#999 Reading Challenge Reviews: (13-14) “The Ring of the Nibelung Vols. 1 & 2″ by P. Craig Russell (Dark Horse)
May 21st, 2012 § Leave a Comment
For those who are unaware, “The Ring of The Nibelung” is cycle of operas that you’re familiar with. It’s the one (and really, I think the ONLY one) where the lady in the viking helmet sings. That lady is Brunnhildé, and she’s awesome.
And as far as operas goes (or any type of entertainment for that matter), there is nothing bigger, more outlandish, more intense than the 4 epic operas that make up this cycle. I’ve never listened to all 4 completely and especially not in a row, though I’m familiar with all of them, because it’s one of the more interesting opera stories to someone like me…someone who likes comics and superheroes and JRR Tolkien (who obviously liked The Ring…)
It’s canon, it’s a masterpiece of Western entertainment and since it’s a comic book, it could really only be P. Craig Russell who adapted it, because he’s brilliant too.
And while it’s not 100% successful and I didn’t race through these two volumes (notice the 16 days between posts), it’s definitely enjoyable and a welcome addition to the available versions of this epic story. As far as translation goes, sometimes it’s poor, sometimes it’s great, it reads like opera sure – without all the repeated lines and instrumental passages, but there when a character declares something important, odds are that’s an important aria in the opera as well.
And Russell, for his part is smart enough to capture some of the audio motif’s from the opera. Panels of Nothung, the sword (just as the sword has a particular SOUND in the opera every time it’s shown) and panels of the Ring as well. These visual cues really aid those of us that are familiar with the music and give the story a much richer texture, a different feeling from a regular comic story.
It’s beautiful, it’s fun, it’s overly dramatic and I’m looking forward to reading more P. Craig Russell in the future.
4/5
#999 Reading Challenge Reviews: (11-12) “Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite & Umbrella Academy: Dallas″ by Gerard Way & Gabriel Bá (Dark Horse)
May 5th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Despite constant insistence from my peers that Gerard Way’s comic series was really good, it still took me years to finally purchase and now read the two volumes. I’m not a big My Chemical Romance fan (though I do love The Black Parade in all it’s ridiculousness), so why would I want to read a book by the guy? Also just from looking through pages, I thought that the books were just super-powered and violent children fighting supernatural baddies. Like a more souped-up Lemony Snicket story or something.
Once again, I was wrong.
Though being wrong does not mean I’m ready to heap all the praise I’ve seen this series get over the years – it’s certainly a pretty amazing debut and definitely a fun read.
“Apocalypse Suite”, the first volume of the story won the Eisner award for Best Limited Series, and while the ideas presented throughout the series are pretty good, I can’t help but feel that it gets a bit confusing and disjointed in places. I don’t connect all the stories, I don’t feel emotionally invested in the characters and don’t really understand who they are or what they do as adults. I didn’t understand that Luther was part Ape or that Seánce could take over other people’s bodies. And what was Kraken’s power? Just a badass fighter? Rumour on the other hand is awesome – and one of my favorite characters I’ve discovered in comics in a long time. I don’t know, it’s good, it’s enjoyable, but it doesn’t really build up or even conclude in a way that I care about. It’s just “fun” and I wanted more.
“Dallas” on the other hand was incredible front to back. I guess a little less than a year passed between the first and second series, but you can see Gerard mature as a writer. By choosing a singular event for the team to focus on, and delving more into the team’s back stories we start to get the whole world fleshed out a lot more. Who everyone is, what they can do, why we should care. It’s trippy, it’s awesome and while there are still some transitions that aren’t that smooth (at least for me), it moves along a lot like Matt Fraction’s “Casanova” series, jumping back and forth through time, introducing lots of new characters, really building a world (or destroying it). Oh and it has two of the most badass, terrifyingly hilarious assassins I’ve ever seen in any media anywhere.
Throughout the story, Gabriel Bá kicks ass obviously. If you’ve read anything him or his brother do, you know it’s great. Insane character design, awesome and really violent action scenes, great layouts, huge amazing splashes. The brothers are treasures and am now going to make sure I seek out everything they’ve done, because I find their work so kinetic and invigorating.
