this sounds like the black keys or something
What in the absolute hell
I think it's fair to call that a pan. There's no unqualified praise for even a single track.
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Saturday, 1 July 2017 15:02 (six years ago) link
It's a pan only in the not generic 7.8 or BNM sense. Reads to me like a mixed review, no unqualified praise or no. There's also no unqualified dismissal of anything either, is there? Anyway, if I were Joe Wannabuyanalbum, I'd be more inclined to listen to this one based on this review than listen to something more positively received.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 1 July 2017 15:57 (six years ago) link
yeah but joe wannabuyanalbum only looks at the score these days
― black covfefe in bed (voodoo chili), Saturday, 1 July 2017 16:02 (six years ago) link
idk even if i thought this was an ambitious album that didn't quite pull off what it was aiming for, i wouldn't have slapped it with a score under 6, that's some contrarianist bullshit
― black covfefe in bed (voodoo chili), Saturday, 1 July 2017 16:03 (six years ago) link
Sort of what I mean. If anything, the review (the words) does a pretty good job explaining all the album has going for it, even if the writer doesn't think it pulls it off. That's what the review is for, and why (as silly as numbers are) the review reads (to me) more like a 7.x that explains why it's not higher than a 5.x which doesn't quite nail why its arbitrary number is so low.
― Josh in Chicago, Saturday, 1 July 2017 16:06 (six years ago) link
First listen to this a few weeks ago damn near blew me away but returns felt like the individual songs were lacking a bit, especially Walk Like A Panther as an opener. Title track and Animals jumped out as being more than just polemic and bluster, but wasn't convinced by the rest.
However, going back to it this morning on the walk to work, it's stronger than I remember. Maybe not quite hitting me as hard as some so far, but getting there. The placement of the two instrumental tracks near the end feels strategically strong to me; it gives enough pause for things to kick back in so you don't feel bludgeoned (even though you are being!).
I think Black Eunuch and Blood are pretty much as good as anything on here, but other than that this is definitely a step up.
― Hey Bob (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 10 July 2017 09:31 (six years ago) link
Yeah I was blown away and now I've given it a bit of a break and ready to go back to it soon. Still think the title track is an absolute worldbeater. Animals is the one that sounds like Ministry (in a good way) and overall it's really great. There are just one or two tension-diffusing moments towards the second side that aren't interesting enough to keep my mind from wandering.
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Monday, 10 July 2017 10:23 (six years ago) link
I'm trying to think of what specific 80s band Mme Rieux sounds like. Not sure how much I like it. There's something just slightly cheesy or obviously melodramatic about that one.
― Shat Parp (dog latin), Monday, 10 July 2017 10:24 (six years ago) link
Full video for "Cleveland"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FhcJTqJm98
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 12 July 2017 13:42 (six years ago) link
This is quite an improvment on their debut, huh?
― chap, Wednesday, 12 July 2017 13:54 (six years ago) link
Hymn For an Average Man is a highlight.
― chap, Wednesday, 12 July 2017 14:40 (six years ago) link
Great show last night!
https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/20121550_10155331411186136_2391515124569243158_o.jpg?oh=32b6d200ef32ffd0412fd137ded5627f&oe=59F60803
So see 'em live, I sez.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 18 July 2017 13:18 (six years ago) link
I would kill for them to hit TO but it doesn't seem to be in the cards
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Tuesday, 18 July 2017 13:28 (six years ago) link
Hell, Chicago isn't even currently on their tour schedule.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 18 July 2017 13:41 (six years ago) link
It's possible they're avoiding places they hit with Depeche? idk
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Tuesday, 18 July 2017 14:13 (six years ago) link
DM is touring with Warpaint in Chicagoland
― mh, Tuesday, 18 July 2017 14:16 (six years ago) link
Nope, Warpaint opening here. So no idea!
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 18 July 2017 14:16 (six years ago) link
xpost!
Direct quote from their publicist when I asked about Chicago: "I know wtf!?"
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 18 July 2017 14:39 (six years ago) link
Bunch of new tour dates. They're playing a tiny square box in TO (the Baby G) and I could not be more excited.
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Tuesday, 22 August 2017 20:49 (six years ago) link
Go forth and rock.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 22 August 2017 20:51 (six years ago) link
And here's the full thing -- including Chicago, so there ya go Josh
http://algierstheband.com/live/
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 24 August 2017 13:19 (six years ago) link
Yeah, Empty Bottle, nice n little!
― Josh in Chicago, Thursday, 24 August 2017 13:29 (six years ago) link
I'm both depressed and excited by how small these venues are, the one in TO is like 150 capacity tops
― a serious and fascinating fartist (Simon H.), Thursday, 24 August 2017 14:13 (six years ago) link
Meantime here's a new tape/download
https://algierstheband.bandcamp.com/
― Ned Raggett, Saturday, 30 September 2017 16:50 (six years ago) link
I adore this record, one of my favourites from this year, but I wish it was less compressed. The squished dynamics aesthetic works in some places, but a DR of 5 or 6 doesn't lend itself nicely to listening on headphones.
― ˈʌglɪɪst preɪ, Saturday, 30 September 2017 19:38 (six years ago) link
between these guys, Zeal & Ardor and Here Lies Man, there seems to be a kind of micro-trend in this kind of metal-industrial/traditional black music fusion thing. I'm not sure how good those other two bands are, but why now?
