Earth
 

Somebody mentioned to me in my intro thread that not a lot of people on here have talked about Earth... Too bad because they fuckin rule. I'm going to do a little run-through of their albums here just for kicks... I hope this is the right way to go about this (and even the right forum area). Anyway, here goes...

Earth has been creating music since 1990 and is the brainchild of Dylan Carlson, most well known for being the friend of Kurt Cobain that lent him the shotgun (that sentence is a grammatical nightmare). He plays guitar and recruits a rotating list of partners with which to record and tour with. They are often referred to as Drone Doom, but especially recently their records have been more upbeat or uplifting while still retaining a Drone sound. In fact, the band does quite a lot of experimentation within the Drone genre and has inspired many offshoots and other bands in specific areas. I don't know all the albums or EPs but I know most and I know generally the most popular. They are signed to Southern Lord, like all good bands.

http://www.metal-archives.com/images/2/2/8/2/22822.gif

Earth 2: Special Low-Frequency Version is Earth's first full-length and pioneered the drone-doom sound. If you like this album, Sunn O))) has basically committed their music careers to emulating and building on this album. The album is only three songs long:

# Title Length
1. "Seven Angels" 15:38
2. "Teeth of Lions Rule the Divine" 27:04
3. "Like Gold and Faceted" 30:31

I have it on vinyl and it's decent. I am more of a fan of Earth's later material but I think it's important to have/listen to this album to see where they came from. There are no drums except for some parts of "Like Gold and Faceted" and the album overall mostly consists of multiple layers of guitar and bass. As befitting the drone/doom sound, it's very low, detuned, somewhat oppressive, sludgy, and all-encompassing, especially when played loud (as it should always be). Once I got home from a full day of traveling, turned on Earth 2 and passed out into a weird trance-like zen sleep in which I imagined myself to be gibbering madly and twitching like a neanderthal exposed to 4chan. This album is often described as sounding like an earthquake, as if a mountain is speaking down to you as a petulant child.

Next album up when I get home tonight.

The only album I've heard or found thus far is The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull. And I really dig it. It's good music for when I'm working nights. I find that it's really good when followed up with Grails' Doomsdayer's Holiday.

I have also only heard "The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull" and I really liked it. Not exactly the type of music I'd listen to on an everyday basis, but it's great for if I'm writing. I really should check out more stuff by this band.

If there were No EARTH-that would mean no sunn-boris-etc.and no >S T A N O S A U R<. thats me and my many sunn amps&cabinets doing the one man thangg...
met dylancarlson here in sf-very cool guy-with his head on straight. EARTH 2 is the very best of music IMO

Nice thread. Surprise, surprise - I, too, have only heard The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull. I can't wait for the reviews.

I should be sleeping as I have work at 9am tomorrow, but here's another since I promised.

http://ogami.subpop.com/bands/earth/earth-292.gif

Phase 3: Thrones and Dominions is Earth's second full-length. This album is Earth's first exploration of more riff-based tracks, and is often described as a collection of guitar licks without context. This doesn't mean it's bad, though. I admittedly haven't explored Phase 3 properly yet, but it is generally more "listenable" than Earth 2 excepting certain tracks (Lullaby and Phase 3: Agni Detonating etc.). This album acts of kind of a bridge between the brutal sluggishness of Earth 2 and the bands' later more layered and clean-guitar based sound. This album is already quite a departure from the tones that Sunn O))) and others adopted soon after. Similarly to Earth 2, the entire album consists of only two guitarists (mainly Carlson) and a drummer that only appears on one track (Site Specific). I find this album to be sparse compared to the other Earth albums; it is less "busy" with overlapping sounds and occupies less sonic "space" than the other albums. Where Earth 2 was crushing and blanketing and Pentastar is upbeat and open, Phase 3 is at times quiet, staccato, droning, light, and heavy. I think it's a good introduction to the sound of Earth as it showcases some of the styles that Earth used and has continued to experiment with over the years. That said, it feels incomplete at times and at worst thrown-together. I like the first two and the final two tracks the most.

If you guys like The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's Skull I definitely recommend checking out Hex, an amazing album with a similar sound that they did a few years earlier. In fact everything I've heard by them is pretty stellar and they have changed their sound a lot of the years which makes their discography an intriguing listen overall. Like Hesher mentioned Earth 2 is way different from their newer stuff, just long stripped down slabs of guitar noise, and their album Pentastar: In the Style of Demons is more like stoner metal, with shorter songs and, shockingly enough, even vocals.

HEY! I'm doing the review here, buddy. Git yer own thread! :p

Thanks for all the great advice/info, guys. I'm just now exploring this band and you guys are helping a lot. Does anyone happen to have Hex upped?

HEY MAN I HEARD ABOUT THIS 'HUM' THIGN THAT PEOPLE HEAR. YOU KNOW LIKE A CONTINUOUS DRONE. WELL I THOUGHT I HEARD IT THE OTHER DAY, BUT IT WAS JUST EARTH 2 B)

I like their later stuff.

Do you want this thread moved to the reviews forum then?

No, I'm just teasing. I should have the next album up sometime today.

So fuck you all for making me stay up late again to deliver this review. I hate you guys.

http://img.maniadb.com/images/album/186/186361_1_f.jpg
(Big enough image for ya? Huh? Huh?)