I liked both stories, but liked “Dallas” a lot more. I’m glad to have finally delved into the world of the Umbrella Academy and am hopeful that a third series comes out sometime.
3.5/5 and 4.5/5
#999 Reading Challenge Reviews: (10) “Haunt Vol. 1″ by Robert Kirkman, Todd McFarlane, Greg Capullo & Ryan Ottley (Image)
May 3rd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Let me say right off the bat: I got this book by mistake. When I ordered it through DCBS, I didn’t realize it was a resolicit for the first 5 issues of the series – but rather the first collection of the new run from creators Joe Casey and Nathan Fox, which has been really exciting.
So going into this series and based on some negative things I had heard from a lot of my comic book friends, I didn’t expect much going into this book. I’m not a huge Kirkman fan (sure, I like Walking Dead and Invincible), but dude is definitely more about big action and shocks than actual writing…and that’s basically all this book is.
I missed out on the ultraviolent comics of the 90s like Spawn and Venom, which people say Haunt is a combination of, and on the surface – it basically is, but man it’s a lot of fucking fun. That’s about as simple as it is. The art combination of Capullo and Ottley is enjoyable, though not as good as either of their best work, and I don’t particularly understand who did what – but it does the job.
The concept isn’t that fantastic, but like I said – I wasn’t expecting to like it and was thusly pleasantly surprised and plan on getting the rest of the trades from her on out, because even now, even though I don’t typically go for super violent, ridiculous comics…I liked this one a lot.
3.5/5
#999 Reading Challenge Reviews: (09) “Legion Lost” by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning & Olivier Coipel (DC)
May 1st, 2012 § Leave a Comment
I’ve been wanting to read this for almost a year now, when I first saw it in comic shops last summer. I obviously wasn’t reading comics back in 1999-2000, and missed this series – but it had two things going for it:
1) It’s sort of a “stand-alone” Legion of Super-Heroes story, a team that I’ve wanted to get into forever, but who seem to have the most convoluted history and mixed opinions on runs as any other comic ever published.
2) And this might be most important: the creative team. Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning are another one of those few people responsible for me getting into comics, when they were writing “War Of Kings”, where I ventured back from and forward, because I absolutely LOVED their cosmic line. But also, an earlier Olivier Coipel work – one of the most known and respected artists working at Marvel today.
And yeah, expectations were met: this book is awesome.
The Legion, or well…part of the Legion have somehow been sucked through a rift in space, put into not only an unknown place, but seemingly an unknown time. There is the introduction of alien refugee and utterly charming Shikari, who discovers the displaced Legion and despite her lack of “powers”, helps to wake them before they are destroyed. And for 12 issues after that we get great science fiction action, full of high concepts and awesome spectacles, but we also get the more traditional Legion of Super-Heroes “soap opera” aspect in the book. Drama between team members, unrequited love, longing and searching for the rest of their team. The book has a real emotional draw, even for someone like me – with no real familiarity with the characters.
And DnA succeed in this book in the same way they succeeded with their Marvel cosmic stuff (even if it now seems that some of their Marvel stuff is almost a retread of this story). They’re able to use all these big science fiction terms (usually from Brainiac 5) that make it sound like a whole lot of nerdy goodness, and yet you never get lost. You understand the plot from beat to beat, you start to understand each Legionaires’ powers in ways that don’t require a thousand “explanation” captions to be on the page. It’s smooth and every character has a distinct voice – definitely helped by each issue being narrated by a different member. You root for the team, for the idea of teamwork. It succeeds in the way the best “team” books do (and shows why most team books don’t seem to work).
Olivier Coipel is great, though the work is totally different than the work you probably know from Thor and the like at Marvel. The inks are heavier, the designs are more cartoony. It works, though if you’re used to the way that the Legion or other DC superhero comics are traditionally drawn, it might take a while for you. But I’ll say without a doubt – that by putting the characters in this more cartoony, almost manga style, their costumes definitely look like some of the coolest in the entire DC universe (whereas they usually look among the most pathetic.)
