Quorthon
When Our Day Is Through
[Black Mark]
Ok, undoubtedly some of you are asking yourselves "just why in the
hell would he be reviewing THAT" - well, the reason is two fold.
One, Quorthon (at one time) played a very important role in the
history of black metal, and while he doesn't have a lot of relevance
to the state of things today, I think it's important to keep track
of what the icons (for lack of a batter description) of the past
are doing these days..and two - I got really sick of seeing the "Q"
section of the reviews on LARM being empty...
I'm pretty sure that I can say with the utmost confidence that 99.999% of you will absolutely LOATHE this mCD. I don't find it anywhere near as offensive as Quorthon's first solo album (entitled simply enough, "Album"), but I have a sneaking suspicion that I'd be in the minority on this, because as hard as it is to believe, he's managed to find a direction even more insipid than mimicking the Seattle grunge sound. Hold onto your hats kiddies - Quorthon's traded in his Alice In Chains overtones of "Album" for a Smashing Pumpkins like vibe on "Purity of Essence" (the double CD that this mCD is a single for). I won't bother to go into great detail about it (as I'm sure none of you really care), but just so you know - this reeks of pop sensibilities. The first three tracks all inhabit the same basic area - pop songs with string pads, jangly guitar, and horribly tone deaf clean vocals, and a strong Smashing Pumpkins vibe (circa the more radio friendly material on "Siamese Dream"). The fourth is the only one that breaks out of this formula, as it goes more for an Offspring-meets-Alice in Chains feel (guess Quorthon couldn't leave well enough alone). On the brighter side, his vocals on the last song are at least shouted, and therefore not quite as out of place as on the rest of the single. Production (as if you care) is top notch in that radio friendly sterile sort of way, but one has to give credit - at least the bass sound through this whole thing maintains a fairly "chewy" sound.
I won't bother recommending this, as no one would bother grabbing it even if I extolled its virtues 'til the cows came home. This might ruin any credibility I have, but I actually enjoy "When Our Day Is Through" in a strange sort of way...then again, Quorthon could release an album of Beatles covers played entirely on an accordian and I'd still pick it up, so don't listen to me - I've completely lost my mind...
© 1999 chorazaim
I'm pretty sure that I can say with the utmost confidence that 99.999% of you will absolutely LOATHE this mCD. I don't find it anywhere near as offensive as Quorthon's first solo album (entitled simply enough, "Album"), but I have a sneaking suspicion that I'd be in the minority on this, because as hard as it is to believe, he's managed to find a direction even more insipid than mimicking the Seattle grunge sound. Hold onto your hats kiddies - Quorthon's traded in his Alice In Chains overtones of "Album" for a Smashing Pumpkins like vibe on "Purity of Essence" (the double CD that this mCD is a single for). I won't bother to go into great detail about it (as I'm sure none of you really care), but just so you know - this reeks of pop sensibilities. The first three tracks all inhabit the same basic area - pop songs with string pads, jangly guitar, and horribly tone deaf clean vocals, and a strong Smashing Pumpkins vibe (circa the more radio friendly material on "Siamese Dream"). The fourth is the only one that breaks out of this formula, as it goes more for an Offspring-meets-Alice in Chains feel (guess Quorthon couldn't leave well enough alone). On the brighter side, his vocals on the last song are at least shouted, and therefore not quite as out of place as on the rest of the single. Production (as if you care) is top notch in that radio friendly sterile sort of way, but one has to give credit - at least the bass sound through this whole thing maintains a fairly "chewy" sound.
I won't bother recommending this, as no one would bother grabbing it even if I extolled its virtues 'til the cows came home. This might ruin any credibility I have, but I actually enjoy "When Our Day Is Through" in a strange sort of way...then again, Quorthon could release an album of Beatles covers played entirely on an accordian and I'd still pick it up, so don't listen to me - I've completely lost my mind...
© 1999 chorazaim