Search - Shellac :: Excellent Italian Greyhound

7 years!

M. Beebe | Somerville, MA United States | 06/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Well not quite if you count the peel session recording from 2004, which includes some of the tracks on this album. Nevertheless though, this thing has been a long time coming. It definitely has been worth the wait. Shellac's characteristic sound is what you get here, and the lyrics and theme are at times droll (e.g. 'be prepared') but always interesting. The guitars and percussion are what draw you in though, and i don't really think this band has many peers in their level of coheseveness and energy. Of course, it goes without saying that their live show is good, however they rarely tour due to their day jobs as recording engineers etc., so if they come to your town you should go."

Excellent indeed

blind joe death | planetary surface | 09/16/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't write reviews any more, but decided to make an exception for 'Excellent Italian Greyhound' because a few reviewers decided to take a piss on Shellac. Granted, Shellac's sound hasn't changed all that much since 'At Action Park', but it's not like a fan could mistake one of their songs for another. And, anyways, where would you expect the men of Shellac to go? I'm sure the music they make interests and/or pushes them, otherwise I doubt they'd even bother being a band any more.. it's not like the only thing these guys have to do in life is make a rock record.



That said, the music of 'Excellent Italian Greyhound' is superior even to the name and artwork (which the diss reviewers seemed to like so much they failed to appreciate what's inside). "The End of Radio" is a perfect Shellac opener, and for me has the best lyrics to start off an album that I can think of (if we can ignore the initial fake mic check. Didn't Slint do that for real on 'Tweez' with Albini behind the boards?): over a can't-get-more-simple repeating riff, Steve begins "As we come to the close of our broadcast day/ this is my farewell transmission/ Signing off/ Mr. and Mrs. America/ all the ships at sea/ anyone within the sound of my voice/ I've got fifty-thousand watts of power/ I wanna ionize the air..." Who else could pull off (or even think of writing) the line "This microphone turns sound into electricity!"? In the end the song might be a little too long, but to tell you the truth it didn't drag at all when I was first playing the album.



I don't want to get into all the songs, but the first four tracks are very strong and were placed wisely. "Genuine Lulabelle" is a little bizarre but still makes for an interesting listen when in the right mood. That song leads into "Kittypants", perhaps the most musical/melodic thing Shellac has ever done. It is pleasant and lovely, which are strange words to use for a Shellac song, probably a reason it was left an instrumental piece (I mean, what could Albini or Weston sing that would not be totally wrong for the music? And plus it plain doesn't need vocals to soar into greatness). That tune, "Kittypants", kicks off the last four songs of the album, which are just a strong of an ending as the first four were a beginning. Of the last three tracks, the closer, "Spoke", is the one I want to specifically comment on. The first ten seconds of that song completely destroy every indie pop act of the 2000s, of course in the only possible way, by demonstrating what that kind of music would sound like if a REAL band cared to take on the task. And then after that brief destruction, the true song begins.. and from the sound of the music you would think that Big Black had returned after exchanging Roland for a 300-pound live drummer. And then the manic demented raving "singing" begins (it's more like "ranting", but I think rants have words and make some sense, so that's not right either). Shellac hasn't sounded so fun in a long time, if ever. It's a great end to what has to be one of 2007's best releases, and if it turns out to be Shellac's last song ever, there would be no better way to go out."

Worth the wait.

lux mccallister | 06/06/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Excellent Italian Greyhound" finds Ablini and co developing their signature sound even further. The album opens up with the eight and a half minute "End of Radio" which slowly but steadily builds up from just Steve and his guitar only to return to square one and build up all over again. And the intensity only lets up for the two minute instrumental "Kittypants" which is quite possibly the most melodic thing they've ever recorded. The album closes with the brilliant "Spoke", which finds Steve Albini and Bob Weston in a screaming match of sorts over a fast-paced drum beat courtesy of Todd Trainer.



If you're a fan of punk, indie, rock, or just music in general, do yourself a favor and pick this one up."