Pelican [EP]

Pelican [EP]

Track Listings

1. Pulse

2. Mammoth

3. Forecast for Today

4. Woods

Tracks:

Bliss In Concrete
City Of Echoes
Spaceship Broken-Parts Needed
Winds With Hands
Dead Between the Walls
Lost In the Headlights
Far From Fields
A Delicate Sense Of Balance

Album Description

the band that brought you australasia and the fire in our throats will beckon the thaw (decibel magazine's album of the year for 2005) returns with opus number three, a series of (r)evolutionary instrumental ruminations on touring and the homogenous effects of globalization. with shorter songs and expanded catchiness, city of echoes is pelican's "pop album," according to guitarist laurent schroeder-lebec, a deftly executed reminder that these dudes can do whatever they feel like and still make those hairs on the back of our necks stand up like tiny little boners. which is a-okay by us, because whenever lsl and fellow guitarist trevor de brauw join forces with the now-la-based herweg brothers--larry (drums) and bryan (bass)--to form the ultimate instrumental quadrangle, it's all shazzam! and the next thing you know, they're dropping so many suckas with all those sweet, victorious riffs that it begins to feel like chicago in july, when everybody's air-conditioners simultaneously shit the bed and the old folks start piling up like logs at the city morgue. when the heat wave passes and the humidity subsides, the pelican dudes stand on top of the proverbial heap, possibly hoisting a chalice of some type--maybe even a sword, but not in a manowar kind of way--as the reverberations from their own amplified gloriousness rain upon their heads (and all of our heads, really) like manna from heaven. amen.

Customer Reviews:

A Chandelier of Dreams and Sound.......2007-07-06

Anxiously awaiting this release was not without merit, because I know by now after Australasia and "Fire in our Throats..." that these guys don't deal out filler. With the varying differences in overall structure between the albums "Australasia" (released 2003) and "The Fire in our throats will beckon the thaw" (2005) I was very curious to see where exactly the new album "City of Echoes" would land.

Needless to say that they are heading much more into the ethereal and eclectic territory I found with the previous release, but are still able to retain some hard edges when it comes to great riffs throughout an album. If any song displays this nice mix, it is the first one titled "Bliss in Concrete" which, like many of the tracks on this album, is a bit shorter in length than some of the marathon tracks of the previous album. Despite shorter time within a track, these guys are still able to put a ton of structure in melody and varying time sequences throughout the song. For one song that clocks in less than six minutes, the first track has enough depth to it to be granted its own universe. For an instrumental album, Pelican does an excellent job of producing varying harmonies that are both uplifting and dark and come out with an overall solid song. When experiencing a Pelican album I think one thing that comes to mind is the word EFFORT. These guys are not just noodling around; they are creating some great instrument driven music.

The segments from the title track is no less powerful as "City of Echoes" is a song with some great driving guitars that is backed up by at times, a soulful and somber addition of ambience. If you are new to Pelican I would suggest starting out with Australasia, but if you like deep, instrumental rock/metal music that is minus the vocals then I doubt you will have any regrets if this album is your first listen of the band's music.

Within the tracks on this album there are some that stand out to me more than others, but overall I feel it is a complete album. There is enough art, texture and sonic soundscape here to chew on for quite some time...or at least until their next studio release, which again I will be anxiously waiting for.

Very Good, Just Different.......2007-06-27

Compared to their last LP, "The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw," City Of Echoes is a much safer release. Just looking at the track time and overall length of the album should lend some insight to this; the average track time of TFIOTWBTT was a whopping 8:20, whereas the average here is around 5:19 (admittedly, the latter's track count was greater by 1). The longest track in The Fire was over eleven minutes long, while Echoes longest, the title track, only measures in at 7. Also, City of Echoes is about 16 minutes shorter than TFIOTWBTT.

What this does to the sound is even more obvious; Echoes sounds much more organized and harmonic, even condensed when compared with TFIOTWBTT. Each song seems to sustain itself, though there is variation. For example, my personal favorite, track 3, begins with a simple, repeated piano note that in an almost symphonic progression is fleshed out into a full, more staggering chorus of guitar. The interesting aspect here is that it doesn't grow into a towering wave like, say "The Last Days of Winter" did on TFIOTWBTT, but has what you might consider checkpoints where the song grows. This could be anything from another guitar layer to a change in riffs. Either way the sound doesn't sneak up on you as it has on other releases, but rather jumps at you suddenly.

This album doesn't sound quite as epic; instead it sounds intelligent and meticulous, and I have to say that I grow more fond of its accessibility and forwardness with each listen. Perhaps you could slake it up to the band wanting a safer record as I already have, but the bottom line is that the music is still well executed and definitely exhibits movement and variation.

Personally, if I were to sum up the differences from previous releases I would have to say that structure has been emphasized in place of using space and tension. Not to say that these elements are entirely absent, they just aren't as dominant.

Either way, this is a very strong release with a satisfying albeit different sound. It may very well be that the band hoped to add some shorter pieces to their catalogue. If you were a fan before, the best advice (as always) is to listen to the album a couple times and personally decide about the differences.

Trimmed & Tight Pelican.......2007-06-19

"City of Echoes" is Pelican's third LP and continues the band's style of instrumental post-rock/metal. Gone are the drawn-out progressive pieces such as "March to the Sea" or "Nightendday" that took the listener on lengthened ten minute plus journeys. Instead "City of Echoes" delivers eight condensed and concise tracks, all roughly around the six-minute mark, and all keeping the themes and ideas trim and tight.

