Pg. 99 - Document # 8 Review

Pg. 99 Document # 8

full review

Tracklist:
1. In Love with an Apparition
2. Your Face Is a Rape Scene
3. Life in a Box
4. We Left as Skeletons
5. Punk Rock in the Wrong Hands
6. Ballad of Circling Vultures
7. Hollowed Out Chest of a Dead Horse
8. Lonesome Waltz of Leonard Cohen
9. List

Release Date: 2005

user rating

4.2
excellent

Chart.

other reviews

Jared W. Dillon STAFF (5)
...

scyther (4.5)
...

related

Document #7

Document #5

members also liked

Circle Takes The Square As The Roots Undo
At the Drive-In Relationship of Command
Saetia A Retrospective
The Mars Volta De-Loused in the Comatorium
City Of Caterpillar City Of Caterpillar
Gospel The Moon is A Dead World
Hot Cross Cryonics
Thrice Vheissu

On 51 Lists

4.5
superb

Ryan Flatley STAFF (81 Reviews)

2007-03-04 | 139 comments | 6,004 views

Summary: Document #8 is a gem in the punk rock catalog from a band that is perhaps one of the most important bands within the genre.

Through all of the years of listening to music, I found one genre that was neglected. A small presence of it lurking throughout the years, but nothing defined the genre itself. I grew up listening to metal bands such as Tool and grunge bands like The Smashing Pumpkins. As the years past, my taste began to change. I started listening to post hardcore bands like GlassJAw, the post-rock masterminds known as Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and the indie rockers known as Cursive. Through all of this, punk rock was the neglected genre and Pg. 99 defined punk rock perfectly. While Pg. 99 are listed under “emo” on Sputnik, they made it clear that they are punk rockers. With the opening quote on Document #8 from the track “In Love With An Apparition” that says:

Punk rock should mean freedom. Liking and accepting anything that you like. Playing whatever you want, as sloppy as you want. As long as it’s good and it has passion.

There was a word in that statement that hit me harder than I have ever been hit before, and that was the word passion. I feel as if many artists today have a lack of passion for what they do. An excellent example of a lack of passion for a band would be Chris Cornell. The Audioslave front man disbanded because he felt that he should earn more than the other members in the band should. On the other hand, Pg. 99 have a different attitude about one another. As quoted in the booklet, Pg. 99 says:

Love your friends…Die Laughing.

They enjoyed each other company for what it was worth, which was indeed priceless. While they did eventually disband, for the time they wrote Document #8 they were as complete a band as anyone could ask for. There were no flashy solos presented throughout this album. There were no flaunting of individuals skills. It was all done together. They were brothers to one another. During the song “The Hollowed Out Chest Of A Dead Horse” they create a multifaceted sound that builds up to a beautiful ending. It is enhanced with layers upon layers of guitar and bass work grinding away in a melodic manner.

They produced a work of art that was sloppy, passionate, beautiful, dark, and fun. Document #8 contains nine tracks packed with overwhelming emotion of enjoyment for what they do. While a band such as Circle Takes the Square may have created one of the most emotional pieces of work in As The Roots Undo, I highly believe they could not have accomplished such beauty without Pg. 99’s influence. The more I listen to Document #8 I realize how important it is really is. While I still consider As The Roots Undo a classic in its own regard, Document #8 eclipses Circle Takes The Square’s release. I feel Pg. 99 does everything Circle Takes the Square does wrong, right. They move on with various themes throughout the record. Intros are never dragged out nor are track lengths ever too long for their own good.

While the sound may be rough at first to listen to, it soon dissipates once you adapt to how raw their recordings are. With the abundance of overproduced records, it makes it increasingly hard to find a record that sounds so natural like this Document #8. The vocals can be coarse, the bass may sound muddy, but it is all just apart of the different experiences within the album. The chaotic adventure in “Ballad Of Circling Vultures” provides a stark and gloomy feeling. The anthems presented in “In Love With an Apparition,” “Your Face is a Rape Scene,” and “The List” that provoke the sincerest amount of disorder and excitement. Whether it is the giddy clapping bridge in “In Love With an Apparition” that leads to hectic screaming and musicianship. While “Your Face is a Rape Scene” deals with intricate guitar and bass work and a bleak ambience that is felt during the middle of the song as it slowly crescendos mayhem. Finally, “The List,” which has a very poppy feel to it throughout with happy-go-lucky guitar work. Individually they are all building blocks to the centerpiece known as Document #8, as they should be. Finally, they all have the most important element that makes Pg. 99 unique. Their ridiculous amount of passion and emotion. They are true to themselves lyrically, with amazingly emotional lyrics that pours from the soul.

With Pg. 99, punk rock was finally in the right hands once again with Document #8. While reaching out to a sparse population in comparison to bands today, they did what they felt needed to be done. Ultimately, influencing others of what punk rock should be. They opened a door that changed my outlook on the way I listen to music with this release. They were not similar to the bands I listened to in the past, and that is a great thing.

we are the people that disagree with you.without us you will never change

Overall, I am left here sitting with an overwhelming feeling of disappointed. The reason?…well….I just wish I found Pg. 99 sooner.

Share: Facebook Stumble Digg Twitter Del.icio.us