[kj] Hosannas: what's not to like?

[Alex Smith]

I continue to dutifully listen to HOSANNAs, but I'm still not "feelin' it" (as the hip kids say).  The songs are too long, Jaz's vocals are both a bore and a chore. Too often, there isn't enough definition to the rhythm section -- just a rattling blur. I appreciate its propensity for blustery high volume (it sounds nice and big), but I just wish there was a bit more clarity to it.

In terms of its similarity to "Exorcism," I see your point, but I think my appreciation for "Exorcism" is linked more to its placement in the era in which is surfaced (`94), when apart from my precious Cop Shoot Cop, the world was otherwise obsessed with stuff like Morcheeba (not that knocking them, mind you), and "Exorcism" arrived like a clenched iron fist on trip-hop's chinless jaw. "GET IT OUT, GET IT OUT, GET IT OUT....." Also, one can't help but be intrigued by the King's Chamber story -- whether it's factual or not, I'll let Peter West consider. The over-the-op, Lemmyvoxed style demonstrated on "Exorcism" had not yet become a norm. It still felt new. 

I dunno. For all my complaints, I'd still rather listen to HOSANNAS than **ANY** of the shit I hear here at MTV every goddamn day of the fucking week.

Alex in NYC















-----Original Message-----
>From: Christof hamille <wessidetempest at hotmail.com>
>Sent: Apr 19, 2006 1:20 PM
>To: gathering at misera.net
>Subject: RE: [kj] Hosannas: what's not to like?
>
>For me
>
>at first (leaked mp3s) I was nto to fond of it.
>
>It then grew on me
>
>After a while of listening to it regularly I intentionally stopped listening 
>in anticipation for the actual release.
>
>By the time it got here the party was over.  The hang over was gone and the 
>liquid shits had passed.
>
>That doesn't mean I'll never listen to it again (or stop drinking for that 
>matter) but I will not repeat that excess for quite some time.
>
>Chris
>
>
>>From: "Mark Kolmar" <mkolmar at gmail.com>
>>Reply-To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the 
>>band!)"<gathering at misera.net>
>>To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)" 
>><gathering at misera.net>
>>Subject: [kj] Hosannas: what's not to like?
>>Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 11:03:08 -0500
>>
>>To Alex and others who aren't too fond of the new record -- Has it
>>grown on you at all?
>>
>>Alex, after I read your comment to remind me that "Whiteout" and
>>"Exorcism" are among his favorite tracks on _Pandemonium_, I was all
>>the more surprised that you don't particularly care for _Hosannas_.
>>Large portions of the new record have a similarly insistent,
>>oppressive character as those two tracks.
>>
>>I listened to it on my small system last night.  With regard to the
>>mix and mastering, it worked equally well on the bedroom system (teeny
>>amp and little Klipsch speakers) as the big stereo in the living room
>>(preamp into 4x125w bi-amped into big B&Ws).  It still sounds a little
>>dodgy, and parts seem to have significant tape saturation or similar
>>issue where low bass imposes itself on the whole rest of the mix.
>>
>>I was impressed that the synth parts seem more "keyboardy" for lack of
>>a better term (VdGG or Hawkwind maybe), and less dance/techno
>>certainly than on _Pandemonium_.  The synths seem all the more alien
>>because they do not reference current and recent trends the way they
>>did on _Pandemonium_.  You'll notice if you listen closely that the
>>synth parts offer a lot of textural support for Geordie's guitar.  Do
>>you suppose the synths were Jaz's work?
>>
>>--Mark
>>_______________________________________________
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>
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