12-21-2015, 07:27 AM
I've listened to it about four times, I think, since Friday.
The first time through, I wasn't blown away. But thinking you'll get the entirety of a Baroness album the first time through is for the uninitiated, not the fans. The second time was much more like I expected and hoped for.
Let's get this out of the way. A Baroness album is a complete experience. It's a ride, and you wonder how you got to where you are at some point in the journey. You miss your stop, but you don't care, because it ain't no Greyhound. It also isn't a rollercoaster, but it all goes together brilliantly, and there's a flow to the music that isn't defined by tracks or songs. The Blue album violates this a little bit, imposing somewhat more structure on the journey, but that, "Hey, how did I get here?" vibe that is characteristic of the band is certainly present on this album again.
I like the return to more heaviness. I hope John Baizley has figured out this is where his vocals belong. At the beginning of the band's career, there was too much of the screaming and what I felt like was trying to fit into the metal scene. Then the aggression and force was gone in the Yellow and Green albums. Purple really seems to be the right mix.
One thing that surprised me, and as a guitarist, I hate to say this about our mortal natural enemies, but the drumming was extremely strong, and it added a layer to the music that wasn't missing before but certainly never stood out. The personnel change worked in the band's favor here for sure, unfortunate though the circumstances forcing it were.
I've tried to avoid making this sound like I just dislike the Yellow and Green double album. I never got them, try as I might. The music was uninspiring, and like all of the lyrics, it didn't make any sense. It just seemed like experimentation for the sake of experimentation, and that's never good. I think they really got back on track with this album and gave me the Baroness experience I wanted.
The first time through, I wasn't blown away. But thinking you'll get the entirety of a Baroness album the first time through is for the uninitiated, not the fans. The second time was much more like I expected and hoped for.
Let's get this out of the way. A Baroness album is a complete experience. It's a ride, and you wonder how you got to where you are at some point in the journey. You miss your stop, but you don't care, because it ain't no Greyhound. It also isn't a rollercoaster, but it all goes together brilliantly, and there's a flow to the music that isn't defined by tracks or songs. The Blue album violates this a little bit, imposing somewhat more structure on the journey, but that, "Hey, how did I get here?" vibe that is characteristic of the band is certainly present on this album again.
I like the return to more heaviness. I hope John Baizley has figured out this is where his vocals belong. At the beginning of the band's career, there was too much of the screaming and what I felt like was trying to fit into the metal scene. Then the aggression and force was gone in the Yellow and Green albums. Purple really seems to be the right mix.
One thing that surprised me, and as a guitarist, I hate to say this about our mortal natural enemies, but the drumming was extremely strong, and it added a layer to the music that wasn't missing before but certainly never stood out. The personnel change worked in the band's favor here for sure, unfortunate though the circumstances forcing it were.
I've tried to avoid making this sound like I just dislike the Yellow and Green double album. I never got them, try as I might. The music was uninspiring, and like all of the lyrics, it didn't make any sense. It just seemed like experimentation for the sake of experimentation, and that's never good. I think they really got back on track with this album and gave me the Baroness experience I wanted.