Search - Thee Silver Mt Zion Memorial Orchestra, Tra La La :: Horses in the Sky

Beautiful

Christopher Utzig | New Paltz, New York | 12/12/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Upon first hearing this record I couldn't stand it. I echoed the impression that another reviewer had of thinking the vocals were utterly intrusive. But upon a second listen, I noticed something. This is one of the most painfully human records ever written. The lyrics are deeply moving, yet eclectic. The music is at times minimalist, and at others thick and lavish post-rock textures. It has become one of my all time favorite records, and by far one the largest about-faces i've ever had regarding any band. I've never gone from absolutely hating something, to thinking it is one of the greatest things ever written in a period of a few hours, but that is what occurred with this record. I highly reccomend it to anyone. Brace yourself for the possible initial shock which for many people, render this band unlistenable. Once you get over the amateurish vocals (a very easy thing to do, because of how beautiful the lyrics are), one of the most beautiful musical moments of all time can be found.



One of the greatest albums i've ever had the pleasure of listening to."

Stunning, heartfelt, raw masterpiece.

Jason | CaLiFoRNIA | 05/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There is no better (post?)modern band than A Silver Mt. Zion. Not musically, mind you, but as an overall emphasis on sheer, unadulterated emotion; I have yet to come in contact with a band of the past half decade that holds a candle to the immense, affecting fire ASMZ sparks, and that includes the wunderkind known as Godspeed You Black Emperor! from which they spawned.



Like Godspeed, ASMZ is one of the more ambitious bands I've ever encountered. Unlike Godspeed, however, ASMZ is not only epic in scope, but as personal and intimite as the highest art forms. Simultaneously they manage to evoke both of these senses.



I think it's as simple as this. Godspeed is from the brain; ASMZ is from the heart. Shallow and blasphemous, really, but I think that vague analysis gets the message across. Godspeed, great as they are, could never even DREAM about writing anything as haunting as "13 Angles Standing Guard 'Round the Side of Your Bed", from ASMZ's debut album. That particular piece, for me, is perhaps the most personal and loving that I have ever heard in my entire life, and I'm not overstating in the least. While nothing on Horses in the Sky reaches that level of ardor, it's this same sort of sentiment that makes it such a masterful work.



The first song on the album will probably be the first listener's will cling to, primarily for it's pop-nature within the first ten minutes. At least, this was the case with me. However, from the moment that a harmonic chorus shouts "When the world is sick, can't noone be well", the album begins to really become a raw, glaring testiment to the soul.



Efrim's lyrics here shine more than ever before, in my opinion, and I personally never had one problem with his vocals. Don't see why one should, honestly; they fit the tone of the music too well. He is a poetic, expressive singer who never resorts to schlocky, melodramatic lyrics.



This album is the best album I heard in 2005, and one of my favorite albums, period. With this review I try to write as impressively as I can, but in truth that is exactly the antithesis of what this music is -- selfless, infinite Love."

Breaking away.

N. Turner | 04/05/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"lets face it, for the most part people just view A Silver Mt. Zion as a side project, a second string player to Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and for the most part, ASMZ's first 3 albums did little to defy those conceptions. But with their new album, "Horses In The Sky", A Silver Mt. Zion has finally reached their full potential.



The main factor that their albums all boil down to is the vocals. Efrim's voice is an aqcuired taste for sure, but when you can see the sincerity and honesty coming from it, the beauty of it really shines through, despite it being off key occasionally. ASMZ's early albums hit their high points in the vocally driven tracks, such as "Born intro trouble.." majestic closer "the triumph of our tired eyes." Conversely, however, their latest album "This is Our Punk Rock", overdid the rawness of the vocals, making the album a chore to listen to.



But enough of their old stuff, because Horses in The Sky is what it's all about. With this one, the folks in ASMZ have hit their stride. The band always hinted at greatness; they always had it in them to burst out of Godspeed's shadow, and now they've finally done it. Horses in The Sky finds ASMZ's instrumental pieces broken down as far as they'll go, because the vocals are center stage here...and I can finally say that this makes the album better than anything they've ever done. The only track on the album that i dont absolutely adore is "Teddy Rosevelt's Guns", which ironically is the one song that most closely resembles the ASMZ of old. But aside from that one weakpoint, the album is simply amazing. Efrim it seems has finally found the right way to harness his voice to perfection, and the result is simply beautiful songs like "mountains made of steam" and "hang on to each other".



"He has left us alone..." and "Born into Trouble..." where good albums, but stuck to a very conventional post-rock agenda.



"This is Out Punk-Rock" tried to stray from that path, and succeded in that, but little else. The vocals were over done the whole way through, resulting in easily thier least enjoyable album.



and finally "Horses in the Sky" is everything the band could have wanted it to be. They took the concept of "This is our Punk-Rock" and perfected it, resulting in a simple, broken down album that works on every level.



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