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JGuy Grungeman · 09-02-2016, 11:04 AM

At Action Park by Shellac

Release: 1994
Style: Math Rock, Post-Hardcore
Length: 37 min.
Round: Math Rock

Math rock is not a genre to me. To me, it's a style of playing, not a style of music. So, what is math rock? It's an attempt at implementing a complex sound led by drums into any sound you want. Math rock is usally combined with punk genres, such as post-hardcore. As a result, we have albums like At Action Park by Shellac.

This is the first Shellac album I've heard, so I won't bother comparing it to other Shellac albums. However, I can easly compare this to other math rock albums. The tempos are rarely improvised and unconventional, mostly playing at a 4/4 time. This gives rthe album a more enjoyable and more relatable feel for those are are more used to 4/4, the most common time signature. But that does not stop the great Todd Trainer from doing andf drumming whatever the hell he wants. As far as math rock goes, Todd Trainer's drumming is some of the best, leading the noisy post-hardcore sound in a stimulating parade of creative and catchy structures. That was the one thing that really got me about the album: the drumming. Although I felt nothing could compare to the drumming on that album, it also surprised me that the other aspects failed to be overshadowed. In other words, the drumming didn't just lead the album. It improved the rest of the band's playing in its own creative way.

Not perfect, but certainly not passible, At Action Park is a fine example of math rock, and a great album to start getting into it. It may not be the best place to start with post-hardcore, but it's certainly enjoyable down to the last second. I'm not sure where this album will be when I vote it off (if I do), but it'll be high up there.

90/100.

09-02-2016, 11:04 AM	#229 (permalink)
JGuy Grungeman Primo Celebate Sexiness Join Date: Apr 2014 Posts: 2,662	At Action Park by Shellac Release: 1994 Style: Math Rock, Post-Hardcore Length: 37 min. Round: Math Rock Math rock is not a genre to me. To me, it's a style of playing, not a style of music. So, what is math rock? It's an attempt at implementing a complex sound led by drums into any sound you want. Math rock is usally combined with punk genres, such as post-hardcore. As a result, we have albums like At Action Park by Shellac. This is the first Shellac album I've heard, so I won't bother comparing it to other Shellac albums. However, I can easly compare this to other math rock albums. The tempos are rarely improvised and unconventional, mostly playing at a 4/4 time. This gives rthe album a more enjoyable and more relatable feel for those are are more used to 4/4, the most common time signature. But that does not stop the great Todd Trainer from doing andf drumming whatever the hell he wants. As far as math rock goes, Todd Trainer's drumming is some of the best, leading the noisy post-hardcore sound in a stimulating parade of creative and catchy structures. That was the one thing that really got me about the album: the drumming. Although I felt nothing could compare to the drumming on that album, it also surprised me that the other aspects failed to be overshadowed. In other words, the drumming didn't just lead the album. It improved the rest of the band's playing in its own creative way. Not perfect, but certainly not passible, At Action Park is a fine example of math rock, and a great album to start getting into it. It may not be the best place to start with post-hardcore, but it's certainly enjoyable down to the last second. I'm not sure where this album will be when I vote it off (if I do), but it'll be high up there. 90/100. __________________ I'm a pretty nice troll if you ask me.