Obviously personal taste will have a major role in determining the result of this new direction. I can see it bringing in new fans due to accessibility, or perhaps reeling back old listeners who became bored with the old longer compositions. On the flipside I can also see it disappointing a portion of fans - those that liked the band's progressive approach. Initially I was quite firmly in the latter camp, irritated by my initial listens I thought Pelican had completely lost their song writing ability, as the album sounded like a confused mess of noise and heavy riffs. But it really did grow after a few more listens, and I began to pick out song structures that initially seemed scrambled.

I appreciate "City of Echoes" more by treating it as one large song, as this way I find it encompasses all of the old elements combined into a more dynamic and contrasting composotion - an aspect lacking in many of the individual compositions. This includes the rich and beautiful acoustic passages (represented by my favourite track on the album "Winds With Hands"), melancholy guitar motifs (evident throughout but most notably in the beautiful title track and "Far from Fields") and thundering riffs (something in plenty with the monstrous "Dead Between The Walls", and the fierce climax to the opener "Bliss In Concrete"). However, this seems slightly lacking as the older compositions would contrast dynamics more effectively and build up to climaxes in typical post-rock fashion, akin to Godspeed You! Black Emporer or Explosions In The Sky. With this new approach the elements are all there, but just divided and cut up into individual short songs.

This approach is certainly a risky development by the band, and is running the risk of the "hardcore" fans throwing the sold-out label at them. But, to Pelican's credit, I think they have done enough. "City of Echoes" is a detachment from the old progressive styling, and is not the ideal direction I personally want from them, but they retain enough of the old magic and formula for me to enjoy it, and give it a good rating.

not their best, but still great.......2007-06-13

Much more straight forward than 'the fire in our throats will beckon the thaw' much like Mogwai's Mr. Beast was. City of Echos has some of Pelican's best riffs on it, really a spectacle to behold. If you're a pelican fan you should already own this.

In terms of songs, this album has some really really good ones. Far from fields, Lost in the headlights truly are beautiful and spaceship broken- parts needed has the best ending to a song ever.

There are also definite lows to this album however which is why it's not my favorite. For starters it's much less progressive- which will probably appeal to most people but I felt it was one of the defining factors that made pelican so great. There are no epics on City of Echos, instead there are just really good solid riffs that change almost right after they start. Which leads me to my next point. many of the songs have almost a rushed feeling. In the sense that no riff/idea really stays around to long and isn't elaborated upon like in past releases. All of these songs in my opinion would've sounded much better if they had been longer and progressed upon more. No walls of sound like angel tears or march into the sea. I also really could have done without 'winds without hands' it seems that pelican has a tradition on each LP of having an acoustic track ( '-' on the fire in our throats and 'untitled' on australasia) which was a tradition I liked until now. winds without hands is just boring and could've done without it personally.

Overall though I like City of Echos just not the direction that pelican is deciding to take with their music. still a decent release, still recommended. 4 stars

Richly deserving of praise.......2007-06-09

This really is a great album. By the way, there are no vocals, in case you're new to Pelican. To me, that's a good thing: the truly beautiful guitar work can really shine without the distraction of forced lyrics or drug-induced ramblings.

Speaking of which, what's up with Amazon's Editorial review? Maybe I haven't listened to City of Echoes in the right *eh-hem* state yet, but I'm definitely not getting the whole pile-of-elderly-heat-stroke-victims vibe from it. Just sayin'.

Average customer rating:

Can't get that song out of my head...
More Like This, Please!
Lost Classic
Classic Pop Music!
Possibly the greatest New Wave album out there.

Pelican West...Plus
Haircut 100
Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

All the Rage
Beat This: The Best of the English Beat
The Lexicon Of Love
Look of Love: The Very Best of ABC
Special Beat Service

ASIN: B00005S84K
Release Date: 2002-03-18

Tracks:

Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)
Love Plus One
Lemon Firebrigade
Marine Boy
Milk Film
Kingsize (You're My Little Steam Whistle)
Fantastic Day
Baked Bean
Snow Girl
Love's Got Me In Triangles
Surprise Me Again
Calling Captain Autumn
Boat Party (B-Side Of Favourite Shirts)
Ski Club (B-Side Of Fantastic Day)
Nobody's Fool (12 Inch Version)
October Is Orange Day (B-Side Of Nobody's Fool)
Favourite Shirts (12 Inch Version)

Album Details

Reissued Edition of the Singing Prep Boys' First and Only Album. Includes the Hits 'love plus One', 'fantastic Day', 'favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)' and 'love's Got Me in Triangles'. The Five Extra Tracks Include 'boat Party', 'ski Club' , the Single 'nobody's Fool', the 12" Version of "Favourite Shirts" and More.

Customer Reviews:

Can't get that song out of my head..........2007-07-09

I've been trying to find this band for the longest time. I've heard the song "Love Plus One" several times, and could never figure out which band was behind it. But, no more am I lost! I have found the band behind the song and I'm happy to say that...I LOVE THIS BAND! I love all 80s music. However, I'd never heard of this band, and the songs on this disc just makes me happy. Their stuff is classic! :) The music is fun, funky, poppy and flavored with that '80s sound' galore. This album is definitely a must have for any 80s music buff!

