MRI - Where Parallel Lines Meet (2009)
 

Since I had the opportunity to interview MRI this past December at Palm Beach Sound Studios in Florida where they were mixing and mastering Where Parallel Lines Meet I thought it would be a good place to begin ... I first saw MRI when they opened for Godsmack at Coral Sky amphitheater in 2002. Their sound has evolved a lot since then.. What strikes me the most about MRI...is how every song sounds so different from each other and the listener never really knows what is going to come next. The following is from a tape recorded interview with Daren Thomas Turner[guitar,vox,piano,strings] and Alan Cruz[drums] on December 12th, 2008.*

*can't fit interview in post


I was very impressed with MRI's modesty and casual nature. Daren is a classically trained piano player; Dan and Alan played in Rush cover bands growing up and Alan can play any/all Neil Pert drum parts note-for-note. They are extremely impressive musicians. In the Spring I will post the entire interview but I simply wanted to use it as a springboard to introduce Where Parallel Lines Meet since as per Daren it truly is a masterpiece in that each song is extremely unique sounding. If we look at all the genres inside the album we find alternative rock, hard rock, pop, Ramones-style Power Punk, reggae-ska, classical, avant-guard, techno-experimental, even Middle Eastern-Arabian flavored songs. Let's look now at each song in detail, and in the sequencing order of the track list.

Helicopter Head: This is probably their most well known song. I love how the vocals are both haunting in the verses but caustic and biting in the chorus. Granted, anyone can hear a healthy does of Alice In Chains in the vocals, particularly the lush choral layering and unique larger-than-life harmonies, but if you really listen to the song, you will hear a heavy smattering of Andy Summers guitar meets The Edge U2 style echoplexing. Definitely one for radio as it has that "hit single" quality from the very first measure. I think most people are aware of this because of the artistic video too.

The Beautiful And Dangerous: Great live track with minimal production to capture the MRI live raw heavy rock sound. The guitars are ferocious and furious, the driving 7/8 beat is hammered out with a John Bohnam style hunger and Alan's fills and subtle change ups have that 'live' energy that seems to excite Daren's guitar playing as the song progresses. The guitar solo heavily echoes Jimmy Page in its spontaneity and passion. Curiously, the vocals remind me of Perry Farrel and the London Suede in parts; great rhythm and attack in the lyric delivery and the dual lead vocal harmony has some Beatles feel in them as well.

Glass Colored Roses: GCR is the quintessential pop song. One can hear the RUSH influences as Daren even revealed to me that "Subdivisions" was the source of the original inspiration for the melody. Even in the jingle-jangly guitars that also have definitive U2 influences one can hear bits of the Rush tune. The song itself sounds nothing of the like of course and in fact reminds me more of Coldplay's "Viva La Vida" in that it is quite sing-alongy despite melancholic lyrics. Curious to note that Daren is using guitars tuned to special open-tunings of his own design here, something he likes to do on many songs.

Under The Ground: Listening to UTG is like immediately being transported to CBGBs in NYC for a Ramones power-punk show. This never lets up and is full-tilt raw and unbridled MRI at its best. Still, in all it's Ramones-Nirvana homage it is extremely musical sounding with a fantastic bridge that almost sounds like Michael Stype of R.E.M. had some hand in writing it. Love the chorus vocals and the audio samples like the jackhammer that you hear as Daren sings about living under the ground and digging way past China. A real true rocker.

Theme From Your Face: The video for this on youTube is what originally got me so intrigued with all the Area 51 footage and alien autopsy footage. I think MRI makes the coolest videos of any indie band out there today. The video goes so well with the song; it reminds me of A Perfect Circle and Rob Zombie with the driving circular rhythms and slide-guitar banshee croons. The chorus here is amazing in how it contrasts with the verses in such an artist manner; Lennon-McCartney-esq vocals come out of nowhere to sweeten up the change, in beautiful tandem with Daren's major scale guitar lines played almost with a Pink Floyd state of mind. Additionally, I hear a lot of late stage Alice In Chains vocal layers as well as Queen Bohemian Rhapsody style vocal arrangements. There is so much going on in this song I feel lucky to make it out alive sometimes...but you always want to go back inside once you realize that you can experience the production on different levels depending on what mood you're in at the time.

