Strung Out in Heaven

Amazon.com
The name "Brian Jonestown Massacre" may seem hokey, but it accurately sums up the band's aesthetic. Their key musical reference point is late Rolling Stones member Brian Jones, and their ramshackle, self-destructive vibe is all too reminiscent of Jim Jones, the Guyana cult overlord who killed himself and his congregation with poisoned vats of Kool-Aid. Strung Out in Heaven, the band's eighth release since 1995, is a retrodelic janglefest of Altamontian proportion. Blending the smarmy, drug-addled sonics of late-'60s Stones with the chime of the Byrds, the hooks of the Animals, and the monochromatic drone of Velvet Underground within their swirl of 12-string guitars, farfisa organs, and jaded vocals, Brian Jonestown Massacre cull some of the most head-spinning moments of '60s rock into a single, unified expression. But unified is the last word you'd use to describe their interband chemistry. Since they formed, they have been through nearly 60 members, and their live shows are as likely to end in a flurry of fists as a transcendent, stupefying jam. Savor them before they self-destruct. --Jon Wiederhorn

Strung Out in Heaven,The Brian Jonestown Massacre,Tvt,Garage Rock Revival,Indie Rock,Neo-Psychedelia,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock & Roll,Rock/Pop

Strung Out in Heaven

Average customer rating:

Ragged Glory
Strung Out and Timeless
A barely classic country-influenced indie rock album - you'll like it a lot!
Underrated On Amazon
Good, but they should have been resting...

Strung Out in Heaven
The Brian Jonestown Massacre
Manufacturer: Tvt
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
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ASIN: B000007O7I
Release Date: 1998-06-23

Tracks:

Going To Hell
Let's Pretend It's Summer
Wasting Away
Jennifer
Got My Eye On You
Nothing To Lose
Love
Maybe Tomorrow
Spun
I've Been Waiting
Dawn
Lantern
Wisdom

Amazon.com

The name "Brian Jonestown Massacre" may seem hokey, but it accurately sums up the band's aesthetic. Their key musical reference point is late Rolling Stones member Brian Jones, and their ramshackle, self-destructive vibe is all too reminiscent of Jim Jones, the Guyana cult overlord who killed himself and his congregation with poisoned vats of Kool-Aid. Strung Out in Heaven, the band's eighth release since 1995, is a retrodelic janglefest of Altamontian proportion. Blending the smarmy, drug-addled sonics of late-'60s Stones with the chime of the Byrds, the hooks of the Animals, and the monochromatic drone of Velvet Underground within their swirl of 12-string guitars, farfisa organs, and jaded vocals, Brian Jonestown Massacre cull some of the most head-spinning moments of '60s rock into a single, unified expression. But unified is the last word you'd use to describe their interband chemistry. Since they formed, they have been through nearly 60 members, and their live shows are as likely to end in a flurry of fists as a transcendent, stupefying jam. Savor them before they self-destruct. --Jon Wiederhorn

Customer Reviews:

Ragged Glory.......2007-06-26

Swirling together such influences as the Velvet Underground, the Rolling Stones, the Byrds, Bob Dylan, the Spacemen 3, the Monkees! and any number of groovy sixties garage bands with a pinch (lyrically) of Charlie Manson?!, "Strung Out In Heaven" is one of the Brian Jonestown Massacre's tastiest albums though not their best. Songs like "Going To Hell", "Let's Pretend It's Summer" and the country flavored "Wasting Away" are like diamonds in the rough. "Jennifer" and "Lantern" are particularly Byrds-jangly. "Got My Eye On You" and "Nothing To Lose" are pure Velvets. I love BJM but must admit that the album's charms weaken after the midway point. Maybe it's just the drugs...

Strung Out and Timeless.......2006-06-04

When I first listened to Strung Out in Heaven I liked it but I considered it my least favourite of the Brian Jonestown Albums. However over the years it has grown like some crazy forrest in my brain. It has the direction and coherence that some previous Brian Jonestown Massacre albums may have been missing. And it is a testament to the genius song writing that a catchy album like this can last. But these songs aren't just catchy pop songs, some of them are just down right beautiful. Yes beautiful, haunting calls through the halls of time.

A barely classic country-influenced indie rock album - you'll like it a lot!.......2006-01-07

The Brian Jonestown Massacre's "Strung Out In Heaven" is a classic, even if it (arguably) lacks the "wow" factor of a Radiohead or U2 album. It's just very well done. It's a great album to play in the background and also with high volume - it flows really well. Anton Newcombe's vocals aren't perfect, but they do fit the band's style well. Every track here is good, and there's even a good amount of great songs ("Going To Hell", "Wasting Away" and "Maybe Tomorrow" are some). It has a relatively good amount of appeal, though it's essentially just for indie rock fans. It also sounds a tad similar to The Verve. The instrumentation is great and the production is also crisp and clear most of the time. It sounds like country-influenced indie garage rock. What makes it "5" stars is that the lyrics are also incredibly interesting and catchy - this is definitely a bonus. It's just very pleasant - chances are you'll really like this album! Highly recommended!

Highlights include:
the entire album!

Underrated On Amazon.......2005-10-31

This record really steams, it's amazing. "jennifer" is worth the purchase price alone."got my eye on you" is outstanding. this anton character is an amazingly underrated song writer! matt hollywood and joel gion also rule my universe. and the guitar riff in "dawn" might be the best sound ever made in music. you judge for yourself but really, really love this record. now it's on to "take it from the man!"

Good, but they should have been resting..........2005-04-26

I think the BJM's music tends to be best experienced in layers, w/ repeated listens. After a few go-rounds I couldn't help thinking though that they sound a little tired on this one (not tired as in lame or unoriginal..just tired tired). But then again...I must not have been paying attention to the album title! Though it seems more like they're strung out in purgatory. One of the songs sounded like the same riff from "Not if You were the Last Dandy on Earth", but then the next time I heard it it sounded more like "Sister Ray" so I couldn't dock them any points for that. Its encouraging, that there's enough chaos in their sound-soup that new things happen when you are listening to something that is technically static. I had read later that this was their major label debut, or something to that effect, and I didn't feel like they had been particularly cheated by the industry with this disk. If you consider all of the strong albums they had released prior to this album, it is understandable that they might be a little played out by the time the industry finally took notice. With that said, it seems intriguing that they would release such a low-key album -- on their big chance, I don't detect a hint of strain in any of the songs. This may seem like a small point, but to my ears most rock bands over the last ten years or so sound like they do little else but strain. Then again maybe the BJM didn't have a choice...