More Like This, Please!.......2007-04-23

Haircut 100 utilized horns like nothing I've heard in pop music before or since, and they gave the world this unique and brassy record before their star set forever into obscurity.

Their only hit isn't a very good indicator of what the rest of 'Pelican West' is like; it's inescapably catchy but doesn't have the lavish horn-driven sound of the rest of the cuts. Not that I'm criticizing; if I were in a band I would want recognition and riches as well! It is unfortunate that so many misguided snobs equate 'Success' with 'Selling Out', and I would hate to be misunderstood to be saying that "Love Plus One' is inferior because it succeeded so well. Should you decide to purchase this CD, you will be delighted to discover that it is filler-free, original, and brimming with true creativity.

The wry humor doesn't hurt, either. "When will life become a major film?" When, indeed? If you missed this the first time around do yourself a favor and pick it up now.

Lost Classic.......2007-03-13

the first time i heard haircut 100 was in the summer of 1982.How laid back everything and everyone was in those days,and this album fit right in to that carefree attitude everyone seemed to have.You heard haircut 100 everywhere,on the beach,blasting out of car windows,blaring out of bars and nightclubs,everyone had this album.I will classify this album as pure escapism.When the world of today starts shattering your nerves,throw haircut 100s Pelican West in your car stereo roll down the windows,and let your cares fly right out the window,YOU WILL GET HOOKED!!!!!

Classic Pop Music!.......2007-01-15

This is the kind of album you listen to when you want a nice, friendly pick-me-up. It is infectious pop music at it's best. Even now, decades after it's release, it has a freshness that jumps out of your speakers. A classic for the ages!

Possibly the greatest New Wave album out there........2006-06-04

I'm a hardcore Duran Duran fan. I breathe Depeche mode. I can't last a day without listening to New Order's 'Technique'. So for an 80s fanatic like me to call Haircut 100's album 'Pelican West' the greatest New Wave album out there is quite bizzare. I guarantee you, my friend, give this album a listen and you won't soon forget Nick Heyward and Haircut 100.

The album (and the band) is known for two songs in particular; 'Favourite Shirts (Boy Meets Girl)' and 'Love Plus One'. But there's so much more to this album. The depth of this album is quite phenomenal, to say the least. The marimba on Love Plus one, the flawless arrangement on Lemon Firebrigade,and the electric piano in Marine Boy all add up to one beautiful soundscape the enters one ear and doesn't come out the other. No, it stays with you the whole rest of your life. Now, I'm not old enough to have been there when this band first came out. I'm not even old enough to have seen them break up! But I know good music. This whole album screams 'Beach Music'. Buy this album and please don't skip a track. You need to witness the journey fold out for yourself.

The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw

Average customer rating:

a beautiful soundscape
They don't reinvent the wheel, but they get it rolling again
Not quite as "epic" as they bring it out to be, but still a very good album.
There's a name for a band like this....
Don't see Pelican live....

The Fire in Our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw
Pelican
Manufacturer: Hydrahead Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

At the Soundless Dawn
Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun
Panopticon
Oceanic
In the Absence of Truth

ASIN: B0009SOFUE
Release Date: 2005-07-26

Tracks:

Last Day of Winter
Autumn into Summer
March to the Sea
Red Ran Amber
Aurora Borealis
Sirius

Album Description

With their newest epic, Pelican bring on new levels of complexities to their already distinctive auditory stamp. Acoustic guitars take their place beside the group's traditional (read: highly amplified) power-droning and awe-inspiring instrumental anthems. Whether this signals the end of the underground musical landscape as we know it, or the beginning of a new one is anyone's guess. Luckily, it rules either way. They've toured with Low, Tortoise, Isis, Mono, Cave In, Daughters, The Bronx, A.R.E., Weapons, US Maple, and more.

Customer Reviews:

a beautiful soundscape.......2007-03-02

From thundering avalanches of sound to soft, glistening melodies, Pelican's 'The fire in our throats will beckon the thaw' is a perfect, and very dynamic album.

Sure this is not as 'heavy' as previous releases.. but heavy is definately not what Pelican is all about. Pelican is about soundscapes.. and the soundscape painted with this release is a of grandoise scale. It seems to capture the ocean-like swelling sounds of newer Isis, but is less repetative and more entertaining.. even without vocals. Yes the repetition is still there, (as always will be with 'soundscapes') but there is more 'variety' to the repetition if you will. I know that doesnt make a whole lot of sense, but you have to listen to this masterpeice in order to understand. This is not only a very atmospheric piece, but it is also very cleverly crafted in the sense that nothing sounds out of place, overdone or overly accented.

An entrancing journey to say the least.

They don't reinvent the wheel, but they get it rolling again.......2007-02-20

You know whenever you hear a certain part of a song, that it just grabs you? I'm talking about a small instrumental piece that is often thrown in to submit a different mood or simply just add some diversity to the chorus and other familiar parts of the song. I've found it everywhere from Pearl Jam and Van Halen to going back to Thin Lizzy and Emerson, Lake and Palmer. It's sometimes when I hear these brief but impressionistic parts of a song that I wish I could find an entire album like that.

