Boris "Smile"
It took me a few days to get my ears around the slightly obtuse melodies but once that happend I discovered that what seemed obtuse was actually simple beauty.
The odd pace of "Smile" is so refreshing. Slow, fast, false endings, false starts, drums where guitars should be and vice versa and I almost want to see a lyric sheet- I generally don't lock in on words, that's why foreign language music doesn't throw me much.
This is the music I dreamt of in the ninties.
"Smile" is gonna hold me for a long time.
"Flower Sun Rain"
"You Were Holding An Umbrella"
"{}"
Are amazing songs.
The rest are kind of amazing too.
Ive only heard Pink
...and i did enjoy it greatly
how does the new one compare - worth me investigating it?
Definitely
Hard for me to compare cause I'm new at boris. But I do have pink and think that it has more of a stoner feel, more rippers (a great record too). "Smile" is like something I've never experienced before. As soon as youv'e been through it a few times you start to notice the little odd things they do- it's wowser. Like I said, it's the pace, it tricks you with pace and off melodies and the dynamics are askew in a lovely way. If you liked "Pink" then "Smile" won't put you off- it may jostle you a bit though.
another thing with "Smile"
they insinuate suprise Lo-Fi moments at the weirdest times.
Sounds awesome
definitely on my wish list
It's a brilliant album
The Japanese mix is absolutely bizarre, but completely wonderful and the final two tracks make me want to cry. Album of the year thus far, it's pretty special.
i agree, it's brilliant
^ One of the best Pop records of all time
and even better with all the mysticism surrounding it.
BTW
I read this back and realised my joke is shite. "Pop" it is not. Great it is.
Boris are my fave band of the moment
I love Smile.
Their drone stuff is great too (as long as drone floats your boat).
I am gutted I missed seeing them live :(
ive been meaning to get into this band
i've heard their collabs with sunn o))) and merzbow...should i start with smile or pink or something else?
Pink or Smile
are both good places to start out for the rock side.
I thought you meant
Brian Wilson for a minute there. I really need to listen to this though, Pink was fantastic (yes yes, I know, they've done LOTS more)
I have the Japanese import
How does it differ to the UK release?
i think some bloke...
in japan mixed it with no input from the band, other than the tracks themselves. or something like that.
which version did he mix?
The Japanese version
That's the superior version, from what I gather, although I haven't heard the Southern Lord release.
I love Boris
But I just can't quite seem to get into Smile, although I'm more of a fan of the Feedbacker sound.
I bought the new Torche album at the same time as Smile and I've found myself picking the Torche CD to jam in the hi-fi nine times out of ten.
Lily allen cover?
I do like 'Smile',
...but I just don't think that it's up there with their best. I feel it sounds a little thin compared to their other albums. Having said that there are some seriously sublime moments on it.
...
For me it's a perfect summation of why I love Boris. You've got the ridiculous metal posturing, the massive doom / post-rock epics, an opening track that completely takes you by surprise (well, on the Japanese version anyway), lovely psychedelic guitar sounds and all these clever little experimental touches like the thrash metal overdub on the final track, or the third track's acoustic coda.
I'm not sure if you mean the production sounds "thin," but if you do I'd have to disagree. The bit in the final track at about 6.30 where they slam on that huge bass-heavy distortion is one of the most ridiculously massive sounds I've ever heard.
the coolest coda ever
It's more of a false start though cause you think they are fading into the next track by bringing down that bass and crash cymbal riff and bringing up the acoustic and vocal bit and then once the percussioun is gone and it's just the acoustic guitar you think well, the next song has started but as soon as the vocal comes in they give the acoustic guy the HOOK and explode into the thrash number- I love that.
I know what you mean about "{}" (the last track) this is the best psychedelic stuff since the sixties and the detuned guitar stuff at 6:42 (to be exact) me chills. I have the Southern release and they have "{}" following "You Were Holding An Umbrella"- those are the best two song combo since I don't know when- approx. 25 mins. of BLISS.
Best Album Cover Ever: "Akuma No Uta"
and I do mean "Cover".
I won't spoil it for the one's who ain't seen it.
*what ain't seen it
:0
Oooo do you reckon they get that sound by detuning?
Would certainly make sense. You've explained the appeal of that coda far better than I could ever hope to. I just think they're one of the most exciting, inventive and generally brilliant bands around. They clearly put so much thought into everything that they do and they're prolific without ever compromising on the quality a la Acid Mothers Temple.
WA! TA! WA! TA! WA! TA! WA! TA!
WATA!
boris wardrobe
32 count em 32
http://homepage1.nifty.com/boris/top.html
I really love this album through headphones
When Wata sings backing vocals halfway through the first song 'Message' (I have the Japanese version), it's almost like a ghost is creeping up behind you. The first time I heard it, she took me by complete surprise.
*listening to this album through headphones
ahem