[kj] MMXII Immersion

[Alexander Smith]

Curious to hear your thoughts, Mr. G

Alex in NYC


On Apr 17, 2012, at 1:53 AM, Michael Garcia wrote:


> I've been digesting the whole album and extras for a few weeks now  

> so I think I can write my reviews by this weekend

>

> Michael

>

> www.spellboundsf.com

> Skype: dragonfly_mg

>

> On Apr 14, 2012, at 10:51 AM, fatpotanga <fatpotanga at gmail.com> wrote:

>

>> It's a real grower & I think the best for years, but for me it only  

>> really starts after the first 3 tracks (really can't warm to any of  

>> them) that it comes alive.

>> Pole shift  - is great until it goes double time & I'd bin the  

>> synth intro.

>> Fema Camp is great until as you point out we get "Chorus = bellowed  

>> song title"

>> Rapture I find totally monotonous.

>>

>> After these I think it's wonderful.

>> I also really like the artwork.

>>

>> On 13 Apr 2012, at 14:50, Alexander Smith wrote:

>>

>>>

>>> Been a bit sick this week, so perhaps in not the ideal frame of  

>>> mind in which to immerse myself in the new KJ, but some  

>>> observations since receiving it the other day....

>>>

>>> "Pole Shift" --> Not an ideal album opener

>>>

>>> "Fema Camp" ---> Oh dear. Also, I wish we could wrench Jaz out of  

>>> the "Chorus = bellowed song title" cycle.

>>>

>>> "Rapture" ---> This and "In Cythera" are the best bits on the  

>>> album. No contest.

>>>

>>> "Colony Collapse"-- > Reminds me of something very specific, and I  

>>> can't put my finger on it. Not wild about the sing-songy element  

>>> to the verses, but Geordie -- as always -- still makes it work.

>>>

>>> "Corporate Elect" - Third best track on the album. Band firing on  

>>> all cylinders. Strangely reminds me of "Medicine Wheel" off  

>>> DEMOCRACY for some reason.

>>>

>>> "In Cythera" - Highlight of the album. As I said before, it's the  

>>> type of song they've seemingly been trying to nail for a while.  

>>> Simultaneously elegiac and feral.

>>>

>>> "Primobile"  -- Geordie really shines on this one .... Like much  

>>> of the album, lots of layers to wade through here.

>>>

>>> Not wild about "Glitch" and still getting my head around "Trance"

>>>

>>> "On All Hallows' Eve" ---> Firstly, why release a song about All  

>>> Hallow's Eve in April? Secondly, where have I heard that beat  

>>> before? Iggy's "Nightclubbing"? Some glam stomp?

>>>

>>> Coles artwork much more realized up close. Shame about the skull,  

>>> but am growing fonder of the overall motif. Still light years  

>>> better than HOSANNAS and KJ2003, let's remember.

>>>

>>> Love that Jaz is SINGING again (less throaty bile-spewing)

>>>

>>> Why does Heath Ledger get another shout-out in the liner notes?

>>>

>>> Overall, I have to say -- it lacks a bit of the urgency of  

>>> ABSOLUTE DISSENT, and doesn't feature as many moments of sheer,  

>>> spine-tingling Killing Jokiness (you know what I mean -- the songs  

>>> that stop you dead in your tracks that CANNOT have been made by  

>>> any other band). The last track that did that for me was "Raven  

>>> King" (although "In Cythera" comes very close). They certainly  

>>> sound like they're revisiting some older ideas here.

>>>

>>> I think my biggest complaint is something that also held true for  

>>> HOSSANAS and that is that there is a claustrophobia that mires  

>>> certain tracks. Either it's the keyboards, of layered fatness of  

>>> some of the guitars, but there just isn't any space in some of  

>>> these songs, and the drums get lost. I mean, listen to, say,  

>>> "Feast of Blaze" and then spin something off this one and you'll  

>>> see what I'm trying to get at.

>>>

>>> Alex in NYC

>>>

>>

>>

>>

>>

>> -- 

>> http://www.fatpotanga.com

>> http://www.iamscuzzy.com

>>

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