Premier Rock Forum

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.

So I buy the vinyl and get in my car. I'm all lookin' at the artwork while parked and decide to just throw in the cd instead of waiting to get home. I put in the cd and start driving.

Somehow, "random" is pressed on my cd player (I've never used that feature before so I had no idea it was even an option). Genuine Lullabelle is the first song I hear and I'm thinking, "Wow. This is one bizarre fucking song. Especially to start with." Takes me about 5 songs to realize I've got the shit on random.

That is still one bizarre fucking song though. I dig it.

This record is indeed Freedom Rock.

So turn it up, man.

Great.

You have four voiceovers that I know in Lulabelle: Ken Nordine, Strong Bad, Ken Lafontaine and Hal Douglas. There are a couple of other voices in that section that starts at 5:15 that I don't know.

Ken Nordine is the Word Jazz guy, "What have we got here"

Lafontaine is the movie announcer guy. Hal Douglas is the movie announcer guy who also does the voiceovers for The WB.

Oh, and definitely Not Crap.

Interesting... End of Radio is the highlight of the record for me.

stevenstillborn wrote:I haven't heard the record, as I'd really like to buy it legally. However, I do not know of a single independant record store near me (minus a combo instrument/recording gear/record shop that focuses on jazz). I CANNOT FIND THIS RECORD. Shit. I'm gonna have to order it on the futureweb.

On a side note, anyone know of any good record stores in western essx county New Jersey?

There used to be a couple good indie record stores, Cafe Sounds and Let it Rock I think were the names, on Bloomfield Avenue in Montclair. It's been a few years since I've been down that way so I don't know if they're still open. Tunes in Hoboken is not so bad, and your'e close enough to the city where there are plenty.

But all you have to do though is ask them to order the record. Tunes in Hoboken is my local record shop, I was pretty surprised they didn't have it on release day but I've got that shit on order.

Anyone know what the deal with the text in the run-out is?

Pronto Prova...

'A Isamu' Sta Lapa!

Anyone shed any light on that?

Loving it. Better than I had hoped for and I kept my hopes high.

Can I hear some backwards cymbals near the end of spoke?

I think this has become my favorite of their albums, time will tell.
I only wish there were more songs, it kind of leaves me wanting more. Hopefully it won't be so long till their next...

Matt_Rees wrote:Hopefully it won't be so long till their next...

If there is a next...