SILVER

After hearing the album "Conqueror" I went to the "Silver" EP, as it's generally one of their most acclaimed releases. But I was disappointed, not only it remains exactly the same sound and style as "Conqueror" as the music here seems to be much more uninspired.

The EP kicks in with "Silver", the beginning with some kind of classic instrumental (I would give it a shot but I don't want to miss the target), making a very beautiful melody, well at first I didn't like this song, but it has grown on me and it's really really beautiful, although the chorus ("silver is just another gold") always in repeat ends boring me a little. My big problem with "Silver" comes next, "Star", is the last thing you could expect from Jesu. It is a upbeat and happy song and is driven by the most annoying and off-place drum beat ever! The melodies are also uninteresting and the songs seems totally off of the context of the EP, or even of the context of the band...

"Wolves" is next and comes back to the traditional sound of the band, although even slower than usual, it's a very pretty and minimal song, not outstanding but very good. And finally "Dead Eyes", it's a mostly electronic closer to the EP, interesting but it never really caught me...

It's a good release, but it seems lacking inspiration and "Star" really ruins it for me, however, even being in the same vein of "Conqueror" it is much more varied than that one.

Progressive? Maybe, perhaps. Brilliant? Without a doubt. First let me adress this little issue, Jesu are not necesarily Prog and even I (a HUGE fan) am not sure that they belong on this website, they tend to fall more on the Shoegaze side of the spectrum rather than the Post/Prog side. Jesu are one of my all time favorite bands, and to me this is their definative work if this were not an exclusivly prog site I would not think twice to give this five stars, but this site constantly asks me not to hand out fives and I will comply. Now as for the music! I absolutely adore Jesus fuzzy distorted powerfull guitar, lumbering drums, crushing bass and evocative samples and on this EP they are at their best. Silver is a brilliant song it has perfect melody and warm fuzzy timbre that combines with the slow burning vocals and emotional lyrics to form my favorite all time feel good song. Whenever I am down and need a spritual uplifting track Silver is the song i reach for most often. I actually can not say enough good things about this song. Silver may be the weakest song on the EP, but even then it is still verry good. It is a little more upbeat wich gives it an almost post-hardcore or emo vibe but unlike most post-hardcore songs it has interesting insturmentation and great use of samples. The last two songs Wolves and Dead eyes really blend together to me forming a wonderfull suite of hypnotic fuzz and rythim that envelopes the listener and resonates with the mind. These two songs together put me in a mood that only the greates Post-Rock and Kraut can. The way in wich Jesu achieves this sensation is totally different though as they rely more on the counterpoint between the textures of synthetic laptop loops and the immediacy of fuzzy melting guitar riffs. These must be heard to be understood.

Again, I would give this five stars but in the realm of progressive rock I simply can not consider it essential.