The New Oxygen: According to Daren, TNO is a prototype for a 'rock opera' he is writing. At 8+ minutes long, this is tuly a GEM and an epic song in the spirit of Phantom Of The Opera. The first three minutes is a piano solo played by Daren that was inspired by "Moonlight Sonata" and it may be to most beautifully lachrymose piece I have ever heard in my life. It reminds me very much of Chopin's Prelude In Cminor. I love how then the song segues from classical music mode to all-out stadium rock mode...and then to psychedelic George Martin mode!! The coda especially is a captivating voyage through the sands of time itself ending with a desert caravan trailing off the ends of a flat desolate earth, reborn into a new conscious, or unconscious. 5 stars.

Letters Never Sent: Probably the most enigmatic and engrossing track on entire album. This transports one right into the heart of Arabia. The lush vocal layering reveals a daring foray into Middle Eastern head space with Daren's use of Arabian scalics and semi-tones and quarter tones. This piece is truly hypnotic and the guest vocals of the Arabian singers chanting and crying are resplendent. Letters seems to evoke the ghost of Layne Staley himself as if you were to close your eyes in some parts you would swear it was an outtake from an Alice In Chains record. Also, any Beatles fan will celebrate the samples taken from "I Am The Walrus" as they fit ever so perfectly into the cacophony like mix that ascends right up over the Arabian Sea like a soundtrack to "The Mummy IV".

Bad Fortune Cookie: This has 'rocker' written all over it. Daren described it to me as "Barbershop Quartet on acid" and, well, that is probably the most accurate description one could offer. This song has an amazing guitar solo too that soars into the stratosphere before coming back for a last verse; then a interesting coda here that echos the unique bridge used in the song calling to mind Lennon-McCartney vocal harmonies circa Revolver. I also hear a lot of that "Seattle Sound" in Alan's drums and overall production. Awesome fade in and fade out in this one as well...some neat fx.

Microcephaly Wow I almost thought this was Primus at first! Some crazy guitar set against plodding crashing half time drum beat. I hear again very strong Middle-Eastern influences in the initial verses, but the chorus opens up into a Radiohead-like landscape of acoustic guitars, electric guitars, soaring yet languid vocals. The guitar solo in this must truly be inspired by
a Felini movie; it becomes an aural carnival of craziness immediately after the beautiful bridge. I would describe Microcephaly the same way we describe the month of March: in like a lion and out like a lamb...as the brutal acerbic guitars give way to a melting,glowing,passionate flow of gentle guitars and celestial vocals.

Cliche Man I was extremely impressed with this track in its ability to put reggae-ska music inside a 'pop song' Again, I hear heavy Stuart Copeland - Andy Summers influences; Daren uses a Roland JC 120 in this track and you would think it's a Sting project that was hidden away for some time. I LOVE this song and the spoken word piece at the end is very artistic, very Ginsburg or Leonard Cohen.

Tomorrow Never Knows: It's amazing to think how many times this Beatles song has been covered. I think I need to say now that both Phil Collins and MRI do the very best jobs. I was simply blown away by this...I am not really sure what 'genre' one could place this; but it is definitely in the avant-guard meets techno arena! I think the addition of the George Bush audio quotes is genius. At first I thought that MRI had sampled Lennon's voice too ( in the right ear-right side of the mix ) but I was shocked to find out that it was Daren singing too...you would swear it literally is the tracks taken off of Revolver. John Lennon would be proud...it has a lot of Revolution #9 artistic attitude.

Painting Pretty Pictures: What a great way to end an album. The heavy use of loops and midi lends one to envision Tinker Toys marching along in file...then a dreamy "Up Up And Away In My Beautiful Balloon" flavor is experienced via a complex vocal layering that reminds me of The Manhattan Transfer since I hear Daren's falsetto vocals emulating a woman singing in the same way that Bono emulates a woman in "Lemon". Great Andy Summers guitar loops give way to a lyrical exploration of a lost utopia.

