Search - Lungfish :: Rainbows From Atoms

Classic lungfish...

Matthew W. Mauldin | cumming, ga United States | 12/03/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this 1993 release is the classic lungfish album. if you're not familiar with the band's sound, it's a very cryptic and hypnotic, yet melodic and simple band backing very existential and spiritial poetry sung by the enigmatic poet, daniel higgs.



this album finds them at a crossroads where they combined the raw punk energy of their very early work with simplified hypnotic songs that would come later. songs like 'abraham lincoln', 'mother made me', and 'seek sound shelter' are built around the guitar of asa osbourne ringing out beautiful melodies, and john chriest's pulsating bass. they perfectly compliment the dark, yet spiritual poetry and deeply affecting voice of higgs.



the lyrics here are the most spiritual and cohesive of any of their albums. with higgs singing about god, creation, and nature in a way that is as disturbing as it is comforting. 'the creation story' is simply amazing. a quiet musical backdrop to an epic poem that sounds like the deepest voices of your subconcious speaking to you.



this is punk rock in it's highest state of evolution. as worthy of the acclaim of any of it's dischord records counterparts, i can't fairly describe this album and what it means to me."

These are secrets the world sung to me, truer than the truth

Katy M. Sundberg | Cedar Rapids, IA USA | 03/10/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you don't own any Lungfish albums and are looking to get into them, this is the CD to buy. It's the first Lungfish album I bought, and it is still my favorite. I can't think of any band to compare them to, to give a potential buyer a better idea as to whether or not Lungfish is for them. The closest I can come to is if you like Fugazi, or Avail, you will like this. The singer/songwriter for Lungfish is Daniel Higgs, who has written two or three books of poetry, so if abstact lyrics aren't your thing, this probably isn't for you.



The slowest track is also the best track, and that's not something I usually say about any album. The track in question is 'Creation Story', which is spoken by Mr. Higgs, with some very simple and very beautiful music behind it. I agree with Mr. Mauldin's comment that Higgs' lyrics are hypnotic, more so on this song than any other. As fantastic as the lyrics are, this would still be a great song without them, Asa Osborne's guitar playing on this song is that good. 'Creation Story' is a great song to listen to when you've had a rough day and your nerves are shot.



Other high points are 'Fresh Air Cure', 'Axiomatic', and 'Seek Sound Shelter'. All of those are fast, energetic songs. Actually, aside from 'Creation Story', I would say the only slow songs are 'Mother Made Me' and 'Abraham Lincoln'. This is a solid album, all the tracks are good, making this one of those rare albums that I can put in and listen to straight through.



According to the Dischord Records website, this album is due to be remastered and re-released on CD anytime now. So if you can't find it here or on ebay, hang in there. Dischord also sells some of Mr. Higgs' poetry, I recommend 'The Book of Antennae'."