The Album Club 2017

kibbeh · 03-12-2017, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

We figured/hoped you were dead.

love u too

bob. · 03-13-2017, 09:32 AM

sorry guys.....we are trying to get a new client and i worked all weekend....i'll try to review this tonight.

**Frownland** · 03-13-2017, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frownland

I've listened to this album a few times prior to this and after it was put down in here and probably rate it at about a 7/10. I'll try to do a review tomorrow, I should have time.

The album has exceptional drumming and really interesting ideas. I feel like Hill took a lot of influence from Boredoms on the opener and I agree with the Ruins comparison as this is a great brutal prog album. The rhythms on the record are occasionally zeuhl inspired, sometimes more punky, but always pretty impressive. I agree with everyone else that the vocals aren't anything mindblowing, but they definitely didn't detract from the music imo. Hill is still distinct in his style, with Green Bricks and Gross Sales sounding like they could've been takes on Jenny Death. The sound quality is poor and doesn't seem to be of any benefit to the album, but one of the upsides of the album's somewhat unfocused diversity is that it works better for some tracks than others (such as Dizzy from the Twins). I love the beats on Burner in the Video and the heavy instrumentals, very unique. Total Recall is a fun song, but doesn't really warrant its spot on this album imo. The title track is the best on the album because of the middle eastern driven, mathy guitar, quite rad.

Favourite tracks: Memo to the Man, Green Bricks, Burner in the Video, Face Tat
Least favourite tracks: House of Hits (too unfocused), Total Recall
Final thoughts: The album could be more cohesive but track by track, it's mostly great.
Rating: 7/10

OccultHawk · 03-13-2017, 08:47 PM

Getting Back - Bat-Bike (2016)

Well I guess I'm first at bat again. My firsts thoughts were The Velvet Underground then Throbbing Gristle/Psychic TV then The Dead C. Then I thought to myself why am I so hellbent on pidgeonholing this band. What is it about post-post-punk or neo-post-punk or whatever you want to call it that makes me less forgiving than traditionalists of other genres? Really, I don't know. I can't remember the band but I remember an interview with a newer post-punk band and they were getting compared unfavorably to Sonic Youth and accused of ripping off this band and that band and one of them finally said we don't give a **** we're just a ****ing band playing the style of music we want to play. I was already enjoying this record but once I decided to accept this record for what it is instead of trying to put an expiration date on the sound I really got the feel that this is a band that enjoys being a band and it shows. And I really like the way the album ends up on a kind of anthem. A very positive 4 out of 5 stars.

**Frownland** · 03-14-2017, 09:43 PM

Bat-Bike - Getting Back

I just want to make a note that this album has 15 tracks on Spotify, and if you're listening to their 10 track vinyl release on bandcamp, you're doing it wrong.

I've been spinning this album a lot lately, huge fan of these guys' genuine sound, as OH put it. It's weird that the band is from Scotland and London, because aside from some accents (which I would have chalked up to inflection), they sound American as ****.

The opener, Leicester Holiday, is a great, jammy grungegaze dirge with hints of kratrock and Swans, even. The somewhat bluesy guitar on the intro and Sean Lemon is lot like the clean guitar tone I use.

Sean Lemon is the best song on the album btw. It's big. It's ****in loud and scuzzy. I think it's the distorted vox that really make the song. It lands on this cool, krautrocky outro. These guys really sound like a great live band.

Digital Image sounds straight off of a Ween album and is a cool aside from the sounds on the rest of the album. Nice.

We Like Tom Waits (Because He's Famous) has a philosophy I can get along with. Cool, bluesy guitar-driven instrumentals that are somewhat in the vein of Beefheart and The Fall or some ****. Listen to these guys, OH, it's a big mistake.

Bad Ben is a cool anthemic, slightly humourous track about a selfish and evil guy named Ben. I wonder what Ben did to these guys. I wonder if he hates Tom Waits. While I dig the riff, I think it's too repetitive and could be two minutes shorter.

Alone on the A9 is a sick, shoegaze heavy track that's strung out and fun at the same time. While the band is obvious great all around, the singer really stands out from the rest on tracks like these. The repetitiveness of this song doesn't hurt it, and I always think of it as a shorter track than it actually is.

