Search - Quicksand :: Slip

Excellent and subtly subversive early '90s rock album.

Luke Rounda | Lawrence, KS | 08/07/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Criminally unnoticed and sublimely loud, Quicksand's "Slip" seems to reach inside itself for each song, summoning up the power behind each great guitar riff. Quicksand exudes the same type of weird energy found on records by the Deftones or Rage Against the Machine, where passion seems mysteriously imbued with intelligence.



Like Deftones' singer Chino Moreno's infatuation with The Cure, or RATM's Zach de la Rocha's hang-ups on delicate matters like politics, Quicksand possess melodicism and subtlety to go with their heavy metal affectations. Just check out their fuzzed-up, palm-mutes-like-a-punching-bag cover of "How Soon Is Now?" by the Smiths for proof.



Following a terse drum roll of greeting, "Fazer" opens the album by laying down an irresistible groove perhaps worthy of standing as a mosh pit classic, while the squirrelly riff on "Dine Alone" will get heads nodding all the way through to the climactic bridge section, where heads start flying. Likewise, other cuts, like the title track, don't really heat up until their own fiery endpieces, where guitarist Tom Capone's unique and satisfying soloing style metaphorically puts the pedal to the floor. Other great moments are "Lie and Wait," with a guitar part like an uncontrollable kerosene hose; "Unfulfilled," a song you'll feel you've known forever (in that good way in which the knowing is something drawn from the subconscious rather than something radio- or culture-born); and the sinister, chaotic instrumental "Baphomet."



Talk of inspiring effect on future musicians and waxing poetic on the significance of screaming aside, "Slip" is an underground landmark album for anyone who's ever enjoyed the clever side of the distorted electric guitar."

Best album of the 90's???

C. Cerrato | Ft. Lauderdale, FL | 07/26/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Walter Schreifels has one hell of a track record. He cut his teeth in the seminal punk/hardcore band Gorilla Biscuits, and proceeded to start this band here, Quicksand, before going on to form the amazing Rival Schools. All three sound completely different, but gracefully hold their own. Gorilla Biscuits was hardcore through and through, while Rival Schools was more of a rock records, per se. But his best work was with Quicksand, a perfect blend of the two. Blurring the lines of what hardcore, punk, and rock should sound like, Quicksand had a sound all their own. Ask the thousands of similar sounding post-emo, post-hardcore, post-whatever-bands what their favorite albums are, and I'll bet Quicksand pops up every time. And they should. Quicksand have an uncanny skill to create incredibly catchy songs while retaining all the heaviness of a hardcore band. While going relatively unnoticed to the general music-buying public, they have an almost cult-like following that remains strong to this day. I remember seeing this band open up for the Offspring and No Use For A Name in 1995, and all my friends hated them. Naturally they became my favorite band. Basically, anyone into bands ranging from Thursday to GlassJaw to even the Blood Brothers, this is where it all began. An absolute classic in all regards.



Standout Tracks: Fazer, Head to Wall, & Freezing Process"