The long and droning road that leads the listener through Chokebore's second full-length effort is not a path easily traveled. While their debut, Motionless, was taut with Pixies-like explosive tension that always kept the... more » listener anticipating all manner of musical eruptions, Anything Near Water just seems to drag the listener around aimlessly. Individually the players perform well and great things always seem imminent, but ultimately they never materialize. --Adem Tepedelen« less
The long and droning road that leads the listener through Chokebore's second full-length effort is not a path easily traveled. While their debut, Motionless, was taut with Pixies-like explosive tension that always kept the listener anticipating all manner of musical eruptions, Anything Near Water just seems to drag the listener around aimlessly. Individually the players perform well and great things always seem imminent, but ultimately they never materialize. --Adem Tepedelen
"AS you can tell by scanning the other reviews of this band, Chokebore has a huge following in Europe. They've been relegated to the underground here in the States, not necessarily out of choice but mostly because their sound is uninviting and lacks the cliched mono-chorded hooks that permeate nearly every punk band doing covers of older tried-and-true classics. Exploring mostly off-key atmospheres layered in melancholy drones of angst, Chokebore spins songs the Pixies would make if the soundtrack engineer accidentally hit the 180-degree phase offset button. And that's a good thing. Stacking upon the negative aural nirvana is frontman Troy Bruno Balthazar's brooding voicebox, which infiltrates the ear canals with alternating marches of haze and delirium. This guy's a pessimist, but hope shows through when he lays down bombastic riffs and cuts with the Kroll brothers, who play bass and lead. Behind the drums is an ever-changing cast that compliment the fuzz and drone with simplistic clarity and consistency. Dale Crover won't be doing any Chokebore sidework anytime soon.I like turning the lights out and reminiscing about scorned women and effervescent relationships. For such occasions, the music is like anchovies on a Caesar salad: not pleasant to hear at first, but once you try it you find out it's not that bad. May take a few tries at first, but it seeps and creeps up on you."
Waouh Chokebore
Patrick Leal | 10/29/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Troy est divin. Il n'y a rien à rajouter"
Une musique pure
Patrick Leal | 09/22/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Depuis le temps que j'attendais une musique comme celle de Chokebore. Cette voix est unique, elle coule sur une mélodie qui la souligne de grincements amers. L'album Anything near water porte si bien son nom..."
A Band addicted to music; Troy's unreal voice;chords never b
Patrick Leal | 01/05/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"When I saw Chokebore for the first time in Oakland California on Dec. 31st 1993 with Nirvana, I knew they were a talented band. Anything Near Water is a record that needs to be listened to in moods, in listening you are attempting to grasp a speed user's lyrical twists on top of foot pedaled perfection. Troy's life is music, I know this through the numerous letters we have written to one another. Tool fans appreciate Chokebore's front man for depth and surrealism. John (Lead Guitar) plays off of the rythem laid down by Bassist James so well, you would think the two were brothers and played their whole lives together. They are; and they did. The bands third drummer hits very hard, and I have seen the band with him on the sticks and he's good. The band is huge in Europe; maybe because Europeans seem to understand the depressed voice absorbed with angst. Kurt Cobain was known to where Chokebore shirts around town, and I think Kurt knew what music was supposed to sound like. Thanks for your time, and order the (now) four full length releases by Chokebore (3 in U.S.). LATe---------DAVE"