Winner is one of my faves on the album. It's just ridiculously boisterous and cool I showed this track to one of my friends and before the drums came in, he thought that it was an early WISSK track, which speaks to the closeness of the guitarist to my sound. That's a compliment as ****. That little stop before the verse is sweet too and this song has some of the best lyrics on the album: "I saw a picture of a man that's richer when I looked into the mirror"

And then we get down to Sex. This song isn't bad or anything and has grown on me a bit, but it feels like it's short for a reason: it's a step down from the extremely strong first few tracks.

Where's the Home? is cool, sort of Beatles-esque melodically. The wild shrieky vocals at the end make up for this song though.

You're So Sticky should've been cut. Too corny and it doesn't quite have the magic of the other tracks.

Shades Off kind of carries on in the vein of "why did they add this?" But the stripped down approach makes it interesting. These tracks aren't bad, just a letdown from the beginning which rocks my world.

Hollywood is my least favourite track on the album. Too tongue in cheek and pop punk. Not even a frantic no wave solo can save this track.

In Zero starts off with a smoky vibe. On of the more filler tracks of these filler tracks stacked on the end, but I really like the groove and change of pace here. Little overlong though.

Trapped in the Net is nice, heavy on the lofi indie vibe. I prefer these guys when they're loud though. Still filler though.

Getting Back - A stompin, bluesy anthem that closes on a gospel vibe. Neat track but it carries on a little too long and has some cheesy moments.

Final Thoughts: Man, I really wish they'd ended the album on Winner, because then it'd be a 11/10 record. Those other tracks get the job done though.
Favourite Tracks: Leicester Holiday, Sean Lemon, Winner
Least Favourite Tracks: Hollywood, You're So Sticky, Trapped in the Net
Rating: 9/10 because when it's good it's damn good.

OccultHawk · 03-14-2017, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Getting Back - A stompin, bluesy anthem that closes on a gospel vibe. Neat track but it carries on a little too long and has some cheesy moments.

I feel like this track in particular has a lot of heart. Sort of like Kiss's "I wanna rock'n'roll all night..." it has that "Hell yeah!" quality that demands one more pint at the club and an open container on the drive home to boot!

**Frownland** · 03-14-2017, 10:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OccultHawk

I feel like this track in particular has a lot of heart. Sort of like Kiss's "I wanna rock'n'roll all night..." it has that "Hell yeah!" quality that demands one more pint at the club and an open container on the drive home to boot!

I don't disagree with any of that but I'm still not a big fan of that song. It feels the most "live" of the bunch though and it'd be a different story if I was there at a show hearing it (which I hope happens in the future, they seem to mostly play locally).

OccultHawk · 03-14-2017, 10:17 PM

Well I feel like they did a great job capturing that energy.

**Exo** · 03-15-2017, 12:56 PM

TH, I'm travelling right now so my reviews will be sporadic. I'd say it's safe to assume that if you don't hear from me by the last day or two you're not going to.

Trollheart · 03-15-2017, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Exo

TH, I'm travelling right now so my reviews will be sporadic. I'd say it's safe to assume that if you don't hear from me by the last day or two you're not going to.

That's cool. Check in as and when you can. I won't hold you to any deadlines.

03-13-2017, 09:32 AM	#372 (permalink)
bob. Still sends his reguards. Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Trying to get out of the cat town.... Posts: 5,039	sorry guys.....we are trying to get a new client and i worked all weekend....i'll try to review this tonight. __________________ A kiss is the beginning of cannibalism. Reach out, pierce the fine fabric of the sheltering sky, take repose.

