He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corners of Our Rooms

Editorial Reviews
Album Details
Band is Comprised of Members of Godspeed You Black Emperor. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corners of Our Rooms, Music, A Silver Mt. Zion, Instrumental Rock, Pop, Rock, Sadcore

Average customer rating:

Found an Easter Egg

The world's a mess, and so are we.

my favorite ASMZ

Ecstatic

!!!

He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corners of Our Rooms
A Silver Mt. Zion
Manufacturer: Constellation
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00004RGC8
Release Date: 2000-04-03

Tracks:

Broken Chord Can Sing a Little
Sit in the Middle of Three Galloping Dogs
Stumble Then Rise on Some Awkward Morning
Movie (Never Made)
13 Angles Standing Guard 'Round the Side of Your Bed
Long March Rocket or Doomed Airliner
Blown-Out Joy from Heaven's Mercied Hole
For Wanda

Album Details

Band is Comprised of Members of Godspeed You Black Emperor.

Customer Reviews:

Found an Easter Egg.......2007-04-18

On first listening to "Long March Rocket or Doomed Airliner", the 5 second track, I heard nothing and was like, "what's this all about?" So I turned up the volume on my speakers to full blast and replayed the track. The first 2 seconds sound like one of the 'moaning angels' from the previous track, then quickly fades into the sound of an airplane... weird. But pretty cool stuff.

As for the CD itself, I find parts of it enjoyable to listen to and the instruments well arranged, but didn't find it nearly as compelling as other reviewers. Maybe I'm not in the right mood, but I got bored a few times after listening to the same musical notes five minutes at a stretch. Perhaps it'll grow on me over time and catch me off guard one day. :P

The world's a mess, and so are we........2006-09-22

This is 'ASMZ''s debut album -- a despairing, fatalistic perspective of the world and all that's contained within it.

Rarely -- so rarely -- is music this day in age put out with the ambition of creating an all-encompassing 'experience'; music for the sake of communication, rather than some sort of self-gratifying manner of egocentric show. Here, rather, 'ASMZ''s selves are transporting the message, but our selves are participating equally. It's not an 'act'. And so, the information transferred within the first twenty minutes is as such -- in the bowels of this strange, detached world we somehow came to exist in (He didn't plan on telling us how or why!), a distinct concept appears and continues to be a vague theme of the album: the contrast of the scared, confused, alone Human (conscious of it or not) unable to have a choice in the matter of being swallowed hole by this infinite, ever-changing beast called reality. The album is so assaulting in portraying this predatory force (evolving technology, mental illness, social alienation, starving countries... simply mass suffering on a global scale -- very flexible with interpretation), it ends up establishing a heavy, repeatedly deterministic way of looking at things. Though we are at heart Loving creatures, placed here by the very hands of God, the end is ultimately coming about before our very eyes -- whether we're consciously aware of it or not -- and we have little else to do but endure it 'till the end. At least, that's what I get from an album like this. Whether they're getting at the nature of suffering at large, or perhaps specific Human cause/effects and their relations to the 'chaos' of the post-modern world, I think it matters a great deal not, for ultimately the concluding emotional response turns out to be the same. Though, I do beckon, without the subtext focusing on the various ways we have been mutilated for the worse as a collective, thus really giving way to a more personal and immediate feeling towards those existing with us currently, it would not have quite the same impact. And, you know, I believe this sort of black and white approach, and its tendency to convey such an impenetrable, undefeatable force conquering helpless, alone, confused individuals within Humanity, without regard to any real sentient concerns, is probably the most romantic way in portraying the album's ultimate redemptive quality. For, at the very heart of nature, we have such a theme anyway; we come, we go, with no say of our own. But, personally, I prefer to interpret the entire work as an ode to all of us facing the hardships of a changing, bewildering life where things once known are now disappearing into oblivion. Ethics, morals, technology, identity, nature of family. Things that weigh on the mind to a hugely diminishing effect, displaying their prowess quicker and quicker with time... And how the hell are we supposed to manage all of it? It's depressingly heavy material, with things both novel and deep in implication, but instead of being allowed to think about it, we're told to drink Coors, go to McD's, watch football and F*@# each other like rabbits.