Listen, it’s 12 issues, a nice size and you don’t breeze through it. And even if you do rush through it like I did, I think you’ll come away with a feeling that it’s one of those books you’re going to want to keep around and read every year or so just to remind you “oh yeah, that’s why I love superhero comics.”
4.5/5
#999 Reading Challenge Reviews: (07-08) “Phonogram: Rue Britannia & Phonogram: The Singles Club” by Kieron Gillen & Jamie McKelvie (Image)
April 30th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
When I first started going to comic shops in 2006 and 2007, the covers of Phonogram really jumped out at me. Obviously, if you’ve looked at this blog or any of my others over the past decade, you know I come from a pop music background. Here was a book about pop music, under the guise of “magic”.
I never really knew what to make of it, even though a lot of people I trust swear by the two miniseries. Furthermore, I have gone on to love Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie’s more recent work at Marvel – but still, the book was never at the top of my list of things to get. I’m just wary of trying to blend two worlds I love like this, because more often than not – these kind of experiments fail.
Anyway, found the trades at a recent convention for dirt cheap, so I gave them a look. And well…I sort of have mixed feelings.
Despite my wariness to combine the worlds of indie rock with my dear comic books, it’s nevertheless oddly fun to have this feeling that here is someone sort of “speaking” for me in this medium that isn’t necessarily known for having creators that are super hip or modern. In the 2nd volume “The Singles Club” especially, where Gillen is talking at length about some of the biggest indie and electronic acts of 2006, it’s fun to remember what I was listening to back then – many of the same bands (many of which I’ve grown to despise), but regardless…it’s fun to be in that world. All that said, it doesn’t really feel like a comic book to me, so much as just Gillen’s ode to music. One of the reviews or introductions says something about the book is almost rock journalism. And it’s partially true…Gillen’s knowledge and love for the music of his past (and the present) is obviously vast, but so is his distaste. And this is where both volumes of this book kind of fall off the rails to me.
It’s under the idea of this “magical” connection that music powers certain things – i don’t know, it’s vague. It’s pop music as an actual elemental force, the same way that Superman gets power for yellow sun. Both volumes are quite a bit different, and I can’t figure out which I like more. I like how centered and the arc of the first volume, dealing with the question “should we let Britpop die?” and whether or not it was ever a thing to care about in the first place. And there is a bit more magic and surrealism in there (being guided around by Luke Haines is pretty brilliant). The second volume is just 7 intertwined stories of other “Phonomancers” at a club, and really seems like an excuse to let Kieron Gillen tell you what he’s listening to. It’s creative still, yes, and the end of the book is pretty cool how it all wraps up, but it just doens’t really seem that poignant to me apart from the big double page splash. It’s not that exciting, but rather a more creative way to write a Pitchfork column or discussion.
I sound jaded, because I’m simultaneously the perfect audience for this and absolutely not the right one. I’m a pop music blowhard that loves talking about it and seeing others talk about it, but I don’t want their opinions placed onto me. I don’t know, maybe I didn’t even get it all.
It’s well written in dialogue and Jamie McKelvie is fucking awesome, but yeah…I just feel kinda empty, which is the exact way that pop music SHOULD NOT make you feel.
Rue Brittania: 3.5/5
The Singles Club: 3/5
#999 Reading Challenge Reviews: (06) “Xombi” by John Rozum & Frazer Irving (DC)
April 28th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Look at this page:
“The origin of the Sisterhood of Blood Mummies is a mysterious one that should be left alone at all costs.”
“In addition to a normal internal circulatory system, they each have developed a second, external one connected to a second heart.”
“The extra blood pumped through their bodies gives them incredible energy and endurance levels, but these women are worse than any hemophiliac.”
“To protect themselves they wear cloaks woven from spider silk, by spiders which crawl all over these cloaks making any necessary repairs and feeding on the mosquitoes drawn to the sisters.”
“Then there is their weapon of choice…”
“It’s a blade weapon in tune wth the phases of the moon, changing the shape of its blade to match the appearance of the moon in the sky.”
