"At first listen, the incredibly jumpy mathematically arranged parts will annoy many. Furthermore, while there is an infinite amount of interesting melodies from song to song, they often break away into something completely different before basking in them for too long. In that sense, this album is extremely frustrating. But if they kept to one or two melodies per song, they wouldn't sound like Polvo---they would probably just sound like a really good Sonic Youth meets Dinosaur Jr. rip-off. That would be fine, but they decided to sound like themselves instead. It's also rather short, clocking in at about 41 minutes. So, this album is definitely not for everyone. For those who decide to step boldly into this release, what you get is a mixture of the screwed-up, the undeniably beautiful, the bizzaro insanity sticking out like a sore thumb; it all forms an abstract painting that is hard to understand at first, but slowly the meaning comes. Like one of the other reviewers said, it's hard to explain if you haven't heard. For those who like Thinking Fellers Union, Unwound, Sonic Youth, Slint, etc."
Where polvo discovered themselves
mark twain | the afterlife...it's beautiful here, tra la la la. | 02/19/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"this is my favorite polvo record or lp at least. it is by far the most raw (rawest? whatever) of their releases and it is where, i feel, their ideas really came alive. the production is quite good, though the play is sloppy (beautiful sloppy) and the changes are quick and patched together...certainly not for you jerks who need a dj to take twenty minutes to ease you into something different. absolute brilliance, though it might take some getting used to. a better recording than "can i ride" ep and "cor crane secret," polvo introduced many of their signatures on this record and really explored their dynamics making it possible from them to perfect the medium of the ep with "celebrate the new dark age" and "this eclipse". it is definately more "out there" than their other records but it is truly polvo at their best."
My favorite Polvo album
mark twain | 11/03/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Oh yeah, they're all at least pretty good if not better than that, but this one is insanely good. The sounds that are tortured out of the guitars, and the resulting way that it shapes particularly songs, is what sets this one apart. It's hard to describe it if you haven't yet heard it... so just get it already."
I like Polvo so this is hard to write
Stargrazer | deep in the heart of Michigan | 12/09/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I do feel this album is (like a previous reviewer wrote) a bit under-rehearsed. Still very good, but not the apex of Polvo that spoiled fans (like me) who've heard "Celebrate The New Dark Age" or "This Eclipse" have been conditioned to expect."
One of my favorite rock'n'roll albums of all time! :)
mark twain | 02/24/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"if you're getting bored with rock muzak, i seriously advise listening to this album; if you need to hear one polvo record, i'd reluctantly say that this is it, although they're all amazing (despite "cor-crane"'s relative normality and "shapes"' forays into ironi-wankrawk mode)..."