Interview with MRI
 

( The following interview was intended for the album review of MRI's Where Parallel Lines Meet but it would not fit in the post; I will publish the full interview in May but here was the part intended for the album review )

Since I had the opportunity to interview MRI this past December at Palm Beach Sound Studios in Florida where they were mixing and mastering Where Parallel Lines Meet I thought it would be a good place to begin this in depth album review. I first saw MRI (previously know as Noir) when they opened for Godsmack at Coral Sky amphitheater in 2002. Their sound has evolved a lot since then hence my own personal fascination with the music. What strikes me the most about Where Parallel Lines Meet is how every song sounds so different from each other and the listener never really knows what is going to come next. The following is from a tape recorded interview with Daren Thomas Turner[guitar,vox,piano,strings] and Alan Cruz[drums] on December 12th, 2008.

NINA: "So tell us about Where Parallel Lines Meet in terms of it being Xyen Records first official release."

ALAN: "I'm just the drummer here { laughs } try that one." { points to Daren }

DAREN: "I just sing and play my geeetar... what do I know about anything either." { laughs with Alan }

NINA: "OK I see how this is going to be a long interview."

DAREN: "Interview? Oh know...you are aware that we don't speak English, aren't you?"

ALAN: "But we are learning using Rosetta Stone."

DAREN: "Yeah that Rosetta is such a stoner. 'Tis a shame...all that talent going to waste." { Daren and Alan laugh }

NINA: "I feel like I am trapped in an episode of Beavis and Butthead."

DAREN: "Those guys were pure genius...way before their time. I have all their albums."

ALAN: "Do you remember Frog Baseball?" {turns to Daren, laughs}

NINA: "Oh my I wish I brought my 4 year old Ha HA with me today."

DAREN: "Actually, I loved kindergarten. I did so well too and got great grades. I also learned how to draw a turkey using my hand as an outline."

NINA: "Yes this is going to be a long interview..."

25 minutes later...

NINA: "Do you think we could talk about Where Parallel Lines Meet now?

DAREN: "OK. After all this nonsense I owe you a real response now, huh?"

NINA: "It would make my day!" {Daren winks}

DAREN: "OKay... what do you want to know specifically?"

NINA: "Simply sum up for me the spirit of the album and any special production techniques that inspired you and Alan and Dan."

DAREN: "I think one could say that with Parallel we wanted to show the world that MRI was not an "Alice In Chains" cover band. In fact, I don't think we sound like Alice In Chains at all really. If you compare our voices really, I don't sound anything like Layne Staley; we only sound similar at times when we layer certain harmonies since we are both baritone singers. Since MRI is about having as rich and tapestried vocal layer presence as possible, I think some fans jumped to the conclusion that we were copying Alice In Chains
style when all one needs to do is listen to other songs besides "Helicopter Head" to see that we are much more diverse sounding and original sounding. This is another reason why we decided to let Xyen Records offer free downloads to all MRI fans for all the tracks on Parallel as I want folks to spread the word, even file share our songs in the same manner that bands like The Arctic Monkeys reached out to their listeners with their material. Look, Alan, Dan and I are independently well off enough to not need to make a dollar every time some one listens to our songs. I think bands should be ashamed of themselves when they only make records to make money. This is the greed that collapsed the record industry on itself. The industry should have tried to embrace Napster and seen that file sharing was going to be an inevitable outcome of the web. They should have licensed ISPs instead of taking down Napster because when they did they stabbed themselves in their own heart and only have themselves to blame today that CDs will soon be an anachronism. Their greed perpetuated the desire for OMD to become the delivery method of choice for music distribution"

NINA: "Wow I have waited more than a half hour for that; thanks!"

DAREN: "Can we go back to being idiots now?"

ALAN: "Pretty please?"

NINA: "Thanks for the interview guys! Thanks for the advanced copy of your CD too! Is it ok that I use any/all parts of this interview for future issues of ******* ?"

DAREN: "Interview? Did we get the job?"

NINA: "You guys are too much."

VIDEOS from Where Parallel Lines Meet. There is some neat live footage in these as well.

Helicopter Head:




The Beautiful And Dangerous:



Theme From Your Face:

See if you can find someone you know in the first two videos somewhere around 2:43ish ;).