Julian: Don’t let them cut you. Those blades have far worse effects than slicing flesh and drawing blood, though they’ll do that too. Each subtle change in the moon’s phases give the blade a different effect. Depending on the day of the month they can strip away your memories of loved ones, your trust in others, your appreciation for music, ability to digest food — twenty-eight different effects in all, and I have no idea which one goes with today.
David: Why is it we never have to get past a regular person with a hand gun?
Nun of The Above: Julian, you’ve beaten them before. What do we do?
Julian: Unless you’ve got a spray bottle full of sugar water hidden away in that habit of yours, I haven’t got the foggiest idea.
- Issue #6, Page 2.
Even without Frazer Irving’s otherworldly art and coloring, this book is something special. I originally read Rozum’s “Xombi” as it came out in 2011, and while I loved it then (I gave it 14th best comic of 2011), I failed to actually realize it’s brilliance. That’s why trade paperbacks are so great. It’s a 6-issue series that you all need to own. Google it on the internet and you’ll see nothing but raving reviews. No one bought it, sure – but those who did hold it in high esteem.
And while I love DC Comics – they need this book back in their rotation.
I don’t even want to get into it too deeply, because it’s really a fantastic read. “Xombi” is David Kim, a 30-something who has been infected by nanites that are constantly repairing his body to it’s peak condition, and able to replicate anything he wants it to. The books starts off with him turning paper into popcorn. Yeah…it’s that awesome.
And if that wasn’t good enough for you, the cast features a scummy magician, and a whole cast of super-powered catholics.
Oh, and Frazer Irving did the art.
Its essentially an adventure story and a tale of redemption, sort of a typical hero story – only there is nothing typical about it. As you can tell by the excerpt I posted above, Rozum’s ideas are literally not found on this world and while there are plenty of “out-there” conceptual writers, where masters like Alan Moore, Warren Ellis and Grant Morrison often seem to make you seek a little too much into their story to get the whole picture, Rozum is able to be clever, imaginative and hilarious, by just putting it onto the page.
It’s a book that begs to be owned. And read and re-read. It’s damn near perfect.
5/5
#999 Reading Challenge Reviews: (05) “The Bombyce Network” by Cecil & Corbeyan (Humanoids)
April 28th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
I’ve read very few European Comics since I’ve been into the medium. I don’t know how to access them, I don’t know what’s good and well…I like people in capes punching other people in capes in the face. It’s kind of a shame too, because there is such a long, rich history of apparently amazing comic books or “albums” from places like France, Spain, Italy and Belgium that I would love to get involved with…if I didn’t already feel overwhelmed by the enormous list of American classics I have yet to read and probably will never get to.
I don’t know if France’s “The Bombyce Network” is considered a “classic” oversees, though I gather the creative team are pretty legendary – and from how much I enjoyed this collection, it can’t be far off.
Originally conceived in France as 3 separate albums, the book took a long while to come out. There was a 3 year gap between the first “album” (we’re talking like 50 pages) and the second, and then after fights between the creators, it took 8 years for Cecil to finish the 3rd album completely on his own. I don’t know what the falling out was about, but it happens to creators in every artistic medium eventually – so there is a noticeable, though not alienating change as Cecil takes over the writing in the 3rd chapter, but that shouldn’t really matter.
Because his art is incredible.
It’s hard for me to compare the art and design in this book to anything else, but googling it before I ordered it last fall is what made me absolutely know I needed it. It’s sort of painterly, though it looks like it’s colored with colored pencils. Everything has a unique texture, every character has unique quirks and designs, all the backgrounds are insanely detailed and beautiful – and Cecil never takes the easy way out with his drawings. The panels are all variations of rectangles, but it reads like a movie. It’s incredibly rich and detailed and some of the most invigorating and exciting comic art I’ve ever seen. (Oh and the design/setting is incredible too).