― Badgers (dog latin), Friday, 19 January 2018 14:44 (six years ago) link
why not now?
― mh, Friday, 19 January 2018 16:04 (six years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waiwJ5rW4xw
new single which is a sort of spoken word response to criticism of the band over a free jazz freakout? it's cool
― ufo, Tuesday, 27 August 2019 15:34 (four years ago) link
more info from Matador:
ALGIERS have released a collaborative audiovisual piece, “Can the Sub_Bass Speak?”, a new work from the band and production duo Randall Dunn and Ben Greenberg. The new piece pits charged language and free jazz collage by ALGIERS multi-instrumentalist Franklin James Fisher, saxophonics pioneer Skerik and drummer D’Vonne Lewis against a maelstrom of visuals by award-winning filmmaker Sam Campbell and typographer Farbod Kokabi.Inspired by a chance encounter with artists Moor Mother and Harrga at Wysing Polyphonic in 2018, “Can the Sub_Bass Speak?” contorts ALGIERS’ post-punk deconstruction of racial and class sonic politics into new collaborative directions. “Can the Sub_Bass Speak?” is the centerpiece of a larger web installation thereisnoyear
Inspired by a chance encounter with artists Moor Mother and Harrga at Wysing Polyphonic in 2018, “Can the Sub_Bass Speak?” contorts ALGIERS’ post-punk deconstruction of racial and class sonic politics into new collaborative directions. “Can the Sub_Bass Speak?” is the centerpiece of a larger web installation thereisnoyear
There are some new UK/euro dates as well
― Simon H., Tuesday, 27 August 2019 15:38 (four years ago) link
Looking forward even more to the new album now.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 27 August 2019 15:39 (four years ago) link
Has there been any indication that's forthcoming?
― Simon H., Tuesday, 27 August 2019 15:53 (four years ago) link
new single which is a sort of spoken word response to criticism of the band
And that goes for all of you punks in the pressThat want to start shit by printin' lies instead of the things we saidThat means you andy secher at hit parader, circus magazineMick wall at kerrang, bob guccione jr. at spinWhat you pissed off 'cause your dad gets more pussy than you?Fuck you! suck my fuckin' dick!You be rippin' off the fuckin' kidsWhile they be payin' their hard earned money to read about the bands they want to know aboutPrintin' lies, startin' controversyYou want to antagonize me? antagonize me motherfucker!Get in the ring motherfucker! and I'll kick your bitchy little ass! punk!!I don't like you, I just hate youI'm gonna kick your ass, oh yeah! oh yeah!You may not like our integrity yeahWe built a world out of anarchy oh yeah!
― j., Tuesday, 27 August 2019 16:00 (four years ago) link
xpost -- Per J's post, it'll be a note-for-note cover of both Use Your Illusions.
(Actual answer: I'm not positive it's totally done but I'm pretty sure it is, and there have been quiet rumblings that it's en route -- no idea whether it'll be before the end of the year or not, though.)
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 27 August 2019 16:35 (four years ago) link
enjoyed this, wonder if the whole album will be a bit like it
― imago, Wednesday, 28 August 2019 10:04 (four years ago) link
not heard this yet but i do find 'Whaaa we've been misquoted by the meeja' songs tedious on the whole
― frame casual (dog latin), Wednesday, 28 August 2019 11:14 (four years ago) link
i tend to agree but this sounds cool enough and is delivered compellingly enough for me to forgive that
― ufo, Wednesday, 28 August 2019 11:15 (four years ago) link
I am listening to this song now and a) it rules, and b) I do not think this is addressing criticism of the band as such
― brigadier pudding (DJP), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 16:39 (four years ago) link
like, I don't think anyone is telling the two white members of the band that they aren't real niggas, like that Chris Rock sketch
― brigadier pudding (DJP), Tuesday, 3 September 2019 17:25 (four years ago) link
the reference of the title btw for those who dont know https://cup.columbia.edu/book/can-the-subaltern-speak/9780231143851
― ILX’s bad boy (D-40), Wednesday, 4 September 2019 00:10 (four years ago) link
I'm listening to "Can The Sub-Bass Speak?" again and I am impressed with the level of restraint I showed here in responding to the description of the song
― totally unnecessary bewbz of exploitation (DJP), Wednesday, 8 January 2020 22:11 (four years ago) link
one of my tracks of the year, easily, but first time I've read that description and fucking hell
― mfktz (Camaraderie at Arms Length), Wednesday, 8 January 2020 22:13 (four years ago) link
The new album is quite lovely, BTW; my review of it runs next week I believe.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 8 January 2020 22:58 (four years ago) link
there's really a lot going on in "can the sub-bass speak?" so my apologies for not capturing all its intricacies in a very brief description upon first listen
― ufo, Thursday, 9 January 2020 04:53 (four years ago) link
but ill maintain that critical attempts to pigeonhole the bands music etc. is one of the many things it does address
― ufo, Thursday, 9 January 2020 04:55 (four years ago) link
new long-ass remixes of "Cleveland" just in time for the election
https://open.spotify.com/album/2ttGvriuz92KNvllIjp30A?si=MdXPB0PySj6hTTmaF4blyQ
― it bangs for thee (Simon H.), Friday, 30 October 2020 15:08 (three years ago) link
Oh great, thanks!
― Gerneten-flüken cake (jed_), Friday, 30 October 2020 15:21 (three years ago) link