 | Tracklist:
1. Party Boy
2. Hope
3. Flare
4. Black Original
5. Pardon?
6. Spoon
7. Jackson Head
8. Les Paul Custom '86
9. Tu, La La
10. Looprider
Release Date: 03/16/2011 | |
| | other reviews | jorge22s (5)
Boris delivers excellence again.... | Beachcoma (4)
'New album' delivers a new side to Boris, and also a magnificent one.... |
On 55 Lists
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| Summary: The most un-Boris-like album ever, may just be the most Boris-like album ever. |
11 of 11 thought this review was well written
“Boris is Boris.” It’s sort of an unspoken phrase among fans and followers of the Japanese trio, and really, it’s sort of the theme of the band, as it perfectly captures everything that they’ve embodied over the years. Basically, it means to expect anything and everything from the band, regardless of how out-there it may seem at a cursory glance. That being said, many still find the band starkly off-putting. Constantly being pigeon-holed into a “drone/ambient” type of genre, Boris are seen as incredibly unwelcoming, occupying a strange and unsightly niche among the music world. Yet as the saying goes, “Boris is Boris,” and even the most un-Boris things can turn out to be so……Boris.
Case in point: New Album. New Album, to put it plainly, is a sheer joy to listen to. Oddly enough, it could easily be described as the band’s “pop album,“ featuring chilled melodies, uplifting beats, and short and quick bursts of saccharine coated gooey pop goodness. Have no fear, while on the surface it lacks that heavy Boris feel, the impetuous charm still rises to the top. After all, Boris always bring the quirky and off-kilter in spades, and New Album exemplifies that fact, magnifying it to an obscene amount.
This immediately becomes evident with the opening track, “Part Boy.” The thick, pulsating beats welcome Wata’s airy yet daintily pleasant vocals (of which play a major role in New Album). Glitzy synths and cheesy drum hits fill the background, giving the song an ineffably charming feel. The song is a pretty great representation of New Album, as it rocks as much as it glides along seamlessly. “Kibou-Hope” and “Flare” follow suit, but with a bit more heavy an aesthetic, and a greater emphasis on a quicker tempo. After all, the Boris we all know and love is just as present as ever, and the guitar based hard rock styles of Pink poke their head out frequently, which for the most part allows for the electronics featured heavily on the rest of the album to take a back seat to the more traditional J-rock sound. However, things get really out there when Boris actually do bring out the electronics. “Black Original,” for example, is an almost entirely techno affair, as it’s a thick, suffocating track, with some deeply sensual vocals to top it all off. “Pardon” offers a chilled-out piece, turning the speed and intensity down to near zero, and instead opting for a preposterously relaxed atmosphere, layered with haze and texture. Separately these tracks do little in the way of making any impression, but as a packaged whole, New Album comes off as a wonderfully solid collection of tracks.
Boris could be ***ing with us, or they could be having the time of their lives, who honestly knows? Creatively, it’s one of the most interesting thing they’ve ever done, while on the other hand, it’s the most bizarre and unconventional things they’ve ever concocted. Aside from a few weak tracks, everything sounds so damn good, so damn addicting, and ultimately, so damn fun. Perhaps this really was the intention, perhaps Boris wanted to let their hair down, and let their listeners to the same. After all, they’ve been in the murky depths for years now, and maybe New Album is their breath of fresh air. And oh how refreshing it truly is.
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
Album is absolutely wonderful.
Been away for a few a bit Sputnik, what did I miss?!
Digging: Suis La Lune - Riala Digging: Suis La Lune - Riala | | | Album Rating: 2.5
Nice review man. This is on my list of things to get from this year.
Digging: Steamy Ray Vaughan - A Little Bit of Rattlesnake Digging: Steamy Ray Vaughan - A Little Bit of Rattlesnake | | |
Fuck yes a review for this
Pos'd
Digging: The Flaming Lips - The Flaming Lips And Heady Fwends Digging: The Flaming Lips - The Flaming Lips And Heady Fwends
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
BORIS
Digging: Carissa's Wierd - Songs About Leaving | | | Album Rating: 3.5
Liked the review. I've just had a hard time getting into this album. It's a lot Asobi Seksu's newer stuff; I'm just not sure I like it as much.
Digging: Bon Appetite - For Emeril, Forever Ago Digging: Bon Appetite - For Emeril, Forever Ago | | | Album Rating: 3
I like the album but that doesnt stop me from wishing for some more drone/doom or stoner shit. It's good but not something I would choose to listen to a lot and definitely blew par look at their discog. BUt cool i like that they aren't afraid to experiment this far, i guess.
Digging: Aluk Todolo - Odre | | |
I need to give this another listen
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still need to listen to this ahhh
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PIZZA POS
| | | Album Rating: 4
yeah this album is pretty awesome. good review
Digging: - Digging: - | | |
Speaking of Asobi Seksu, is the new album worth getting?
| | | Album Rating: 4
most definitely
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Awesome :D
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
totes
sweet review. looooove this
Digging: Bjork - Vespertine | | |
"Been away for a few a bit Sputnik, what did I miss?!"
people being uptight assholes, people getting butthurt, people taking things super srsly
the usual
fan-fucking-tastic review Xeno, you never cease to amaze me.
Digging: Hop Along - Get Disowned
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Xeno, how are you not a Contrib yet?
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Creative name.
Digging: Cult of Luna - Salvation Digging: Cult of Luna - Salvation
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I've never listened to any Boris, I'll probably give this album a try.
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Aids, this is probably the easiest Boris listen ever, really nothing else is like this
Go for Absolutego next ;)
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
been listening to this all week. fucking love this
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music | | | |
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