I told you you could write, Nin ;). Very impressive, passionate review. You write with clarity (yes I'm reviewing a review) and spot-on observations as far as I'm concerned (also in love with this band and the people in it). You've a unique voice for a music journalist, and that's a good quality to have in your line of work. Spot on, my dear, spot on. Keep it up :)

( I wanted to thank Jackhammer for letting me post the MRI interview here that I couldn't fit in 1st post of my album review. Cheers! )

Since I had the opportunity to interview MRI this past December at Palm Beach Sound Studios in Florida where they were mixing and mastering Where Parallel Lines Meet I thought it would be a good place to begin this in depth album review. I first saw MRI (previously know as Noir) when they opened for Godsmack at Coral Sky amphitheater in 2002. Their sound has evolved a lot since then hence my own personal fascination with the music. What strikes me the most about Where Parallel Lines Meet is how every song sounds so different from each other and the listener never really knows what is going to come next. The following is from a tape recorded interview with Daren Thomas Turner[guitar,vox,piano,strings] and Alan Cruz[drums] on December 12th, 2008.

NINA: "So tell us about Where Parallel Lines Meet in terms of it being Xyen Records first official release."

ALAN: "I'm just the drummer here { laughs } try that one." { points to Daren }

DAREN: "I just sing and play my geeetar... what do I know about anything either." { laughs with Alan }

NINA: "OK I see how this is going to be a long interview."

DAREN: "Interview? Oh no...you are aware that we don't speak English, aren't you?"

ALAN: "But we are learning using Rosetta Stone."

DAREN: "Yeah that Rosetta is such a stoner. 'Tis a shame...all that talent going to waste." { Daren and Alan laugh }

NINA: "I feel like I am trapped in an episode of Beavis and Butthead."

DAREN: "Those guys were pure genius...way before their time. I have all their albums."

ALAN: "Do you remember Frog Baseball?" {turns to Daren, laughs}

NINA: "Oh my I wish I brought my 4 year old Ha HA with me today."

DAREN: "Actually, I loved kindergarten. I did so well too and got great grades. I also learned how to draw a turkey using my hand as an outline."

NINA: "Yes this is going to be a long interview..."

25 minutes later...

NINA: "Do you think we could talk about Where Parallel Lines Meet now?

DAREN: "OK. After all this nonsense I owe you a real response now, huh?"

NINA: "It would make my day!" {Daren winks}

DAREN: "OKay... what do you want to know specifically?"

NINA: "Simply sum up for me the spirit of the album and any special production techniques that inspired you and Alan and Dan."

DAREN: "I think one could say that with Parallel we wanted to show the world that MRI was not an "Alice In Chains" cover band. In fact, I don't think we sound like Alice In Chains at all really. If you compare our voices really, I don't sound anything like Layne Staley; we only sound similar at times when we layer certain harmonies since we are both baritone singers. Since MRI is about having as rich and tapestried vocal layer presence as possible, I think some fans jumped to the conclusion that we were copying Alice In Chains
style when all one needs to do is listen to other songs besides "Helicopter Head" to see that we are much more diverse sounding and original sounding. This is another reason why we decided to let Xyen Records offer free downloads to all MRI fans for all the tracks on Parallel as I want folks to spread the word, even file share our songs in the same manner that bands like The Arctic Monkeys reached out to their listeners with their material. Look, Alan, Dan and I are independently well off enough to not need to make a dollar every time some one listens to our songs. I think bands should be ashamed of themselves when they only make records to make money. This is the greed that collapsed the record industry on itself. The industry should have tried to embrace Napster and seen that file sharing was going to be an inevitable outcome of the web. They should have licensed ISPs instead of taking down Napster because when they did they stabbed themselves in their own heart and only have themselves to blame today that CDs will soon be an anachronism. Their greed perpetuated the desire for OMD to become the delivery method of choice for music distribution"

NINA: "Wow I have waited more than a half hour for that; thanks!"

DAREN: "Can we go back to being idiots now?"

ALAN: "Pretty please?"

NINA: "Thanks for the interview guys! Thanks for the advanced copy of your CD too! Is it ok that I use any/all parts of this interview for future issues of ******* ?"

DAREN: "Interview? Did we get the job?"

NINA: "You guys are too much."

--------------------------------------------------

I have to tell you. Based on the title of the album alone I really don't want to listen to it.

