Kontpab (CD)
Missouri's Mahjongg creatively forge the primal forces they've derived from other cultures to curtail our self-destructive tendencies and spawn a soundtrack for a new community. "In describing their brilliant, controlled bombast, 1980's Talking Heads are the easiest reference point, as tribal polyrhythm backs dense instrumental montages that occasionally include jittery, treble-happy, David Byrne guitar work. But to cast Mahjongg off as another American band heavily influenced by 1977-1982 would serve as a great injustice" - Stylus Magazine.
| Tracklisting | |
| Disk | 1 | |
| 1 | Pontiac |
| 2 | Problems |
| 3 | Kottbusser Torr |
| 4 | Tell The Police The Truth |
| 5 | Those Birds Are Bats |
| 6 | Wipeout |
| 7 | Teardrops |
| 8 | Mercury |
| 9 | Rise Rice |
| Jeff Bannon
- San Francisco, CA, USA |
| I was given an advance copy. Never having heard Mahjongg's music before I was without prejudice and excited to breathe it all in. Honestly, after two complete listens... meh. I think if its already your bag, you'll obviously disagree but to me it just doesn't click. There were occasional moments of good songwriting but for the most part just felt like obnoxious crap you'd hear at a "bohemian cafe." I've gone back and listened to cuts off of "Raydoncong 2005" and it definitely follows that same non-linear approach. Yay if you're in film school. Not so much if you're on a road trip or trying to get motivated to exercise or clean your house.
As a side commentary... K Records USED to put out really cool stuff and lately the last few years have felt limp from them. Where are the bands like Fitz of Depression, Dub Narcotic, KARP, Behead the Prophet, No Lord Shall Live, Tight Bros From Way Back When, etc.???? I know most of these examples are defunct now, but c'mon... did all the good bands leave Olympia or has Calvin Johnson just gotten softer in his later years? | |