03-14-2017, 09:43 PM	#375 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	Bat-Bike - Getting Back I just want to make a note that this album has 15 tracks on Spotify, and if you're listening to their 10 track vinyl release on bandcamp, you're doing it wrong. I've been spinning this album a lot lately, huge fan of these guys' genuine sound, as OH put it. It's weird that the band is from Scotland and London, because aside from some accents (which I would have chalked up to inflection), they sound American as **. The opener, Leicester Holiday, is a great, jammy grungegaze dirge with hints of kratrock and Swans, even. The somewhat bluesy guitar on the intro and Sean Lemon is lot like the clean guitar tone I use. Sean Lemon is the best song on the album btw. It's big. It's in loud and scuzzy. I think it's the distorted vox that really make the song. It lands on this cool, krautrocky outro. These guys really sound like a great live band. Digital Image sounds straight off of a Ween album and is a cool aside from the sounds on the rest of the album. Nice. We Like Tom Waits (Because He's Famous) has a philosophy I can get along with. Cool, bluesy guitar-driven instrumentals that are somewhat in the vein of Beefheart and The Fall or some . Listen to these guys, OH, it's a big mistake. Bad Ben is a cool anthemic, slightly humourous track about a selfish and evil guy named Ben. I wonder what Ben did to these guys. I wonder if he hates Tom Waits. While I dig the riff, I think it's too repetitive and could be two minutes shorter. Alone on the A9 is a sick, shoegaze heavy track that's strung out and fun at the same time. While the band is obvious great all around, the singer really stands out from the rest on tracks like these. The repetitiveness of this song doesn't hurt it, and I always think of it as a shorter track than it actually is. Winner is one of my faves on the album. It's just ridiculously boisterous and cool I showed this track to one of my friends and before the drums came in, he thought that it was an early WISSK track, which speaks to the closeness of the guitarist to my sound. That's a compliment as . That little stop before the verse is sweet too and this song has some of the best lyrics on the album: "I saw a picture of a man that's richer when I looked into the mirror" And then we get down to Sex. This song isn't bad or anything and has grown on me a bit, but it feels like it's short for a reason: it's a step down from the extremely strong first few tracks. Where's the Home? is cool, sort of Beatles-esque melodically. The wild shrieky vocals at the end make up for this song though. You're So Sticky should've been cut. Too corny and it doesn't quite have the magic of the other tracks. Shades Off kind of carries on in the vein of "why did they add this?" But the stripped down approach makes it interesting. These tracks aren't bad, just a letdown from the beginning which rocks my world. Hollywood is my least favourite track on the album. Too tongue in cheek and pop punk. Not even a frantic no wave solo can save this track. In Zero starts off with a smoky vibe. On of the more filler tracks of these filler tracks stacked on the end, but I really like the groove and change of pace here. Little overlong though. Trapped in the Net is nice, heavy on the lofi indie vibe. I prefer these guys when they're loud though. Still filler though. Getting Back - A stompin, bluesy anthem that closes on a gospel vibe. Neat track but it carries on a little too long and has some cheesy moments. Final Thoughts: Man, I really wish they'd ended the album on Winner, because then it'd be a 11/10 record. Those other tracks get the job done though. Favourite Tracks: Leicester Holiday, Sean Lemon, Winner Least Favourite Tracks: Hollywood, You're So Sticky, Trapped in the Net Rating*: 9/10 because when it's good it's damn good. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth.* d e a f b o x

03-15-2017, 12:56 PM	#379 (permalink)
Exo All day jazz and biscuits Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 7,354	TH, I'm travelling right now so my reviews will be sporadic. I'd say it's safe to assume that if you don't hear from me by the last day or two you're not going to. __________________ LastFM SUPREME POO BAH MODERATOR EXTRAORDINAIRE

03-13-2017, 08:47 PM	#374 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	Getting Back - Bat-Bike (2016) Well I guess I'm first at bat again. My firsts thoughts were The Velvet Underground then Throbbing Gristle/Psychic TV then The Dead C. Then I thought to myself why am I so hellbent on pidgeonholing this band. What is it about post-post-punk or neo-post-punk or whatever you want to call it that makes me less forgiving than traditionalists of other genres? Really, I don't know. I can't remember the band but I remember an interview with a newer post-punk band and they were getting compared unfavorably to Sonic Youth and accused of ripping off this band and that band and one of them finally said we don't give a ** we're just a **ing band playing the style of music we want to play. I was already enjoying this record but once I decided to accept this record for what it is instead of trying to put an expiration date on the sound I really got the feel that this is a band that enjoys being a band and it shows. And I really like the way the album ends up on a kind of anthem. A very positive 4 out of 5 stars.

03-14-2017, 10:17 PM	#378 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	Well I feel like they did a great job capturing that energy.