Jackhammer Stripped

zeppy111 · 09-09-2009, 09:32 AM

I would definitely take those links if they are up.

music_phantom13 · 09-10-2009, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackhammer

Fanboys. They annoy the hell out of me but guess what? I am a fanboy.

*CouFatFreddy'sDropugh* :p Man I need to quit smoking.

Great thread by the way, I like the personal stories you tell. I'm getting some John Martyn at home as I type this which I look forward to hearing after work. I think someone else wrote about him on here, or I'm completely making that up, but you're review has inspired me to check out his stuff. Ah and Iron Maiden... they, along with Slayer, were my introduction to metal.

jackhammer · 09-16-2009, 04:57 PM

Archive

Archive are probably the newest band I will post about in here; having only been into them for about a year but what a year that's been. Rapidly climbing the ladder of my favourite bands, This U.K band are ridiculously under-appreciated over here despite having a relatively commercial sound.

Describing Archive's music is a bit of a minefield with a sound that incorporates Trip Hop, Electronica, Ambient Rock and huge epic build ups. This isn't to say that it's a mish mash at all. Just each track sounds a little different from another yet still retains it's own identity and lush sound.

I am a big fan of music that is moody, melancholic yet doesn't resort to bouts of miserabilism or obvious cliches. Monotonous, repetitive hooks really grab hold of me for some reason and Archive are damn good at this. Most of their albums contain at least one 10 minute plus epic that is relatively simple in structure yet hypnotic. Much in the same way that Pink Floyd or certain Porcupine Tree tracks can hold the attention with simple yet brooding structures, Archive do this with ease and still retain their originality.

Perfect for late night listening and in many cases are lyrically ferocious yet the music still retains it's melodic sensibilities. Archive could very well take the path of many more successful bands in producing stadium/radio friendly songs. After all they have the tools to easily do so but by retaining a non commercial stance (in terms of track length and lack of big choruses), they remain a band with integrity and individualism.

Recommended Albums:

You All Look The Same To Me (2002)
Lights (2006)

From their latest album Controlling Crowds:

Vitriol:

A snippet of their 15 minute epic Again:

storymilo · 09-16-2009, 05:24 PM

Great write up there, I might check em out, they sound very good from those videos

jackhammer · 09-16-2009, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by storymilo

Great write up there, I might check em out, they sound very good from those videos

One more that may keep you thinking like that. If Radiohead were behind this song people would be falling all over themselves with superlatives. Alas they decide not to look too hard at other UK acts

Bulldog · 09-17-2009, 03:30 AM

Archive are one of those groups I haven't necessarily heard a lot about, just seen the name popping up every so often. Love the sound of that Bullets tune though - draws a lot of parallels with Everything But the Girl and UNKLE to me, which is never a bad thing. Seems like a great bunch to me. Consider them on my radar

Piss Me Off · 09-17-2009, 04:24 AM

Your description touched upon everything i'd have to say about them, i suppose their is something quite commercial about them yet they've never really been noticed, i blame the 10 min epics!

NSW · 09-17-2009, 07:57 AM

The only Archive album I’ve heard in its entirety is “You All Look The Same To Me”, and I absolutely love it. I normally can’t handle those epically long songs, but ‘Again’ is a definite exception. You mentioned them having monotonous, repetitive hooks which I suppose is true but I feel like they do a nice job of keeping to rest of the song interesting and varied vocally and instrumentally (I’m specifically talking about ‘Again’ here). Where you say those types of hooks really grab you, they usually turn me off, so this is a band I’ll have to tentatively pursue further.

I’m pretty sure I have “Noise” laying around on my hard drive somewhere but I have not gotten around to listening to it yet, with the exception of ‘F*ck U’…another good song but I didn’t enjoy it as much as most of the songs on “You All Look the Same to Me”. Perhaps I should make “Lights” my next listening venture instead??

As for the first vid you posted there from the new album, I have to admit I didn’t care for that at all.

Not sure if it was because it seemed a lot more up-tempo than what I’m used to hearing from them, but it didn’t seem all that spectacular lyrically either. Are there any different songs from the new album you can recommend?

Arya Stark · 09-17-2009, 09:29 AM

Archive seems like a band I would be interested. I'll look into them more. Thank you.

Well written, too.

Mojo · 09-17-2009, 10:14 AM

I remember you put an Archive track in a compilation on here somewhere and I really thought I would like it but was somewhat let down. Bu the track that is, not the comp.

