Search - Walkabouts :: Setting the Woods

The "Blair Witch" of cd's

08/03/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Arguably one of the greatest records ever made by an American rock band, without a doubt one of the eeriest. Previous Walkabouts albums skirted around the dark twistedness of rural America but never dove into those murky waters they way they do here. Fire is the lyrical metaphor that recurs throughout the songs, from the purifying flames of the revenge drama "Firetrap," to the nuclear holocaust of "Hole in the Mountain." Musically, the work recalls powerful guitar jangle bands like True West and the Dream Syndicate, with organ adding an especially macabre touch throughout. Chris Eckman's allusive imagery is gripping from start to finish, from the last-chance desperation of "Good Luck Morning," to the rapt, Siouxsie-esque horror of "Nightdrive," to the touching, steel-guitar driven "Promised." This is one of those rare albums where there literally isn't one weak track. If "Twin Peaks," the novels of Russell Banks or the music of darkly literate bands like X ever struck you, you need to get this record."

This is a fantastic group

jcs@ga.unc.edu | Carrboro, NC USA | 08/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Hole in the Mountain" beats anything on Exile on Main Street. Holy moly does it cook! Please see my comments on New West Motel for my overall assessment of this great American band."

Great band delivers a great recording.

fluffy, the human being. | forest lake, mn | 02/24/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"i love the walkabouts entire discography, but this is one of my three favorites. intense, dramatic songs, driven by lots of pulsing forward driving rhythm. chris eckman and carla torgerson sing with power and passion, and eckman's great guitar playing is very prominently on display throughout this album. more rock and roll fireworks in general to be found here than on most of their other discs. a great place to start with this band if you have yet to hear them. if you are already a fan, you can't go wrong with this one."