Are there two musical personalities with less in common than Calvin Johnson (Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System, K Records) and Built to Spill's Doug Martsch? In the hands of Martsch, a tune floats like a prismatic ... more »shower of shattered glass. His music can be pretty, grand, and moving, yet the words he sings are harnessed directly to the heart. Calvin Johnson works at the other end of the solar system, stripping every song, every moment, of all but its most forward-moving parts. For Johnson there is bass, there are drums, there is the black hole of his voice. In the lines that Johnson sings--the puns, the nonsense, the rhymes--nothing needs a reason, nothing needs to be explained. In the Halo Benders, these two worlds meet, held together by some unseen gravity--invisible, improbable, and infectious. Tilting between Martsch's schoolboy-sweet tenor and Johnson's basso profundo, The Rebels Not In strikes a precarious balance between retro goof-pop ("Devil City Destination," "Do That Thing") and the sentimental ("Lonesome Sundown," "Love Travels Faster") without watering down either impulse. Sparks fly, tears flow, all is well. --S. Duda« less
Are there two musical personalities with less in common than Calvin Johnson (Beat Happening, Dub Narcotic Sound System, K Records) and Built to Spill's Doug Martsch? In the hands of Martsch, a tune floats like a prismatic shower of shattered glass. His music can be pretty, grand, and moving, yet the words he sings are harnessed directly to the heart. Calvin Johnson works at the other end of the solar system, stripping every song, every moment, of all but its most forward-moving parts. For Johnson there is bass, there are drums, there is the black hole of his voice. In the lines that Johnson sings--the puns, the nonsense, the rhymes--nothing needs a reason, nothing needs to be explained. In the Halo Benders, these two worlds meet, held together by some unseen gravity--invisible, improbable, and infectious. Tilting between Martsch's schoolboy-sweet tenor and Johnson's basso profundo, The Rebels Not In strikes a precarious balance between retro goof-pop ("Devil City Destination," "Do That Thing") and the sentimental ("Lonesome Sundown," "Love Travels Faster") without watering down either impulse. Sparks fly, tears flow, all is well. --S. Duda
"If you like rock, buy it. If you like experimental indie pop, buy it. Brilliant album. Doug Martsch rocks. Calvin Johnson is the man. This album is so good I own two copies."
Fun, interesting, great!
chuck darwin | california | 11/23/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Each song on this album is consistently good especially virginia reel around the fountain and foggy bottom which rival don't touch my bikini as the band's biggest hit. You get doug martsch's always loveable boyish harmonies and calvin johnson's deep baritone all in one fantastic album, how can you go wrong? Though some have said they don't like calvin johnson's voice; it really doesn't bother me. In fact I find even a little comical and fun, but that's just me. All in all you will not be disappointed if you buy this album."
Halo Benders earn their wings on The Rebels Not In
chuck darwin | 06/04/1998
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This side project for Built to Spill's Doug Martsch and Beat Happening's Calvin Johnson, in the past, has been like most side projects: Good but don't quit your day job. On The Rebel's Not In, however, they finally release an album that can stand on its own merit. It is by far their best put together and sounding album. The songs seem less like their almost spoken-word earlier material and more like, well, songs. The odd pairing of Martsch and Johnson's voices achieve a kind of strangely appealing harmony. The dynamic duo are in no danger of ever waking to find this album in the Top 40, but it possesses a quirky sensibility that is, at the very least, unique."
Innie, outtie, i don't care
chuck darwin | 05/14/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Virginia Reel" alone thrills me, but then the rest of the album goes and blows my head apart: spacey atmospheres, exceptionally strong and imaginative playing, and that beautifully befuddling vocal pairing (johnson and martsch). i admit that i'm neither a Halo Benders nor Built to Spill maniac, but this record solidly thrusts me towards continued Martsch-ination. it's interesting, intelligent, intensely layered and SURPRISING rock & roll..."
Rate em higher
chuck darwin | 12/23/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"this is a good offer of catchy tunes sexy songs medium fidelique sounds and back bending rhythms. as the other person who reviewed this recording I like the harmony vocals. theyre not exactly sounding like csn&y, the byrds or grateful deads acoustic periods, but there's probably less booze & drugs involved (and also less violence than in the case of csn&y). I just love that album. if that's to weak yor you ha'dkorers out there check out "dub narcotics sound system""