[kj] Hosannas Day two

[Jiri]

Thanks for the report, Chris.

I remember a few songs on KJ2003 were originally 2 minutes or so longer 
than what turned up on the album, so I'm hoping that's the case here and 
it's an unfinished mix. An album of 7-, 8-, and damn near 10-minute 
songs is not my ideal. I would like 10 songs on an album, though! And no 
more Asteroids -- once was fine, but enough!

...Otherwise I'm pretty energized by what I've heard so far, although 
it's been tough to make out the bass and keys either on this mix/on my 
mac speakers/with construction outside my office.

...Also, though I'd like a little singing from Jaz, I wonder if at his 
age and with a history of beating up his voice, if Jaz just isn't 
capable of that anymore? Seems like a lot of singers flatten into a very 
narrow range by their 40s.

-Jiri, who's not looking forward to stewing over this for two months 
before the final disc is in his hands.

Christof hamille wrote:

> All right
>
> So I gave it another listen on my way into work.  It works a lot 
> better on the car stereo but I am still convinced that it is a 
> intentional leak witha  bad mix.  the biggest reson being that the 
> levels go up and down noticeably quite a bit.
>
> So a few things that I will mention about the album in general before 
> going track by track
>
> 1. Drumming is bland.  I definately hear some interesting/complex bass 
> and hih-hat/cymbal work.  But to me that is not part of the Killing 
> Joke sound.  More dynamic then Pandemonium or Democracy.  But it 
> almost sounds like it could have been a drum machine
>
> 2.  the majority of these songs are toooo long.  It seemed to start 
> with BTATS but was real noticeable on Extremities and Pandemonium.  
> Democracy and 2003 do not seem to suffer from that as much.  Also all 
> of the Murder Inc and Damage Manual stuff plods on to long also
>
> 3. I liked 2003.  And one reason that stands out to (this may not be 
> true) me is that the songs seem to be written individually.  Where as 
> Extremities, Pandemonium and Democracy seemed like the situation was 
> thata they needed to put an album out.  So get together in the studio 
> and come up with something.  This isn't necesarilly bad and a lot of 
> bands do this (especially established).  But 2003 seemed more about 
> the individual song then the album as a whole
>
> 4.  I can hear the bass fine.  It is mixed more as a presence.  Which 
> is common in a lot of recordings and KJ for that matter.  If you took 
> it out of the mix you would definately notice it is gone.  It is a 
> link between the guitar and drums.
>
> On to the tracks
>
> 1. This Tribal Antidote - The shortest song on the album at 4:15.  I 
> like this song.  A KJ rocker with some nice Geordie work.  There are 
> some subtle keyboard effects that work nicely.  Not the strongest but 
> by no means weak.
>
> 2.  Hosannas from the basement of Hell - 5:52 - I think this is where 
> the continuation of 2003 is present.  Pretty much the same as above.  
> Start and stop dynamics.  No problems with this song.  If I had to 
> pick something I would say work on the keyboard sound.  And maybe trim 
> a little of the fat.
>
> 3.  Invocation - 7:54 - This has more of a Pandemonium feel to it.  
> Middle Eastern flair with the repetitive guitar/bass lines.  I 
> actually like this song quite a bit.  BUT not as a stand alone song.  
> This is a perfect song as a background o something.  A DVD menu, video 
> game intro, something.  More of an instrumental.  The keyboards would 
> have been 100 times better as real violins then samples.  If they play 
> this live this is the "time to get a beer" song just because of the 
> length.  I could imagine this being the opener and taking ove rCommunion.
>
> 4.  Implosion - 6:41 - Too long.  This may be one of the weaker ones.  
> In line with 2003.  The chorus is nice.  Between it sounding like a 
> 2003 leftover and being to long I rack this up with Millenium and 
> Loose Cannon.  Not the best examples of the album.
>
> 5.  Majestic - 5:40 - Right now this is my favorite one.  Repetitive 
> but it has a great build up. I get more of an Extremities feel from 
> it.  It sounds like there may be some better drumming here.  Will have 
> to wait for the final mix.
>
> 6.  Walking with Gods - 8:36 - Again tooo long.  This certainly has 
> the goth/spookly club sounds/samples going on.  Keyboards are much 
> more important to this song.  I guesss a Pandemonium feel but 
> Pandemonium seem to have better tones.  Once it finally gets to the 
> chorus it gets better.  Between the length and hokey sequencing I 
> would liekly skip over this one more often.
>
> 7.  Lightbringer - 9:38 - Asteroid part 2.  I like Asteroid.  And I 
> think the pay off here isn't nearly as dramatic.  Maybe part of it is 
> the length.  It is good but just way to long.  3:45 and the song would 
> improve 100%
>
> 8.  Judas Goat - 6:21 - Interesting song.  The dynamics and 
> transitions are not typical Killing Joke.  Does it pay off?  For me 
> yes.  But I will see how many will not like this song.  A mellower 
> song.  Which is fine by me.
>
> 9.  Gratitude - 7:04 - For a brief a second I though this was Loose 
> Cannon.  Again too long.  Jaz is singing (gravelly at times).  I like 
> the song but I am not sure if I would end the album on this.  It seems 
> more liek a middle song.
>
>
> There you have it.  I don't know if I would listen to this much at 
> first.  But to be fair I barely touched Democracy when it first came 
> out and now it is part of the regular rotation and I hardly listen to 
> Extremities and Pandemonium now.  And when those first two came out I 
> was listening to them every wakign minute. I guess it is more subtle 
> in it Killing Jokeness
>
> Chris
>
>
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