What's a Listening Log? Well, the idea is quite simple. It's a weekly segment that consolidates all the mini-reviews Dozens Of Donuts has given on RateYourMusic over the past week, split between the Past and Present. A straightforward grading scale has been put in place, ranging from A+ to F-, with C acting as the baseline average. There is no set amount of reviews per week, just however many I get around to reviewing. And don't expect week-of reviews. I wait one month - with at least three listens under my belt - before I rate and review an album. Enjoy!
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2002 | Post-Rock | Listen
CRESCENDOS FOR AN INVADED HOMELAND
It dawned on me that, for some reason, Yanqui U.X.O. stood out as the only Godspeed You! Black Emperor project I hadn't heard. Considering it was initially their swan song, an LP that signaled an indefinite hiatus, that's quite the oversight. Nevertheless, my discovery of GY!BE is now complete, and while Yanqui didn't add a ton to enrich their discography in my opinion, it's still a worthy addition.
What Yanqui loses in world-building - something Lift Yr Skinny Fists did better than almost any album in existence - it gains in its ability to hone in on a singular idea and rupture it. In this case it's war, as Godspeed builds on an overbearing, distraught tone that carries through the 75 minutes. The crescendos dominate the piece, as is per usual with Post-Rock, and reach particularly rich climaxes on '09-15-00' and 'Motherfucker=Redeemer (Cont.).' Even the quieter moments provide some much-needed tension, as if they're silent gaps between the waves of strafe bombings. An all-around solid Post-Rock record without anything sensational or original to call its own.
B-
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2018 | Lo-Fi Indie | Listen
STRIPPED OF CONVENTION, FINDING SOLACE AS A HERMIT
Perhaps it's apropos that Wide Winged Bird never got a fraction of the attention Big Thief's two previous projects did. After all, it adheres to none of the rules set forth by Masterpiece and Capacity, stripping all the accessibility and satisfaction by merging what's essentially demo reel ideas presented in a warm, demure light with sections of Spoken Word and Sound Collage. Not to mention front-loading those avant-garde ideas in the 12-minute 'Untitled' piece, which makes Wide Winged Bird quite a difficult EP to absorb.
But boy is it atmospheric. Removing the Indie Rock schtick - a good one mind you - from the Big Thief fold left Adrianne Lenker flush and bare, surrounded only by natural sounds, haggard instrumentalists, and her own thoughts. 'Black Flowers' the closest thing to the typical Big Thief ideology, and it's great. But all five songs here have their moments of subdued splendor.
C
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2005 | Post-Rock | Listen
ASCENDING MT. ZION TO EXPERIENCE A SACRIFICAL RAPTURE
HṚṢṬA comes from Montreal's elusive, but musically-paramount Post-Rock era. With several Godspeed You! Black Emperor members attached - spearheaded by Mike Moya - it's safe to assume the sound and, more importantly, tone of Stem Stem In Electro. Instrumentally you'd be right. It's standard, rather confined Post-Rock that embellishes both the uproarious highs ('Swallow's Tail,' 'Une infinité de trous en forme d'homme') and the ingratiating lows ('Quelque chose à propos des raquetteurs,' 'Gently Gently') of the genre.
However, it doesn't feel as momentous or critical as Godspeed's seminal works, choosing instead to fall on the Silver Mt. Zion side of things with more natural, almost ritualistic ideas. Oh, and there's vocals. That's what sets HṚṢṬA apart. And while each of the female vocalists - Beckie Foon and Gen Heistek - provide admirable, sometimes moody performances ('Blood On The Sun' feels inspired by 90's Swans), the group's need to accommodate measurements for them prevents Stem Stem In Electro from being fully unleashed. '...And We Climb' is a great intro though, with its fierce builds through a cruel, Western atmosphere..
C-
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