Note: The 8-year gap between chapter 2 and 3 is noticeable in Cecil’s art as well, as the colors are brighter, the characters slightly more…exuberant. It’s still wonderful stuff, but man those first two chapters…
And the story is great too. The main characters are Elmore and Flea, a tall, lanky guy and a bald, former circus dwarf, and they happen to be amazing thieves in 1910′s France. They were extraordinary costumes and use contraptions to get around the city on high wires strung around rooftops. It’s an update on the classic adventure tale, we read in old Pirate books or Robin Hood type books. Flawed “everyday” heroes, using their smarts and willpower to humiliate the rich and corrupted. There’s even a mythological treasure…except, this isn’t a light adventure story. There’s prostitutes, rape, necrophilia, murder, high society snuff films, backstabbing, alcoholism, references to abortion, etc. But it never gets gruesome for the sake of being gruesome. It just makes you hate the “bad guys” and really want to see the “good guys” get out of their poor situations.
The writing isn’t the most amazing ever (most translated comics tend to lack the nuance necessary), and sometimes the word “balloons” are a bit confusing, but the actual arc of the story is great. It delivers things you expect, but it strings you along and stays exciting throughout.
It’s a fantastic book and one I will undoubtedly look at again and again as the years go by. Humanoids has translated the book and put it in an affordable trade paperback, with no frills. You’d be smart to go get a copy.
4.5/5
#999 Reading Challenge Reviews: (03-04) “Robotika Vol. 1 & Robotika: For a Few Rubles More” by Alex Sheikman
April 25th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
I’ve been sitting on these two books for almost exactly a year, since I bought them at Wondercon 2011 at the (always) illustrious Archaia booth. If you’ve been following my blog for awhile, you know that I think Archaia puts out some of the best comic books out there, or at least most interesting – but for whatever reason, though I’ve read my fair share of their books, I kept putting Robotika off, I got it on a whim and thus figured it probably wouldn’t really be my thing…
Little did I know that it sort of has the sub-headline of the “Steampunk Samurai” – when I thought it was primarily about robots. Oh and there’s a huge Old West/Cowboy influence too. Yeah, in premise it’s the ideal book for me.
Only, in content – it’s not quite there. Let’s be clear though. Alex Sheikman’s art in this book is fantastic. I’m not too familiar with him apart from his contribution to one of the Mouse Guard compilation books, but everything from his costume designs, backgrounds, action scenes and color is really amazingly awesome. It has a bit of a noir-y feel to it in place, his characters even have a passing resemblance to Sean Phillips’ work, but his colors are typically bright and his layouts are quite often mesmerizing. If you’re a fan of far-out artwork and big explosive fight scenes, you should get the books for that reason alone.
Where the books don’t quite match up is in the storytelling, pacing, and dialogue. The storytelling from page to page and issue from issue can be a bit confusing, the pacing and general story arc doesn’t quite make sense and the dialogue is dated and dull most of the time – like it can’t figure out it’s voice. As a mashup of different genres, it makes sense that there isn’t a true consistent voice, but the problem is that none of the voices are particularly strong. Add to that a supporting character, who through much of the books speaks in vertical word balloons (an interesting gimmick, but near impossible to read with any fluidity), and things just don’t really move in pace with the art.
I’m not entirely sure on what the story actually is – and I don’t know if you need to fully understand it or get into the characters to truly enjoy the book. Like I said, the premise, the design and the art are all wonderful and it’s fun. So it’s not an all-time classic or anything, but I’m sure there are some people who would dig it more than me and really vibe in the feel. Sheikman created an all-new world, and it’s a convincing one. Not many creators are able to do that.
Give it a shot.
3/5
#999 Reading Challenge Reviews: (02) “Explorer: The Mystery Boxes” by Kazu Kibuishi et al
April 23rd, 2012 § Leave a Comment
The “Flight” comics anthology always grabbed my attention off the shelves at the library, but I never actually checked them out, despite the praise from the Eisner’s and people I respected. I didn’t know what they were about, and wasn’t big on anthologies (still am not really) – but when I saw this new series solicited many months ago, I thought I’d get in on the ground floor and check it out.
I’m not familiar with Kazu Kibuishi or any of the other creators involved and have a really miniscule knowledge in “all ages” and “young adult” comics…so I went in blindly, hoping that praise from their previous work and the theme of the series would win me over.
And in a way, it did. It’s massively short and simple, and though it’s a little too cute for my tastes in general, it’s enjoyable for what it is and can definitely see myself enjoying these stories if we rewound the years a couple of decades.
