REVIEW OF THE FIRST NEGATIVE REACTION (NY/WV) ALBUM IN ALMOST TEN YEARS!!!!!!!!
(album design from By.Robin)
Oh snap. They've actually gotten better... how does a band manage that when they've been around for thirty years?!?? Maybe from living healthy and avoiding heroin? I don't know, just a theory... Anyhow, this album has broken new ground in the sludge genre, which only makes sense, considering they started it (if you take issue with that claim, take it up with Ken-E Bones... you'll regret you did!!!!). This isn't just well-written, though - it's also the best-produced album of theirs. And on top of that, it's the first self-produced album of theirs... Bones was behind the mixing board for this one and spent a lot of time on it... which shows. It's not muddy - you can hear everything. From the rattling distortion on the guitar that shows a slight influence from early IGGY & THE STOOGES to synth lines (a first for NEGATIVE), the return of the Native American flute, to a NEUROSIS influence on the songwriting (without being worship or a copy of them), there's a lot going on here that I like. And the fact that it's a concept album (as well as the sequel to "The Moon Song") about the Earth being destroyed by a comet (something that could very well happen some day) makes it an even more engaging listen. Btw I would be remiss to not mention the intentionally off-key solos on here (a first for the band!!), which are pretty sick. Ken-E "let loose his inner Randy Rhodes," that's for sure...
By the way, in the interest of full disclosure, Kenny and I are very close friends and talk on the phone multiple times a week. So take that for what it's worth. You all know my reputation by now. If I hadn't been spinning this countless times, I wouldn't be raving about it.
Buy it here:
https://negativereactionband.bandcamp.com/album/astrophilia
EDIT:
Posted on the NR facebook page regarding physical copies and merch:
We've received communications requesting the location of NR merch... here are the coordinates...
For physical copies (CDs/DVDs/Vinyl where available): Please PM
For music downloads: https://negativereactionband.bandcamp.com/
For Tshirts, clothing, stickers, bags, skateboards, tapestries, etc: https://robinwittydesigns.threadless.com/…/negative-reaction
If you're looking for something you don't see, please PM.
For physical copies (CDs/DVDs/Vinyl where available): Please PM
For music downloads: https://negativereactionband.bandcamp.com/
For Tshirts, clothing, stickers, bags, skateboards, tapestries, etc: https://robinwittydesigns.threadless.com/…/negative-reaction
If you're looking for something you don't see, please PM.
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