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Tera Melos

Drugs to the Dear Youth
2007
Sargent House

Tera Melos - Drugs to the Dear Youth (Cover Artwork)

Review by: SydBarrett420
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Published on February 16th 2007

One of the reasons, if not the biggest reason I went to see the Fall of Troy recently was so I could get my hands on a copy of the new Tera Melos EP, Drugs to the Dear Youth, which the band decided to release only on vinyl. Needless to say I was excited to get home, get a joint out and let this record spin as I consider their self-titled debut to be among the best releases of 2005. Jagged riffs, constant time changes, and a very At the Drive-In type sound made that album a great record.

Drugs opens, much like their self-titled album, with an electronica track called "Ambassaders of All That Is Good." The difference between the elctronica elements of their self-titled album and the bits of electronica on this record is that where the first release seemed to contain a lot of pointless dabbling, Drugs actually uses these techno elements to move the album along. Up next is a long cut called "40 Rods to the Hog's Head." I can't say how long this track is since vinyl doesnt have a time meter on it, but it's long, and sets the pace for an album that finds the band dipping more into their free-form jazz elements and ditching some of the post-hardcore elements of their debut.

"Guy vs. Sniper" and "A Spoonful of Slurry" continue the exploration of the jazz form. There also seems to be fewer chords played in favor of more finger picking and scale work, which on this album works well. There are a few times on the album where the sounds start to become disjointed and you think Tera Melos might be losing it, but then WHAP!, the band comes right back together and things get tight again. In my opinion, there aren't many bands better at doing this than Tera Melos. Next is my favorite track "The Werewolf and Ben"; the drums and bass take a bit of a background role as the guitar works stays slow and trippy. Did I mention this is a good album to listen to while enjoying your illegal substance of choice? Finally, the album closes out with "(Is Good for What Ails You)," which I believe has some kind of connection to "A Spoonful of Slurry" as the back of the vinyl cover has an arrow pointing from that track to the other. That last track is a short but sweet one which acts as more of a techno-flavored closer to the album. Take "Melody 1" and the end of "Melody 5" from the first album and throw them in a bag and "(Is Good for What Ails You)" is what you get.

Overall I like this album; it's not anywhere near as heavy and jagged as its predecessor, but Drugs to the Dear Youth is still a very distinct Tera Melos sound. I believe the band has done a great job of expanding on the quieter aspects of their music and focusing a little more on the ambient than on the melting your face...which is something still available, much like Drugs to the Dear Youth, via their live show.

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Posted by PJZ on 2007-06-21 12:27:01

Dude i really like these guys, i saw their album at borders of all places, not bad. i like the fall of troy too.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, March 3, 2007 at 10:37 PM (EST)

this is a really brilliant album with astounding instrumentation.

however, i don't really understand why there is any mention of "genre-creating" work here. its pretty obvious that these guys have been heavily influenced by Hella, Don Caballero, and especially Ghosts & Vodka.

regardless, its a great album.

Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 at 8:12 PM (EST)
My Score:

uh yo, this is an indie instrumental freestyle post hardcore band.

go lay the anti-drug deal at an underoath review or something, and let the jazz cats bogey. tera melos is just about chilling to some sweet tunes, drug or drug free.

this is one of the best albums ive ever heard, and these young men really have a handle on the idea of free-form imaginative melody wiith intense sophistication at the same time.
ps.i was rolling at the fall of troy show. it changed my life. tera melos reinvented music for me.

Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 20, 2007 at 12:08 AM (EST)

if one can only grasp the best things about any music that isn't sublime while smoking out, then that's totally pathetic.

"Did I mention this is a good album to listen to while enjoying your illegal substance of choice?" Boo!

shpank! shpank!

Posted by Morgan on 2007-02-19 13:11:31
My Score:

I have the blue copy too.

And some bands are just enhanced on weed.
Tera Melos being one of them.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 19, 2007 at 10:13 AM (EST)

this album is fantastic while stoned. never better.

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 19, 2007 at 9:32 AM (EST)

listened to this a few times when it was available for streaming. shite.

Posted by not-to-regret on 2007-02-19 02:47:44

Vinyl also makes a great surface to roll on. Weed has opened my mind to a wide pallete of music that I'm sure most people would never even give a chance, but that's just me.