The basic premise of the “Explorer” series will be to introduce a new concept with each issue, I believe and the first one is “Mystery Boxes” – where we get 7 short comic stories that vary in tone and topic, but all deal with some sort of BOX. Most are silly, some have good morals, but they would all make nice animated shorts.
Anyway, there isn’t much to say, because there isn’t much substance. It reads incredibly fast and there is nothing groundbreaking, but the art is nice enough if you like stuff aimed at children and the stories are all pretty fun. I’ll recc it if you can find it at the library, but you probably don’t need to go out of your way to buy it.
3/5
Reviewing some (Latin) Recommendations: Courtesy of the Comments
May 22nd, 2012 § 1 Comment
Back before I was writing all these reviews of comics and books for the #999 Challenge, I posted some choice albums I’d found from 2012. I think the year has put out some really great music and have continued to find some new things to treasure, but the best thing about that post was apparent long-time follower, Pedro speaking up and giving me some suggestions of various Latin and Brazilian albums to check out (and he even included links!). Sort of exciting for me, as my blog has a really really tiny following, and no one ever tells me to check things out, so I jumped at the chance, only knowing one of the bands before then. And here I am – a month later, ready to review all the releases I was able to find and listen to. I don’t need to review these to justify why he told me to check them out – but it’s exciting to delve into new music regardless. So here goes…
As the first album Pedro posted for me to check out and based on his minimal description of it being an Afro-Latin big band, I figured I would totally fall for this, because I’m a huge sucker for the sound. Unfortunately, I find myself unimpressed with most of the album. The players are skillful and it’s something I can enjoy, sure – moreso as background music or something along those lines than some other big band releases I like. But I think the main problem is that for most of the album, the band stays at this mid-tempo, mid-volume level that just doesn’t excite. It’s like they’re in this groove for the first 45 minutes before they finally open up at the end of the record with “O Samba Nasceu na Bahia” and “Temporal”, which are both outstanding. It could just be my mood, but when I hear this, I want something fast and loud and funky as all get out and for most of the album, it doesn’t quite get there. I’ll keep it around and give it some more tries though.
Marcelo Camelo – Toque Dela (2011)
Now this is my joint. It’s probably a good thing I didn’t hear this last year, because it would’ve spoiled a big chunk of my “best albums” list. As Pedro says, and as I’ve come to find out – Marcelo Camelo is a pretty big star over in Brazil, which is insane to me, because while his music is definitely rooted in current indie-pop and 1970s MPB, there is no way that music this interesting would make dent in popular culture in the USA. As I listen to this in May, it’s really an ideal spring album. It’s warm without being super laid back, it is all over the place musically, and has lyrics you could almost sing along to (if you speak Portuguese, I’m assuming it would be much easier). Anyway, I like this a lot.
Here’s a record that I read about in February that I had been meaning to check out and just not gotten around to, so I’m glad I was reminded to do so. I don’t really know anything about the guy behind Psilosamples, but everything I had read of the record sounded like it would be up my alley. And in a way it is. I’m not bonkers over it – not yet, but can definitely envision it as something that will stick with me over time. It has a lot of influences all over it, blending traditional Latin American and African rhythms and instruments with early 2000′s electronics, it’s certainly a pleasing listen. In fact, this wouldn’t sound out of place on a mid-2000′s electronic label like Moor Music or City Centre Offices. There is some Boards of Canada, some Boy Robot and Go! Find. It’s bouncy and sunny and I like it quite a bit.
Emicida – Doozicabraba e a Revolução Silenciosa (2011)
Being a life long fan of rap and hip-hop, transitioning into Spanish and Portuguese language stuff has been a bit of struggle for years. A good beat is a good beat, but since such a big part of rap is about the lyrics (even if they aren’t good), not being able to understand those words isn’t the same with a rock song, where I typically look for melody and emotion anyway. Anyway, apparently Emicida is the hot new shit in Brazil, winning awards, selling records (unofficial records) and working in the USA. And yeah, the production is great on this record, it’s all over the place too. Some tracks sound kinda poppy in the way a K’nann song would – some are traditional boom bap tracks. It’s definitely hip hop and the production gives it a distinct summer feel. And while I can’t tell what Emicida is saying, his flow is pretty rapid fire and invigorating. I like it a lot, though it doesn’t give me the unique feeling that someone like Ana Tijoux or Los Rakas give – but again, I’m just getting started. Thanks for this.
