Om
Pilgrimage
Southern Lord (2007)
Sleep was great. High on Fire is pretty good. But Om consistently impresses me, and seems to gain momentum with every album. Om seems to be getting closer than ever to carving out its own unique corner in the psychedelic genre that I could simply call "zen doom." These days "hypnotic" is a much-overused word in review writing, especially since it's such a subjective idea anyway. But albums do come along that really are hypnotic, like Om's Pilgrimage, so I have to say it. This is album is beyond hypnotic, it's trance-inducing. Al Cisnero's droning but melodic bass playing and mantras that could be studied at a university-level combined with Chris Hakius' explosive drumming are a potent combination. Pilgrimage is a four-part epic that mentally takes me to a place few others albums could even attempt. "Pilgrimage" sets the tone for the album with ten minutes of chilled out drumming and absolutely sublime vocals. Instead of building tension in the way a post-rock album would, it relaxes and mentally prepares you for the onslaught to come. "Pilgrimage Reprise" wraps up the album in a similar fashion, easing you back into real life as the thirty-two-minute meditation nears its end. "Unitive … Read more
Just Surrender
We're in Like Sin
Broken English (2007)
Rob Gordon once said "The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes … Read more
Okkervil River
The Stage Names
Jagjaguwar (2007)
It's a rare commodity to find a record that just seems to get it right. I mean really get it. … Read more
Sons of Azrael
The Conjuration of Vengeance
Metal Blade (2007)
"Trail of Flesh," "Sweet Blasphemy," and "Scent of a Dead Whore". Sure, we all know these titles as classic children's … Read more
Cloak/Dagger
We Are
Jade Tree (2007)
Last year a band by the name of Cloak/Dagger released a 7" record. That record, Piñata, was easily one of … Read more
