Axis of Evol

The Pink Mountaintops

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 7, 2006)
• Original Release Date: March 7, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Jagjaguwar
• ASIN: B000CNFBFE
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #155,153 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.ca
Vancouver's Black Mountain have won considerable acclaim from media and musicians alike; their moody, '70s-inspired dirge-rock has hit a chord with many, including the band Coldplay, who invited the group to open for them on their 2005 U.S. tour. Rather than continue down that much-heralded path, however, frontman Stephen McBean opted instead to work on his side project, Pink Mountaintops. Following the very sexy self-titled Mountaintops debut back in 2004, many expected to see a repeat of that form on this follow-up, Axis of Evol. Au contraire... as the title would suggest, this disc's focus is anything but sultry. The content within the seven songs adds up to 34 contemplative minutes of music with recurring references to Jesus, the Devil, death, war, and gospel songs.

Sonically, McBean never attempts to emulate anyone, yet his languid musical manner has desperate, dark qualities shared by musicians from Neil Young to Black Sabbath to Smog. Continuing the comparisons, "New Drug Queens" has a PJ Harvey presence, while "Plastic Man, You're the Devil" will transport the listener straight into a Vietnam war movie flashback. The CD opener, "Comas," is a gorgeous, whisper-soft melody that echoes Bonnie "Prince" Billy's minimalist fare, while the bass-heavy "Cold Criminals" follows, a fan-pleaser that is the closest thing to a Black Mountain song that exists on the CD. Although this isn't the masterpiece that the self-titled Black Mountain disc was, it certainly gives devotees lots more music to listen to until their next disc comes around. --Denise Sheppard

Product Description
Pink Mountaintops is Stephen Mcbean, who's been in numerous groups over the last two decades - a straight out punk outfit, a crusty punk/metal band, and most recently, a psych-tinged maximal rock group whose self-titled debut, "Black Mountain", captured a great amount of critical acclaim (and meteorically became Jagjaguwar's best-selling title). With "Axis Of Evol", Mcbean has once again created something much greater than the sum of his influences. The record almost immediately ramps up into a thumping, buzzing, blissful haze, at various parts sounding like The Velvet Underground or Spacemen 3 or The Jesus And Mary Chain, circa "Psycho Candy". At the end, the album segues into a hypnotic, Smog-like meditation. Throughout, Mcbean sings about love and war, the love of war and the war of love - on the body, on the mind, and on the soul. Experience the record, then think about it in more than one way.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a lip smacker, March 16, 2006

By	Dr Barron and his Monkey "Dr Barron and his M... (Donny) - See all my reviews

Just like the first album Axis of Evol does not fail to impress. Sultry notes that inspire!

1 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars not that good, really, December 17, 2006

A Kid's Review

there some bands that somehow show up on everyone's radar all thanks to hype without having much substance behind what what they do. Pink Mountaintops is a prime example. This album isnt painful to listen to, but on the other hand it isn't really exciting or new either. They seem to sound like a B-rate Smog meets Velvet Underground tribute band at best. I gave it a few spins and it still bored me for the most part.