The Bad Side of the Moon
Silver Mt. Zion deliver a unconventional drivel on a lackluster album.
Silver Mt. Zion
13 Blues for Thirteen Moons
Released on Nov 30, -0001
When enjoying a new album the listener should never press the skip button in anger. The skip button is your enemy, but at times can become your best friend too. First impressions do matter, and my mood grew continually dim as 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons by Canadian group Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La-La Band trudged on and on and on.
Before the abuse begins I should preface that this "post-rock" album would have maintained some relevance if the songs were cut in half and produced as an E.P. Front man Efrim Manuck is the leader in this revolving menagerie which consists of a few folks from Godspeed! You Black Emperor. Like most people my understanding of the post-rock label is varied, so we'll just call it unconventional guitar-based instrumental experiments or UGIE's for short. UGIE, that's how Silver Mt. Zion makes me feel.
Efrim Manuck's vocal delivery is not unlike that of a maniacal cult leader who wears robes made of burlap and horse dung. The lyrics are a product of a three day meth binge and his bearded followers hang on every word, yet with a look of mild indifference. The album begins with twelve short tracks most likely composed with wines glasses filled with differing amounts of water. Actually quite pretty, and then the music begins.
Now I'm all for a good funeral dirge, but what follows would make any corpse happy to stay that way. Like each song, opening track "1,000,000 Died To Make This Sound" does feature some competent and thoughtful string arrangements courtesy of Godspeed! alum Sophie Trudeau. The closest 13 Blues For Thirteen Moons comes to an actual song is final cut "Blind Blind Blind." Manuck veers into drunken Tom Waits melodies while his voice actually complements the music.
If you're a fan of tripped out droney guitar bombast, invest in Kinski, The Warlocks, or Black Moth Super Rainbow. These bands won't anger your skipping digit I assure you. Silver Mt. Zion's 13 Blues For 13 Moons will find a home in someone's heart. That heart maybe into self-cutting or hard of hearing yet resolve in the fact that it really enjoys music that most people should be launched into space for making.
If you can turn someone on to this band you deserve a reward.
High Point
"Blind Blind Blind" is a surprising decent end to a dismal dirge.
Low Point
Efrim Manuck's contempt for his listeners.
Posted by Joe Roth on May 22, 2008 @ 12:00 am