Starsandsons

Editorial Reviews
CMJ
Despite the fact that the shoegazer craze of the early '90s was the center of many college playlists, its musical influence is hardly heard in the current music scene (unlike the lingering effects of "the year that punk broke," for instance).

Toronto Sun

Over the course of a 30-minute chat, the members of the Toronto dream-rock collective might sing the virtues of Brian Eno, Brian Wilson, My Bloody Valentine, Kraftwerk, The 13th Floor Elevators, Burt Bacharach, The Velvet Underground, Joy Division, The Beatles, Pere Ubu, and Sun Ra, just for a start.

Album Description
If the precedent was set by their debut CD "Places You Call Home" then that should be no trouble at all. With "Starsandsons" their new CD, Mean Red Spiders continue in the tradition of intricate melodies, details, loops and oscillations that inspired one reviewer to quip, "the Spiders allow you to easily close your eyes and watch the colors crash and smash in a crystalline delight." The band, led by the strong, swirly vocals of bassist Lisa Nighswander, bring to the album their considerable talents for forcing opposites together into the same space. Simple melodies are immersed in complex textures to create dreamy, spacious music with an urgent chaotic drive.

Starsandsons

Average customer rating:

Unfair to refer to shoegazers but...

Starsandsons
Mean Red Spiders
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00004Z20Q
Release Date: 2000-07-01

Tracks:

Compromise
PL-
Red/Blue
Left
Glass
Secret
Yes, I Call
Grace
Never Heard of You
Azimuth of Panama

Album Description

If the precedent was set by their debut CD "Places You Call Home" then that should be no trouble at all. With "Starsandsons" their new CD, Mean Red Spiders continue in the tradition of intricate melodies, details, loops and oscillations that inspired one reviewer to quip, "the Spiders allow you to easily close your eyes and watch the colors crash and smash in a crystalline delight." The band, led by the strong, swirly vocals of bassist Lisa Nighswander, bring to the album their considerable talents for forcing opposites together into the same space. Simple melodies are immersed in complex textures to create dreamy, spacious music with an urgent chaotic drive.

Customer Reviews:

Unfair to refer to shoegazers but..........2000-09-21

This is the best album of chaotic, tuneful, creative music made since Lush, My Bloody Valentine and others hung up their collective guitars. I really hate to refer to other bands like that, but there are striking similarities. Hopefully the band realizes the comparisons are done as praise. It's also important to note that the music doesn't sound dated or tied to the era of those bands.

The band lives and dies by the more layered and dramatic they can make the songs. They have a talent for putting guitar on top of guitar on top of the rhythms and then knowing just when to pull back. Give major credit to drummer Adam Rosen for what must have been physically punishing performances in the studio - the drums never lose out to the guitars in the mix. On top of it all, vocalist Lisa Nighswander's voice stays just barely above it all - lilt intact. At times she's the anchor, tethering "Grace" and "Secret" as they climb higher and higher, at times she leads the attack, coaxing the swirling attack of "Compromise." When the songs wash out and fade, there's a rare sense that it all meshed perfectly. That's a rare and welcome feeling.

Mean Red Spiders
Average customer rating:
Mean Red Spiders
Starsandsons
Manufacturer: independent
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000LXEKK2