Contemplating the Engine Room [Enhanced]

Amazon.com
On former Minutemen and Firehose bassist Mike Watt's second "solo" outing (he's joined by guitarist Nil Cline and drummer Stephen Hedges), the idea of a punk-rock opera (his words) or concept album (critic's term) doesn't seem so outrageous. Paying homage to his dad's life on the San Pedro, California, waterfront and to the late D. Boon, the now quasi-mythic Minutemen singer-guitarist, Watt covers as much musical ground as he does personal history. Solid tracks such as "Black Gang Coffee" and "The Blue Jackets Manual" are fine nods to the playful punk punch of the Minutemen, and chiming guitars with a sea-shanty feel permeate "In the Engine Room." A churning psychedelic energy drives "Liberty Calls," while "Breaking the Choke Hold" serves as a contemplative and sad farewell. A pleasant, intimate listening experience, all told. --Lorry Fleming

Contemplating the Engine Room,Mike Watt,Sony,Alternative Pop/Rock,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Contemplating the Engine Room [Enhanced]

Average customer rating: Three different journeys at once Unexpectedly charming set the space for an explorative course Get Yer Fix This is Something Else!

Contemplating the Engine Room Mike Watt Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | American Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Secondman's Middle Stand Ball-Hog or Tugboat? Flyin' the Flannel Double Nickels on the Dime Mr. Machinery Operator ASIN: B000002BY8 Release Date: 1997-10-07

Tracks:

1. In The Engine Room
2. Red Bluff
3. The Bluejackets' Manual
4. Pedro Bound!
5. The Boilerman
6. Black Gang Coffee
7. Topsiders
8. No One Says Old Man (To The Old Man)
9. Fireman Hurley
10. Liberty Calls!
11. In The Bunk Room/Navy Wife
12. Crossing The Equator
13. Breaking The Choke Hold
14. Wrapped Around The Screw
15. Shore Duty
16. Non-Audio Content

Amazon.com

On former Minutemen and Firehose bassist Mike Watt's second "solo" outing (he's joined by guitarist Nil Cline and drummer Stephen Hedges), the idea of a punk-rock opera (his words) or concept album (critic's term) doesn't seem so outrageous. Paying homage to his dad's life on the San Pedro, California, waterfront and to the late D. Boon, the now quasi-mythic Minutemen singer-guitarist, Watt covers as much musical ground as he does personal history. Solid tracks such as "Black Gang Coffee" and "The Blue Jackets Manual" are fine nods to the playful punk punch of the Minutemen, and chiming guitars with a sea-shanty feel permeate "In the Engine Room." A churning psychedelic energy drives "Liberty Calls," while "Breaking the Choke Hold" serves as a contemplative and sad farewell. A pleasant, intimate listening experience, all told. --Lorry Fleming

Customer Reviews:

Three different journeys at once.......2006-11-03

This is an album worth getting to know. Pieces will stick in your head after a few listens. This trio playing on the album really make interesting use of space and texture while backing up Mike Watt's surreal, yet heartfelt story-telling. Nels Cline's guitar-playing adds a fervor to the rhythm skeletons who sway and dance from song to song. The percussion is full of dramatic nuances and emulations of ship sounds and other bells and whistles. Very solid. This all adds up to a theme, and a very interesting one indeed. Listen for the subtle musical references from old Minutemen (Watt's initial band) songs and riffs. Characters from that era are referenced from that era, as well: particularly the great D. Boon. Give this one a chance and enjoy!

Unexpectedly charming.......2003-03-02

This album caught me by surprise with its charm. The songs are short and interesting (Nels Cline is a surperbly original guitarist), and the personal nature of the songs is compelling. The album sounds quite a bit like a Minuteman album - the production is simple & effective, and the guitar playing is inventive. Some of the more experimental songs work very well, though I deduct one star because the last couple of songs are not compelling at all.

set the space for an explorative course.......2002-02-14

An album of shifting depths, not unlike the waters of this nautical-themed offering from Mike Watt--Contemplating the Engine Room. given as I've had more time than usual to whirl this disk, I've been given the allowance to hear its musical definition. Along with Watt's gruff yet emotive delivery there are personal (That's Watt's father on the cover) and instructive naval motifs. Songs like The Boiler Man, In The engine Room, Black Gang Coffee, No One Says Old Man (To the Old Man), Red Bluff, and Pedro Bound particularly set the space for an explorative course.
Watt handles thump staff and spiel as well, Nels Cline is on guitars and Stephen Hodges plays drums. They create a roving, discursive sound that achieves a definitive atmosphere. Like waves, their sound washes around you in different ways each time. A stellar album.

Get Yer Fix.......2001-04-10

As a Minutemen/fIREHOSE/Mike Watt junky, this review is probably long over due. I really want to give it 4 1/2 stars, but more on that in a second.

So, what is this album? A tribute to certain influences that have made a great muscians life. Namely, his father, D. Boon and the weird little hamlet of San Pedro, California. With a much belated nod to the great George Hurely. It is also a punk-rock opera with Nels and Steve Hodges providing very inspired music to Watt's bi-polar bass lines.

Musicly, it covers a large spectrum. The Blue Jackets Manual is a powerful ode to his father's days in the Navy. Crazy thumping bass that sometimes chirps as well as beautiful guitar work by the abovementioned Nels Cline. Then you get something like No One Says Old Man (To The Old Man) which is as mellow as anything and seems to hint a little bit at Watt's Masonic connections (I don't know either, but it comes up from time to time in his songs. See Mr. Machinery Operator). My favorite has to be Liberty Calls! which is just as manic and brilliant as anything Watt has done. Fireman Hurely is a cool tune, too. Especially if you are a fan of Georgies.

This is a great album to put on at a reasonable volume and enjoy with a good red wine and a pack of cigarettes. Surprising, yet familiar all at once. Is it as flat out rock as Ball Hog or Tugboat? No, And cleary, I don't think Watt wanted it that way. Do some of the tunes go a little spacey and sound very Dos inflected? Yes, but, this is an album which is meant to be taken in its entirerty, not a song at a time. Enjoy!

This is Something Else!.......2001-03-09

I remember opening the door to a friend's house one night in '86 and staring at Fidel Castro on the porch. Fidel said, "Someone told us we might be able to crash here tonight." Well I knew this was MIke Watt because the Minutemen were in town opening for REM. We got the best show as they played most of the tunes from Double Nickles on the acoustic guitars hanging around. Mike and D fought over the twelve string. Anyway as much as I loved the Minutemen from records and numerous shows in DC, I somehow forgot about Mike Watt in the past decade (not much of a fIREHOSE fan). I came to this set via a NEls Cline discography. Nels is the great guitar player on this album (check out his Interstellar Space Revisited for the most amazing guitar work you ever heard).

The songs are extremely well written and played. At first I was a little put off by Watt's speech/singing but it really works well with the music and the concept.

Being a fan of avant garde jazz, I find most rock music to be pretty boring. Most is pretty poorly crafted, with rather bland arrangements and stupid lyrics. I hope to find more things of this quality but I seriously doubt I'll find much. This at least gives me some hope for the genre.

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