Spiderland - Slint

GravitySlips · 08-07-2010, 01:08 PM

hmm...

Spiderland is much better than any Tortoise album in my opinion. On the other hand, Tortoise have such a great and consistent discography, with many more albums than Slint. Slint's first album Tweez (their only other album) is decent, but it is kinda just a Big Black/Rapeman clone... Tortoise are a more varied band with more output, but nothing they've done matches Spiderland for me.

I don't even see why people compare them, they're hardly the most similar of bands in all honesty. Slint's sound is much more informed by their punk roots than Tortoise, who don't really ever 'rock out' in the unhinged way Slint do. For me, almost all of Tortoise's albums are really great, but none of them have the same level of emotional and atmospheric depth that Spiderland has.

LoathsomePete · 08-07-2010, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GravitySlips

hmm...

Spiderland is much better than any Tortoise album in my opinion. On the other hand, Tortoise have such a great and consistent discography, with many more albums than Slint. Slint's first album Tweez (their only other album) is decent, but it is kinda just a Big Black/Rapeman clone... Tortoise are a more varied band with more output, but nothing they've done matches Spiderland for me.

I don't even see why people compare them, they're hardly the most similar of bands in all honesty. Slint's sound is much more informed by their punk roots than Tortoise, who don't really ever 'rock out' in the unhinged way Slint do. For me, almost all of Tortoise's albums are really great, but none of them have the same level of emotional and atmospheric depth that Spiderland has.

Agree 100% with you on this one. I'm just about finished with Tortoise (1994) and everything you've brought up here fits for me. Spiderland far more embodied their indie rock/punk rock roots, as well as having a more atmospheric depth. Listening to Tortoise was kind of like listening to a soundtrack more than story, which Spiderland had. It's definitely more of a headphones album, just so you can hear what Brian McMahan was saying. I mean I've enjoyed Tortoise very much, it's been an awesome album for this trip, but I don't see how they are comparable.

GravitySlips · 08-07-2010, 09:32 PM

^ I'm glad you agree. Tortoise is a fantastic album, maybe second only to TNT in their discography for me. I recommend TNT next if you've not heard it!

dankrsta · 08-08-2010, 07:28 AM

I listened to Spiderland again after a very long time, and yes, it is as great as I remember it. I like their quieter moments the best, Don Aman's still my favorite. That's when Spiderland reminds me of Gastr del Sol. And I agree, I can't hear such a strong connection to Tortoise, but I can with Gastr del Sol, especially with 'Serpentine Similar' and 'Crookt, Crackt, or Fly'. I've always felt that Gastr del Sol continued where Slint left off.

GravitySlips · 08-08-2010, 10:42 AM

Dom Aman is one of my favourites too.

Well, Gastr Del Sol are one of my favourite bands, and you're right, early on they were definitely carrying the torch from Spiderland. They took their music in many different directions as well, though. I think that's the nature of good post-rock music though - not just sticking to that boring quiet, build up, then LOUD formula, but being willing to incorporate a variety of different things in your music and experiment in the way Gastr Del Sol did. They're one of the best bands of the 90s in my opinion.

Engine · 08-08-2010, 11:47 AM

It's funny that Slint, Tortoise, and Gastr Del Sol all get mentioned together and the biggest point of note is that they sound different.

I am, I think, too close to the material (having heard those albums more times than I can count) to really compare the bands' sounds like the above posts do (i.e. more or less punk, narrative or not, etc.). To me that's like trying to compare a Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young album to the Dead Man soundtrack. Musicians do different stuff sometimes.

I mentioned in my journal (in my sig) that I'm a little bit baffled by how famous Slint is compared to the other bands from their time and place. Spiderland is just one of many albums that some of those guys participated in making. They all did different things musically before and after Spiderland. I love Spiderland but I don't get how it's so much more popular than other similar sounding music.

I think that Slint or Tortoise (90s output anyway) as whole bands are less important than their members who are behind so much varied music. I think the similarities among all these bands are far more interesting than the differences. They may sound totally different at times and similar at other times but there is always an underlying tone or feeling that is always there and somehow distinguishable.

More on point, I think that Gastr Del Sol is more interesting than Tortoise s/t which is more of a masterpiece than Spiderland but on the other hand, if I want something heavier than mellow, jazzy post rock then I'll go with Spiderland for sure. Or maybe something by June of 44.

Mondo Bungle · 02-21-2012, 11:07 PM

I'm rekindling my love for Spiderland right now. I've always loved it immensely, each track is a sonic trip through euphoria. The first time I heard it, I was on the edge of my seat, not knowing what to expect next.

Blarobbarg · 02-21-2012, 11:33 PM

Honestly, and shamefully, I've never really liked Spiderland. That is almost shameful, considering I'm from Louisville, and the scene is still crowded wth bands heavily influenced by Slint. I'll give it another listen here soon and see if my opinion has changed in the last year.