Thank you so much. That means a lot to me especially since I am already a big fan of your prose and fiction and slightly intimidated by better writers than me. I only know how to write analytically, so that is my 'comfort zone'...one day I will get to fiction...one day. For now, I like to stay close to music, art and films as they give me passion and energy to write. Thank you for encouraging me to be less shy about my work and my feelings about MRI's music. I HATE most new bands today so I have been very pleasantly surprised by how MRI has moved away from being just an Alice In Chains/Seattle sounding group to a more Radiohead-like mature and complex sounding art-rock band with an incredible amount of good songs.

Hmm. I am curious by what you mean by that. I find the title to be most engaging both intellectually and artistically. Kindly explain; I am all ears...

I speak the truth, Nin. You shouldn't be intimidated, you have a wonderful talent of your own that you're sitting on there. Let it ride :). As you say, you will get there one day, if you really want to and that's what you desire to do with your writing, you will get there. Music, art and film is great inspiration and muse to write. I only encourage those who I think have potential, people in the songwriting forum can tell you I hardly ever encourage anybody there, lol. You have a talent, Nin.

MRI is fantastic. I also, on the whole, hate with a passion most new bands. So agreed, that when I first heard MRI I was so pleased to hear something new that didn't sound like ****... they've always somewhat reminded me of Pink Floyd on some tracks, for some reason. Just sort of trips me out, in the best way. It's intelligent, skillful, artsy without being pretentious or arrogant. Just perfect.

Thanks so much! I feel the same way. Also you can download the album off their website and / or get it on a few prominent OMDs like LastFM or Mixposure if you're not in Florida or are outside of USA and can't get to any shows. From what I understand, you will also be able to purchase the CD on iTunes in April, but why not get it for free while you can! :-) I think MRI wants it that way as that is the impression I got during my interview anyway. They are not obsessed with making money like most bands...which I found both odd and strangely very refreshing at the same time. The are more obsessed with making art in almost a Jim Morrison state of mind. That impresses me a lot, especially in 2009...

Where Parallel Lines Meet – MRI – Listen free and discover music at Last.fm

agreed

parallel lines never meet. if they did, they would not be parallel. stupid title

Hmmm...and Evening Out With Your Girlfriend by Fall Out Boy is an example of a good, intelligent title?

I asked MRI about the album title in my interview and both Daren and Alan gave lengthy explanations that sounded more like a meta-physical discussion, even philosophical, as Daren started talking about Sartre's "Being And Nothingness". Daren was a schoolteacher ( like Sting ) before MRI/Noir, and is a self-admitted math freak.

If you really choose not to listen to this album simply because of the title, then that might be a good idea since you wont understand any of the allegorical themes in the lyrics nor any of the symbolism in the poetry. You still may be able to dance to some songs though if you concentrate.

So don't waste your time. MRI is much more an art rock band in the spirit and tradition of King Crimson, Pink Floyd, Jane's Addiction, Radiohead etc...if you don't like that type of music & art then you wont get it.

I am going to see if I can get the back cover to the CD and post here; it may help with your grappling to understand the concept(s).

Here is the back of the CD for your edification. Hope this helps. :-)

Great review! I thought it was really good .. :)

Normally, I wouldn't write constructive feedback, but since you're a writer, there is some info I'm missing. First off, is the band called MRI or is it an acronym? And also, is this the band's debut album?

In addition to a song for song review, I like it when there are just a few thoughts or impressions from the album as a whole ..

I hope you don't take take my feedback the wrong way. It's not intended as that at all. I consider some of the reviews on MB to be real treasures and yours is a really good contribution and an enjoyable read. :)

Grats on your first review!

Thank you for letting me know this. I am difident by nature...so I need to feel passionately about something in order to write about it and show to others.

Also, I was rather shocked this morning reading the posts about folks not wanting to listen to the album becasue of the title; and it almost made me never want to write a review here again ( I would like to review a Floyd album and Another Morning Stoner too ) feeling that it is a waste of time for me and for the readers.

