Psychlub 11: "Burning Off Impurities" - Grails (2007)
 

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eF5Nb0qGOm8

Selected by Josef K. Remember, the next album will be posted on February 19.

Just realized I forgot to post the questions. I'm going to give this one more listen tomorrow; expect a review in the afternoon.

What were your impressions of this album after the first five minutes?

Did those first impressions change as you listened to the album?

Were the opening 2-3 tracks or the closing 2-3 tracks stronger?

Did you find you enjoyed this album more or less on repeated listens?

What was your favourite track?

What was your least favourite track?

What did you think of the variety of tracks presented?

How would you describe the overall mood?

Would you listen to it again for purposes other than this club?

How well do you know this band/artist?

If you're familiar with this band/artist, how does this album compare to their other work?

How would you improve this album?

Would you recommend this album to a friend?

Will you be exploring this band/artists' other material?

What did you think of the vocals?

What did you think of the instrumentation?

What did you think of the production?

Any other thoughts to share?

Rate the album out of ten. No decimals!

Guess I'll go first...

What were your impressions of this album after the first five minutes?

Top-notch instrumental/ambient psych.

Did those first impressions change as you listened to the album?

No.

Were the opening 2-3 tracks or the closing 2-3 tracks stronger?

The entire album was so good I didn't have a preference either way.

Did you find you enjoyed this album more or less on repeated listens?

More. There is so much going on musically in this album, that repeated listens reveal more to the listener each time.

What was your favourite track?

No favorite. I enjoy them all equally.

What was your least favourite track?

N/A

What did you think of the variety of tracks presented?

Excellent variety throughout. Track by track and within each track, there is an amazing amount of musical variety at play within this album.

How would you describe the overall mood?

Mellow and trippy with an occasional bit of creepy moodiness cropping up to add a bit of tension to the mix.

Would you listen to it again for purposes other than this club?

Absolutely.

How well do you know this band/artist?

Hadn't heard them before this.

If you're familiar with this band/artist, how does this album compare to their other work?

N/A

How would you improve this album?

I wouldn't change a thing.

Would you recommend this album to a friend?

Yes.

Will you be exploring this band/artists' other material?

Definitely.

What did you think of the vocals?

N/A

What did you think of the instrumentation?

Superb!

What did you think of the production?

Very good.

Any other thoughts to share?

I often find myself being disappointed by a lot of instrumental/ambient type psych. Most of it usually starts out strong but after a few minutes, it tends to become rather repetitive and self indulgent and loses my interest. Not so with this album! It held my interest from start to finish and never became repetitive or self indulgent to me. This is not only one of the best albums of this type I've heard in recent memory, I daresay it's one of the best albums of this type that I've ever heard.

Rate the album out of ten. No decimals!

9/10

What were your impressions of this album after the first five minutes?

On my first listen, I had no idea that this was going to be an instrumental album, so I was waiting for the vocals to come in!

Did those first impressions change as you listened to the album?

On my first listen, I didn't make it all the way through, since I realized that, as an instrumental, it would demand more attention than I could offer at the time.

Were the opening 2-3 tracks or the closing 2-3 tracks stronger?

The opener was my favourite, so I'll go with that.

Did you find you enjoyed this album more or less on repeated listens?

Definitely more. I haven't explored the genre at all, so this was unfamiliar ground.

What was your favourite track?

It really needs to be taken as a whole, but the opener, "Soft Temple", stood out.

What was your least favourite track?

N/A

What did you think of the variety of tracks presented?

The band did a brilliant job of making a kaleidoscopic album. It varies greatly but still feels the same.

How would you describe the overall mood?

Relaxing is the first word that comes to mind.

Would you listen to it again for purposes other than this club?

I intend to.

How well do you know this band/artist?

Not at all.

If you're familiar with this band/artist, how does this album compare to their other work?

N/A

How would you improve this album?

I think if you changed this in the slightest, the album would be completely different. It's well planned, and I wouldn't mess with it.

Would you recommend this album to a friend?

Yes.

Will you be exploring this band/artists' other material?

I will, as well as other albums from the genre.

What did you think of the vocals?

N/A

What did you think of the instrumentation?

Great variety, especially in percussion.

What did you think of the production?

Masterful.

Any other thoughts to share?

Nice pick, Josef. I'll be checking out more from this subgenre.

Rate the album out of ten. No decimals!

8/10