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Comets On Fire

Blue Cathedral
2004
Sub Pop

Comets On Fire - Blue Cathedral (Cover Artwork)


Review by: Jesse
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Published on September 14th 2004

Damn, these guys are on drugs. With a few songs clocking in over seven minutes and one even breaking the ten minute barrier, you can be sure that you're in for some psychedelic mind blowing rock n' roll. I mean, shit, there's so much reverb on these vocals that you'll be hearing them for weeks. Throw them over some of the rockinest rock n' roll riffs I've heard in a long time, add some crazy background noises from keyboards, fucked up crazy drums, and you've got yourself one helluva coke or acid binge. Don't worry, they remembered to bring it down in just the right spots to allow your mellow to accrue. And yes, the guitar solos are blazingly mad. And yes, the song titles are fucked up. And yes, it does rule.

"The Bee And The Cracking Egg" is a killer opening track, chock full of everything I mentioned earlier. Next is the instrumental "Pussy Foot The Duke," which reminds me more of a Grateful Dead track than anything, and is easily the worst and weakest track on the album. Let's forget that it exists. "Whiskey River" is another near eight minute psychedelic rocker, while the following track, "Organs," is a nice, mellow, two minute ambient intermission full of bluesy guitar soloing and heavy organ and synth with minimal drums. By far, my favorite track on the album comes next, and "The Antlers Of The Midnight Sun" explodes into a furious four minute jam that blows the roof off. "Brotherhood of the Harvest" is a noisy, haunting space out track to allow your brain some time to recuperate in between all the rock. "Wild Whiskey" is an acoustic, almost tribal tune with loud crazy shit going off everywhere over the acoustic guitars, which brings us to the closer, "Blue Tomb." "Blue Tomb" is a ten minute odyssey that begins with a fuzzed out singular guitar riff, and ends with me wanting to do loads and loads of drugs while I start the album over again.

Don't worry, even if you don't do drugs, this album is crazy enough to make you think you're doing drugs by just listening to it. So what are you waiting for? Mainline this one into your bloodstream. You'll thank me when the colors start swirling.



People who liked this also liked:
Akimbo - City Of The StarsThe Icarus Line - Penance SoireeThe Velvet Underground - The Velvet UndergroundAnimal Collective - Sung TongsLords - SwordsBrian Costello - The Enchanters vs. Sprawlburg Springs [book]Akimbo - Forging Steel and Laying StoneThe Sword - Age of WintersMaritime - We, The VehiclesCougars - Pillow Talk



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    Posted by 501 on 2004-09-18 21:41:27
    My Score:

    ''I mean, shit, there's so much reverb on these vocals that you'll be hearing them for weeks''

    brilliant statement...

    Akimbo uses alot of reverb on the vocals too

    Posted by hungryjoe on 2004-09-17 13:49:03
    My Score:

    Awesome, just awesome.

    I'm going to get raked over the coals for this....but this sounds like what Hendrix would have done, had he been born 40 years later, and raised on 80's hardcore and 90's indie rock.

    Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, September 16, 2004 at 2:01 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    It's about time someone noticed them.

    Their debut is killer, pure Charles Manson-style acid-casualty boogie.

    This release is alot calmer, still good though.

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, September 15, 2004 at 11:36 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Sounds like something i could maybe get into but probably have to be really high or drunk or both depends if they pull it off or not.

    - I Hate The Kids

    Posted by Icapped2pac on 2004-09-15 19:15:01
    My Score:

    I smoke a lot of weed, but I can't stand this psych-rock horse shiz.

    Posted by cubaricho on 2004-09-14 21:15:27
    My Score:

    I like the "so much reverb you'll be hearing their voices for weeks" line. herro!

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, September 14, 2004 at 9:03 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    i thought these guys were with alternative tentacles. guess not.

    Posted by FortyMinutesWest on 2004-09-14 19:14:31
    My Score:

    This is good stuff, I checked this band out a while ago and I was really impressed.