Customer Reviews

Chief Assassin to the Sinister

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

this record is 11 years old (released in '93) and still more sonically advanced than the bulk of current indie/experimental rock. With "Chief Assassin...", TMP demonstrated how dense a trio could sound: crushing, tom-heavy drumming; e-bowed guitar feedback; and legendary, bass-driven chord progressions. The lyrics are self-consciously cryptic, but nevertheless beautiful and memorable: "god is breathing fire, and the devil's inside..."

if you can find it, the version released by geffen in '95 contains three extra songs (minus vux intruder) which are stunning in their beauty -- it was also, I believe, remastered prior to release, so it sounds noticeably better.

i'm not sure what understanding the writer below had of 3mp but it seems they would have us believe they like the pop band, pinback(which might i add, in no way compares to 3mp) and somehow they were led on to one of the guys having played in the legendary 3mp. Well, 3mp isn't exactly pop so maybe thats why it made you feel sad or angry that you lacked the musical sensibilities to appreciate it. While i do hold bhp in high regard, i can't say the same for pinback. Anyway, this album was great and still is. Although it wasn't as abrasive as clikatat or the VSS, it was just as amazing in it's own form. Like someone stated earlier: this is music that doesn't fade out.
If you can appreciate it then it's like you've almost earned some respect for yourself. Go ahead, pat yourself on the back.
the EP and songs from a town are the best.

This was their second and moved in transition from their primative 3 piece of rhythm section and vocals to adding guitar as well as some other instruments from help of some friends(Goff from Crash Worship).

I've been watching this band for years growing up in SD and maybe I'm biased, but I don't believe so. 3MP are one of the few bands whose music is as timeless as any band can be because of one reason: originality.

They write music from their own taste, preferences, self-fulfillment, and not for trends or to rock out. 3MP are one of the hardest bands to catagorize because they don't associate or try to associate themselves with any particular genre or scene. And that also contributes to their timeless aspect.

This album is great because it moves into a direction of more guitar and does sound very primative and kinda has tribal aspects(content and soundwise). For a 2nd album that sounds drastically different than their first, it is a hit. Not many bands can progress on their second album as well as 3MP had. Side one is so amazing that sometimes you get stuck listening to Side on on rotation(I have the original record off Negative Records put out by Jason). Side two is ok, just not as good as side one IMO.

I really can't describe their music very well. Just real primitive rock with primitive content lyrically, but it is(like all their releases) very rhythm section oriented. They started out that way, and even though through the years they've added instruments to their sound, it never changed: rhythm section oriented. The bassist is the best I've seen come out of SD. The guy is amazing. It's not just his bass, but he also plays piano(ok electric), and the drummer fits the thunderous bass so well with his heavy pounding. Very dynamic rhythm section, has to rank right up there as one of my favorite rhythm sections. And Pall's singing was the other half of why 3MP was great. You hear the energy and the emotion in his voice. I didn't give it 5 because I thought the 1st side heavily dominated the 2nd.

3MP is not the band to namedrop unless you're more concerned with being original and different to impress your friends. And 3MP fans are normally not like that. 3MP has survived many trends in sd, everything from the RFTC greaser rockabilly scene and through the Gravity records scene(well they did put out one EP), but they never did try to fit in with those trends and because of this, everyone in SD that knows of 3MP has much respect because they have done something that most bands were not able to do: stick to their own thing. This is the reason why people have respect for 3 mile pilot. It has nothing to do with being cool and namedropping. Nothing is stylishly cool about 3MP. They earned the respect because they are one of the most talented 3-pieces to ever come out, they consistently progressed and changed for the better, and they never associated themselves with a certain scene or trend and have always stuck to their own roots. I have the most respect for this band and I have hope that they will get back together one day because Blackheart & Pinback don't come close to the quality of 3MP's music.

This album began 3mp's experimentation w/ more instrumentation. It marks the beginning of their ascent to the valhalla of music. this album is a must have if you are intelligent and religious about music; esp if you have a taste for dark beauty. subsequent releases have gotten better and better. they should have an album coming out in 2000 which I predict will be a masterpiece. i hope these freaks never quit making music. i gave this 4 stars just so i could save stars for the stuff theyve put out since.

There is just no way to describe the music of Three Mile Pilot. Hard cutting vocals and power punching music. I recomend this to anyone looking for something new or just plain cool.

Sounds exactly like you would think: Pinback if they were still a garage band of young angry ones or Black Heart Procession without all the waves of beauty. The lo-fi production and scratchy, overbearing vocals do not seem to compliment the sound this band is trying for with this record, but I suppose they work their unique approach well enough to have garnered their minor cult following, closing out the album with their longest and most cohesive track.

This is one of the best bands i have ever heard. Three Mile is seriously underappreciated and its amazing that they haven't enjoyed more popular success but regardless they are incredible artists.

three mile pilot is putting out some of the best music around of recent memory

THIS IS THE BEST MUSIC EVER PRODUCED BY ANY MUSICIANS. BUY THIS AND BE AMAZED BY THE POWERFULL BASS,VOCALS,AND JUST STRAIGHT UP KICK BACK MUSIC

Three Mile Pilot is a pretty good name to drop, alongside Slint, Rodan, Juno, and Engine Down, if you're looking to exude the i-listen-to-intelligent-creative-indie-rock chic. Sure, they're certainly creative, and I do find their music mildly intriguing, but ultimatley unsatisfying. They're one of those bands where everyone who's heard of them has a ton of respect for them and you just can't say a bad word about them, and it's kinda ridiculous because they're really not that good, but whatever.