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Schizotypic · 08-08-2009, 04:14 PM

Slint
Spiderland (1991)

Writers relationship with this album:
Even I'm surprised this album somehow achieved a 6/5 rating from me. Those who have spun this before know how good of an album it is, but I'm really not sure it's that good. I'll repeat this to myself over and over, thinking of why I ever decided this to be of my favorite albums, thinking maybe it should be re-assessed. But then, as I listen to it, I realize I couldn't possibly give this anything lower. Every song hits me in just the right spots, taking me from wherever I am with my thoughts and mood and dragging me into it's world. On top of that, there's something else. There's more to this. It's so complete, it does it's job so well, that at the end your left holding it above albums you thought it would never surpass.

Review:
Spiderland is five seemingly unrelated stories throw together on a 6-track album. Really it's more of a collection of ghost tales then a concept album. The lyrical nature is that of the absolute creepiest, slow-paced and with emphasis on every breath; it leaves you wondering what happens next while tingles run down your back. Of course it's best listened to in the darkest part of night while camping alone.

The two things that make this album great are the separate but equal parts of the mood and the lyrics. The creepiness is the backbone of the album, giving you the general picture of the dark scenes, and replacing your feelings with it's. The lyrics are the detail, like a book, they are purposely written in such a way to focus your mind on exactly where Slint wants it to go. Together they'll take over everything you experience.

The last and least important thing worth mentioning is the simplicity of all of this. The style of the music is of drone and mathrock, and the lyrics are of nothing more then the most concrete storytelling's. So how is it that something so simple can be so amazing? Well, I think it's the implication of it all. Take a look at Lou Reed's Heroin, or I'm Waiting For The Man, both are done with concrete storytelling and drone. It's what the implications are that really get you. The difference is that Lou's implies obvious things, usually in a satirical or sarcastic way. Here, with Spiderland, the impications are the of the unknown and the unworldly. Truly it's greatness must be in it's implied pointing toward the scariest of all human demons; the overwhelming and infinite vague.

Highly recommended. Of course if you haven't heard this, give me a PM, I'll fix you up.
Cheers MB, to another great album!
Sincerely, Schizotypic.

6/5

Ratio: 5/5

08-08-2009, 04:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
Schizotypic Souls of Sound Sailors Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Mojave Posts: 759	Slint Spiderland (1991) Writers relationship with this album: Even I'm surprised this album somehow achieved a 6/5 rating from me. Those who have spun this before know how good of an album it is, but I'm really not sure it's that good. I'll repeat this to myself over and over, thinking of why I ever decided this to be of my favorite albums, thinking maybe it should be re-assessed. But then, as I listen to it, I realize I couldn't possibly give this anything lower. Every song hits me in just the right spots, taking me from wherever I am with my thoughts and mood and dragging me into it's world. On top of that, there's something else. There's more to this. It's so complete, it does it's job so well, that at the end your left holding it above albums you thought it would never surpass. Review: Spiderland is five seemingly unrelated stories throw together on a 6-track album. Really it's more of a collection of ghost tales then a concept album. The lyrical nature is that of the absolute creepiest, slow-paced and with emphasis on every breath; it leaves you wondering what happens next while tingles run down your back. Of course it's best listened to in the darkest part of night while camping alone. The two things that make this album great are the separate but equal parts of the mood and the lyrics. The creepiness is the backbone of the album, giving you the general picture of the dark scenes, and replacing your feelings with it's. The lyrics are the detail, like a book, they are purposely written in such a way to focus your mind on exactly where Slint wants it to go. Together they'll take over everything you experience. The last and least important thing worth mentioning is the simplicity of all of this. The style of the music is of drone and mathrock, and the lyrics are of nothing more then the most concrete storytelling's. So how is it that something so simple can be so amazing? Well, I think it's the implication of it all. Take a look at Lou Reed's Heroin, or I'm Waiting For The Man, both are done with concrete storytelling and drone. It's what the implications are that really get you. The difference is that Lou's implies obvious things, usually in a satirical or sarcastic way. Here, with Spiderland, the impications are the of the unknown and the unworldly. Truly it's greatness must be in it's implied pointing toward the scariest of all human demons; the overwhelming and infinite vague. Highly recommended. Of course if you haven't heard this, give me a PM, I'll fix you up. Cheers MB, to another great album! Sincerely, Schizotypic. 6/5 Ratio: 5/5 Last edited by Schizotypic; 08-23-2009 at 01:42 PM.