I checked out the first two videos up there and thought the first one was alright and the second wasnt really for me at all. However the third one is spectacular. May have convinced me to give them a shot.

09-09-2009, 09:32 AM	#31 (permalink)
zeppy111 16, so? Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: South Africa Posts: 630	I would definitely take those links if they are up. __________________ My Blog (album of the day): http://musicfromthesouth.blogspot.com

09-16-2009, 04:57 PM	#33 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	Archive Archive are probably the newest band I will post about in here; having only been into them for about a year but what a year that's been. Rapidly climbing the ladder of my favourite bands, This U.K band are ridiculously under-appreciated over here despite having a relatively commercial sound. Describing Archive's music is a bit of a minefield with a sound that incorporates Trip Hop, Electronica, Ambient Rock and huge epic build ups. This isn't to say that it's a mish mash at all. Just each track sounds a little different from another yet still retains it's own identity and lush sound. I am a big fan of music that is moody, melancholic yet doesn't resort to bouts of miserabilism or obvious cliches. Monotonous, repetitive hooks really grab hold of me for some reason and Archive are damn good at this. Most of their albums contain at least one 10 minute plus epic that is relatively simple in structure yet hypnotic. Much in the same way that Pink Floyd or certain Porcupine Tree tracks can hold the attention with simple yet brooding structures, Archive do this with ease and still retain their originality. Perfect for late night listening and in many cases are lyrically ferocious yet the music still retains it's melodic sensibilities. Archive could very well take the path of many more successful bands in producing stadium/radio friendly songs. After all they have the tools to easily do so but by retaining a non commercial stance (in terms of track length and lack of big choruses), they remain a band with integrity and individualism. Recommended Albums: You All Look The Same To Me (2002) Lights (2006) From their latest album Controlling Crowds: Vitriol: A snippet of their 15 minute epic Again: __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.” Last edited by jackhammer; 09-16-2009 at 05:19 PM.

09-17-2009, 04:24 AM	#37 (permalink)
Piss Me Off Moodswings n' Roundabouts Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: At the corner of Dude and Catastrophe Posts: 4,512	Your description touched upon everything i'd have to say about them, i suppose their is something quite commercial about them yet they've never really been noticed, i blame the 10 min epics! __________________ Last FM Rate Yr Music Muxtape

09-17-2009, 07:57 AM	#38 (permalink)
NSW Bigger and Better Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas girl living in the UK Posts: 2,596	The only Archive album I’ve heard in its entirety is “You All Look The Same To Me”, and I absolutely love it. I normally can’t handle those epically long songs, but ‘Again’ is a definite exception. You mentioned them having monotonous, repetitive hooks which I suppose is true but I feel like they do a nice job of keeping to rest of the song interesting and varied vocally and instrumentally (I’m specifically talking about ‘Again’ here). Where you say those types of hooks really grab you, they usually turn me off, so this is a band I’ll have to tentatively pursue further. I’m pretty sure I have “Noise” laying around on my hard drive somewhere but I have not gotten around to listening to it yet, with the exception of ‘Fck U’…another good song but I didn’t enjoy it as much as most of the songs on “You All Look the Same to Me”. Perhaps I should make “Lights” my next listening venture instead?? As for the first vid you posted there from the new album, I have to admit I didn’t care for that at all. Not sure if it was because it seemed a lot more up-tempo than what I’m used to hearing from them, but it didn’t seem all that spectacular lyrically either. Are there any different songs from the new album you can recommend? __________________ Hi.*

09-17-2009, 10:14 AM	#40 (permalink)
Mojo Melancholia Eternally Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: England Posts: 5,018	I remember you put an Archive track in a compilation on here somewhere and I really thought I would like it but was somewhat let down. Bu the track that is, not the comp. I checked out the first two videos up there and thought the first one was alright and the second wasnt really for me at all. However the third one is spectacular. May have convinced me to give them a shot. __________________ Last.FM \| Echoes and Dust

09-16-2009, 05:24 PM	#34 (permalink)
storymilo Music Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 1,845	Great write up there, I might check em out, they sound very good from those videos

09-17-2009, 03:30 AM	#36 (permalink)
Bulldog why bother? Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: UK Posts: 4,840	Archive are one of those groups I haven't necessarily heard a lot about, just seen the name popping up every so often. Love the sound of that Bullets tune though - draws a lot of parallels with Everything But the Girl and UNKLE to me, which is never a bad thing. Seems like a great bunch to me. Consider them on my radar