To answer your questions: I have a copy of Where Parallel Lines Meet that I bought at a show last year...but I think there have been a few incarnations of the tracklistings since. I know that they have been working with Eric Greedy ( who porduced HURT Vol 1 and Vol 2 ) after being scouted in Germany and Eric has been working on Parallel as MRI's debut official release. MRI has its own label from what I understand and are releasing an EP too this year called "Now And Xyen" with mostly reggae, ska, and dance-techno songs.

As far as being an acronym, I am not sure. I asked Daren about the band name in relation to the band's website ( MediumRangeIntelligence.com ) and Daren said "Oh I never realized the coincidence" but added "we are MRI", and left it at that. I asked them about the fact that on some OMDs they are being indexed with a German microhous duo from the late 90's of the same name and Alan said "we never heard of them until we saw the cross-indexing on last FM, and we don't really care either since this is not a popularity contest. We simply are who we are. Let the world decide what MRI means."

You asked me for my overall impression of Where Parallel Lines Meet. I wish I had a place to post the lyrics of the songs in my review...as I get the same feeling about MRI that I do about Radiohead albums in that often, I have no idea what Daren is saying/singing until I have the lyrics in front of me. Then, some songs take on an entirely new meaning when you finally find out what you have been humming along all the time. For instance, I thought that "Helicopter Head" made no sense at all until you read the lyrics, and then you see it is about spiritual enlightenment and being "all-seeing and all-knowing" at all times...Turn your head around...can you see...361 degrees...

I go see and review bands for a living. Rarely am I ever impressed, especially these past few years...pickings are slim for bands to get excited about. MRI is probably my favorite new artists and I am excited about them the same was I was excited about Nirvana in the 90s.

You inspired me to go looking for more info on the www.

I was on a bunch of search engines querying "MRI band, Helicopter Head" and I found a lot of useful stuff and great reading up on the band. Here is a UK? reviewer in another music forum that seems to also be a net radio station judging by the amount of DJs responding in the thread:

Mixposure - View topic - MRI

Hmm, well - I'm definetly curious and judging from the link you posted, a lot of other people are praising them too. I will definetly check them out!

And thanks for answering my questions!

Don't worry about the replies. A lot of really good album reviews here seldom generate a lot of replies, which is a bit of a pity. The more well written an album review is, the less there is to ask about and comment on, I guess.

Looking forward to your next. :)

Thank you very much! I look forward to writing another one now. Think it may have to be about Another Morning Stoner or Vampire Weekend, we'll see.

BTW I did some more exploring on that MRI link too. I was correct, it is also a web radio station, maybe in the UK or Holland?, I am not sure..but there is a recent live radio broadcast/ interview with Daren and/or rest of the band I have not heard this but I am going to listen now. Here is what is up on the home page of Mixposure.com | The Future of Independent Music - Mixposure is an Online Music Distributor Bringing Musicians and Music Lovers Together today. I will let you know what I think once I listen to the rebroadcast:

Mix Radio Rebroadcasts Feb 5, 6, 7 and 8. 2009

We just had a great weekend full of super shows with Independent Artists here on Mix Radio, Mixposure.com !!! David C Deal was the announced Center Stage Presentation for "Saturday Night Rocks. What an awesome experience David & his fellow musicians gave us!!!

But, we didn't stop there. No, we also had LIVE interview with Daren from MRI on the air! How exciting was SNR??? Well, very exciting for all the people in chat, the folks listening via iTunes and Cygnus Radio!

Here are the rebroadcast links for this past week and weekend, including an impromtu show, sparked by and attended by Kephas and The Polar Bear (KED):
Feb 7 '09 Saturday Night Rocks with David C Deal and MRI

Thank you to the moderators for your great PM help and in posting this interview segment. Today, I found a radio (re)broadcast with the DJ doing a live interview of Daren in between each MRI song and I posted the link in my album review here as well. I needed to fast forward about two hours to get to the MRI part of the show; it's interesting to hear Daren himself describe the music:

MRI Album Review

Mix Radio Rebroadcasts Feb 5, 6, 7 and 8. 2009

We just had a great weekend full of super shows with Independent Artists here on Mix Radio, Mixposure.com !!! David C Deal was the announced Center Stage Presentation for "Saturday Night Rocks. What an awesome experience David & his fellow musicians gave us!!!