Posted by chirpy_boy on 2007-02-19 00:23:16

as borat would say...I am so proud(of sydbarrett420 being my hero)...

NOT!

Posted by BTown on 2007-02-18 19:25:47
My Score:

A. Fuck the Shins. Charging $35 for a headlining show?
B. This record is good.

Posted by Vincent_M on 2007-02-18 16:20:47

It's obvious, he's an enhancement smoker.

"Have you ever listened to the Tera Melos vinyl?"
"Uh...yeah?"
"Have you ever listened to the Tera Melos vinyl....on weed?"

Posted by SydBarrett420 on 2007-02-17 16:32:48

I personally have the blue copy.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 17, 2007 at 3:47 PM (EST)

this is not a springman release.

um...then who did release it?

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, February 17, 2007 at 1:57 PM (EST)
My Score:

this is not a springman release.

Posted by Morgan on 2007-02-17 11:48:20
My Score:

Did you get the brown or blue vinyl?

I got this and it is good high on surround sound.

And nobodys forcing you to do anything and he barely mentions weed so stop complaining.

Posted by bombshoes on 2007-02-17 01:21:20
My Score:

"This album sounds a lot like Hella."

way more listenable. lately hella just feels like a test to me.

tera melos > marijuana

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2007-02-16 22:45:40

p.s. This record is very tight.

hella tight even?

- jones the bones

- stevieieieieieiei

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2007-02-16 22:44:52

pot is for weaksters

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by Dante3000 on 2007-02-16 16:51:24

I got both colors because I'm a nerd.
Now, while my record player isn't very good (and I'm torn between a vacation and a new player) I can say this album kills. I'm not a big instrumental fan, it just can't hold my attention, but I will be damned if Tera Melos can't do it at least as well as anyone else, if not better. A step forward to be sure (even if it is minus a member). Awesome musicians, awesome guys.
-Dante

Posted by UncleFunkyPants on 2007-02-16 15:42:44

This album sounds a lot like Hella.

Posted by baseball on 2007-02-16 14:44:50

pot is for weaklings

haha, wait until you graduate college and get out in the high stress corporate world :-

i doubt you'd repeat that to your boss or co-workers

Posted by danperrone on 2007-02-16 14:15:48

pot is for weaklings

Posted by EyesLikeBombs on 2007-02-16 12:58:01

smoking does not make "everything sound awesome", it just makes stuff that already sounds good sound even better...or helps you notice things you normally wouldn't in a song

I'll believe that when someone who is high on marajuana tells me it.

Posted by baseball on 2007-02-16 12:31:52

Because I enjoy listening to music while I smoke marijuana that somehow discredits the review? This album does in fact sound very good if you are looking for a record to listen to while you enjoy a smoke.

You little kids that are so blown away by drug references need to grow up.

agreed, those other posts are fucking stupid

smoking does not make "everything sound awesome", it just makes stuff that already sounds good sound even better...or helps you notice things you normally wouldn't in a song

you're not going to throw on the new Fall Out Boy stoned and suddenly love it

and this is INSTRUMENTAL on top of that, if you can't see the advantage of being high while listening and reviewing an instrumental release, then you obviously don't understand how marijuana effects your senses

Posted by SydBarrett420 on 2007-02-16 11:17:33

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 16, 2007 at 10:45 AM (EST)

I've never seen someone so keen to push their drug-cred.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 16, 2007 at 10:03 AM (EST)

i mean, i pretty much only listen to this band when i'm high. stop hatin!

-mybulldogfront

Posted by denbez on 2007-02-16 03:43:05

Thier show got cancelled when I went to see them.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 16, 2007 at 2:21 AM (EST)
My Score:

Yeah, for real. I'm all for marijuana use but I don't need to read a review by some guy on a drug that makes everything seem awesome.
This album's rad though. I have some minor quibbles with the mix but i've grown to listen past them.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, February 16, 2007 at 1:50 AM (EST)
My Score:

Wow, you are so cool. You smoked a joint and listened to a record. I bet half the reason you bought this record is because the word "drugs" was in the title of the record...ok, "SidBarrett420"? fuck off.

p.s. This record is very tight.