Burning Off Impurities

Grails | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 24, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Temporary Residence
• ASIN: B000NQR7V6
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #227,268 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Portland's Grails return with their first studio album since 2004's "Redlight". An increased interest in psychedelic, ambient, and world music is most likely to blame for the group's exploration of the lesser-traveled paths of modern music. In addition, their eclectic range of collaborative endeavors - guitarist Zak Riles is also in M. Ward's band, while drummer Emil Amos has moonlighted as Jandek's drummer - has introduced an element of improvisation and reinterpretation of ideas that's both brilliant and earnest.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent instrumental storyboard, January 1, 2008

By 

bkhage01 - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burning Off Impurities (Audio CD)

If you haven't heard Grails before, and you enjoy instrumental and progressive rock like Explosions in the Sky, Six Parts Seven, Saxon Shore, and Caspian, I strongly suggest you check out this band immediately.

That being said, Burning Off Impurities is the band's incredible and most recent effort. It's hard to label it with a particular style because the music is so varied. It isn't as "hard" in the beginning as Burden of Hope, but it's every bit as heavy (not metal heavy). Don't let that scare you away. The guitarwork is here, but there are not as many roaring climaxes as in Burden. The drums, however, do tend to add to the heaviness of the sound, with intricate cadences and crashing cymbals.

The album starts off slowly with "Soft Temple", which has an almost Middle Eastern vibe to it. The song then progresses into something heavier and complex with excellent drumwork and a vast array of instruments. The percussion continues to amaze throughout the rest of the album, as do the strange string accompaniments and overall dark mood, but there is something sweet and inviting here. Sounds of rain and wind can actually be heard in the second track behind the music, and it all meshes effortlessly. The first buildup and climax occurs toward the middle of the 8+ minute epic "Silk Rd" and the music only gets better.

The album does not have a plethora of tracks, due to the complexity and length of the 8 that are present, and there is no more needed. You'll want to listen to this album again immediately after it's over. Whether you are looking for something to chill out or study to, or become completely absorbed in, this album is for you.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Grails Best Album, April 22, 2010

By 

C. Flaucher "World Music Lover" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Burning Off Impurities (Audio CD)

I rarely write reviews at all, but this album is so beautiful and moving I felt compelled to add my two cents. As far as I'm concerned, Grails are one of the most interesting instrumental bands creating music today. I dig all of their albums, but "Burning Off Impurities" is the most cohesive fully realized piece of art they have created to date. The music, artwork, and layout compliment one another, especially on vinyl( 2xLP= 1 clear record + 1 dark blue record with a rad engraving on the b-side) which is really the way to fully appreciate this album in all its splendor. I have listened to it all the way thru roughly thirty times and it hasn't gotten old yet. No filler, all the tracks are great but my favorite would have to be
"Origin-ing".

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A successful experiment, July 13, 2009

By 

Tyler (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burning Off Impurities (Audio CD)

Combining post-rock, ethnic-themed music, and ambient music isn't something a mainstreamer would get excited about. Even I was skeptical when I first heard what Grails were all about. However, Grails is absolutely brilliant.

From the epic, 8-minute-plus "Silk Rd" to the relaxing "Drawn Curtains", Burning Off Impurities is an incredible album. It's hard to describe, which is why I haven't described much of it. It's simply worth a listen and, if you can, a purchase. Grails knows what they're doing.