Mastodon - Crack The Skye - Page 2

That was ridiculous, it seemed like he was doing a mix of nasal and inhale vocals.

Not trying to convince a soul. I've listened to some of their songs. I find them to be poorly written and produced songs.

I think Mastodon could be better songwriters, but there's two things about them that are very factual: They are amazing musicians and the production is good (and has character) on all their records. There's some great songs on this album. I just wish they could write 45 minutes of great material instead of 10.

Oh good grief, don't be stupid.

Not that saying this matters, because your post was a little cliche, but:

Yes, I have actively played music for almost 20 years.
But again - that doesn't matter.
Food critics can't cook and non of the geeks on this site could ever make a Watchmen movie.

I said they could be BETTER songwriters, not that they were poor. They have an enormous amount of meandering wankery on most of their records and then something memorable will show up for a second or two, and then it's back to the impeccably performed riff-fests. Witness: Crack the Skye starting strong, ending amazing, and having a totally forgettable middle.

I only bring this up because this one album gets a multiple page thread here, and is maybe the second metal album in the last year to get mainstream media attention, when dozens of albums go out the window with no promotion or buzz.

I know that's not a reason to slag Mastodon (and I'm not, just speaking my opinion of one aspect of their music), they are a great band who I have seen live and supported. I just wish that the current "it" attention grabbing metal band was AMAZING instead of just full of talent and nothing memorable.

And I thought he was talking about me. See Cynic for my recent, and only, love of same.

Yeah, but it's CHUD and that a specific metal band got 2 pages is something. I bet if I was to make a thread about Neurosis or Whitechapel, it wouldn't even get half a page.

I've just recently started going through the metal thread due to finally broadening my horizons in the genre beyond Slayer after years of not caring about it, so I'll take all the recs and discussions you guys can muster.

Keep the recommendations to the general metal thread, thanks. Especially if they involve Cynic.

It's easy to see why people get frustration with press attention paid to Mastodon. It kinda goes back to the 'why would there be hipsters at a Mastodon show' question. The band is a hipster band as much as a metal band. They have that weird sort of crossover audience that frustrates the fuck out of the die-hard.

They have that in part because they do things other than sheer chugging metal, but in larger part because they make good copy. Their imagery is just to one side of metal's 'off-putting to the mainstream' stuff, Brent is crazy and gets in fights, which are fun to report, Troy and Brann can talk up their songs and concepts in a way that fits perfectly with what music writers like to work with.

If a lot of other bands were forthcoming and lucid to the press in the same way Mastodon can be, they'd have bigger profiles, too.

Yeah, I meant recs, etc. in the metal thread.

Still loving this album and can't get over what a hell of an opener Oblivion is. I'd almost be willing to brave Coachella for them at this point.

Poorly produced???? That's Matt motherfucking Bayles producing. You need to die.

Should start a Neurosis thread.

on aintitcool some dude was pissed and was trying to get Neurosis on the soundtrack hahaha.

I don't get this though, because Mastodon have had this vibe with hipsters and music snobs for years, around the same time as Leviathan was out. Touring with eclectic bands like Isis and Cult of Luna certainly added to that but it's mainly the connection to Relapse that gives them more of a wider audience within the underground compared to other metal bands.

These are the main reasons I like them.

Most of the 'wider audience' that goes to see Mastodon has no idea what Relapse is.

I mean in terms of scenes/genres. not mainstream. Ie all types of metal, punk, indie rock people go see them and relapse has that hip appeal.

I have a pretty wide range of musical tastes and have a pack of buddies who are hardcore, rigid metalheads. According to them any band who has an audience outside of approved metal dudes (READ: sweaty basement dwellers) are false metal. A huge majority of metal dudes feel this way. This includes Mastodon, 3 Inches Of Blood, Nachmystium, Wolves In The Throne Room, and whomever else would fit this description. They will always preface their brickbats with the caveat that they don't think their music is any good but the thing is the majority of those dudes are in bands and I think much of their hate comes from seeing a band they either don't like or perceive themselves as better than achieve success. I go see their bands because I support my friends and I support local metal, but the reality is that barring certain exceptions my friends bands are not successful because they aren't very good. For a genre of music that prides its self on on being contrary it sure attracts its abundance of fans who are pretty eager to follow a rulebook.

