Amps For Christ
"Every Eleven Seconds" CD
5 Rue Christine
Genre: read review
5RC
PO Box 1190
Olympia WA
98507
June 2006 |
Aside from having the best name in music, Amps
For Christ have quietly been putting out a mini-legacy of records
through labels Vermiform, Shrimper, and most recently Kill Rock Stars
sublabel 5 Rue Christine. Eclectic Every Eleven Seconds is the
latest in this ever-expanding discography, and it sees Henry Barnes
and co tackling a number of musical styles, from experimental
noise/guitar drone on "Violated" and "I Hate This Dumpster" to
country-style folk on "Cock O' the North" (which has some serious
Celtic overtones) and "El Corazon De San Vincente". The whole thing
has a sort of hastily-put-together (but in a good way) feel to it,
snagging at genres and styles from all over the map and yet assembling
them into a thoroughly enjoyable album. Somehow the spoken word
experimentation of "Thompson Hunter", "Shiploaf", and "Chorus" works
wonderfully hand-in-hand with the avant-garde noise of "The Crossing."
Meanwhile, "Proof Man" is a psychedelic sitar sit-in, "Sweet Dove" is
a traditional folk tune (featuring vocals by Barnes' sister
Lexie), and "W I B" is a mind-expanding psych-pop song from the
bowels of some 1969 basement. Yes, all of this is on the same record.
And yes, it's a little insane. Overall,
Every Eleven Seconds is a typically ridiculous release from
Amps For Christ, who seem to have "rewritten the books" on
album-making once again. For the truly adventurous listener, look no
further... this album has more in it than most bands have in an entire
discography.
87%
Fun Fact: Barnes'
previous project, Man Is The Bastard, was known for replacing
the electric guitar in punk music with emphasis on bass, industrial
noise, and homemade modified guitars.
Matt Shimmer
[Vitals: 15 tracks, distributed by
the label,
released June 6 2006] |
