4.0 excellent

Matthew Dreany | September 10th 06

One of the greatest ep's of all time, "Spiderland" defines their sound with nice little stories from Brian McMahan, excellent guitar work, and consistant drumming throughout. Though many people say "For Dinner" ruins the album, it's actually not bad, just a little boring at first, but it's a grower. The only imaginable knocks are length, and the fact that the guitar sounds similar in some songs, which is true, but that's okay when the guitarwork is excellent. 2 Bumps | Bump

5.0 classic

LordGreekFolder | March 27th 08

This is the sort of record to which I've never caught myself saying "No, I don't think I'm in the mood for that right now". Having been born a couple years before this album, and only discovering it a few years ago, it's difficult for me to really understand this album in terms of sheer progression, innovation, and genre-creation. (Though I do recognize that it exceeds in those three areas). For me, it's the sound itself that is so captivating. This is an album commonly considered to be exemplary of "Math-Rock" and yet you find natural, pulsating, and rhythmic songs, as opposed to the abrasiveness and conscious-unpredictability that typically either makes or breaks other albums of the genre. And the lyrics are surreal and terrifying, "...like swimming underwater in the darkness, like walking through an empty house, speaking to an imaginary audience, being watched from outside by no one". Lastly, the ending of the album, the climax of 'Good Morning, Captain', is among the most stirring and passionate sounds I've ever heard. Genuine angst, true raw emotion, something most bands strive for but often fall short. 1 Bumps | Bump

4.5 superb

Adam Turner-Heffer | May 22nd 07

The birth of post-rock. Of course, in 1991 (and for quite some time) the term post-rock had never been coined as a genre of music, but this bleak, yet atmospheric incredible piece of work to me seems like the obvious link between post-punk (or grunge for better terms) and post-rock. Before this album, anything longer than 5 minutes or remotely challenging was just considered "prog" and neatly shoved into the dustbin where prog fans do cohabit. This, took that idea of creating "big" pieces of music from a more arty and even punk way (even if punk is not an obvious influence for this, generally very sparse sounding record) and did something with it essentially unheard of since the velvet underground first took on the challenge. Here we have 6 disconjointed, angular, dischordant songs, that some how manage to be very touching. 'Washer' remains one of the most beautiful songs ever commited to record where as the kicking and screaming end to 'Good Morning, Captain' will put you on edge for some time after listening. 1 Bumps | Bump

4.5 superb	Bouben | June 13th 09
Essential post-rock album. In a way of importance I would give it 5 points. In a way of personal taste based on sounds I hear, I give 4,5. Bump