Serious Psychedelia
Nathan B. Hyatt | San Francisco | 05/03/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is American Psych at its best performed by Japanese guitar-flame-throwers. The second track is quite possibly the heaviest piece of recorded music in existence, and is worth the price of admission alone. The opening track is pretty and quiet, and Mono tends to alternate between death-distortion and gorgeous clean tones. If you are at all interested in instrumental guitar heaviness combined with beautiful and heart-rending chord changes and balanced by quiet melancholia, then you can't go wrong with this album. Mono is the highlight of the current psych rock scene, and this album is a great place to start."
Best of the three
A. Byrne | seattle | 10/22/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"first time i ever heard mono, they opened for a band called the helio sequence. i was so blown away i ordered their first album, 'under the pipal tree'. i've got all three of their releases and this one is the best one. the guitar work is some of the best in rock music today, and i can't find another band that has an even remotely similar sound. the darker pieces are what maynard (of tool) wishes he could create. if you want some damn good mood music, these guys are it. if you want to impress your friends, these guys will do that for you. and if you ever see them live, bring earplugs, because it gets LOUD!"
Jiminy Christmas!!!
Daniel C. Mugruza | Miami, Florida USA | 06/27/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Who knew Japan had bands that blow most American Bands out of the water?(I did, haha) To put these guys in the same topic of conversation as mogwai is well deserved. Punishingly beautiful and melancholic melodies give an ambience of hope, despair, longing, and anger in any environment (not trying to sound cheesy but damn, that's what I feel when listening to this cd). The buildups in these songs require your undivided attention or else you'll miss out on a journey that only these Japanese geniuses can take you. Jump on the bandwagon now! This is extraordinary."