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 Post subject: Year In Review (3): Wilderness – Wilderness
PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:16 am 
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Worldwide Phenomenon
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Average rating on Megacritic 81 with only six reviews

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=am ... d3vwvwa92k

Released July 5
By MacKenzie Wilson
Four Stars (=80 for Magacritic?)

It took Wilderness three years to complete their self-titled debut album. Spending that much time crafting a complex yet intriguing soundscape that has nothing to do with alternative rock, period, is not only beyond impressive, but also brilliant. It's smart in the sense that Wilderness maintain a stance away from the classic three-chord formula. They create their own post-punk-inspired shuffle without falling into the kitsch of their peers. Wilderness is led by the chaotic vocal warbling of frontman James Johnson, an obvious comparison to John Lydon's Public Image Ltd., but also an eerie vocal resemblance to Yan of British Sea Power, quickly establishes the band's disciplined approach. While the ten-song set is an elaborate adaptation of ominous guitars, thunderous drums, and sneaky basslines, Wilderness itself delivers a melancholic nervousness. Songs such as "Arkless," the blighted hopes of "End of Freedom," and the slow burn of "Fly Farther to See" press hard in such a vein. Some could have lost scope of an album's natural psyche with taking such an extensive amount of time recording it; however, Wilderness are a group of extreme perfectionists. This album never had a chance to be anything but good.

---------------------------------------------

Since that review was so short I added the last two paragraphs from Mr. Pitchfork with an 8.5 rating:

Of course, while Wilderness are certainly unique, and prove themselves dynamic within their own strict parameters, a bit more variety wouldn't hurt, nor would more of the kind of melodic infusion found at the apex of "End of Freedom". But considering the original sound they've created-- and at such an early stage of their career-- it's difficult to find too much fault: Even given this level of sonic consistency, the album only drags once, briefly, during the eight-minute centerpiece "Post Plethoric Rhetoric"-- and that's at the beginning, before the track manages to get fully off the ground.

What Wilderness really seem to signify-- and what makes them important-- is a shift back towards the more cerebral end of the rock spectrum. Every extreme has its antidote, and just as it's been rewarding to see artists loosen up, enjoy themselves, and have some fun for once, it's also refreshing to hear them aspiring, just as passionately, to music of a more serious persuasion. In an environment that's reveled so long in the comfortability of tradition and flavor-of-the-month transitiveness, this kind of substantive art-rock is ripe for exploration. If Wilderness aren't quite kings of the mountain yet, it might just be that few others have yet traversed their fertile domain.

-Ryan Schreiber, June 24, 2005


Last edited by Bee OK on Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:54 am, edited 1 time in total.

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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:26 am 
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Go Platinum
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I think that I really wanted to like this. I wish I could understand three consecutive words of any of the lyrics, however.


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:29 am 
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Rape Gaze
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I think I listened to this album once but couldn't get past the guy's vocals, which is really saying a lot because I like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah & Xiu Xiu.

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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:50 am 
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Go Platinum

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i really enjoyed this album and sort of forgot about it i believe. I like the feel of it, over most of the other somewhat hyped indie records that came out this year. won't be anywhere on my list, but it will definitely be on my ipod for future listening.

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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 3:53 am 
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Forever moderating your hearts
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Its actually grown on me quite a bit. Still have a little trouble with the vocals but its a good listen. Might make the lower regions mf my top 20.


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 4:49 am 
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Haven't heard it yet, maybe we can post samples or a track from the album.


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 5:37 am 
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zeke the moody drifter Wrote:
Haven't heard it yet, maybe we can post samples or a track from the album.


Wilderness - Arkless (from the Jagjaguwar site)

and here's my fav track from the album

Wilderness - End Of Freedom
Code:
     http://s28.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1MBSL9UWPUHNK1H6YVVOKAZ3N4


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 10:36 am 
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Natural Harvester
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enjoyed it for a minute, but it just wasn't very memorable. 3 stand out tracks.


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 1:32 pm 
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Troubador
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im a huge fan of this album, probably it has a lot in common with the chameleons album strange times, which i also think is awesome.


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 6:49 pm 
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Gayford R. Tincture

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splates Wrote:
Its actually grown on me quite a bit. Still have a little trouble with the vocals but its a good listen. Might make the lower regions mf my top 20.


I think I've finally grown to like the vocals or at least accept them. It really does have a unique feel, and I find myself wanting to listen to it fairly often. It's just outside my Top 20 right now, but that could change.


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 9:15 pm 
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Worldwide Phenomenon
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This is the reason for these reviews. I know nothing of this record so I downloaded the first song that splates posted. So far the comments and song haven’t really inspired me to seek out this record.

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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 9:17 pm 
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BeeOK Wrote:
This is the reason for these reviews. I know nothing of this record so I downloaded the first song that splates posted. So far the comments and song haven’t really inspired me to seek out this record.


so you haven't even heard the releases you're posting??


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PostPosted: Sun Dec 04, 2005 9:35 pm 
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Dalen Wrote:
BeeOK Wrote:
This is the reason for these reviews. I know nothing of this record so I downloaded the first song that splates posted. So far the comments and song haven’t really inspired me to seek out this record.


so you haven't even heard the releases you're posting??


almost all of them that I will post about i have heard. there will be less than a handful that i have never heard

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 2:30 am 
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My fave post-punk record of the year, and currently my favourite band from Baltimore (didn't get around to hearing Animal Collective, though).

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PostPosted: Mon Dec 05, 2005 3:07 am 
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I'm guessing you won't get around to a Danny Cohen review. But that's all right. You'd hate it, anyway.


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PostPosted: Wed Dec 07, 2005 2:33 am 
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Self-Released 7-Inch

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I dig this album, but I really can't add anything relevant, because I haven't listened to it in awhile.

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