Wackiness.org Reviews Archive § Music

Okay, so this is Phil Elvrum's "concept album". He's off to astound us all with his conceptualizing, and stuff. Well, conceptual it may be, and a depart from past releases it may be, but it's also pretty unpleasant to listen to, and at times, actually irritating. Open on "The Sun", a seventeen-minute introduction with at least ten and a half unnecessary opening minutes, the first five of which are dedicated to a fade-in of the drum part. "Solar System" is the most recognizably Microphones song on the album, and sounds perhaps like a low point taken from The Glow, pt. 2. The first "The Universe" is a dull, plodding philosophical pondering on Elvrum's surroundings and life, interrupted by the Universe itself, maybe, asking "What do you want?" in a way that seems completely out of place. "Mount Eerie" opens to a ridiculous goofy hip-hop couple of minutes, fades to the sound of wind, fades to the sound of static. The second "The Universe" is probably the highlight of the album, for lack of anything in particular to complain about; the dissonant background vocals add a sort of an interesting sound to the song. I can respect that the Microphones have released decent albums in the past, and I can respect that they/he want/wants to try something new and different, but Mount Eerie's just not very good. Or maybe I just didn't get it.

Rating

39/100

Reviewer

Noah Jackson

Published

September 11, 2003