[atsonicpark]

Reviewers are idiots. I have no comment on the actual recording, I will wait until I hear it, but yeah I HIGHLY doubt MM would write a "surf rock" song. There's probably a little single-string guitar line or something and it evoked a surf vibe to one reviewer. Remember when BOSS came out and someone wrote, "I can't even tell the difference between Magik Markers and Sonic Youth anymore." What does that mean? It's stuff like that that annoys people.

...There are some intelligent, wonderful reviewers out there. Like Mark Prindle.

[Derek]

I don't think of Mark Prindle as a sort of high-regarded reviewer, I just think he's fucking hilarious.

[atsonicpark]

He knows his shit. His reviews may have a lot of vulgar bullshit, but seriously read one of his reviews of the Fall or something sometime. Really knows his stuff, really comprehensive, notices the littlest details ever (for example, on that Fall page, he'll talk about a live bootleg "the guitarist is only playing 3 of the 4 notes correctly" and then on the Peel Sessions review, he talks about every single track that's improved or worsened or whatever.... etc). Also, he likes good shit, like Longmont Potion Castle and Caroliner.

[Moshe]

new website: http://themagikmarkers.com/

[dionysusundone]

Heard the album today, dunno if I care for it. Might grow on me I guess but I thought it was worse than BOSS.

[dionysusundone]

Oh and 7/23 has absolutely no trace of surf rock. There's a badly played little solo near the end but it sounds like a blues scale. The rest of the song sounds like...I dunno, just a bunch of little percussion pieces.

[Decayed Rhapsody]

I'm not so keen on it yet. I think Elisa as a writer (of the written word) is fascinating, and there are moments of brilliance on 'Boss.' Totally unlearned guitar playing is fine with me.. as long as you have an ear for something, which I'm not sure Elisa has ... at all. How did she end up playing those shows with Ben Chasny?

[atsonicpark]

Lots of oop stuff for you markers fans!:
http://forum.funkysouls.com/dump/f37t13679n20.html

(also a few ip things, but remember that those are only if you plan on "sampling" the new record before you plunk down your hard earned money on it!!).

Will take a listen to the new album soon. Very interested.

[dionysusundone]

Originally Posted by Decayed Rhapsody

I'm not so keen on it yet. I think Elisa as a writer (of the written word) is fascinating, and there are moments of brilliance on 'Boss.' Totally unlearned guitar playing is fine with me.. as long as you have an ear for something, which I'm not sure Elisa has ... at all. How did she end up playing those shows with Ben Chasny?

Are you serious? She played those shows because she's boning him.

[Decayed Rhapsody]

Hahaha that explains it then.

[atsonicpark]

Just listened to it. Good production! As far as the music, Pete's a great drummer. That's really all there is to say about the album.

[blunderbuss]

Originally Posted by atsonicpark

Lots of oop stuff for you markers fans!:
http://forum.funkysouls.com/dump/f37t13679n20.html

Lots of dead links too

[atsonicpark]

D'oh. That sucks. Well, I tried.

[blunderbuss]

It's probably for the best - the last time I downloaded something off a link I found on a Russian blog I ended up with a shitty virus that I could only get rid of by reloading Windows.

[koolthing78]

For those of you that have heard it, were there 9 tracks or 10? I came across a site where I could buy the whole album for like $1.21, so of course I did; but it was missing the 9th track (the "Ohio R." one). Did I find the most recent "pared-down" version, or will the actual CD (which I still plan on buying) have that one on it? In any event, it's a bit of an adjustment for me to hear this after only being introduced to their work via the fuller-sounding "Boss" (I know, I know--but I'm not even pretending to be "hip" and "underground")--but it's definitely growing on me. The darkness is there, but it's sparse and much more subtle (which in a way makes it almost *more* dark (or does it? (etc.))). Not to harp on old news (hey, I don't get out much and have limited reference points), but to me there's a kind of similarity in terms of intent and understatement between this and The Breeders' "Mountain Battles"--almost like the things that make it harder to like may have been done intentionally, which may add to the meaning (but there's always that slight level of uncertainty (or is that just me? (Jeez, I need to stop doing that (but ps: that's why "Psychosomatic" really fucks with me))). For example, "Risperdal" has this potential to be incredibly catchy and anthemic, but the production makes it sound thick and fuzzy and dull. But that's kind of what Risperdal is supposed to do (and the fact that other tracks are much more crisp show that it's not just accidental "lousy" production). And "The Ricercar of Dr. Clara Haber" seemed totally pointless, until I looked up what "ricercar" meant, who Clara Haber was, and realized that in the stretching, fumbling sounds were the beginnings of the killer riff in the next song (if you listen close enough (or is that in my head, too?)). Anyway, it's like a puzzle, and something that a chronic over-analyzer can get lost in. (And by the way, the radio show I heard "7/23" on had the title wrong--it was actually "State Number" they played (and I only *just* noticed the distorted, ghostly voice singing along faintly with Elisa during the last chorus--pretty fucked-up sounding...))

[PAULYBEE2656]

ten tracks....i love it..excellent album, much better than boss...

[Decayed Rhapsody]

After playing it non-stop for a few days.. it has a real allure to it, something for open-road listening.

[HaydenAsche]

Originally Posted by atsonicpark

Just listened to it. Good production! As far as the music, Pete's a great drummer. That's really all there is to say about the album.

I like not having to type things because you've already said them.

[Derek]

I will give it the ole Derek opinion soon

(yeah like any of you care what I think haha)

[deflinus]

the album's alright. first time listening to them. i don't see what the whole big deal is about them. the chick's hot and she has a really good voice