Slint - Spiderland
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Music CD Cover
Artist: SlintEdition: Music CD
CD Release Date: 1994-03-31
Music Label: Touch & Go Records
Soundtracks:
- Breadcrumb
- Nosferatu Man
- Don, Aman
- Washer
- For Dinner...
- Good Morning, Captain
Free Music Notes for Spiderland
Free Music Review: Unbelievable
Hit: 5 Stars
Unfortunately, Spiderland was the last album Slint ever recorded (an EP was released later, but was recorded prior to this album). That said, it meant that they didn't make any career mistakes, as both this and Tweez, their first recording, are very good, and in the case of Spiderland, absolutely out-of-the-stratosphere amazing.
This should really be listened to as an album, not as individual songs, but here's my personal opinions of the songs contained within.
Breadcrumb Trail- I liked this some when I first heard it, but it's gotten a lot better to my ears as I listen to it more and more. The lyrics are a pretty straightforward narrative about a carnival, but Brian McMahan's word choice and vocal style makes the story somewhat eerie and dreamlike. 9/10
Nosferatu Man- A very interesting riff (which I believe is in 5/4, but I could be mistaken) which reminds me a bit of Discipline-era King Crimson, albeit more dissonant, opens this math-rock opus with surreal lyrics possibly about a vampire. Like the previous song (and most of the others on the album) there's some mumbling and then some screaming in the vocals. The instruments are what drive it along though, particularly the drumming of Mr. Britt Walford. 10/10
Don, Aman- Don, the song's protagonist, goes through some routine (but a bit skewed, of course) experiences as the guitars interlock to create a creepy, avant-rock background (with a bit of distortion now and then, of course) with no drums involved. Sort of scary. Good, though. 9/10
Washer- Very sad and ominous mini-epic (well, not quite mini, it's 9 minutes in length) possibly about a broken relationship. Prominently features the acclaimed dynamics Slint is famous for, with some soft strumming leading to loud bashing after the words "I am safe from harm..." Warning- this can make you feel quite depressed. 10/10
For Dinner...- Solid instrumental, not the best. An interesting atmosphere is created, though. 9/10
Good Morning, Captain- This Rime of the Ancient Mariner-derived piece is the strongest track on the album, in my opinion. It's also very disturbing. It'd be worth it to get this album just for this track. Amazing. 11/10
I know I cheated a bit on the last track, but that adds up to 58 out of 60, a definite A-plus. This has had such a huge influence on the post-rock scene, along with Laughing Stock by Talk Talk (see my review [or don't, it's OK]), that it is just ridiculous. I mean, for God's sake, if you added a string section to this album, merged it with the samples found on Tweez, and tripled the song lengths, you've basically just created a little band called Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
Also, the musicianship is really top-notch. The drumming is full of energy and quick fills, the guitars create some of the most awesomely unique, angular riffs found in underground music today, and the bassist holds everything together like Gorilla Glue. A desert-island disc if there ever was one.
Spiderland Poster
Although this Kentucky combo had a short lifespan, its influence has been extraordinary, presaging the underground "math-rock" revolution and spawning spinoffs such as Tortoise and Gastr Del Sol. But don't go thinking that the foursome is a mere footnote: The bracingly dense, dizzyingly complex songs that vein this, their second full-length release, perfectly capture the smarter face of early-'90s thug-rock. Yes, Slint's sound is descended from punk, but its members--particularly guitarist Brian McMahan--never subscribed to the "keep it simple, stupid" philosophy. Spiderland is so rife with breakneck tempo changes, off-kilter chord progressions, and bizarro-world themes, you'd be hard-pressed to go a listen without discovering something new. --David SpragueAlternative Rock Music CDs
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