I don't know if there's another topic about this band but wow are they underappreciated. I mean "It was Hot we, stayed in the water," "The Glow pt. 2" that latter especially (I just got "Mt. Eerie" but haven't listened yet but I'm sure it won't disappoint") are both incredible albums, yet few I've spoken to have heard the albums. This may be because they came out a couple of years ago but still it's a crime that more don't talk about them. Anybody out there fans?
"The Glow Pt. 2" is a great album, even if it is a bit long, inconsistent and scatterbrained. The instrumentals on that albums are something else. Phil Elvrum (sp?) has a style pretty much all his own (see also: Old Time Relijun, the band Mt. Eerie)
"The Glow, Pt. 2" is incredible. It's probably in my top five. I used to listen to it in a parking booth I worked at in college over and over again. "It was hot" is ridic as well.
"Mt Eerie," however, I bought and sold back on the same day. I wasn't even going to give it a second listen. I since have given it a second listen and it still doesn't do it for me. There just isn't enough of Elvrum's incredible melodic sense. If you're expecting more of the same, you are going to be disappointed. Mightily. It's about as stylisticly close as "drums not dead" to "The Threw us all in a trench..."
Posts: 132 | Location: DC | Registered: 05 April 2006
i would like to recommend to all the free ep "seven new songs of mt. eerie". google that, you'll find a site that offers all seven songs for free. every song is great, and it's short. my main problem with mt. eerie/microphones is that the rest of his material is so spotty and inconsistent. "seven new songs" has all the high points of a elvrum album without all the filler and questionable "song" inclusions. and did i mention it's free?!
Just to clear up any confusion. There is a Microphones album called "Mt Eerie." Later on, Elvrum put out other albums under the name of "Mt Eerie." I haven't heard any of the latter.
Posts: 132 | Location: DC | Registered: 05 April 2006
well, is there any reason to separate the two bands? they didn't exist at the same time, meaning one wasn't a side project while the other was phil's main band. they are more or less the same band, although the shift to mt. eerie has maybe seen some personel shifts perhaps. they are definitely the same band though. and it makes sense to look at evlrum's whole catalog, from the first microphones album to latest mt. eerie slew of releases as being the output of this one band.
Posts: 171 | Location: Phoenix | Registered: 05 September 2004
It was hot... and The Glow, Part 2 are two of my favorite albums in my collection. I love them both. I only listened to the Mt. Eerie album a few times, but it just doesn't do it for me.
Posts: 720 | Location: Portland, OR | Registered: 22 October 2005
I listened to Glow Pt.2 a while back and couldn't get into it at all. It struck me as the kind of record that takes some time to enjoy, so I'll return to it sometime soon and see how it sounds then.
-------------------------------------------------- Anatomy to me is a homesick stomach and a broken heart
Posts: 4169 | Location: NE Indiana | Registered: 14 April 2005
I wasn't trying to separate the two, I was merely trying to clarify that there is a microphones album called Mt Eerie and then there is the band Mt Eerie. In an eariler thread, I was talking about how I didn't get Mt Eerie, but I was referring to the record, not the band. I'm not saying that they should be discussed separately...just trying to clarify...That's why I said I was trying to clarify
Posts: 132 | Location: DC | Registered: 05 April 2006
I actually quite enjoy Mt. Eerie [the album]. You have to listen to it as a whole though, not song by song. I think the drum build of the first song is really good and the ensuing song through to the end is genius. It sits right next to The Glow Pt. 2 for me. The 3rd and 4th tracks are particularly incredible.
I am a big fan of everything he has put out even though he can be a bit inconsistent. He has made a slew of my favourite songs of all time. The album he released as The Singers is my favourite of his most recent output but No Flashlight comes quite close as well.
I actually just got into the Microphones about a month ago, and I must say that I am incredibly impressed by them.
My favorite album of theirs is "Mount Eerie." I don't know why, but it just is. I think it might be because I feel like it's more intense, whereas "The Glow, pt 2" is a little more beautiful. I like "It was hot..." too, but I just like the other two better.