I've listened to some of Devin Townsend, but recently I ran across a band called "Pelican". I usually start at the beginning but in this case I picked up their latest release "The Fire in our throats will beckon the thaw". I wasn't sure what to expect at first, although electrifying and atmospheric rock/metal music that is void of a vocalist interested me enough to get it. Pelican plays atmospheric music that has various other styles incorporated into the fray. Think of it perhaps like Tangerine Dream meets Dream Theater, although I'm sure I'll get rotten fruit thrown at me for that one. The bottom line is, this isn't like a lot of instrumental bands I've heard in the past. Each song is unique in it's own right. We don't get overplayed overtures nor do we get a frenzied, energy drink fueled guitarist who is trying to impress us by screaming through the chromatic scale with a background of medieval wonder accompanying it. The CD is great whether you are kicking back or driving on a road trip somewhere.

Track Listing:

Last Day of Winter: Starts out with slow, carefully arranged guitar parts before getting into a groovier, albeit somewhat dark and heavy feel. When its not pouring out eclectic guitar sounds, its crashing at times with thunderous drums that wind down before launching into a nice, fast finish.

Autumn into Summer: The song starts out reminding this listener a lot of older Rush tunes, with an elegant and slow instrumental that has a lot of soul to it. Three minutes in, it speeds up and garners power as the guitars start taking on more life. The mood is timeless and the sounds expand into an ethereal world that just over four minutes becomes a crescendo as it waves upward before dropping down into a new chorus of riffs. Truly a fine track that has great changeups.

March into the Sea: This track has a lot more crunch and crash to it, offering a lot of high powered riffs and assaulting percussion that is less "progressive" in feel and perhaps more of an all out jam. At least that is what you think until you get over four minutes into this 11 minute epic. Soon you are totally gone from the high-speed riffage and the song takes on a more elegant, although still rocking appeal.

Pelican, or "*": My copy says the song is called Pelican, but after reading various sites and other people's comments to this, I'll leave it up in the air. Some are saying it's a hidden track since its not denoted in some parts. Regardless, this track clocks in less than five minutes but has unplugged tenacity that reminds me a lot of Nuno Bettencourt's earlier guitar work with Extreme. It's a nice "intermission" track no matter what the final title of it may be.

Red Rain Amber: Another song that stretches over 10 minutes in duration. RRA has a heavy bass line in the opening riff and is another that reaches high crescendos that have that uplifting feel to them later in the song. Great guitars again, with many memorable parts throughout.

Aurora Borealis: A song that is very atmospheric, but in a sense that it teases you with a lot of haunting, spread out tones before going into a slow, simple rhythm that reminds this listener of a couple different Pearl Jam tunes from back in the day. Almost a xylophone sounding chorus that is easy on the ears. Great track!

Sirius: Perhaps the most defiant song on the album, Sirius reminds me of the structures that ELP had back in the day with songs like "No fanfare for the common man". The guitars are simple but the tones they evoke are always different and lead up to some great thrashing thunder that is soon accompanied by even more differing guitar parts that only add to the pot.

A very impressive CD, if you are looking for rock/metal music that is creative as well as artistic in sound. If you like Soundtrack scores, Tangerine Dream, or any number of instrumental albums, you should give this one a try. The band mixes it up enough so that the listener is always experiencing something new, but never feeling lost. Instead of drowning in noodling experimentation, this CD gave me music I can enjoy, and enough of it that I am not hitting playback over a 20 second ditty like you may have found yourself doing on certain albums that had a particular part you really liked. Pelican didn't reinvent the wheel, but to a listener who enjoys this kind of music, they sure got it rolling again.

Not quite as "epic" as they bring it out to be, but still a very good album........2007-02-17

I'll admit, I was slightly disappointed with TFIOTWBTT after hearing Sirius. I expected a little more than what was there, but still, this is a great album.
It's not post-rock brilliance, but it's definitely worth a litsten if you're a fan of the genre.

There's a name for a band like this...........2006-07-13

Pelican is a band that I like to call Neur-isis, a mixture sound between Neurosis and Isis, although Pelican has no frontman and some people may find that dull and boring, I disagree heavily, with this album it is simply anything but that! With beautiful melodies, and heart-stopping riffs this is a must have album, one of my absolute favorites.

Just a few months ago I went to see them on tour with Deftones and they are even better live, my heart was in my throat! Awesome awesome awesome band!!

Don't see Pelican live...........2006-06-10

Because they are so amazing, I just saw them in Denver, they will just detract from how profoundly powerful this album is. This album is one of my top five from last year. You have to buy and listen to it very loud and preferrably with headphones. They are intricate and clever and if "Autumn into Summer" doesn't drive you crazy, in a good way, you're wrong and you don't deserve them. They remind me of so many other great bands that are avoiding lyrics and concentrating on their instrumentation. Only they are much heavier. If you like Mogwai, before they got mediocre; if you like Constellation Records' bands without any electronics and much fiercer; you will love this band. Oh, and if you do see them, don't say I didn't warn you.

