

Review:

The album kicks off with a rather up-tempo and catchy track, "Look Out Any Window," which introduces us to the delight that is to come, in the form of Bruce Hornsby's piano. The next track "The Valley Road" was Hornsby's last major hit. A generic song, which shows signs of why it did so well on the charts with the pop-influence to the song and lovely rythm to the music. This track loses its impertice after a while for me personally as it bores me out by having the same soughta structure as the first, with the major piano snippets occuring at the end of the song. "I Will Walk With You" and "The Road Not Taken" are the catalysts of us exploring the album further as it starts to showcase the instruments more clearly and precisely. Ultimately they lead to the climax of the album, "The Show Goes On." This almost 8 minute long track showcases a fine pianist working his fingers magically up and down the keyboard to produce a haunting track. Following it, we encounter a more electronic throughout the last four songs which does become stagnent after a few minutes, but is covered up by some very catchy rythms and expressive lyrics. The use of the accordion and the mandolin at times during the albums gives it a good feel and a more richer sound, which it needed.

Overall the album does lack in the composition of the tracks and the quality of the backing to Hornby's piano which was the reason I first ever listened to the album and is the real influencing factor to whether you enjoy the album or not, is if you take a liking to his musicianship or not. This album differentiated from the first album in the sense that they opened up a bit more and allowed for more piano pieces from Hornsby, with the first not allowing him such freedom.

8.3/10

Mandolin Wind (Not from the reviewed album, but youtube has no tracks from this album) so basically just to show the style of music they play.

[Bulldog]

I haven't heard of Bruce Hornsby before, but he sounds very interesting. One I should keep an eye peeled for. Good review man - keep 'em coming.

[zeppy111]

Originally Posted by Comus

I love this album, it's in my opinion the finest thing Windir have ever done. Valfar was a genious, and even when the rest of the band joined for 1184 and Likferd they were still making great music. Nice review.

This tops 1184 for me, I agree it is a great album. It is a travesty that he passed away in 2004! He had the talent and 'zing' to come out with some more ground-breaking material.

Originally Posted by Bulldog

I haven't heard of Bruce Hornsby before, but he sounds very interesting. One I should keep an eye peeled for. Good review man - keep 'em coming.

He is definately one worth looking for, some really cool tracks. If you want an up for anything just shout. Thanks!

[zeppy111]

Fokofpolisiekar - Monoloog In Stereo EP (2005) (**** Off Police Car - Monologue In Stereo)

Genre: Punk/Alternative Rock

Intro:

Fokofpolisiekar were an Afrikaans punk/alternative rock band from Bellville, just outside Cape Town, South Africa. Over the years the band received lots of bad press for a controversial band name to begin with, then lyrics from the songs going against society, religion, racism... ect

They also have been known to get in quite a few "Bar fights," which didn't help their image. I was first introduced to them from a friend of mine a year or so back and have been a fan ever since. Never got to see them live, as they split up in 2007, a year before I was introduced to them.

The band consists of:
Francois Badenhorst – vocals
Johnny de Ridder – lead guitar
Hunter Kennedy – back-up vocals and rhythm guitar
Wynand Myburgh – bass
Jaco "Snakehead" Venter – drums

Review:

To begin with, this is my first dive into an Afrikaans band's album review. The vocals of the whole album are all in Afrikaans, not English. (For those un aware, Afrikaans is a local South African language) Although I think I must be one of or the only person on these boards who speaks the language, the album is worth a listen anyways. A showcase of fine South African music!!!

The short playing album begins with the track "Oop Vir Misinterpretasie (open for mis-interpretation)" which is a perfect way to introduce you to the album as you gotta expect the unexpected here. Although this album is more toned down and not so anti-society as the rest of the albums, there are some very degrading lyrics which as the title says, can be open for mis-interpretation. A very catchy song, although it does have some heavier riffs and beats to it than the song to follow it.

"Ek dink aan jou (I think of you)" is a more romantic song and brings out a side of the band we had not seen before on previous albums. Obviosuly written about a girl that makes him happy and he wants to be with, the theme of being with her in the rain runs throughout the song, which creates some great imagery. Well you have to understand the language to catch the imagery.

"Die illusie van veiligheid," is the third track and is the track which links up with the past albums the most as it reverts back to the topic of anti-society and being with people who are not family. A deep and passionate song which brings out the class of the lyricist.

"Wintersdag By Die Seer" or Winter's Day At The Sore is the fourth track and the most technically advanced of the songs with some really interesting rythms and pieces combined in the song to create a powerful track but still sensitive. The transition between the riffs, strong vocals, haunting sounds and drum beats blasting in the background make for a great song.

"Monoloog in stereo" or Monologue in stereo is the title track and stand-out of the disc personally. The first time that the two vocalists interact with each other, which sought of explains how the song got its name, creates a very catchy melody and a song you just want to sing along to. A video of this song being performed live in Kirstenbosch is available at the bottom of the post.

The final track "Die Seksuele Revolusie" or The Sexual Revolution is the final track off the disk and is brings out the punk influence of the band which we were yet to encounter. Not your usual punk song, but you can hear the influence during snippets of the song. A faster-paced track which is a fine way to complete the album.

Overall, a new direction for the band, did them good, as "Monoloog In Stereo" was arguably one of their finest efforts before they broke up in 2007 and went their seperate ways. A showcase that they can bring out various sides to their music, be it punk, rock, deep and meaningful or catchy and sing-a-long, they bring it all to the table here.

9.4/10

Fokofpolisiekar - Monoloog In Stereo

[zeppy111]

Edge Of Sanity – Crimson (1996)

Genre: Melodic/Progressive Death Metal

Intro:

Edge Of Sanity were a Swedish death metal band who formed in 1989 and disbanded in 2003.

