Search - Chokebore :: Black Black

Step into the sadness

B. Blanchard | California, USA | 05/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD marks a path taken by the band to dwell in depression and continue (like their other works) to enjoy their misery. Much more meloncholy than previous efforts, this CD shows that Chokebore shines at it's brightest when the band is most unhappy. There is definetly something to be said about enjoying the darker times of one's life and Chokebore is the perfect band to listen to while in those moods. A bit slower at times than previous CDs, Black Black is a more mature effort by the band but it still retains the anger/angst of other Chokebore CDs. Do yourself a favor and purchase this CD."

Everyone should buy this album.

P. McCay | 10/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Immerse yourself in stunningly gorgeous sadness.

Buy this album.

It might change your life.

The slow songs lull you into a deep, somber, grey mood for most of your evening. Passionate, but exercising such restraint, this is elegant melancholy. When Troy sings, "I died in a fire, I died in a fireeeee" you inexplicably know precisely what he means. You can simply feel it. "Valentine," in particular is thoroughly seductive. And then once you feel like you know what's going on with this album, the fast, concise moster "Alaskas" comes crashing through the speakers. By FAR the fastest and most conventionally rocking song on the album, "Alaskas" is also one of the most powerful. The original recording of this song (released as a b-side a year or two earlier) was far slower and measured. I'm not sure how they came to decide to speed this up so much and include it on one of the slowest albums this side of Codeine, but it was a stroke of genius. This frantically sped up tempo just adds to the desperation 100 fold and its just the kick the album needs right where it needs it. Oh, and don't confuse 'sped up tempo' with 'upbeat song' with lyrics like "i've been swimming in the noises of all these other people, trying to hold it all together, pretend everything is normal..." the song is simply the one moment where the tension breaks into absolute catharsis."