Average customer rating:

A real headbanger
excelent
Beautifully heavy
Not worth the money
Modernmoshgazing (4/5)

Australasia
Pelican
Manufacturer: Hydrahead Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

At the Soundless Dawn
Oceanic
Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun
Panopticon
In the Absence of Truth

ASIN: B0000CFY9H
Release Date: 2003-11-04

Tracks:

Nightendday
Drought
Angel Tears
GW
Australasia

Customer Reviews:

A real headbanger.......2007-06-06

Pelican's Australasia is an experience worth going through. Fans of atmospheric metal and sludge will absolutely die for this album. Fans of ISIS will also like this band, though the presence of vocals might throw them off. There are rocking riffs, evil melodies, and a sense of impending doom that will swallow you up and not let you get out. Definitely one of the best instrumental albums I have ever heard.

excelent.......2006-11-02

Excellent Album. I'm a tough critic who only listens to good albums/cds and this one qualifies. i listen to tool, APC, radiohead, pantera, metallica, and german heavy metal. oh disregard what 'chet' said earlier about Don Cab.. i got some of their cds and was really disappointed.

Beautifully heavy.......2006-08-10

If Chris Cornell sang over these tracks, you'd swear it was Soundgarden.

Heavy, melodic, and definitely hypnotic.

Not worth the money.......2006-07-01

There is a reason why you cannot listen to any tracks on Amazon- you wouldn't buy if you could. I read a number of reviews and figured that it was worth a try given that Metallica was mentioned as being similar in some small way. This band is nothing even near Metallica. I have thrown the disk away- don't bother.

Modernmoshgazing (4/5).......2006-03-17

This year appears to be the time my body will make the sudden transformation from young to old. It's an event I was hoping would hold off for at least another few years, but I'm afraid my hope for a youthful and agile body has come to an end. Putting my clothes on in the morning is increasingly becoming a comedic experience, and I'm just referring to the actual physical ability to do it. Unlike the first thirty years of my life, balancing on one leg to put my pants on has now become something I actually have to concentrate on.

I know you could probably care less about my dressing habits, and you're more than likely asking yourself what relevance my ability to get dressed in the morning has to with Pelican. Actually, quite a bit, considering the fact that this music is about being young and full of vibrancy. I've written a ton of reviews for albums that reminded me of my adolescence, but they've all been related to the mental memories I had of that time. Pelican's new album, Australasia, on the other hand, is about the reminiscence of my physical body, the days of being able to mosh in a pit and bang my head like an idiot.

Pelican, a doom and gloom quartet from Chicago, take great pleasure in celebrating those days with their demonic compositions that only a sludgy guitar in dropped-D tuning can provide -- the type of music that only a young adrenaline-filled boy could truly understand. What makes this album different from other similar doom albums is that Australasia is frighteningly melodic, despite the thick layers of crunchy guitars. It brings to mind the epic qualities of Metallica's earlier days during Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets, but without lyrics or commercial potential. It even recalls the smoothness of someone like Centaur (who also happens to be from Illinois).

Australasia commences subtly with "Nightendday," which, in the beginning, could easily be labeled as a typical post-rock song, before forging ahead with ten minutes of heavy sludge that lurks behind. "Drought," the succeeding song, delves even further into the pits of doom with guitars so thick and heavy you can practically feel them in your teeth. If you've ever known someone who was in to death metal, this is the album that would epitomize their idea of what music should sound like.

Australasia can ultimately be summed up by the song "Drought." Like most of the album, "Drought" clocks in at a lengthy eight minutes (some are even longer), which is admittedly quite a bit of time to listen to music this decadent. However, the beauty here is that while it may be a lot to listen to at times, the album goes by pretty quick and fulfills everything it needs to. The thing that seems to be missing, however, is a sense of visual elements. Australasia has been put together very well, and as I said, is incredible for what it is. My only hope was that it would have saved some room for various cinematic sounds to push it to an even darker, albeit evil, universe. Perhaps next time?

Average customer rating:

I needed this.
Harsh Instrumental Metal
If Conan the barbarian had a soundtrack...
i cant wait to hear what they sound like when they're not practicing
4.5 stars

Pelican
Pelican
Manufacturer: Hydrahead Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Hard Rock & Metal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

At the Soundless Dawn
Oceanic
The Red Sea
Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun
Panopticon

ASIN: B00008DCT1
Release Date: 2003-02-25

Tracks:

Pulse
Mammoth
Forecast for Today
The Woods

Customer Reviews:

I needed this........2007-04-06

I am not a real "metal" fan, but some of the bands I listen to are classified as such, like Opeth, Tool and The Melvins. However, I don't feel that one needs to be a metal fan to appreciate the sonic devastation which Pelican provides.

This is the first of Pelican I have bought, though I did listen to the streaming version of "The Fire in our Throats Will Beckon the Thaw" from Pelican's website (which impressed me with its different tones/shades and moods). This 20-something minute EP is extremely refreshing in my ear because it is exemplary of TRUE HEAVINESS.

I honestly do not believe that there exist many "metal" bands (or any variation thereof) that understand the primal simplicity of what drives a song to be felt and considered as heavy. This is not something native to heavy metal or any form of classic hard rock (including The Who and Led Zeppelin). This kind of HEAVINESS defies genre and permeates the boundaries of classification.

Beethoven understood heaviness.

Pelican understands heaviness.

Every time I play "Mammoth" in my car, I can't help but glance towards the mountains in fear of beholding an actual mammoth tramping its way through the meagre establishments of humanity.

What I am about to say is probably pretentious since I know next to nothing about present-day metal, and, for all I know Pelican's sound is easily beaten by several other bands, but here goes nonetheless:

In the storm of HEAVINESS, bands like Slayer and Megadeth form the lightning, the strike. Pelican is the thunder, bellowing patiently.

