The Album Club 2017

Trollheart · 05-05-2017, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elphenor

Anything with any dissonance Trollheart can't stomach aha

I actually think the first 4 tracks are explosive and then it loses its pace just a bit

That's why I picked this particular album though wanted showcase some of their cleaner material and not aleniate everyone

I've never made a secret of this. Doesn't mean my taste is any better or worse than yours. It would be a weird world if we all liked the same music, would it not?

Also, you should know I sat through Merzbow (though I hated it) and I absolutely loved Metal Machine Music, which surprised a lot of people, to say nothing of the surprise when they heard I dug GTT...

**Frownland** · 05-05-2017, 03:29 PM

I wouldn't call MMM dissonant, I'd barely even call Merzbow dissonant tbh. They're both abrasive and noisy though.

The Batlord · 05-05-2017, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

I've never made a secret of this. Doesn't mean my taste is any better or worse than yours. It would be a weird world if we all liked the same music, would it not?

Also, you should know I sat through Merzbow (though I hated it) and I absolutely loved Metal Machine Music, which surprised a lot of people, to say nothing of the surprise when they heard I dug GTT...

Lame.

Trollheart · 05-05-2017, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

Lame.

Actually I have no trouble walking.

The Batlord · 05-05-2017, 03:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trollheart

Actually I have no trouble walking.

Your empty scrotum probably allows for maximum range of movement.

innerspaceboy · 05-05-2017, 07:55 PM

Another apology - I'm dealing with the final weeks of the divorce, which now involves the police, physical abuse, and theft of my property. (It ain't pretty.) But I joined this thread and I'm going to stick to reviewing as best I can in the spare minutes between struggle and sleep.

I really dug this record. It's my first exposure to Half Japanese but I can instantly see the appeal to Cobain and others. I see Penn Jillette was involved with releasing some of their work, and I can definitely recognize some inspiration on projects like Captain Howdy, but this is far more raw and authentic than its imitators.

I was surprised by the variation and subtlety of several of the tracks here. The instrumentation is far more cerebral than that of its "pure" punk forefathers, and I really dig what's happening. The horns on "Our Eyes" were particularly intriguing, and the simple but bizarrely fascinating qualities of interstitial tracks like "Spin" really kept my interest throughout the album.

"All of Me" sounds quite akin to the stripped bare vocal stylings of Daniel Johnston, and the band surprises me yet again by switching it up to a bluesy number on the next track.

Really every new track grabbed me, and I only wish I had the time to fully digest this album in its entirety tonight.

And damn it - they've done it again with "Shanty Town". I'm still captivated and don't want to turn it off.

The closing track instantly reminds me of "Everything's Exploding" from Oh My Gawd!!! in '87. But the Half Japanese track is just as strong on its own so I find no fault in the similarity.

Really enjoyed this, and I'll definitely revisit it again when I can give it a more dedicated listen.

9/10

**Exo** · 05-05-2017, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by innerspaceboy

Another apology - I'm dealing with the final weeks of the divorce, which now involves the police, physical abuse, and theft of my property. (It ain't pretty.) But I joined this thread and I'm going to stick to reviewing as best I can in the spare minutes between struggle and sleep.

Dude. I must have missed when you disclosed this. F*cking sorry to hear that bud. Hopefully things start to get better soon.

OccultHawk · 05-05-2017, 08:10 PM

honestly I'm relieved you feel that way spacey

a little surprised you haven't already gone through at least the Half Japanese stuff of Jad's discography

sorry about your divorce but glad to hear my chances of getting laid have gone up even if just marginally

TechnicLePanther · 05-05-2017, 08:13 PM

Half Japanese - We Are They Who Ache With Amorous Love

Don't have time for a thorough review, but fun no wave my man. this LP has a lot of energetic tracks which leads me to enjoy it. However, there is a distinct lack of songwriting inherent in no wave that knocks the album down from awesome automatically. Still, not half-bad.

7/10

Electrophonic Tonic · 05-05-2017, 08:52 PM

Half Japanese
We Are They Who Ache With Amorous Love

This sounds like it was recorded on used wax cylinders (not necessarily a bad thing...). The highlights reminded me of stuff like I Heard Her Call My Name and that's one of my favorite VU songs, so that's cool. I definitely prefer dissonant and noisy to blase and twee, but the album spills over a bit too much into being atonal. That's where the album lost me. I get that not every track on here is like their cover of Gloria, but those tracks stick out a bit too much in a bad way. And while I like the muddy/non-atonal parts on the album overall, I didn't love or really like them and only make the handful of bad tracks stick out even more.

I do think it's interesting that we've done a decent handful of these sorta indie/garage albums (with varying other influences sprinkled in) and while I've felt differently about them, I've never had the urge to listen to them again after I've reviewed them. The same goes for this album. I've had three listens and I feel like I'm got everything that I'm going to get out of it.

5.5/10

05-05-2017, 03:29 PM	#782 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	I wouldn't call MMM dissonant, I'd barely even call Merzbow dissonant tbh. They're both abrasive and noisy though. __________________ 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

05-05-2017, 08:13 PM	#789 (permalink)
TechnicLePanther and the livin' is easy... Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New York Posts: 1,997	Half Japanese - We Are They Who Ache With Amorous Love Don't have time for a thorough review, but fun no wave my man. this LP has a lot of energetic tracks which leads me to enjoy it. However, there is a distinct lack of songwriting inherent in no wave that knocks the album down from awesome automatically. Still, not half-bad. 7/10 __________________ Many have tried to destroy it... but... true evil never dies. It is only... REBORN *SUGGEST ME AN ALBUM* - I'm probably not going to listen to it but I will if you bother me enough.

05-05-2017, 08:52 PM	#790 (permalink)
Electrophonic Tonic Your Ad Here Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: The Twilight Zone Posts: 876	Half Japanese We Are They Who Ache With Amorous Love This sounds like it was recorded on used wax cylinders (not necessarily a bad thing...). The highlights reminded me of stuff like I Heard Her Call My Name and that's one of my favorite VU songs, so that's cool. I definitely prefer dissonant and noisy to blase and twee, but the album spills over a bit too much into being atonal. That's where the album lost me. I get that not every track on here is like their cover of Gloria, but those tracks stick out a bit too much in a bad way. And while I like the muddy/non-atonal parts on the album overall, I didn't love or really like them and only make the handful of bad tracks stick out even more. I do think it's interesting that we've done a decent handful of these sorta indie/garage albums (with varying other influences sprinkled in) and while I've felt differently about them, I've never had the urge to listen to them again after I've reviewed them. The same goes for this album. I've had three listens and I feel like I'm got everything that I'm going to get out of it. 5.5/10 __________________ I was told I wouldn't need a signature...

05-05-2017, 08:10 PM	#788 (permalink)
OccultHawk one-balled nipple jockey Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Dirty Souf Biatch Posts: 22,006	honestly I'm relieved you feel that way spacey a little surprised you haven't already gone through at least the Half Japanese stuff of Jad's discography sorry about your divorce but glad to hear my chances of getting laid have gone up even if just marginally