This seems like one of those weird anomalies. Most of their catalog is perfectly good alt rock, but IMO this is one of the standout albums of the 90s. Great songs, beautifully recorded. I’ve just been listening to the vinyl and it’s so well detailed, massive but natural sounding.

It has a bunch of strange “love songs to heroin” probably with lyrics by Greg Edwards… The drummer is massively overlooked.

Heliotropic Is my favourite song.

In isolation. Not crap

There's something ever so vaguely nu metal in his croon, but it doesn't sink the perfect balance this album strikes between heaviness and melody, sleaziness and grace. If there were a high point in whatever the 90's alt rock explosion was, surely this was one of them.

I spent about 8 months nursing a full time opioid addiction in a state of little distress or degradation and this record (particularly 'Another Space Song') was the perfect accompaniment to my civilised self-destruction, esp played VERY LOUD through headphones as I too familiarised myself with the rug's topography... not one I go back to often (no drugs for approaching 10yrs) but it's very evocative... a blank lushness, a velvet nothing...

You do need to get over the Nirvana-isms songwriting/ singing-wise but it's a masterpiece sonically, Magnified has some few great jams and I really dug the first reunion album also.

N.C

I really liked "Stuck On You" when it came out. I was still young, and hadn't been exposed to much slow, heavy music. The last third of the album is good, but the rest is too heavy on post-grunge.

It never clicked with me like oft lumped together bands Shiner and Hum. In hindsight it does kind of sound like an art school version of Staind. The production is impressive for something they recorded themselves in a rental house. But musically for me, Crap.

I like it alright, but not a a lost classic or anything. Never thought it had anything to do with nu-metal, but turned it on just now based on that comment, and understand the comparison. More like shiny-grunge. They were Tool compatriots, and I think one of the guys played in Perfect Circle, so there were only so far off from an OzzFest appearance.

penningtron wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 7:24 am In hindsight it does kind of sound like an art school version of Staind.

I initially raised an eyebrow here, but you are correct that if you take 'It's Been a While', added a phaser to the verses and made the vocals a bit more mumbled and esoteric lyrically (but not by that much) it does indeed fit the Fantastic Planet formula.

(Tips hat)

Shit, I feel like I ruined it slightly with an off hand comment.

losthighway wrote: Fri Mar 15, 2024 6:08 pm Shit, I feel like I ruined it slightly with an off hand comment.

I mean, it's more proto-post-grunge / proto-butt rock than nu metal, but it's fair to say it is there.

Anyway, there's nothing wrong with nu metal! Nothing wrong at all! (Selects hill to die on)

M.H wrote: Sat Mar 16, 2024 6:39 am Anyway, there's nothing wrong with nu metal! Nothing wrong at all! (Selects hill to die on)

This deserves a thread.