Search - Weird War :: Illuminated By the Light

Revolutionary!

alexander laurence | Los Angeles, CA | 05/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Weird War has always been an important band. They have also done records as Scene Creamers. A few of them were in the band The Makeup. They have explored soul and funk in the past. Weird War has always been more of a psychedelic funk band with political leanings. Lead singer Ian Svenonius was recently stopped by the FBI and asked about his plans to assassinate the president of the USA. Fashionista bass player Michelle Mae has always been a sidekick. The guitar playing of Alex Minoff has evolved over the years. On this album he is basically soloing the whole time. He refuses to play any bar chords and simple noted. On "Mental Poisoning" he is bending notes for four minutes. This sound is sheer Hendrix (see Electric Ladyland). The songs are brilliant as always. "Illuminated" and "Girls Like That" are catchy and memorable. I guess they have a regular drummer now. Sebastian Thomson used to be in Trans Am. This album seems to be inspired by the groovy sounds of 1970s. Weird War brought in some folky sounds too. They seem like they can do anything and it would be interesting. Even though Weird War have been one of those bands who have preached that a revolution starts on the dancefloor, the United States has become a worse place in their four years of existence. Hopefully their live shows this year will save this land?"

Illuminator

plasto-electric-symphony | Kalamazoo, MI | 10/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This one through me for a loop when I first heard it;

less dirty than the one before it ("If You Can't Beat 'Em, Bite 'Em")

and the songs more structured.

The record throws out some of the group's usual Eddy Hazel/Funkadelicamentalisms

for a Compass Point disco groove. But this isn't the disco of the

"post-punk" revival with all it's "skittery" half--*ssed wannabe Andy Gill/ Gang of Four

fractured non-sense guitar for the orthodox solo-hating "punks" (whatever that is at this point).

No, guitarist Alex MInoff is one of the best ax-guys laying around right now and he

writes infectious, pop-dance floor hooks that get tattooed into your brain.

Of course, bass player/guitarist/singer Michelle Mae is a force on this;

as with all these guys' albums, the record is a manifesto to movement, and

the bass runs are monoliths that shift one's bio-rhythms.

Drummer Sebastian Thomson is mixed up front on the whole record but particularly

for his --wait for it--roto tom fills on title track "Illuminated."

Singer Svenonius does a laid back post-Reed mutter vocal on some songs, the best of which are

"Why Do Guys Like Girls Like That," "Word On The Street," "See About Me," "Crystal Healing,"

"Put It In Your Pocket." An interesting departure for this band, after the sonic scrum of

their former album with 'AK-47,' 'if You Can't Beat Em Bite Em' and the spoken fuzz

Maoist biker anthem 'One By One.' Illuminated by The Light is a bold departure from Weird War's signature sound and a antidote to all the mere sonic texture that pass for songs these days.

and really fun and entertaining."

Put it in your pocket...

rebis | midwest | 03/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this album, reminds me of a the cramps only psychedelic instead of rockabilly...put down your emo records and buy some real music."