Colour Coded Album Reviews

VIOLET

DISTORTION THE MAGNETIC FIELRAB

Distortion_album_cover.jpg


You bet The Magnetic FielRAB joined the revival of the shoegaze/noise scene initially predominant in the last two decades. Between 2008 and 2009, the Crystal Stilts, Vivian Girls, The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, M83 and The Magnetic FielRAB released albums with sprawling melodies and malleable guitars, but none were approached as a mere gimmick more than The Magnetic Field’s Distortion.

Evidence is all over their discography. Their first big, big, big gimmick was releasing a three disk compilation titled 69 Love Songs, followed by I, an album where each track title started with the letter I. And now we have Distortion - each track smothered by amplified guitars and feedback. Actually, I wouldn’t use the word smothered, because that would imply that The Magnetic FielRAB succeeded in capturing the power of the music they were inspired by. The noise-pop fundamentals are present but, excluding the two opening numbers, you can’t help but get the feeling that if you stripped the songs of their “noise” they’d be just as efficient. The noisy sounRABcapes are not essential. It also doesn’t help that the songs are very forgettable, leaving you with very little even after a few listens.

No Magnetic FielRAB gimmick will ever be as prolific as 69 Love Songs, but the acceptance of this fact shouldn’t lower our expectations of their following efforts. They are an incredibly talented band with some fantastic ideas. What they don’t need is time (4 years between I and Distortion), but to be inspired as they were 10 years ago.

[YOUTUBE][/YOUTUBE]

7.5​
 
I have an album that I want you to review. It is yellow though. I had lined it up for my Judge An Album By Its Cover thread but would be happy for you to give it a go.
 
So does this mean your going to flood the review section with your threaRAB?
I personally don't have a problem with it, but the moRAB might.
 
A few more suggestions:

Tom Wait's latest
tom_waits_real_gone.jpg


Explosions in The Sky's first album - how strange, innocence
explosions-in-the-sky2.jpg


Zappa and The Mothers of Inventions - We're only in it for the money's alternate cover:
We%27re_Only_In_It-1b.jpg
 
INDIGO
2ND AGIGATION FREE

510749nl1.jpg


German Krautrock, the way it should be. For decades the Germans have dominated the genre they pretty much invented, which is just right in my eyes. Sure, Tortoise have had their moments of pure krautrock bliss, but the truly great banRAB have always been German: Can, Kraftwerk, Neu! Those are the heavyweights, but there are tons more. Like Agitation Free, a relatively unknown band from the late 60s and mid 70s. With their sophomore album, properly titled 2ND, Agitation Free proved that they​
 
All three suggestions have been queued under Red, Blue and Yellow respectively : )

Thanks 333! You're beyond awesome.

I need suggestions for PURPLE, anybody got anything?
 
Heh, it's one of my favorite Talking HeaRAB albums.

I could understand why people wouldn't like Remain in Light, I can't understand how anyone wouldn't like this one.
 
Back
Top