2009, Dim Mak
From Monument to Masses came together in December of 2000. Drummer/programmer Francis Choung replied to a post from a transplanted Chicago math rock guitarist Matthew Solberg who had been ranting on craigslist about wanting to create some angry, angular, and soulful music that would have little to do with the everpresent specters of punk and metal. Inspired by bands like Refused, Faraquet, and Shipping News, they wanted to write meticulous yet raw music that would escape the math rock niche and find a new territory altogether. Soon thereafter, Sergio Robledo-Maderazo joined on bass and synth, and the three discovered a sound and a philosophy. Politics and music became inseparable.
From Monument to Masses is history in the making. The bi-coastal post-rock band's new album of politically-charged music was recorded at John Vanderslice's Tiny Telephone Studios in San Francisco with the engineering genius of Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Minus the Bear, Russian Circles) at the console.
From Monument to Masses is history in the making. The bi-coastal post-rock band's new album of politically-charged music was recorded at John Vanderslice's Tiny Telephone Studios in San Francisco with the engineering genius of Matt Bayles (Mastodon, Minus the Bear, Russian Circles) at the console.
Tracklisting
Disc 1
| 1 | Checksum |
| 2 | (Millions Of) Individual Factories |
| 3 | Beyond God & Elvis |
| 4 | Sixth Trumpet |
| 5 | Ounce of Prevention |
| 6 | First Five |
| 7 | Let Them Know It's Christmastime |
| 8 | Hammer & Nails |
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Customer Reviews
1 reviews
Catalyst JoshI have to admit, when I heard that this record was worked on by Matt Bayles, I was afraid that one of my favorite bands in the world-who deserve way more attention than they've gotten, by the way-had made a dramatic turn for the worst and went either pointlessly poppy a la Minus the Bear or crisply metal a la Isis or Russian Circles. Pointlessly pop? Well, there's just too much of that in the world. Crisply metal? Well, I actually love metal and could always use more, but I'd expect way more from a band like From Monument To Masses than to take the easy route of following down territory already explored by some great bands.
So when I actually got my hands (aka my download) on this long-awaited record, I was hesitant to say the least. Sorry Insound, but I'm a try-before-I-buy kinda guy, and the free MP3s that somehow found their way onto my computer were just tempting, given my fears. Let's just say that I was SO off base with my needless anxiety that I easily ran out to drop $10 on this amazing record.
Should have known that From Monument To Masses is way too intelligent to be prejudged by little old me. This record oozes with the sort of exploration and genre-bending that "post-rock" seems to have lost. Nowadays, the instrumental indie band seems to either sound like Mogwai, Explosions, Mogplosions, or Metallica when the asshole isn't singing. If it's going to be "post-" something, why not be truly progressive and forward moving? Why get stuck replicating already explored musical territory? And that's exactly what From Monument To Masses does here. Sure it can be argued that they're just exploring different existing genres with a "post-rock" slant, but who else does that? I mean, really explore and blend influences like prog rock, classic rock, indie, hip-hop, IDM, etc. and still manage to have a sound all their own? The answer: From Monument To Masses.
If you have an open mind and are sick of hearing the same old same old, LISTEN TO THIS.
So when I actually got my hands (aka my download) on this long-awaited record, I was hesitant to say the least. Sorry Insound, but I'm a try-before-I-buy kinda guy, and the free MP3s that somehow found their way onto my computer were just tempting, given my fears. Let's just say that I was SO off base with my needless anxiety that I easily ran out to drop $10 on this amazing record.
Should have known that From Monument To Masses is way too intelligent to be prejudged by little old me. This record oozes with the sort of exploration and genre-bending that "post-rock" seems to have lost. Nowadays, the instrumental indie band seems to either sound like Mogwai, Explosions, Mogplosions, or Metallica when the asshole isn't singing. If it's going to be "post-" something, why not be truly progressive and forward moving? Why get stuck replicating already explored musical territory? And that's exactly what From Monument To Masses does here. Sure it can be argued that they're just exploring different existing genres with a "post-rock" slant, but who else does that? I mean, really explore and blend influences like prog rock, classic rock, indie, hip-hop, IDM, etc. and still manage to have a sound all their own? The answer: From Monument To Masses.
If you have an open mind and are sick of hearing the same old same old, LISTEN TO THIS.