I feel like you really have to give the Microphones' albums multiple listens to really appreciate it. The subtleties are absolutely amazing, but you really have to let the songs and albums sink in to really appreciate it. Therefore, if you have the patience, and the headphones (which I think are necessary for this type of music), then you'll realize how good of a composer Elvrum is. I mean, "the Glow" is pretty much one song, straight through. it's pretty impressive.
I bought The Glow, Pt. 2 a few weeks ago and ohmygod. I have listened to the entire album every night since I got it. It's so amazing I don't even want to talk about it. I'll get their other records when I can, and look forward to hearing them.
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Posts: 1115 | Location: new york | Registered: 10 October 2005
Wow! I'm shocked that there are people who don't enjoy the Mt.Eerie record, by Phil Elvrum. I'm going to support what was said in a previous thread and say you have to give that record another spin. And not just a random song, but from start to finish. The whole record is very visual, taking ideas from The Glow Pt.2 and making them widescreen. I know Elvrum released a companion to this album that explains a lot of the symbolism, allusions, and influences. It's hard to find, but I'm sure you could track it down on some of the more *ahem* questionable places on the Internet. Well worth it.
Originally posted by joji: The Microphones are amazing. Mount Eerie is amzing. I want to talk about them more.
Hmm well having listened to all three Microphones albums I have to say that although I love Mt. Eerie as the completion of the series started by It was Hot, as a stand-alone album I simply don't like it as much as the others. I mean don't get me wrong it has its share of beautiful moments such as when the Universe comes in with that gigantic "WHAT DO YOU WANTTTT?" or when the vultures are given their chance to speak and how the flesh they tear becomes part of them and their flight. Great stuff. But it's definately doesn't have as many incredible moments of pop ridiculousness as It was Hot and especially the Glow Pt. 2. Which I guess is appropriate as it is an album about Death( not that the others weren't but this is kinda a literal completion, because Elvyrum is talking bout his own death) I mean competing with those albums is no easy task I know but I think the next time I listen to Mt. Eerie I'll listen to it after both It Was Hot and The Glow Pt 2 and I imagine it will work brilliantly. Hopefully this will start some more discussion on this incredible band/ person.
Originally posted by brighteyes215: [Hmm well having listened to all three Microphones albums I have to say that although I love Mt. Eerie as the completion of the series started by It was Hot, as a stand-alone album I simply don't like it as much as the others. I mean don't get me wrong it has its share of beautiful moments such as when the Universe comes in with that gigantic "WHAT DO YOU WANTTTT?" or when the vultures are given their chance to speak and how the flesh they tear becomes part of them and their flight. Great stuff. But it's definately doesn't have as many incredible moments of pop ridiculousness as It was Hot and especially the Glow Pt. 2. Which I guess is appropriate as it is an album about Death( not that the others weren't but this is kinda a literal completion, because Elvyrum is talking bout his own death) I mean competing with those albums is no easy task I know but I think the next time I listen to Mt. Eerie I'll listen to it after both It Was Hot and The Glow Pt 2 and I imagine it will work brilliantly. Hopefully this will start some more discussion on this incredible band/ person.
All 3? I own at least 6 Microphones albums. Just listen to The Glow, pt. 2. Please. I want to buy a hundred copies and leave it on the doorstep of everyone I know.
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Posts: 1115 | Location: new york | Registered: 10 October 2005
See me look unveiled when I walk out of the canyon See me start to climb at the end of day But who's there to see me walk out There is no beacon, no sun to block out No birds ablaze A close dark voice says... Do you really think there's anybody out there? Mmhmm So what, no one sees me What do I care, now the black night has seized me On a mountain's mane I climb to my claim And I am aimless, alone, and unraveling And above, barren wastelands stare at me They know my name....
This post may seem kind of meaningless, but those lyrics are super when you hear them sung.
Posts: 1115 | Location: new york | Registered: 10 October 2005
Ah I completely forgot about the others! Sorry I guess I meant the "trilogy" of IWHWSITW, The Glow Pt. 2, and Mt. Eerie. And that song quote is amazing, I was a bit harsh on the album, looking back now I have to say that its a great album in its own right. But I still like the first two in the series better. "The Sun" is great also especially with the blaring "death" noises which are I guess representative of the Bow of Fire from the Glow Pt 2.