Harsh Instrumental Metal.......2006-02-24

Really, this album isn't much else than raw and harsh instrumental metal. Yet I find myself so compelled to it. As other reviewers have repeatedly stated, it's heavy. Lord is it heavy. Not heavy in the sense of crazy blastbeat drumming and super speedy guitar licks, its just loud, droning 'walls of sound', created by the monumental guitars.

In relation to other more recent Pelican releases, this album is a lot heavier and far less ambitious. You wont find the gorgeous acoustic passages found on the latest (and might I add superb) "The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw".

The album's pinnacle point, the 13-minute climax of "The Woods", is outstanding. It leaves me feeling like a wobbly sack of human inertia when it has finished. The sound is huge, the buildups are tense and executed perfectly, the changes in riff and mood come in perfect timing...this song is stunning.

The rest of the album is solid, although becomes a little repetative at times, but "The Woods" is worth the money alone.

I read a reviewer claiming the band sound like they're 'stuck in one major chord'; I'm not sure what this person is trying to say. For one thing the band certainly don't seem 'stuck' to me, and as for major chord? This is an absurd criticism as the band clearly doesn't play one repeated chord, maybe this person meant...major scale...or major key...but then once again they would be wrong, as no song on this album is in a major key.

This album is simply harsh, full of towering guitar riffs and chord progressions that never tire. If you're a fan of post rock, check this one out.

If Conan the barbarian had a soundtrack..........2006-02-11

When listening to this EP, many images come to mind; Invading Mongol hordes, the sacking of Rome, cleaved swords, sullied hands and broken necks. In other words: Destruction... Absolute and definitive.

This is to be enjoyed on sound systems that "go to eleven".

On the aptly titled, Mammoth, the wall of sound comes over you like an avalanche...and you let it. You savor it.
You let it beat you down into the dirt because that is how unbelievably low and earth shattering it is.

It's refreshing to hear a sound so stripped to the bone, so unpretentious and unrelentingly heavy.
Methodic and sludgy, this monstrous piece of work goes exactly where it wants to... It plots a course and doesn't follow the terrain, it plows through it.

i cant wait to hear what they sound like when they're not practicing.......2005-12-14

All of these reviews are so full of praise i feel compelled to write something negative just as a warning to folks like me who dont like it so much. 3.5 stars for originality but beware of comparisons to explosions in the sky and other post-rock experiments. pelican lacks the "pathetique" that makes' explosions..., do make..., gybe et al's work so meaningful. they seem to be stuck in one major chord. it's a nice relaxing chord and i must admit it's nice to listen to a drone to calm me after some ornette coleman or naked city.

4.5 stars.......2005-11-15

I wouldn't consider this black metal, as other reviews suggest. If that's what you are looking for check out Immortal, Darkthrone, Mayhem, Emperor, and others.

Anyway, off that note. This album creates an atmosphere that not many bands can create. It is quite uplifting actually. The riffs are very low, but their are also high melodys that are very memorable. They are combined at perfect moments, showing that this band needs no vocals. The songs are lengthy, but as you listen you can actually forget how long the songs are because their are no boring parts to hold them down and make you loose interest. If you are a fan of any music, you will appreciate this magnificent work.

Average customer rating:

Disappointing Really...
All you need
Outstanding Composition
Instrumental epic
Epic

March into the Sea
Pelican
Manufacturer: Hydrahead Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Death Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Hard Rock & Metal | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

At the Soundless Dawn
Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun
SGNL>05
Panopticon
Oceanic

ASIN: B0007YMV42
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Tracks:

March Into The Sea
Angel Tears - (Justin Broadrick remix)

Album Description

All the reasons that make Pelican great, and a forerunner in the instru-metal scene, are magnified ten-fold on this EP opus containing two tracks clocking in at nearly 40 minutes. It's the band's first new release since their 2003 debut, "Australasia". The track "March Into The Sea" will appear on the upcoming full-length. This is a deluxe, expanded 20-minute version. "Angel Tears", originally on "Australasia", gets a remix treatment by Justin Broadrick (Jesu, Godflesh).

Customer Reviews:

Disappointing Really..........2006-07-22

As I read the reviews, I got excited but upon listening it's nothing much to shout about. This is true specially if you are in touch with the more substantial offerings by Japan's Corrupted or even mid-period Boris.

In fact, this is pretty boring (I'm typing as I'm listening to the EP here). I don't hear nothing new. Get any album by Mastodon put it beside this offering and you'll immediately see how pale Pelican is in comparison.

I suggest anyone reading to go and get Corrupted's El Mundo Frio (2005) instead and you'll hear true heaviosity, skill and invention. Or Boris' Feedbacker. Or Mastodon's Leviathan. Or even Justin Broderick's own old project Godflesh.

All you need.......2006-03-08

I would, without a doubt, say that "March Into the Sea" is the definitive Pelican song....I would say it is the only song you need, chugging and morphing along at 20+ minutes...I would say all these things if I didnt think all the rest of their work was so freaking good as well...But if you want a jumping off point, this is the place to start. It has the best elements of both their earlier, crushing, chuggin work, and there newer acoustic, post-rock stuff. Granted they have always combined those styles to make the music they make, just in different measures as they have progressed. If you are sold on this song I would then go buy Australasia and The Fire In Our Throats...as they both have their fair share of crushing riffs, post rock solitude and dreamy soundscapes...

