Well, Pitchfork just gave it a glowing review, so it'll undoubtedly be in the indie public's eye for the next week (at least). However, while I do think it's a good album (I got it last year imported, so I've been through it many times), and musically very rockin', the overall vision fails. The Pitchfork doesn't even touch on the lyrics, which is a major part. They stink in this album. A few rockers, like Special and Apocolypso are fine, but others, like Zoo Keepers Boy, Saviours of Jazz Ballet (self-explanatory really), and An Envoy to The Open Fields are really stupid past the music. Don't get me wrong, you should probably buy this album anyway, because it has some of my favorite cuts from all last year, "Why are You Looking Grave" "Special" "Apocalypso". I guess I'm more upset with Pitchfork for completely failing to even touch on what makes up a major part of the music. It's hard to get lost in music that seems very beautiful and complex when you hear some really stupid lyrics, in my opinion.
Posts: 305 | Location: AVA | Registered: 24 June 2006
I cannot believe that Pitchfork got on board for this record. It's terrible in the same cheesy way that Coheed & Cambria is terrible. It's practically an emo record, complete with overproduction, bad song titles, bad lyrics, and unsightly artwork. One of my closest friends has been into them for a long time and he has been trying to push this record on me for a year.
If you find something cool in it, great, but for Pitchfork to trash the new Thom York with a 6.6 and give this an 8.4 pretty much blows their credit.
Originally posted by pak: Well, Pitchfork just gave it a glowing review, so it'll undoubtedly be in the indie public's eye for the next week (at least). However, while I do think it's a good album (I got it last year imported, so I've been through it many times), and musically very rockin', the overall vision fails. The Pitchfork doesn't even touch on the lyrics, which is a major part. They stink in this album. A few rockers, like Special and Apocolypso are fine, but others, like Zoo Keepers Boy, Saviours of Jazz Ballet (self-explanatory really), and An Envoy to The Open Fields are really stupid past the music. Don't get me wrong, you should probably buy this album anyway, because it has some of my favorite cuts from all last year, "Why are You Looking Grave" "Special" "Apocalypso". I guess I'm more upset with Pitchfork for completely failing to even touch on what makes up a major part of the music. It's hard to get lost in music that seems very beautiful and complex when you hear some really stupid lyrics, in my opinion.
Well it seemed to me that they were kinda saying that lyrics were typical 70's prog rock type and that the music is incredible and therefore compensates. I mean I know nothing about the album I'm just saying what I thought they were saying.
Originally posted by vitunkrapula: They're just trying to give the underdog a chance... sheesh
They aren't underdogs. They're like honored in Sweden and they won some European awards for their much better album "Frengers". So Mew is fine for now.
Posts: 305 | Location: AVA | Registered: 24 June 2006
Europe is not the States. European success doesn't really mean jack here. Thom Yorke already has success in every continent including Antarctica. So Mew is the underdog in comparison.
The one word that I can conjure up in my head when I think about that album is: messy. I actually have The Zookeeper's Boy EP, which has three of the songs off the And The Glass Handed Kites. After listening to the EP and the full length, the only song that I really enjoyed was off the EP is Am I Wry? No, and I really disliked everything else. Can't really see what all the buzz is about.
Posts: 174 | Location: My Tree | Registered: 15 December 2005
I can't pinpoint what it is I like about the new Mew, but I like it alot. It's a nice mix of shoegaze, spacerock, and indie. The vocals sound, at times, like Ride and Lush, two of my shoegaze faves. I'm not sure why it garnered such a glowing P4K review, but I like it.
Posts: 3875 | Location: ATL, GA | Registered: 25 May 2004
Mew transcends genres and eschews labeling. If you don't "get" it, then just move along. The rest of us know why we like them so much.
********************** Metal-Archives POTD
quote:
im looking for pretty much the most uninspired/unoriginal brutal and/or slam death. with little or no variation in vocals. stuff like disgorge(us) and condemned.
Posts: 973 | Location: Ain'T it stiLl obvious? | Registered: 22 August 2006
When I listen to this album, I just think of how pretty the Neverending Story theme song is. This album isn't quite as pretty, but it tries. And that's what counts.
This album serves as a quick fix for me, i can't listen to the entire thing at once becuase the vocals are to hippidy dippity and when i can make out the lyrics i can't say i am a fan of them. But what makes the album good, and worth your money if you like the way the guitar sounds, are the riffs. I liek the way the keep everything in the song at perfect eq, while letting their guitars sound dirty and all rugged like a nappy beard. Circuitry of the wolf always gets me pumped up i don't care how dumb that sounds, its true. Its the kind of music that makes you go like "nerr now ner ner ner " you know, that guitar sound. I do it all the time when im just like sitting around.
I realize this post makes me seem like an idiot, but its how i feel.
I recently got this album and I'm enjoying it. It's non-stop awesomeness up until zookeeper finishes and then the just sort of tails though, right? Should I be giving the final half more of a go, any thoughts?
Posts: 66 | Location: New Zealand | Registered: 17 September 2006
I wondered why Pitchfork would give this album a good review when the site normally hates prog-rock. It's very odd. I'm going to be incredibly indie and say that their first two albums (that aren't released internationally) are their best. They were filled with quite unique pop instead of the dramatic approach they've turned to on the new ones.
My first time through this album I wasn't really thrilled by it, but on second and third listen it's really starting to appeal to me. Lyrically it's a bit weak, but Jonas's voice sounds incredible and the music is, for the most part, breathtaking.
Though I think Frengers is far superior. Their first two I couldn't really get into.
Posts: 70 | Location: upstate NY | Registered: 21 September 2006
I understand the point about it dropping off after zookeepers boy but after a hundred listens you start to appreciate the second half on a whole new level. Its smoother and easier to listen to over their earlier albums but not as quirky and original.
Would you like lies with that?
Posts: 63 | Location: Perth | Registered: 13 November 2006
I love this album!!! I just picked it up after I listen to a podcast of them on THe Interface. I cant say enough about it. I;ve been looking for something like this for a long time.
