90 DAY MEN

My story with this band began last year when a friend from school introduced me to them. Ok, I accepted and liked it, some days later I realized they were here in this site, under the Crossover genre, well, all is subjective and everyone have different opinions and labels, that is not really important actually. Thing is, that since then I had wanted to write some of their music. This time I am reviewing their 2002 released called "To everybody", which features six songs and a little less of forty minutes of music.

First song is called "I've got Designs on You", since the first seconds the sound of their raw guitars appear along with nice drums and strange, sometimes annoying voice. A minute later that voice turns really different, with a softer and friendlier sound, but later both voices unite and sound at the same time. Later the song keeps the same structure, but there are new elements such as piano and a different guitar sound, that help the song becoming better, despite being repetitive. I really like the drums; it is actually the first thing that caught my attention when I listened to 90 Day Men. This song is actually good, the final part is excellent.

Next track is the shortest one, entitled "Last Night a DJ Saved my Life". It starts with a soft piano sound, but seconds later the song turns faster. The mood is nervous but sweet at the same time, the vocals are nice this time, and that far keyboard sound that covers the atmosphere is great, the piano does not stop until the song finishes, nice one.

"Saint Theresa in Ecstasy" is a longer track that starts with an uneven atmosphere, some fading vocals, piano, drums and bass here and there, in moments sounds like a soft jam. Later the song acquires a true own sound like if they find what they were looking for. The piano is especially good here, the fact of sound repetitive actually helps it, because once the song catch you, you will not escape until it's over. Again, the drums are excellent here, as well as the three final minutes.

"We Blame Chicago" starts with piano, but a few seconds later the other instruments gather and create a beautiful composition that is worth listening from beginning to end. This is a pure instrumental song that suggests why 90 Day Men are considered (by some people) as a prog rock band. I tend more to say they are a psych/alternative band, but in moments like this I have to re-think. The use of the piano, those raw guitars, some synth effects and the great drums, make this an excellent song.

"Alligator" is a nice, but not the best song. Again, piano opens the song and later guitars, bass and drums join. The atmosphere is very tranquil, the mood is friendly and charming, and the sound, including the vocals, suggests a moment of rest, peace and even reflection.

The album finishes with "A National Car Crash", which starts with drums but little by little a piano sound appears, the ambient is beautiful, and this is complemented seconds later when gentle guitars ala post rock join. The vocals also enter later but it is not something that really caught my attention, it is almost spoken word. What really makes the song, is the amazing use of piano, which leads the song to a very different place, it is completely different the sound of this track with, and without piano.

To be honest, now that I wrote this review I see that I have not really being negative about it, I just pointed out a couple of things I don't like, but overall, I always enjoy listening to this album, which shows a much more mature face of this band. I thought that three stars would be accurate, but now I really want to give it four, in spite of the fact that I do not consider anyone could enjoy this music, but well, you could at least try.

Enjoy it!

A school friend introduced me last year to 90 Day Men, he said they had great sound and interesting compositions, so I accepted that recommendation and looked for some music. They are a band from the USA (Chicago, more specific) which started playing together in the mid nineties, and in 1998 they released their first album. Their second one was entitled "(It (is) it)" and released in 2000, including 8 songs and a total time of 45 minutes.

My first impression with this band was actually that they are not really a prog rock one, but a psychedelic/alternative one with some prog hints. They are also considered as a math rock band in some places, I agree just in a couple of songs. I actually was surprised when I saw this band were in ProgArchives database.

The first song is "Dialed in", an interesting raw and kind of psychedelic guitar, making an acid sound in some ways and an aggressive one in others. The vocals are not the best here; they remind me a bit to Thom Yorke but of course not at the same level. The sound is very interesting, those guitars and the constant drumming gives a fresh sound.

With "Missouri Kids Cuss" you will listen to a pretty similar song than the previous one, actually you may think it is still the first song, but no, it is a new one. The guitars produce an acid but interesting sound, sometimes heavier and sometimes softer, but always creating a moment of expectation, which ends when the song explodes before minute 3.

"From One Primadonna to Another" starts very psychedelic due to the guitars and drums sound, then make a short stop and vocals appear, those vocals are pretty werid ala Yorke but in moments with a more intense sound. This is a short song which seems to be simple but the guitar work is excellent.

"Summer Illuminary" is their ten-minute epic, a trip which starts slowly with soft drums and a delicate guitar over there, the mood is kind of nervous and doubtful the different figures and little elements help the song being more interesting, despite the rhythm is practically the same all the time, but every second a new element adds its grain of sound, I have to say that I would have preferred this as a complete instrumental song because when vocals appear I think they mess up this trip.

"Hans Lucas" is the shortest track, I would describe this as an introduction of 90 Day Men's music, weird sounds and some strange vocals, I believe bands like Pixies or Sonic Youth were an influence for them.

Next one is more interesting "Exploration vs Solution, baby" which actually follows the same psychedelic path with those drums and guitars; here the bass sound is also very interesting. It is repetitive but addictive in general, the sound is not that gentle, not easy to listen and dig but if you can do it then you will enjoy it, if not, you will feel annoyed.

"Sort of a Country in Love" continues the previous song, though it changes and slows down a little bit later, creating a dark mood in moments. There are some spoken words, and some gentle sounds later because I believe there is a piano which adds a new atmosphere and background to this song, after minute 3 it changes a little bit and takes a new direction, it reminds me sometimes to Bark Psychosis or Do May Say Think, so that math/post rock reference can be listened here.

"Jupiter and Io" the last song of this record, and returns to that raw and aggressive sound, the guitars are what gives an own style to this band, at least in this album. This is not the best song to finish this album in my opinion, but it shows another face of the band.

Nice album, not memorable but the music can be really interesting in moments, enjoyable and intriguing, but far from being wonderful. My final grade will be 3 stars.

Enjoy it!

That’s not to say there aren’t some notable moments, just not enough of them to make this very meaningful (or even interesting) music. The mildly Bowiesque vocals on “Silver and Snow” are decent, and the awkward guitar on that track is actually kind of catchy after several listens. The atonal chords on “Chronological Disorder” are a bit seductive in a slow-motion car wreck kind of way. The vocals on that one sound eerily close to a guy named Ronn Goedert from the band White Witch back in the seventies (remember “Class of 2000”)? And the piano is very good throughout, especially on the opening track “Even Time Ghost Can't Stop Wag” – great title, by the way.

But all in all this is more of an exercise in clever tempo sequences and erratic guitar progressions that wander more than progress, really. I’m underwhelmed. I’m sure fans of the band find them irresistible and all, but I can’t imagine a neophyte listening to this and being instantly won over. I read a couple reviews that compare them to Slint, and I see some resemblances, mostly in the vocals on the latter tracks and the odd timing, but that’s about it. These guys are a lot more mellow for sure.

So by definition this seems to be a fans-only album, which means two stars. Oh well, at least my kid spent his money instead of mine.

peace