Well, I feel like I could listen this forever. It only took about 3 tracks for me to begin looking up where to buy a Guitarra Baiana in the United States, because I fucking love this sound. Just shredding throughout, have listened to this album a lot since you posted it. I also love how the album really shows the breadth the instrument can give. Some straight up hip hop and dance tracks on here, some more smooth tracks, some funk workouts and a lot of real rock n roll. It’s totally fantastic and I imagine it soundtracking a fair bit of my summer this year.
Rodrigo Maranhão – Passageiro (2010)
It really only took one listen for this album to sound classic to me. And I mean that in two ways: one, because it’s really fucking good. I’ve listened to it quite a few times in a row and it’s just beautiful, so thanks for that. Second, it sounds classic, because it actually does SOUND classic. This fits right alongside some of the best of the 70s and 80s MPB that I obsessively listen to year round. Rodrigo has a fragile voice akin to Caetano Veloso, though maybe not as vulnerable and the playing sticks to samba most of the time, but when it veers off into other directions, it mostly works. It just sounds like one of the many great Brazilian albums I already have – with more modern production. It’s great.
I certainly see the appeal of this album on the surface, but for an instrumental rock album to really become something I like, there needs to be things below the surface. The musicians on the record are definitely capable dudes, but the songs don’t really do anything special. Everything is rooted in things that came before it, whether they are doing surf music, car chase soundtracks, more bluesy numbers…it’s all kind of “by the books”. Not necessarily bad, but nothing I imagine listening to again and caring about. Could work as background music, though.
I wanted to like this because it sounded interesting, but I tried twice and it just doesn’t really grab me. Years ago, this would have totally been my thing, but I’m not finding a lot of originality here in the music. The “interesting” parts in the lyrics or Brazilian mythology are obviously lost on me, but rarely does this record sound like much more worth listening to than Brazilian Girls or Thievery Corporation or whatever, just a little more jittery and less poppy. The followup from 2011 is more interesting, I think…expands the sound a bit, but still isn’t really my thing.
I don’t quite love this…yet. But it’s for sure a sound I love and a record I know I can grab and put on for enjoyment, or when nothing much else sounds good. I have a handful of Latin/African funk/jazz records that fit the bill and this is definitely in line with those. It doesn’t quite go as big as I want it to, but it grooves along really nice and I think in the right setting this is the type of record that can really have an impact. Unfortunately, poor computer speakers in the middle of the night is not that setting. Regardless, look forward to having this one grow on me.
It’s pretty hard for me to find any information about this release online because of the band name and title, but man – this is definitely the first post-hardcore, post-emo, louder indie rock release I’ve cared about in a while. (That’s not anthemic I should say). I used to be pretty heavy into this style of music, somewhere between punk and indie and emo and all, but it’s been many years since those days. This is totally invigorating though, especially the first half of the EP, reminds me of how exciting listening to At The Drive-In for the first time was. Really dig it, keep me updated on these guys if there is anything else.
I don’t know how this record escaped me for this long. Don’t know it’s status in Brazil, but I mean god, it’s perfect, like so many of the pop records from this era. Really, I need to learn Portuguese to better actually review these albums, because when it gets to just the sounds, it’s hard to be critical. I love the shit out of this record, just like I love a lot of other Brazilian records from 1975. Perfect mix of samba and mpb with some more funky basslines. Fantastic.
I was familiar with Pixinguinha and had some of his tracks on a couple Choro compilations I had, and they always stood out to me, so it’s nice to have a full album’s length of music. Really fantastically smooth stuff. Another thing where I don’t know enough about the genre to adequately describe it’s importance or history, but for sheer enjoyment, this is great, especially the way it blends styles and moods and the more grandiose spectacle of music in the early 1970s. Sometimes veers into theme park music, but it’s a park I want to go to for sure.
All in all, thanks Pedro. Some really fantastic stuff here.