But, we didn't stop there. No, we also had LIVE interview with Daren from MRI on the air! How exciting was SNR??? Well, very exciting for all the people in chat, the folks listening via iTunes and Cygnus Radio!

Here are the rebroadcast links for this past week and weekend, including an impromtu show, sparked by and attended by Kephas and The Polar Bear (KED):
Feb 7 '09 Saturday Night Rocks with David C Deal and MRI


-NINA

I agree 100% WifeyB!! I put up some more band photos at my lastFM to help listeners distinguish between the German microhaus duo, and Daren, Alan and Dan of MRI(USA)

http://userserve-ak.last.fm/serve/_/...3/MRI++USA.jpg

And I promised myself I'd never be a fangirl :(



:)

can you point out to me where i ever said that that was an intelligent title? i don't even listen to fall out boy... so i don't know what that has to do with anything

i find it funny how defensive you're getting and calling me simple minded because i simply pointed out the fact that parallel lines can never meet, or they will not be parallel. you do not know anything about my ability to "understand allegorical themes" blah blah blah, etc

not only is the album art fucking ugly, the back cover does not make the title make any sense, because those lines in the photograph are not parallel. they appear to be meeting only because our vision can only stretch so far - making it appear like the lines are meeting on the horizon, but they are not actually. if they were, would the train not just break down because its tracks would be coming to a point?

unless the purpose of the album is to appear completely nonsensical, it looks to me to be - conceptually - a half-baked failure. understandable that you like it so much since you appear to think radiohead and king crimson are the pinnacle of art in musical expression.

ps. i did listen to one of the songs, sounded like shit

This is probably the most entertaining thing I have ever read. You have no idea how much fun we are having right now at work. Please continue...

you need to get out more often

or do some feckin' work

face it dudes, she's light years ahead of us.

Fuck me

He CAN write more than one sentence.

This album review forum is becoming my favorite board now!
Not only was this an excellent review and entertaining interview, but it actually connected a lot of dots for me since I saw MRI, as "NOIR", at Churchill's pub in Miami. I thought that the band had disappeared around 2005 but when I saw the MRI videos you posted here (thanks for those!) I was shocked and amazed that it's the same trio of dudes. They reminded me of Alice In Chains produced by The Police or Sting. Great band I am downloading the tracks off your last fm now so your review will make more sense to me after listening. I am loving the Helicopter Head video right now too.

What's the deal with all the German stuff/band? Do you know why there are two bands listed under the same name? I am not a huge fan of techno or house music...I mean...no offense. They should settle the matter by having a MRI America vs. MRI Germany battle of the bands ;p



Stand tall, Nina my Grunge Princess! (huge Kurt Cobain fan I am) Not only is this caveman character offensive with his avatar quote ( I have a brother who is mentally retarded ) but by his own defensive self-admittance stance on his IQ you simply need to keep in mind that most retarded people are obsessed with their own feces and fecal matter in general, so of course it becomes one of the few adjectives they can easily remember when stressed or agitated.

I think lambasting a long standing forum member with only a few posts to your name is a little foolhardy, no matter what his content was. CC can indeed be an obnoxious little sod but he can also be extremly funny with his droll remarks. In no instance within this thread was he disrespectful or offensive. Abrupt- yes but that's the only crime within this thread so to call a poster offensive without reading around the forums and his own posting style. You personally may find his avatar quote offensive, and if many others do then we will of course look into the matter. However you then proceed in a roundabout way to call HIM a retard.

Please think before you post especially as you are new to the forums. I hope this doesn't deter you from continuing posting.

Sure.

See the problem for me is that parrallel lines don't actually ever meet, if they do, they're not parallel. So the idea that the two can coexist can't be true.

Thats all good and fine, if thats where it ended I'd say "clever was so 1999" or something else psuedo-homosexual and walk it off.

But these guys give me the impression that they think this is pretty deep. But like any other oxymoron, its just stupid. I don't expect album titles to do much more than distringuish one album from another. if you want to give a title to address the theme, more power to you.

But everyone who gets clever with them, thats trying to "show" us something deserves a swift kick in the balls. Off the top of my head...

14:59
Title of Record
4th (Lemonheads not Zepp)
Almost everything by Ben Folds whos former bands name had the same issue.