Pentastar is definitely Earth's most accessible album in my opinion, although Bees Made Honey is a pretty close second. Pentastar actually sounds somewhat like a regular rock album; the riffs are played at a more regular speed, although they are still quite laid back. The album also has discernable lyrics on it, demonstrating Dylan Carlson's semi-unique voice. The lyrics are pretty fun but not too serious. There are some standout tracks on Pentastar; Crooked Axis is a keyboard/organ driven spatial drone track, sort of like Earth 2 but electronic and not so arresting. Charioteer is also pretty distinct, with it's simple doubled/chorused guitar track played as partly distorted, partly clean, and partly on acoustic or maybe harp if I'm not mistaken. Peace in Mississippi is a Jimi Hendrix cover, believe it or not... It just goes to show how varied Carlson's musical inspirations can be and how willing he is to reflect those in his music. Sonar and Depth Charge is a pretty somber all-piano song with oodles of reverb; again, a much more "spatial" and simplistic sound but without the all-encompassing distortion of Earth 2. I think my favourite song on the album is Coda Meastoso though, with it's meandering guitar lead and bass line reinforcement. Overall, Pentastar is great in the car on long road trips during the time when you have nothing to talk about and are just cruising down the highway between cornfields for hours. A lot of people would recommend this as a listener's first album, but I don't think it really represents the scope of Earth's music and is kind of a pussy album to begin with. Starting with one of the tougher works gives you more of an appreciation for the band and their creativity before seeing how they deal with a more radio-friendly kind of sound. People I locked horns with in the Metallica thread: note how it is ok for Earth to experiment. They make good albums. For the record, I have this record on record. That is to say, on vinyl. It's good. It was like $15. Awesome.

Next you get Hexed...

That sentence alone has got me sold. Is there any chance you can share any of these albums you've been reviewing? Also, a good followup to Bees Made Honey ..?

Hey, I'm sorry to neglect these threads and I promise I will get back to them soon, but it's a massive heat wave here and so I've been listening to nothing but Cat Power and 80s hiphop for the last few weeks while working full-time. See you soon.

I haven't actually heard the records people are bigging up the most in this thread. Earth are a band I can dig but I have to be in the right mood. I like some drone but Earth, if i'm not in the right mood can just sound too...lazy. Not enough to keep my attention. Then again if i am in the right mood I sometimes put some earphones in and Earth can help wind me down a little.

I only have Extra-Capsular Extraction, Earth 2 and Phase 3.

The Bees Made Honey in The Lions Skull was their latest record, wasnt it? I assume that's worth a listen then?

Yes, it is worth a listen. It's the only Earth album I've heard/have. Care to trade?

Sure. Sounds like a plan to me.

Ok, so I don't have it uploaded yet, but when I do, I'll send it your way, vanilla face.

Can i get in on some of that? Been on my list for a while.

Sure thing, butternut squash.

If thats my new nickname, then i'm gonna take these records back. No records for you.

If anyone else wants in (the records i mentioned before) then may as well let me know.

Cheers raspberry twirl

Nooooo. Don't threaten me with no records. You got me. I surrender. Please give me records. No more 'v' word. Promise.

Edit: Ok. No more nicknames. For real. Raspberry twirl? Oh please. I'm better than berries. I'm goddamned mahi mahi.

I guess it is only a step away from a screwball, i apologise.

Hahah. You apologized. Don't do that.

Let's talk more about Earth. I only know the bees album. Which albums do you have?

Hmm. Fine. I'll forgive you.

I'm uploading them now but i'm going out for a bit so i'll hook you up in a little while.

Sounds good. I gotta get off of here, too. Going to the ex-boy's house to grab Bees Made Honey ..

Sor...:o:

None. I heard they were droney which i'm getting into now with my latest obsession with Boris.

Oh, good. We can explore them (Earth) together. Hesher has been doing great with the Earth reviews. Have you read up on it?

I've never listened to Boris.

Yeah, i thought i'd try Bees first though because i assume it's an easier start.

I can set you up with linkage if yee want.

It took me a couple of listens to really get a feel for the album, but like all amazing albums, I couldn't try too hard to get into it. During one listen, I just kind of came to and realized the greatness of it.

I was greatly appreciate a link. Thank you.

The BORIS disc with Michio Kurihara is terrific (I think it's maybe called Rainbow) though I have no idea if it's representative


tracks from Bees and also from Rainbow were used in the most recent film by Jim Jarmusch, which is called The Limits Of Control and is amazing (if you like astonishingly beautiful, brilliantly acted, glacially paced films with very little plot or dialogue and lots of weird droning noisy music ... which fortunately I do! superb in the theater...)

I can hook up some Boris too, depending on what you have and dont have PMO. If you sort a link out can i get in on it too? You definitely have some albums I don't have.

I have:

Amplifier Worship
Feedbacker
Akuma No Uta
Heavy Rocks
Pink
Smile (Japan Version)

And the Rainbow album with Michio Kurihara which i'm listening to for the first time now (very good). I sent Amplifier Worshiper and Pink. If you want any of the ones i listed just shout.

Oh well, you have the four I have. I have Amplifer Worship, Heavy Rocks, Rainbow and Pink. I would be interested in the others if thats possible.

I do have 'Altar' which is the collab they did with Sunn O))). I could sort that out if you want. I love it, it's a fine album.

I'll PM ya

You better hit me up with some Boris. I only have Pink and Heavy Rocks! As for Earth. I have 'and The Bees' and it's damn good but definitely one to set aside for certain times.

Hit sordo which i've already linked mojopinuk because it has everything, i think i've introduced it to you. I recommend Akuma No Uta. I should have done this for 333 but i forgot about it!

Do what? Recommend Akuma No Uta?