Search - These Arms Are Snakes :: Tail Swallower & Dove

This album is HOT.....

A. Stoltz | illlinois | 10/16/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"well, once again TAAS delivers the goods. they have yet to let me down with any of their albums. while they're all different they all keep the same element which makes the band signature sound while letting them experiment at the same time. this album is no exception.



their 5 song ep "this is meant to hurt you" totally blew me away when i first heard it. it was post hardcore at its best. then "oxeneers" bedazzled me too with the progression of their songwriting and for the experimenting they did on it. it was excellent post hardcore relying more heavily on electronics and ambience. then next, came the near-perfect, near-masterpiece "easter" album in 2006. in my eyes that album was near perfection and was definitely their best release yet.



i've been anticipating "tail swallower and dove" for almost this whole year, anxiously waiting to hear some new music from this talented, creative band. upon first listen of the new album, "woolen heirs" starts in and i'm already getting tingles and goosebumps. this was a good sign. the track is insanely catchy in a trance-like way that makes you move whether you want to or not. i mean, the groove is insanely bouncy, and then steve snere starts with his chanting/shouting vocals and the song became my favorite immediately. next, came "prince squid" which is another strong track with some excellent drumming and proficient time changes. then "red line season" came next (which i believe is the first single) and i thought it was pretty good but not as solid as the first two tracks, but great nonetheless. i kept on hearing a huge blood brothers influence on this song as well as track #9 "cavity carousel". both songs have high pitch shrieking that sounds like johnny whitney was providing vocals for the tracks. then came "lucifer", which finds TAAS in new ground. the track finds them relying heavily on synths and it reminds me of a chemical brothers song. then you have the epic, 7-minute "double ethric", which is the best song on the album. just like "drinking from the necks of loved ones", "crazy dirty woman train", and "gadget arms" from previous albums, this is the most memorable song on the album. it's breathtaking and it's has to be heard or experienced. my words won't do it justice. the rest of the album is solid as well except for "briggs". it's a great song but it seems like it drags on more than it needs to. still, a very strong cohesive album that is definitly heavier than "easter" and probably closest to sounding like their debut ep more than anything...but still sounding like nothing they've done before.



what else can i say? this band stuns me every time they release new music and i'm always more than satisfied. no current band out there today makes heavy, creative, well-thought music like this band does. this band is a rare breed in music. fans of the band don't need to hesitate one bit about buying the album. i guarantee you'll going to love it like i do. for those not to famaliar with their stuff, if you like heavy, abrasive, groove-heavy, haunting/ambient soundscrapes, and like older artistic/noise bands like sonic youth, fugazi, or at the drive-in.....you're going to love this band. also, i would think fans of the deftones would dig these guys too. incredibly talented and incredibly intelligent post hardcore music that should not be overlooked. these guys would be huge in an alternate universe.



definitely one of the top 10 of 2008.



thanks for reading.



"

Another triumph!

Not Your Concern | Best Coast | 10/13/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been listening to TAAS since their first EP and I've got all their subsequent releases (including the split EP they did with Harkonen --and looking forward to their Pelican collab). I will maintain that "Drinking From The Necks Of The Ones You Love" is one of the best songs ever recorded.



This one ranks up there near the top, it's a very solid album.



Oxeneers I felt was great, and a little better than Easter. So I was a little concerned about how they'd follow up. However Tail Swallower & Dove has matched Oxeneers in my book.



What strikes me is that TAAS can experiment without being experimental --they still have the foundation of traditional rock. But they aren't afraid to throw in some fancy percussion, keyboards or even voice synth.



Honestly, while a devout fan, I was a little afraid that this album would just be "more of the same". But like all good rock bands, I'm pleased that TAAS has given us the sound we're accustomed to while keeping things dynamic and interesting.



They're good live too, if you ever have a chance to see them.



(I saw them with Triclops! opening --I kind of wonder if those bands compared notes on voice synthesizers?)"

Awesome.

--b | LV | 01/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Albums like Torche's Meanderthal, Boris' "Smile" or Baroness' "Red Album" keep getting all of the press, but this is my choice for sludgie stoner badassery of the year. Comes on like vintage Fugazi early, then the keyboard burbles kick in at the end of Woolen Heirs and the album becomes something else entirely. I bought this on an impulse when I got the new Genghis Tron, but I've gotten more mileage out of TAAS. Highly recommended."