Search - Machines of Loving Grace :: Gilt

Gilt: n. "Superficial brilliance"

J. Nussbaum | Columbia, SC | 06/22/2004

(2 out of 5 stars)

"After the rich and engaging tour de force that was "Concentration," one had every right to expect great things from Machines of Loving Grace's third album. However, there were some major missteps along the way, the biggest of which is likely the switch in producers. MoLG teamed up with Sylvia Massy, then best known for producing Tool's "Undertow," and the change in style is both dramatic and underwhelming. "Gilt" marks a near-total departure from the varied and largely electronic sound of MoLG's earlier works. In fact, you'll barely notice any synth elements in the album at all.The album as a whole is very well-produced and aurally consistent, but this not a particularly good thing. The end result is that "Gilt" sounds virtually nothing like MoLG's last two albums, eschewing the creative use of electronic elements and effects for a hard-driving, bass-heavy feel that virtually never strays from the well-beaten path of so many groups before them. Indeed, were it not for Benzel's distinctive voice, a great deal of the album could be easily mistaken for something from Tool's catalog. This would be fine, as there's nothing inherently wrong with Tool's sound, but MoLG's somewhat quirky appeal on their first two albums lay largely in their tendency to experiment and shift styles from song to song. The listener will find no such charm here. The entire album smacks of a failed experiment.Only the album's opening track, "Richest Junkie Still Alive," has any hint of the richness or style that made "Concentration" so enjoyable. Given that Machines of Loving Grace are dead and gone as a band, it's truly a shame that they went out on such a low note. If you're a hard rock fan, looking for something powerful to add to your collection, you could do a lot worse. If you're looking for something that stands out from the crowd and is likely to catch your attention, ignore this one and get "Concentration" instead."

The Machines Final Masterpiece...

M. Jarrett | New England, USA | 09/12/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Little did we know that an unknown masterpiece from Machines of Loving Grace would materialize as a very cohesive and critically important final album. Although sad to say they've since disbanded, GILT is without a doubt their best album.Getting things cooking with the brilliantly executed subdued rocker "Richest Junkie Still Alive", the whispered tones of Scott Benzel's voice compliments the great backbone from guitarist Tom Coffeen, bassist Ray Riendieau, keyboardist Mike Fisher, and drummer David Suycott. But the strength doesn't stop here...it's only a beginning. One of the highlights of GILT, "Suicide King", charges on full-throttle guitars and pounding drums with the bittersweet anger of Scott Benzel's vocals. It's one of those tracks that prove irresistible to the untrained ear. The soft metal of "The Soft Collision" is soothing and mysterious with soft whisper vocals. "Animal Mass" has that mysterious throbbing energy that also proves to be quite thrilling, and the guitar swings along to the bass and drum lines, making it equally head-banger worthy. "Kiss Destroyer" seems to seethe with intensity and the scathing vocals of Benzel, and throbs with crunchy industrial rhythms, and "Serpico" and "Tryst" also thrive on throbbing industrial pulses...but be advised, this album leans more metal than anything.GILT is one of those superb masterpieces that you might wish to hear more of from MOLG. Unfortunately, we might never get the chance to hear from them again. But with GILT, their final goodbye is an entirely satisfying affair."

Simply a Masterpiece

Christopher Allen | Conroe, TX USA | 02/01/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As the word "masterpiece" is obscenely thrown around in this day and age, it is not often that anything given such a distinction is truly deserving of the title. MOLG's final album Gilt is as deserving of the label "masterpiece" as anything else in the musical realm. The wide range of feeling this album lays out can, at times, be simply awe inspiring. Far exceeding their past works in not only musical offerings and quality, but also style, substance, groove and a plethora of other areas, Gilt is one of those rare, charmed albums that in fact does have something to offer to the ear of just about any open minded individual. From the whisper-to-a-scream structure of Suicide King, to the sonically rich layers of Solar Temple, to MOLG's crowning opus and achievement in Casual Users (which holds special distinction in my life as my favorite song of all-time), you would be hard pressed not to find at the very least a small, subtle moment somewhere throughout the album's running that is pleasing to your ear. Easily a 5-star offering and one of the most consistently well crafted albums of the 90's."