If you are not familiar with Pelican, here are some ideas for you to digest. All the comparison to Mogwai, Isis, and Jesu are right on. I can see where people are going comparing them to Godspeed You Black Emperor and Explosions in the Sky, as they take their time getting to places. But those two bands are their own complete beasts. I often think of the instrumental song "Orion" by Metallica on Master of Puppets...Imagine if that song were 10 minutes, or in this case, 20 minutes, complete with crushing distorted guitar passages, with fierce drums, and with beautiful dual guitar pieces, interwovem over chilled out bass and drum passages...now youre getting the point. I hope...

Outstanding Composition.......2006-01-23

My title is in reference to the lead single on this cd, the gigantic 'March Into The Sea', which clocks in at over 20 minutes. For those who own the latest album `The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw' this will be familiar as the no.3 track `March To The Sea' (I don't really know why the name is altered), but without the long expansive, ethereal acoustic section, which on the album follows with the `untitled' track. On the single here the two tracks are squashed together, and I personally prefer this as the acoustic secretion becomes more intertwined with the heavier passages.

As for the song, well, for those unfamiliar with Pelican, it's a tour-de-force of post rock with a metal edge. Like most of the post rock bands Pelican create an astounding `wall of sound' that thunders and roars, sounding very much like the moody weather shown on the cover art. Pelican have a fresh take on this style, they encompass some really crunching undeniably metal riffs and the odd double bass onslaught in the drums department. For those familiar with Pelican, this is a great new direction, the band is simply taking the elements of old, and expanding them with a far more ambitious structure and sound. The other track here `Angel Tear's is decent, from their previous work `Australasia', its nowhere near the lead singles calibre however.

Great lead single from the epic `Fire In Our Throats...', definitely worth checking out if new to Pelican and a fan of post rock and metal.

4 stars, great EP.

Instrumental epic.......2005-12-28

The 20-minute version of 'March Into The Sea' is even better than the album version and twice as long. The second song also exceeds ten minutes in length. Well worth the six bucks and strongly recommended for fans of Explosions In The Sky and Mogwai. The full album 'The Fire In Our Throats Will Beckon The Thaw' is also excellent.

Epic.......2005-10-04

With two tracks lasting over 32 minutes, this CD single is more like an EP. The first track is the full 20-minute version of "March into the Sea"; the version on Pelican's latest album lasts only 10 minutes. This Chicago band is four guys that play "instru-metal" - that is, with no singer. Expect an epic, dynamic sound that hits both crashing climaxes and mellow, emotive passages. This track somehow morphs into piano, acoustic guitar, and flute textures. The second track is a remix by Justin Broadrick of Godflesh and Jesu fame. The remix sounds just like a Jesu track, complete with majestic drones and ten-ton drums. Hydra Head can do no wrong at the moment.

Average customer rating:

Average album with 3 stellar cues
Why Horner is a music genius

The Pelican Brief
Original Soundtrack , and James Horner
Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Bopha
Radio Flyer
To Gillian On Her 37th Birthday: Original Motion Picture Score
Dick Tracy
Gorky Park: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

ASIN: B000008JCQ
Release Date: 1994-01-11

Tracks:

Main Title
The Pelican Brief
Researching The Brief
Hotel Chase
The Killing
Bourbon Street
Planting The Bomb
Chasing Gray
Darby's Emotions
Darby's Theme
Morgan's Final Testament
Garage Chase
Airport Goodbye

Customer Reviews:

Average album with 3 stellar cues.......2004-04-14

3 reasons why you should get Pelican Brief by James Horner:

1. The Main Title ****
2. Darby's Theme *****
3. Airport Goodbye *****

These cues are excellent and some of Horner's best. Darby's theme which is reprised in Airport Goodbye is majestic and beautiful. The Main title is subdued but has a hauntingly noble quality about it. Airport Goodbye is a suite the portrays the happy ending of the movie.

Why 3 stars overall? The action/suspense music on the album is not my favorite and is not, in my opinion, very listenable (unless you need some music to crush pop cans to). The album is worth getting, however, for the three cues mentioned above.

Why Horner is a music genius.......2004-03-13

I had the toughest time watching the movie THE PELICAN BRIEF. And it had nothing to do with the acting, the cinematography, or any of that. I just kept getting so caught up in James Horner's stunning score, that I'd miss whole scenes of dialogue. I finally rented the DVD and still had to go back and rewatch scenes to catch it all. It's not the film's pacing, as Alan J. Pakula does a terrific job as usual in direction, and Tom Rolf's editing is spot on. It's just the score, which again and again overcame me. Jerry Goldsmith used to say that a score shouldn't be distracting because it's there to support the visual presentation. If that's true, then perhaps Mr. Horner failed in some ironic way by creating what I'd consider one of his best works. Regardless, the mood of the overall film is captured perfectly. It's just that it's almost too good to be used as underscore. I'm saddened that the CD is out of print, and perhaps his popularity will bring it back.

Average customer rating:

Gap Who??????????

