Music Notes: Nine Black Alps, Everything Is

November 7th, 2006

Tanja received a box of promo CDs from a record label, so I think it will be fun for me to post my aging, Gen X thoughts about this â€œnew music.â€

Amazon link

Music This album forces me to admit my age. There’s just too much screaming and full-frontal guitar assault for me to enjoy it, like a barrier protecting me against self-destructive impulses.

And I want to cross the line, to some degree, as there are some nice vocal melodies and earnest lyrics. Occasionally, I feel let in with the song Unsatisfied, featuring pulsing, Television-style layered guitars, or Shot Down with an interesting, slightly slower middle.

I also admire the acoustic numbers Intermission and Behind Your Eyes, the latter sounding a bit like Pink Floyd, with wartime subject matter.

But no, I don’t have the patience to further wade through the shouting and flying attacks of the rest. Pity. Less polished could be the “Nirvana of the UK,” and more sheen would require a lead guitar player (why do so many modern bands omit the guitar solo?). To me, Nine Black Alps feels middle-of-the-road - and I prefer to preserve my ears for something better.