Ranxerox wrote:I can't vote. Neither excellent nor crap. It's all waffle.
I like a few of the songs alot. Stuff like 'Genuine Lulabelle' I will likley never warm to.
I have never been a fan of 'The End of Radio,' so I suppose that disqualifies some of my lack of enthusiasm.
I can see how 'Hold On' might not have translated in the studio. I don't miss it.
This seems like leftovers. Songs that are 10 years old, songs that are 7 years old or more. The listening experience lacks the fun of discovery as I am familiar with almost everything on the disc.
I understand the modus operandi of recording and touring when you can, of embracing a lofty and consistent day-to-day work ethic that does not always accomodate a life centered around being in a band. That's life and it's great and I applaud. Still, EIG makes me think that said approach doesn't keep the blood pressure up, if you know what I mean. Treating the band like an obligation, like a job you don't really care that much about is a pitfall. Sure. But so is treating it like a habitual hobby. I am not saying that such is what Shellac has done, but, to my ears, the record seems a bit stale and unfocused.
Waffle.
Seconded.
I'm not digging most of the vocals. I don't get Spoke at all.
My favorite song is "Kittypants" followed by "Paco" of which Bitchfork seems to think are "filler"- whatever. These two songs are playful, the former being happy and loopy, the latter being contemplative and pretty. This is Shellac truly evolving into something new, textural and exciting. It's like electrified John Fahey playing the guest Travis Bean for Polvo with muscular bass and beats. I'm also digging "Steady As She Goes" which just rocks. It's a great minimal ode to AC/DC and Thin Lizzy.
Three good songs, that's it. The rest is just "meh"
And I liked the 20 minute song on Terraform too, so I am not going to accept the "you can't handle challenging stuff" argument.
I feel like the last two Shellac full lengths could have easily been one full length. I miss the recording aesthetic of Terraform, which had just enough room ambience and dry individual instrument timbre to be considered my favorite Shellac recording.
EIG is very "right here and now" with the instrument sounds. This is good but that's the room I am hearing, right? The room is coloring the mix so much. The drag on the toms, the crack of the snare and the rattle of the guitar strings all has this natural roomy gauze all over it. This reverbed out sheen is almost too much audio verité for my tastes. Maybe Shellac needs to go to a different studio or something (I know I will get raked over the coals for that..) Perhaps Butch Vig needs to get involved?
I kid..
Still, my bitching aside, this album is tons better than anything else being released this year by my estimates. I'm being nitpicky like an old friend because I expect so much out of these guys, being a fan and all for 14 years now.
Love the packaging. Makes me want to eat fruit.
Waffle.