Label: Beggars Too Pure
Released: May 18, 2004 |
|
|
| Difference Between Me & You Is That Im Not on Fire |  |
| > Mclusky |
by Chris Polansky |
“Sledge-hammers?” Check. “Power-drills?” Check. “Chisels?” Fuck yeah. On “The Difference Between Me And You Is That I’m Not On Fire,” Mclusky sound like they’re simultaneously playing and destroying their instruments. Guitars sound like they are dying, bass lines are low and distorted, and the drum kit is beaten to a bloody pulp. While my introduction to the band, 2002’s “Mclusky Do Dallas,” wasn’t exactly a “cuddle up with a loved one by the fire” affair, this time around Mclusky have taken things up a notch. While the Pixies and Nirvana were obvious influences on their older material, the destructiveness of bands like The Jesus Lizard and Shellac have now taken the forefront. This is not to say the album is without “tender” moments. “She Will Only Bring You Happiness” lets Mclusky’s more melodic tendencies shine through, leading up to a three-part harmony to the tune of, “Our old singer is a sex criminal.” “Forget About Him, I’m Mint” is another calmer tune that employs dueling trumpets played by the legendary Bob Weston. Mclusky also seem to be taking more risks and experimenting on a few tracks. On “Slay!” the sound fades into complete silence a few times before, well…slaying! A similar formula is repeated on the album’s closer, “Support Systems,” which is a difficult eight-minute mess of whispered vocals, near silent parts, and cacophony. Overall, “The Difference Between Me And You Is That I’m Not On Fire” is more clamorous and harsh than their past material, which is definitely not a bad thing. However, knowing that Mclusky can let their guard down and write a “pretty” tune, it would be nice to have a few more songs like “She Will Only Bring You Happiness,” per album. If not, I will gladly “crawl under a rock and get fucked.”
|