Now, for anyone who proposes the idea that 'ASMZ' is a band of nothing but false pretense -- I proudly present '13 Angels Standing Guard 'Round the Side of Your Bed', the boldest, most moving piece the band has ever written, bringing to light the fact that all three of the albums following this one have been phenomenal -- it's got only the starkest competition. So, I'm entirely, 100% honest when I say this, guys:

....never, ever in my life, have I heard a piece of written music that so divinely captures the entity of Love with such heartbreaking magnificence. While I do believe the foreshadowing cloud of darkness the album maintains 'till the track's entrance provides for an even more affecting crescendo effect than what '13 Angels' provides on its own, it is completely possible, and more than likely 'probable', that one who finds the rest of the disc unappealing may still find themselves breaking down emotionally as it dives into the soul. It is the greatest musical embodiment of pure compassion I've ever had the most grateful pleasure of listening to. Why it works the way it does, I won't even attempt to try and rationalize, because it is not a piece of analytical concern, but of the heart's yearning. When I listen to it, I for the time being view every Human being I share this strange reality with in the most empathetic light achievable, guided by none but the heart. If I don't cry while I listen to it, I feel like I want to. Keep in mind, too -- I'm no crier. In fact, I'm often a crass, obnoxious piece of flesh to the adorning public -- but there's that part of me, that child buried within, who's heart is broken in however many ways, and '13 Angels' brings him out for momentary catharsis. The track is a meditation piece of the most sincere form imaginable, and in my case, it produces an overall effect that, no matter how many times I let it nurture me for but seven minutes, becomes a 'part' of my entire being -- a representation of me and my heart; the emotionally fragile, struggling being that I am, and that you are, too. It is, love.

my favorite ASMZ.......2006-03-07

This is ASMZ's first album, and in my opinion their best. It is the most like GY!BE, epecially with the strings and background voices and samples; most like "lift your skinny fists..." to be more specific. What I like alot about this album is what made it hard to get into when i first heard it, and that is the reoccurence of similar melodies. The whole album is like one long song that revisits certain parts. Even though most of their albums seem to be concept type albums, this ones music really reflects it. The vocals are alittle rough in the beginning, but they grow on the listener. But all in all i like the emphasis on the strings the most, which is also one of my favorite aspects of Godspeed. Never a dull moment with Efrim.

Ecstatic.......2006-02-02

This album is phenomenal. Musically trimmed down compared to Godspeed You Black Emperor. Some of the most beautiful music I've heard, haunting and bereft of hubris. I don't mind the vocals but the only part I don't care for is near the beginning with some of the sound effects or recording noises at the beginning of the album.
All in all, I'd consider it one of the best albums I currently have and recommend it to those who can sit down and allow themselves to truly listen to the piece. A piece which should be enjoyed in its entirety.

!!!.......2006-01-29

Eight tracks of pure genius.

While it's a little spooky at times, and mystic in some ways, I love sleeping to this album. It's reallllly good to listen to when I'm in a contemplative mood or just thinking. It's both chaotic and melodic, which normally wouldn't sound nice but this sounds amazing.

This isn't my favorite ASMZ album (Born Into Trouble As The Spark is), but it's definitely high in the ranks.

If you're thinking about not getting this album, I'd definitely think again. It's... uplifting, almost, as long as you're not depressed. Don't listen to this if you're depressed.

Music:

Music

music

Music

Lift off with Airport [Import]

Nikolaev: Fairy Tale "The Snake Princess"; Cat's Hut Suite; Tishchenko: Sonata No. 7

Roche: The Organ Guide

The Cross of Changes

State of Play [Import]

Shape

Science Series: Physics

Schubert: Syphonies 1 & 8

Stars Over Texas [CD-single]

Nuestra Historia

Shadows on the Sun

Piece Montee Des Grands Jours [Import]

Most Wanted: Dream & Trance [Import]

Bobby Short on the East Side/Moments Like This

L.D. 50