The Band consists of:

• Dan Swanö − vocals, guitar, keyboards
• Andreas Axelsson − guitar (1989-1999)
• Sami Nerberg − guitar (1989-1999)
• Anders Lindberg − bass (1989-1999)
• Benny Larsson − drums (1989-1999)


“Crimson” was the bands first concept album, telling throughout the song a story of a future land.
The band consists of:

Review:

The album consists of only one track, “Crimson.”

The story behind the song summarized – A world in the future is infertile, but the King and Queen have a daughter. The Queen dies in birth leaving the girl to the king. The people believe that all is turning for the better, but it doesn’t and finally the king dies, shambles brakes out and everyone fights each other for the throne. The daughter finally takes the throne and is taken under some dark being’s wing, who gives her magical powers. She wrongs the people and kills of the older humans, which triggers a group of people to rebel against her reign and stop her, by blinding her. They then put her in the same tanks of CRIMSON as she did the elders. Needless to say, this is where the track and album get their title from.

The album begins by getting straight into the power and heavy riffs that are to follow it in this solo, 40 minute long track that. A strange start as the vocals as introduced almost momentarily as it commences, instead of a build-up of instrumental play like you would expect.

If you are thought to believe, as I was, that this album was just going to be an onslaught of heavy riffs, incoherent growling and crazy drumming to add to the concoction, you are in for a major surprise. At around 4 and a half minutes we are introduced to a beautiful piece which doesn’t last to long of clean vocals and acoustic guitar to support it, lovely contrast to the first 5 minutes. This occurs a few more times throughout the song but not to much effect until around 27 minutes.

Another invigorating part to the track is that every time you start to get the feeling that you are going back into a 10 minute running of the bulls with one angry cow, a soothing guitar piece pops out of nowhere and brings you back into the song.

Although the track is a revelation, you can get lost and be drawn to other things instead of focusing on the track itself, which is a huge mistake as you need to really get into the song to appreciate it. Personally I think it is a hit-or-miss song being that either you love it and can sit there for 40 minutes taking it in, or you sit there for 40 minutes staring out the window and not being consumed by the song, which in this instance is bad thing.

8.6/10

Edge Of Sanity – Crimson (part 1)

[The Abominable Homan]

I've been wanting to get that Edge of Sanity album. Very nice review, I'll look into it.

[zeppy111]

Can – Tago Mago (1971)

Genre: Krautrock

Intro:

Can were a German krautrock/progressive rock group formed in 1968.

The Band consists of:
• Damo Suzuki – vocals
• Holger Czukay – bass, engineering, editing
• Michael Karoli – guitar
• Jaki Liebezeit – drums, double bass, piano
• Irmin Schmidt – keyboards, vocals on "Aumgn"

“Tago Mago” was the band’s second studio album and their first album with newly acquired vocalist, Kenji Suzuki.

Review:

Experimental, jazzy, crazy…. AMAZING!

“Paperhouse” is the first track off of the album and the one of the shortest. It sets the scene of the album and introducing us to the contrast and abominations that are to follow. It starts of rather slowly while building up to the peak, relax and then a final bash at the end which leads us into “Mushroom.”

“Mushroom” is the track off of the album that haunts you, the dark, yet powerful lyrics combined with a drum and bass combo which is sure to raise the hairs on your arms a bit. As is to come in the following songs, the contrast of soft, mumbling vocals to screechy-yet likeable outbursts combining with the rhythm in the rhythm of the drum/bass mentioned earlier, creates a song that you just want to put on loop and listen to a couple more times.

“Oh Yeah” is the third track off the album and almost acts as the transition from the more conventional tracks to the crazy, experimental tracks that follow. Nevertheless, this track is not one to be skipped as you would be missing out on a fine showcase of sharp yet soothing vocals and catchy drumming which seem to repeat themselves the whole song, which could ruin the song for some.

“Halleluwah” is the first of the 11+ minute tracks on the album, clocking in at 18:28, now although you think you can’t listen to the same repetitive pattern of drumming, again, and some crazy dude mumbling his way to the grave, this song is a masterpiece in all aspects. To add to this a lovely snippet of piano pops up at just over 5 minutes.

“Aumg” is the second of the marathon tracks and a nice change from the use of the vocals, is the substitution of chanting/wailing (almost sounds like a sunbathing Hippo, longing for something to eat… Never knew that could sound so good) in this track. Crazy drumming, weird noises and the use of dogs barking… This is the first time you sit and think to yourself, WHAT THE HELL AM I LISTENING TO? Bu then it comes to you, this is a work of art, something that was not known to this world, a couple of guys delving into their souls and going totally off-track to create something that people hadn’t done previously. You have to appreciate it, whether you like it or not.

“Peking O” is the third and final of the marathon tracks and arguably the most crazy, messed up, amazing track of the lot. The climax of this song, and personally, the entire album is the nostalgic drumming paired with Suzuki Gibberish ramblings which begins up after about 4 minutes into the track. It is like nothing you have ever heard before and probably never again.

“Bring Me Coffee or Tea” is the one song on the album that could possibly considered near to normal and closes out the album well with a well rounded track which brings us out of the coma of madness we had endured for the previous three tracks and back into the real world. The crazy thing is, by this time you don’t want to come back to this world, you want to stay in this fantasy land with these men who make this music.

Never-mind, you can put the album on loop and experience the whole thing again whenever you choose.

Personally this album was the craziest music I have ever heard before, and people would think by that comment that it is a bad album…. BEST ALBUM I HAVE EVER LISTENED TO! Thank you Germany!

10/10

Can - Mushroom