Search - Shipping News :: Three Four

Junkmedia Review - Three limited EPs compiled here

junkmedia | Los Angeles, CA | 02/21/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Shipping News have always been, in my mind, somewhat low on the totem pole of the Louisville/Chicago post-Slint crew, not so much for a lack of quality, but just for their status as "side project" for all three members of the band. Jeff Mueller (June of 44), Jason Noble (Rachel's), and Kyle Crabtree (Metroschifter, etc.) all had their main bands that were far more visible when Shipping News' first LP, Save Everything, came out in 1997. But then June of 44 dissolved in '99, Metroschifter faded in and out of focus, and Rachel's haven't released anything since '99 either. Now that Shipping News have released three-four, their second album since then, it isn't very fair to call the band a side project. Seeing As three-four is a compilation of sorts, made up mostly of three limited EPs that were released over the past year in which each of the three members contributed "solo" songs, it's a bit more scattered than their previous two releases. Jeff Mueller and Kyle Crabtree contribute four songs each, while Jason Noble dominates with six songs. It can be broken down like this: Mueller brings the quiet solo songs. Crabtree rocks it out the most like June of 44 or a younger, wilder Shipping News might have. Noble goes for the biggest adventure, though, bringing six very different and relatively unusual songs to the mix. "Paper Lanterns" and "We Start To Drift" both drone on hypnotically, with incredible restraint for a band known for building up to cathartic crashes. "You Can't Hide The Mark Inside" would do great as a sountrack to a nightmare involving bees, while "Variegated" soothes like something he might have written for the Rachel's, without the orchestra. Not to say the other two don't have their moments ("Haymaker," Crabtree's second contribution is a favorite on the CD, Mueller's "Everglade" work fantastically as an album-closer), but Jason Noble is King of the Mountain here. He's the one who really commands the listener's attention, throwing out surprises and keeping everyone engaged. The one thing that holds the whole record together stylistically, though, is that Shipping News play Very Serious Rock Music, much like Rachel's (sans "Rock") and June of 44 do/did. The music isn't dour or sad or angst-ridden, just Very Serious. No time for fun here, kids. These guys rock like painters poring over a canvas; somewhat transcendent, but mostly intense and overwrought. The packaging of three-four takes a step back with muted sepia tone photos of letterpress blocks, photos of scrawled notes on pieces of paper sewn together. It brings with it a feeling of "this is important, we used a dying craft to package our art, because its so precious and, did we mention, important?" that comes through very much in the music. Sonically, though, this record represents the most adventure I've heard yet from the Shipping News (well, Jason Noble), so as long as they (he) keep expanding like this, then I guess they can be as glum and arty as they want, if they really must. Martin Pavlinic
Junkmedia Review"

Intelligent and exciting music

junkmedia | 03/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is intelligent and exciting music from one of rock's great bands from the Louisville vanguard. The solo efforts work together surprisingly well, and make a wonderful follow up to their magnificent last CD, "Very soon and In Pleasant Company". In all, this experimental, yet accessible album is so far one of the best of 2003."