Search - Spiral Jetty :: Band of Gold

Counter-point to above (or below) review

08/28/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Maybe I'm biased. Spiral Jetty basically "grew-up" in my back-yard at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ. Aside from following their other preceding independent releases, I saw these fellows several times. Each time I play their recordings or remember their live performances, I am reminded of the injustices found in the music industry and of the industry's inability to promote exciting, worthwhile and challenging artists. This (mainly) trio are superstars to me! They are able to create musical landscapes that grab your attention and blow you away. Band Of Gold was their fourth and final release. It showed a maturity but still kept true to their powerful, original sound. If you like sonicly swirling bands like Nirvana and Thin White Rope, you'd be foolish not to even sample the tracks made available here. Spiral Jetty rule...then and now!"

This is the reason you've never heard of Spiral Jetty

05/18/1999

(3 out of 5 stars)

"The reason you've never heard of Spiral Jetty (unless you're a hippie, or a fan of Led Zeppelin's tour entourage of the mid-70's, or both) is this rather pathetic Talking Heads-esque jumble of staccato verses and choruses. The vocalist leaves practically everything to be desired. The basslines are jumpy yet frolickingly upbeat and the guitarist is now a lecturer in English. I guess there's nothing essentially wrong with BAND OF GOLD, but then again, there's nothing essentially right about it either. I'll admit that a few of the tunes did get my foot tapping, but I won't tell you why."