Engine · 02-21-2012, 11:48 PM

Wow, nice bump. I had forgotten it but I still agree with everything I said a year and a half ago (2 posts up). Guess I could've said it in a slightly less snooty way.

Anyway, obviously some people don't/won't like it but Spiderland remains, after 20+ years, nothing less than a classic to those who do. Yay Slint.

Howard the Duck · 02-24-2012, 07:09 AM

voted "meh"

file under "seminal influential album that sounds only "nice" to me" along with Television's debut

View Poll Results: Spiderland is...
Amazing.	80	80.81%
Meh.	14	14.14%
It killed my family so I hate it.	5	5.05%
Voters: 99. You may not vote on this poll

08-08-2010, 07:28 AM	#84 (permalink)
dankrsta ... Join Date: Apr 2010 Posts: 1,776	I listened to Spiderland again after a very long time, and yes, it is as great as I remember it. I like their quieter moments the best, Don Aman's still my favorite. That's when Spiderland reminds me of Gastr del Sol. And I agree, I can't hear such a strong connection to Tortoise, but I can with Gastr del Sol, especially with 'Serpentine Similar' and 'Crookt, Crackt, or Fly'. I've always felt that Gastr del Sol continued where Slint left off. __________________ Last.fm

08-08-2010, 11:47 AM	#86 (permalink)
Engine air quote Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: pollen & mold Posts: 3,108	It's funny that Slint, Tortoise, and Gastr Del Sol all get mentioned together and the biggest point of note is that they sound different. I am, I think, too close to the material (having heard those albums more times than I can count) to really compare the bands' sounds like the above posts do (i.e. more or less punk, narrative or not, etc.). To me that's like trying to compare a Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young album to the Dead Man soundtrack. Musicians do different stuff sometimes. I mentioned in my journal (in my sig) that I'm a little bit baffled by how famous Slint is compared to the other bands from their time and place. Spiderland is just one of many albums that some of those guys participated in making. They all did different things musically before and after Spiderland. I love Spiderland but I don't get how it's so much more popular than other similar sounding music. I think that Slint or Tortoise (90s output anyway) as whole bands are less important than their members who are behind so much varied music. I think the similarities among all these bands are far more interesting than the differences. They may sound totally different at times and similar at other times but there is always an underlying tone or feeling that is always there and somehow distinguishable. More on point, I think that Gastr Del Sol is more interesting than Tortoise s/t which is more of a masterpiece than Spiderland but on the other hand, if I want something heavier than mellow, jazzy post rock then I'll go with Spiderland for sure. Or maybe something by June of 44. __________________ Like an arrow, I was only passing through.

02-21-2012, 11:48 PM	#89 (permalink)
Engine air quote Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: pollen & mold Posts: 3,108	Wow, nice bump. I had forgotten it but I still agree with everything I said a year and a half ago (2 posts up). Guess I could've said it in a slightly less snooty way. Anyway, obviously some people don't/won't like it but Spiderland remains, after 20+ years, nothing less than a classic to those who do. Yay Slint. __________________ Like an arrow, I was only passing through.

08-07-2010, 01:08 PM	#81 (permalink)
GravitySlips Music Addict Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,578	hmm... Spiderland is much better than any Tortoise album in my opinion. On the other hand, Tortoise have such a great and consistent discography, with many more albums than Slint. Slint's first album Tweez (their only other album) is decent, but it is kinda just a Big Black/Rapeman clone... Tortoise are a more varied band with more output, but nothing they've done matches Spiderland for me. I don't even see why people compare them, they're hardly the most similar of bands in all honesty. Slint's sound is much more informed by their punk roots than Tortoise, who don't really ever 'rock out' in the unhinged way Slint do. For me, almost all of Tortoise's albums are really great, but none of them have the same level of emotional and atmospheric depth that Spiderland has.

08-07-2010, 09:32 PM	#83 (permalink)
GravitySlips Music Addict Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,578	^ I'm glad you agree. Tortoise is a fantastic album, maybe second only to TNT in their discography for me. I recommend TNT next if you've not heard it!

08-08-2010, 10:42 AM	#85 (permalink)
GravitySlips Music Addict Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 1,578	Dom Aman is one of my favourites too. Well, Gastr Del Sol are one of my favourite bands, and you're right, early on they were definitely carrying the torch from Spiderland. They took their music in many different directions as well, though. I think that's the nature of good post-rock music though - not just sticking to that boring quiet, build up, then LOUD formula, but being willing to incorporate a variety of different things in your music and experiment in the way Gastr Del Sol did. They're one of the best bands of the 90s in my opinion.

02-21-2012, 11:33 PM	#88 (permalink)
Blarobbarg Do good. Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota Posts: 2,065	Honestly, and shamefully, I've never really liked Spiderland. That is almost shameful, considering I'm from Louisville, and the scene is still crowded wth bands heavily influenced by Slint. I'll give it another listen here soon and see if my opinion has changed in the last year.