The only two good album titles that had something to them actually never came to fruition...

The Cars first album was going to be called "The Cars Greatest Hits", I'd have given them that one.

The other was the Offspring, who were going to call their album "Chinese Democracy" until the lawsuits came. Axl needs digs taken at him.

OK I can see what you're saying here...but would this be a reason to not listen to an entire album?

Isn't that the quintessence of "judging a book by its cover"?

It would seem to me that the more 'ridiculous' an album title may appear, the more I would be inclined to listen to see what was going on inside...then I could make an intelligent judgment. And by intelligent judgment, it would seem that one would need to listen to all songs, and not just one song. There are many different types of musical genres in this album it would be extremely unfair to MRI as artists to merely judge one song.

I can't speak for the band as to what "Where Parallel Lines Meet" exactly means and I wish one of them were here to provide a definitive answer, but I do remember in the course of the interview Daren mentioning something about "perspectives" so that is why the back CD cover makes perfect sense to me.

Had you the chance to listen to the live radio interview ( iTunes rebroadcast ) that I posted in here? If you were to listen to Daren ( the MRI segment is about 2 1/2 hours into the rebroadcast so you need to ff to it ) you will hear someone that is not sounding like he is trying to be "too deep"; I have met these guys and you can even see in my interview transcript ( also posted in this thread ) that it is hard to get a serious answer out of any of them. This is the exact reason I posted my interview as I wanted to show how pleasantly surprised I was that they were so cool and down-to-earth, and not "pretentious artists"; trust me, I have met many an artist who thinks he is "too deep" for the world. I could easily imagine MRI saying that it means whatever you want it to mean...or even nothing at all.

Maybe I should have posted the lyrics for each song as that may have helped. Interesting discussion of lyrics to "Helicopter Head" going on here at their label's video channel: YouTube - "Helicopter Head" MRI Music Video
I myself was obsessed by the obscure lyrics until I downloaded and read them.

I will admit even I thought "Helicopter Head" was a dumb name for a song at first LOL :-)

Thank you Mr. Stereo Lunch! However, I can fight my own battles in here...I don't mind that Mr. Caveman doesn't like MRI at all I simply don't understand why he would not listen to an album simply becasue of a silly name...and then rant and rave about it....Everyone is entitled to their opinion...I don't like Celine Dion but I will still listen to her new releases just like I listen to the Jonas Bros and I can't stand them...To know music is to listen first.

And yes- Kurt is God!! :-)

jesus christ i wish florida would just sink into the sea.

I liked your response so I'll give it the benefit of the doubt and when I get home (where the speakers are) I'll give it a toss on the record player and see whats up.

Sounds fair to me. :-) Cheers!

you seem like a cool dude...i think if you were to re-carefully read the progression of the thread you might see what i saw...and that is that "CC" had nothing to say at all about what seemed to me a very well written article...opting instead to use his forum seniority to intimidate a girl and get a laugh from his friends...

i may be new to this forum but i have been a moderator on many other forums; i know how it goes, ok? I am a web programmer i didnt' just fall out off a truck- I think we all can agree that "CC" was out of line here. I will read his posts now and maybe they will redeem him and i will see the person you see...time will tell...i am all about being funny when appropriate.

i formally apologize though for also getting a little under the collar and i thank you for pointing out that i am still welcome here as i wasn't sure where you were going at first with all this...but like i said it look like some dude picking on a little girl from my POV.

as for MRI i am listening to "Letters Never Sent" and it is absolutely mind blowing with all the Arab influences...i downloaded all the tracks so i could make sense of this review and i have to admit Nina Cobain is spot on with all her track comments. this album is amazing in that i don't think i have heard anything quite like it except for the few songs that are Alice In Chains - ish.

The horizon is just an imaginary line that recedes as you approach it.

lol

what is your point?

I'm not sure if anybody realized it but there was a spammer a while back named daren/MRI who tried to promote this band.

So while there is a slight chance this person actually is a music journalist I'm gonna call it a 99.99% chance this is complete fucking spam.

No allmusic. No wikipedia. And this "music journalist" comes here shoving this album by an obscure band up our anal crevices? Smells like a crock of shit.