Customer Reviews

The Ballasted Orchestra

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(4)
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stars of the lid's "the ballasted orchestra" is a much-underappreciated and criminally ignored masterpiece in an undefined genre that can only be described as "drugged-out ambient"... this album, however, shatters the goofy, new-age soul-searching connotation that "ambient music" suggests. "the ballasted orchestra" is TRUE ambient: minimalistic but warm, visceral but incredibly ethereal, and unbelievably soothing. there are no cheesy synth-chorus voices wailing brazilian chants in the background, no tabla... hell, i don't even know what instruments stars of the lid are using. although, in theory, it seems (and could be) uninteresting, each song sounds like the conclusion of a rock song - the VERY end - but in suspended animation - dragged out and mutilated in slight ways, running in a line. lying there listening to songs like "sun drugs" and "f**ked up (3:57 am)" caused me to feel almost floaty and weightless; it's easy to lose track of time. this album takes a few listens to truly understand and to truly get into, but once you start to love it, it's perfect for anytime - it makes a beautiful sunny day seem mystical and shimmering, and it makes the night feel like a movie. "the ballasted orchestra" is the pale blue light in the distance - it's more than music, it's a beautiful and welcoming audio horizon. let it take you on the trip.

I picked up this album randomly at a music shop, going only off of my previous good experiences with other bands on the same label. I had no idea I was picking up an album with no vocals, no rhythm, and no melody. I found out after a few listens that this is a good thing when it's done right. SOTL are very good at what they do.

This is mostly a dark sounding record yet full of somehow comforting drones. Beyond that it's hard to describe as I have no idea how these guys make this music. If you attempt to track down pictures of the group, in a live shot you can see someone playing a bass, but it's impossible to tell what instruments are being used on their records.

Ideally this music is great to fall asleep to, and also great to read to. It would be unfair to call this music filler, or background music. It's much to good to be reduced to that, but it's perfect to listen to if you don't want absolute silence, but you also don't want to be distracted from the task at hand (i.e. sleeping or reading).

To date this is my favourite Stars of the Lid album, and as a consequence, one of my favourite ambient albums. What puts it over the top for me are the images of desolate nocturnal landscapes it brings to mind - the tracks "Central Texas" and "Music for Twin Peaks Episode #30 Pt. 2" are particularly effective in this regard. Meanwhile any SotL fan HAS to have "Sun Drugs," which is a staple of the band's live shows and deservedly so.

There isn't much more to say that hasn't been repeated ad nauseum here so I'll cut things short. Let's just say that if you want atmosphere or merely something to relax to, you can't go wrong with The Ballasted Orchestra.

It's been many years since I've owned this album but i felt compelled to come back and write a review. Stars Of the Lid isn't for everyone and it took me quite a bit of time, money, word of mouth, and experimentation before I found this album, let a lone a band with such a distinct sound. But it's safe to say that this album is definitely in my top three of all time.

Maybe its the lack of vocals that makes your imagination go crazy, maybe because its perfect to listen to with the lights out while you comtemplate life at 5AM, maybe its because you can never truly memorize what's going to happen next in the songs. This is an album that would be that be a part of that dramatic part in the movie, the climax, or maybe its the realization of something gone bad. Its emotional, complex, simple, beautiful, dramatic, and might make you slumber into a state between conscious and the subconscious.

A reviewer said this will change your life and if this is for you ... it surely will. It's been some time since SOTL released another new album (aside from side projects) but this will stand the test of time.

I'm rambling, I know, but there's so much I can say about this album and how it continuously affects me, that you need to experience it yourself if you're still thinking of getting this, make the investment. After this, try avec laudenum ... atomium part 2...perhaps one of the greatest "songs" out there.

anyway, this album might make you tear and smile, at the same time.

This was quite a different record than the ones I've listened to before of Stars of the Lid. To clarify, I've been going backwards rather than forwards chronologically because I first heard the Tired Sounds record and then their 2007 release "and their refinement of the decline" and have been working my way back since then. I didn't really know what to expect when I bought it, but this record feels more old, like they were still feeling around for their dynamic.

This record is a lot darker sounding than the other ones I've listened to, but that's not a bad thing, just different. It feels more raw as well. I hope new listeners find this review useful, and enjoy the record!

This is my first review of something, so if you have any comments, criticism please feel free to let me know.

When I have this CD playing, I let it loop over and over and over. Great reflective, meditative stuff. Excellent to work to. I painted our boys' room listening to it. If you appreciate ambient without a beat, droning stuff, check it out. I think I like Arch Song the best, if that matters at all.

The Ballasted Orchestra is the SOTL release most appropriate for summer listening; from the beginning strains of "Central Texas", which is reminiscent of a horribly hot Texas summer, to the last drones of the simply transcendent "Arch Song", the album speaks to one of barren wastes and flat, monotonous landscapes. Which is certainly not a bad thing when it is delivered this beautifully. Certainly the scariest SOTL release, but also the most plainly vivid, I would recommend this to anyone tired of bad, bad music.

Stars of the Lid, my favourite band now for a couple months are probably the most incredible, beautiful, ambient, atmospheric experimental group under the Kranky label. I love this CD. These songs are so emotinally RAW, agonizing, icredible... it's so sad some of the tracks on this CD though. It's depressing at times, it's just so amazingly beautiful. Even "Music For Twin Peaks Episode 30," probably my fave on the CD is so TWIN PEAKS finale like. Picture the episode after the finale of twin peaks, things are blown up, everyone is in critical shape, Cooper is stuck in the Black Lodge... life is so tragic. This CD is compelling, unbelievably one of the best CD's ever. Buy it now. Change your life...

First, I think there's maybe no compression used on this disc whatsoever, so you're gonna need good speakers. Listening to this in the car I've been fantasizing about what kind of screwdriver I'd need to remove the panels over the factory-installed speakers. Like the volume was on THREE and I had the bass all the way down and the treble all the way up and STILL the cones were crunching.

This is not an indictment of the music, but of my system. And aside from all that, this disc is very nice driving music, especially at night. Though you may get so groovy in your spaceship dream that you'll forget to accelerate and end up doing 30 mph on the highway with a long line of peeved motorists riding behind you.

This album is a slow tempo piece. Lots of ambience and sound-washes. The album lacks personality a little bit. The low-intensity (it's a good thing) aspect of this album makes for good relaxation or sleep.