HYLI Vol. LXXXII - Cryptopsy and Dinosaur Jr.
Andy sends Patrick a classic death metal record and Patrick sends Andy a classic alt-rock record
I (Andy) would like the record to show that we were delayed this week not because of me but because of Patrick. I’m sure it had something to do with him slipping into a coma about the Dame to Milwaukee news but who really knows what goes on with that kid. I’ll keep this short and to the point so you can get to the good stuff. College football is fun, the government sucks, I’d rather drink soda and die earlier than not. Patrick is gonna be mad I wrote 6 sentences instead of 30 for the intro but it is my turn and I can do what I want. Thanks and enjoy.
Cryptopsy - None So Vile
Andy: So, I’m not going to apologize to Patrick in advance, but I promise I won't be mad at him when he whines about not liking this. Yes, the purpose of this newsletter is to suggest something that I think he might like, but we’ve been getting along a little too well in the last few weeks. He does need to be educated on the genre’s important releases, so it's about time we delved into Cryptospy’s None So Vile.
This album typically makes an appearance on most "Best Death Metal Albums Ever" lists or whatever amalgamation of words you want to use (Patrick: maybe the worst death metal record i’ve heard, spoilers). Simply put, it's great death metal. None So Vile was almost immediately recognized as an iconic release by fans of the genre. It masterfully walks the line between being notably brutal and avoiding predictable melodies, while having the technical depth to attract a broader fanbase. It's evil, yet beautiful, at the same time.
With that said, this isn't the type of death metal Patrick seems to enjoy (Patrick: decidedly not). I get it. He's going to whine about the drums, and I’m not sure I can ever convince him that they are fun. I’m interested to know if there are any 'non-metalhead' people who read this newsletter who would be interested in listening to this record and giving me their thoughts on the drums. He will also hate the vocals, but I understand that sentiment more, even though they’re sick. This week’s assignment is homework for him. I’m sorry. I want him to be able to speak confidently about these classics! I’m doing him a favor (Patrick: don’t do me any further fucking favors)! Hope You Like It!
Patrick: We needed this. We were rolling for like a month and some change of just completely gelling on each of our albums. Two buds sending albums they love to the other to find out that the other also loves it. Fuck that shit. This piece of shit sucked so bad (Andy: You are wrong, it is very good, please ask anyone). We are so back.
I am on the record several times, maybe a half dozen, throughout the year and a half of this newsletter about tech death. I hate that crap. The drums on this and albums like it are maybe the least pleasant-sounding thing in music to me. I thought maybe I would hate the vocals but I didn’t. Didn’t love them but they were fine (Andy: color me absolutely shocked). The guitars? Actually kinda sick. It really just comes down to the drums. Drums can be so important when they’re good and so terrible when they’re bad. People give shit to Lars for St. Anger’s drums but, to me, these are far worse (Andy: psychotic take please seek assistance).
For some positivity, I fucking suppose, I did kind of enjoy the track “Benedictine Convulsions.” The little groove-metal-sounding riff around 43 seconds in is so cool. Some of the riffing reminds me of Helmet and Pantera more than any other death metal bands I’ve really heard, which is cool. The solo in the middle of the track is also cool, these guys seem to solo less than some of the other classic death bands, but I appreciated that one. They literally do the “bring the nasty riff back but slower” meme at the end here for what I have to imagine is one of the first time and I fist-pumped the first time I heard it. I liked that. That’s about it. I did Not like this record.
Dinosaur Jr. - Where You Been
Patrick: I can’t really put my finger on when I began to love Dinosaur Jr (Andy: Rock Band 2 simple) (Patrick: i was gonna say so much earlier than that but that game came out in 2008 and that sounds about right). Honestly, I think it began with Sebadoh in high school (Andy, the bassist of Dino, Lou, left the band to start his own band called Sebadoh but then he came back a few albums later, okay you’re caught up) (Andy: whew thanks) for me, with me later working backward. I try not to talk about it much here because who the fuck cares but as a guitar player there are just very few people ever to play the instrument that have felt more influential to me than J. Mascis. Pretty much everything dude has ever done is something I try to constantly be ripping off. Out of all of the band’s albums, Where You Been has J.’s best guitar playing and, imo, best songwriting as well.
Where You Been feels like the darkest of the band’s records. It was the first after Lou left and I feel like you can tell J. felt simultaneously more free as a writer but also more frustrated. “Out There” is basically a perfect song. A+ riff, sick solo, and vocals that are hard as hell. A lot of people hate J.’s singing. I get it. It’s kinda the Neil Young, nasal, atonal thing. But go to fucking hell if you hate it, it’s awesome and fits the music perfectly. “Start Choppin’” is basically pop rock, with a huge hook. I feel like people forget because of how hard they can shred that J. can also write absolutely massive hooky gems. “Get Me” and “Goin’ Home” might as well be alt-country. I love the little lead organ line on the latter. It fits with the, idk, melancholic melody of the vocal so well. I love J.’s voice. I do not give a shit. He does the huge hook thing so well, he does the frustrated yelp thing even better, and he does the barely over-a-whisper gloomy thing about as well as anyone ever (Andy: as always whispering is cool). Jesus christ I haven’t mentioned the drumming yet. Murph is a fucking king. Murph!!! What a perfect name for a perfect drummer. I love this band so much. Really honestly truly close to a desert island, “you only get one band’s discography,” type band for me. I got to see them with the reunited original lineup in 2018 or so and, jesus, the loudest show I’ve ever been to and maybe a top 5 show ever. I hope Andy gets to see them live someday and I hope he likes this record.
Andy: Another entry into the "The only song I know from this band I learned from Rockband" collection. Monumental in my musical journey, I’d be so much worse off if those games never existed. Have y'all ever heard of "Feel the Pain?" Great song. I'm familiar with that riff, and if you hand me a plastic guitar, I can nail it without a single mistake.
Despite featuring some of the worst album art I've ever seen (Patrick: doesn’t matter), Where You Been is an enjoyable and very 'Patrick-esque' record. It's a quintessential rock album brimming with engaging rock tunes and a plethora of exciting guitar work. Isn't the guitar just the best instrument? When executed right, it's simply the best, better than all the rest (Patrick: so true bestie). The lead guitar lines in "What Else Is New" were interesting in a 'hauntingly beautiful' manner — possibly my top pick from the album. Mascis truly shines in "Hide" and "Goin’ Home," particularly the solo in "Hide." I'm keen on diving deeper into his guitar playing. To me, it screams 'Patrick.' (Patrick: let’s goooo)
With that said, I didn’t feel like anything on this record was especially exceptional (Patrick: oh). It didn’t do anything wrong and it was all fun but nothing really made it stand out from various other ‘good guitar fun rock bands’ we’ve covered in the past. I’m sure if I had the history with the band that Patrick does or saw Freakscene at my indie a few years ago I’d have better appreciation but I didn’t so I don’t. It is simply a fun rock record that is added to the library and will come on shuffle and I’ll go “oh that was fun!” and then move on.
I Liked It. Thanks For Being A Great Friend.