I was speaking of the album that this thread is about, so, fuck you, it sounded a bit tinny.

And from what I've heard, he didn't. I would've trashed it far more. I have respect for Brendan O'Brien.

I feel like I just read a brick.

Well, 3 Inches Of Blood pretty much is false metal.

Right guys!!??/s

Not only that but these guys are of the opinion that these bands are only playing metal to be hip, popular and to jump onto some fantastic, free-flowing, cash gravy train. If they weren't "cashing-in" they'd be playing some sort of other music. They also think that the cross-over audience is listening to metal because it is the hip thing to do. I haven't bothered to alert them to how metal and its fans are actually perceived by the mass populace or to those who would willingly define themselves as hip.

Most metal heads get sandy vaginas, just check out the metal-archives message board.

Also, where does this idea come from that metal is a cash gravy train? You're lucky if you can support yourself financially solely by touring.

Oh sure. I belong to a Seattle Metal message board. It's ridiculous. I count myself a metalhead though I am a huge fan of lots of stuff, but those guys who are lock-step really need a reality check as to the state of commercial viablity their favorite musical genre circa 2009.

Has anybody seen the Crack The Skye DVD yet? I'm waiting for mine to come from amazon.

In-store at Criminal in ATL tonight.

Not for me -- you need a purchase receipt for the new disc to be first in line, and the vinyl got pushed back. I'm not buying a CD I don't want just to get in. Should be fun for those who do.

I got the CD/DVD package. Just getting through my first listen. Liked a lot of it, but it needs a few listens to sink in.

Holy Fuck, this album is just what I needed.

I don't love it yet. It's less accessible than previous albums and more prog-gy. Get some headphones and set 50 minutes aside for the first listen.

Ok so I really like the Crack The Skye now. I find the experience somewhat akin to listening to an Opeth album. I need 5 or so listens before I learn the songs and can start appreciating it.

I don't particularly care about Mastodon getting more press coverage. They are still a band that none of my friends have heard of.

When he's sober.

Often multiple times per week.

I thought the DVD was good. The band are much geekier than I imagined (Creature of the Black Lagoon and Star Wars collectors!).

The album has grown and grown on me. I tend to think music is extremely subjective, but for me this hits the spot. Intricate complex music that occasionally kicks arse, but mostly you can just lose yourself in.

I find it hard to imagine I'll like any other CD more in 2009.

I like it a lot, it hasn't left my CD player since I bought it. I honestly would love to hear the instrumental version of the album.

Yeah, put then that would mean I have to buy the album all over again, and I'm a cheap mother fucker. The only things I've ever double dipped on were the Evil Dead movies, and even then it was only recently with the ultimate edition (well not counting going from VHS to DVD).

I think it would be interesting, but I doubt I would prefer it. I don't think they are great singers and the lyrics are decent but not great (same goes for the album concept). Despite that, the vocals compliment the music well and that's good enough to justify them.

Fantastic and extremely emotional album. I wasn't aware of the entire back-story about the drummer's sister's death (her name was/is Skye) until I'd heard it a time or 3. I'd place it firmly between Leviathan (at the top) and Blood Mountain (at the bottom), with a VERY narrow margin between the 3. The more i hear it the more i like it though. The instrumental tracks are totally worth the extra scratch.

I might be seeing them next month at Cat's Cradle in NC. CtS has grown n me more and more each time I listen to it. The things that have made it more accessible to mainstream audiences turned me off a bit at first (less abrupt tempo changes, more straightforward vocal styles), but I'm really getting into the Zach Wylde kind of singing style they've developed, and even it isn't as complex as previous albums, the guitar work is amazing.

Read in a recent interview (I'm pretty sure it was the one on Pitchfork) that they haaate playing B&T live, just because they're sick of it. They throw it in once in a blue moon as a crowd-pleaser.

Glad to hear the show was that good. Hopefully I'll see them next month.