Planet Gap: Big Band
Gap Mangione
Manufacturer: Pelican Sound
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Swing General | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

Contemporary Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Swing Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Stolen Moments
Family Holidays
Diana In The Autumn Wind

ASIN: B000006C98
Release Date: 1998-04-14

Tracks:

Take Me Out To The Ball Game
Groovin' For Nat
Bernie's Tune
Coat Check Cathy
My Favorite Dream
Rochester, My Sweet Home
Calypso For Janet
'Round Midnight
Au Privave
Orange Colored Sky
Doodlin'
The Gap Theme

Album Description

Pianist-arranger-composer Gap Mangione has just released Planet Gap, the debut CD of The Big Band, the seventh album under his name, but the first to feature the rousing, free-spirited jazz of his 14-piece band. With this album release, Gap will bring broader national attention to a talented, distinctively Mangione orchestra that's been a fixture in its upstate New York birthplace throughout the 1990's.

On Planet Gap, Mangione brings together many of the musical ideas and infectious enthusiasm which have put him on the bandstand and on recordings with the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Steve Gadd, Larry Carlton and, of course, his brother, Chuck Mangione, in a career spanning four decades.

Customer Reviews:

Gap Who??????????.......2004-07-06

I guess brother, Gap, to more famous Chuck Mangione, didn't get as much recognition as Chuck. None of his albums on CDNOW.COM have been reviewed. But I mean, none of his albums were that fantastic anyway. Check Out his 1979 A&M release, Dancin' Is MAkin' Love, its horrendous. I don't even think its jazz at all. Just some old jazz pianist trying to emulate some of the disco artists who were popluar at the time. But this is a rather good album. Not because of the appearence of pianist Gap Mangione, but because it is straight ahead. I like contemporary more, but when ever Gap tried to play contemporary, it didn't sound good! At least here, back to his roots, he can't go wrong? !

Average customer rating:

A Medieval Tapestry

Manufacturer: Folger Consort
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000009J0W
Release Date: 1995-12-01

The Chilling Effect original motion picture score

Average customer rating:

Nice downtempo debut
Bright star in the bleak sky
Post-ambiental soundtracks.
Great album!

The Chilling Effect original motion picture score
Pelican City
Manufacturer: December First
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Contemporary Jazz | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Rap & Hip-Hop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004D397
Release Date: 1999-12-01

Tracks:

Over From the Start (Intro/Outro)
The City
The Bleeding Fader
Still Alone
The Search
The Fool (Neutral Milk Hotel)A Pelican City Experiment
Danger's Theme Part I
Danger's Theme Part II
Calling the Birds
The Chase
Come On Air (Wunderkind) A Pelican City Experiment
The Bedroom
The Rainstorm
The End of Life
An Exodus

Album Description

A Dark, Moody, Downtempo, Hip Hop Heavy, All Instrumental Soundtrack. The music is put together using instruments such as guitars, bass, piano, strings, Horns, and various drum loops.

Customer Reviews:

Nice downtempo debut.......2000-11-22

The Chilling Effect is a nice debut for Pelican City. It is very polished production-wise and is easy on the ears for the most part. I would compare the atmospheric hip-hop inspired tracks to more recent cds by DJ Krush or Dj Shadow - at least in style. Certainly it would be very difficult to make a musical statement on par with DJ Shadow, but The Chilling Effect soundtrack captures the lazy, gloomy emotions that makes downtempo hip-hop attractive. I really like Pelican City's use of acoustic guitar and jazz trumpet on a couple of tracks. They lend an earthy quality to the electronic beats and samples. I must say that one or two of the tracks seem to drag on a bit, but overall I was impressed by this first effort. It makes me want to hear wether Pelican City improves on the formula on the second cd.

Bright star in the bleak sky.......2000-11-17

Coming out of the heart of the South, Pelican City comes fresh with a melodic, spacious album that builds and grows finally taking root in your soul. The gradual progression of loops and chords is perfect to sit back on the porch to and have a nice, tall, cool glass of pink lemonade. It 's the type of album that over time fills in the blanks with every listening; the samples add a finishing touch such to that of icing on a cake. If time is not an object and quality a must, this is the sureshot!

Post-ambiental soundtracks........2000-09-26

This debut album by Pelican City from Athens, Georgia, is a perfect example of what they call `downtempo': luscious harmonies in a combination of electronic and traditional (trumpet, guitar, piano, drums) instruments plus some quirky samples set to slow hip-hop beats. Last year, this would have been called `trip-hop'. Ten years ago, it would've been called `New Age'. And twenty years ago, it would've been `progressive'. Check out their collaborations with Neutral Milk Hotel on track 6 and Wunderkind on track 11. All instrumental.

Great album!.......2000-01-15

Elephant 6 fans should enjoy this disc because of the remix of Neutral Milk Hotel's "The Fool", but trip-hop and electronic aficionados should really get into this homegrown affair. This is music done by someone who really cares about what their doing. It creates an engrossing, brooding atmosphere that will help get you through those lonely rainy nights, much like the cover suggests. It hasn't left my CD player in a week.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Recommended Music:

World of Asia Lounge [Import]

El Amor Brujo

Dmitri Kabalevsky 4

Music: Great Gospel Music

Gladiator: Music from the Motion Picture [Soundtrack]

Homies [CD-single] [Enhanced] [Explicit Lyrics]

Hymn Time in the Country

Corridos de Grueso Calibre

Good Fortune

1-900-Get-Some

At Carnegie Hall, Vol. 1-4 (Chicago IV)