asp's classic albums # 78: shellac - at action park
 

Derek's excellent thread is already here: http://www.sonicyouth.com/gossip/showthread.php?t=28536

But I simply could not not make this thread. I mean, it's my namesake.

Let's see... got this at a skate shop when I was, oh, 14 or 15. Only "indie" shit I'd heard was Pixies (yeah, I know they were on a somewhat major label but okay) and Pavement, but I knew of Big Black, decided to get it. Took it home and was like "What the fuck?" Not what I was expecting at all. Strangely minimal. Turning rock convention on its head. I liked a few songs, like Dog and Pony Show, but then became flat out addicted to the album. Crow is simply in my top 10 songs of all time. Essential. Funny, I remember almost buying Dirty instead of this, which would've been my first SY. Can you imagine? (I don't really dig that album) I think a lot of people overlook the "minimal rock power trio" tag of Shellac. These songs are literally built from just one or two riffs, sometimes repeated for forever, yet it's never boring. I'm not sure how they do it. I guess the bass juggernaut and the drum monster dominate this beast, but the weird, often angular guitar playing, with that insane tone, helps. Just perfect.

Oh, anyone else think the album title is a reference to Auteurs's "After Murder Park"?

Also, there are a lot of similarities between Crow and Uzeda's "Stomp" off of the amazing album DIFFERENT SECTION WIRES. It's seriously identical in places. Listen to the bass line, and the way the guitar counters the bass and drums. Lemme upload it to sendspace.

Always loved the print out for this, that little black and white drawing.

For some reason, at the time, I thought Shellac were Canadian. This was before I even heard the song Canada from Terraform.

Here's Uzeda's Stomp:
http://www.sendspace.com/file/g70lw7

You'll be blown away by how similiar it is. Obviously an homage.

This album's nearly perfect and yes, you're right about Crow.

Probably the best album Albini's ever made.

Probably one of the best albums anyone's ever made actually.

I think the magic comes from their ability to build and build tension, without actually speeding up or getting louder, just becuse of the sweet sweet riffs and heavy monster drums,.

Love love love that fucking record.

Shellac Are A Near Perfect Band.

Amazing record. Perfect sound. That grinding metallic tension. The throttled bulldozer destruction. The guitar sounds like it's peaking out and not really at all. And the bass sounds so crushed and mutilated. The drums are the only thing halfway normal, but they're so exact sounding. Yeah, incredible record.

Shellac have some of the most amazing riffs ever constructed on a guitar... but there albums aren't completely consistent. But still they've made some of the greatest records. Albini has some energy - his playing is completely honest.

I would agree with that.

I love this album. There really isn't a weak track. It's one of those rare records where I genuinely love each and every song thoughout the whole thing.

A Minute is my personal fav. The way the band locks down till they're all just pounding out that one single note is simply stellar.

I can't say this is the best thing Albini's ever done but yeah it pretty much rules, even if I like every Big Black album/song better.

This record sounds so wonderful production wise, but then again Albini is my favorite engineer and Weston isn't far behind.

Great record. Crow is my personal favorite.

~Jeremy~

I've always had a hard-on for Songs About Fucking but At Action Park always remains a strong second. Albini makes me smile.

wasnt it named after a theme park where lots of people got seriously injured?