Customer Reviews

The Dirt Of Luck

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just when i start to lose faith and bands i like go stale or disappear (Dinosaur Jr., Sonic Youth, Breeders, Superchunk, Cranes, Pavement, i'm talking to you) something comes along that restores my hope. Helium's Dirt of Luck is that kind of album.

From start to finish, Dirt of Luck is no less than perfect. When i put it on, i dont think of listening to a certain song, i want the whole album. Listening to Helium's previous recordings, i always felt something missing. Somehow, it was like they didnt click to full potential. Good, but not great. All that potential, dark, melancholy, blistering, and blissfull is on Dirt of Luck. This is an album of a band playing at its highest level. If they can make an album better than this, i figure my head will explode, because, in my opinion, this is flawless.

i commend Mary Timony for every insturment she touches, her lyrics, her wonderful voice, and hope she doesnt slip in the shower anytime soon, becuase i want her to continue making such beautiful music. i remember reading an article about her when Helium first came to be, and she seemed so unsure of herself in the songwriting/music scheme. Well, all i can say, is, Mary, keep on going. You have the stuff. You have the voice. In my book, you are a fortunate one.

This album is the soundtract for the most beautiful parts of my life...

Saw these guys on the 2nd stage at Lollapalooza in 1995. I was taking a break from watching the hip-hop bands they had thrown into the mix, and was mesmerized by these guys. It's pretty rare I see a band live that I've never heard of -- to hear that band and be blown away, I couldn't believe it. I bought the CD immediately, and didn't stop playing it for 2 years.

It has great lyrics, great music, great mood, great atmosphere, and just rocks. Mary Timony has such a unique sound, I still think mesmerizing is the best word for it.

Another Helium masterpiece. There are a few songs that also appear on the Superball import, but still a solid album in its own right.

I agree with everything that anyone who has given this album five stars has said. This is rock and pop, but also very emotional, but not the paltry emo-punk that has been clogging airwaves. It is soothing and soaring and magical and blah blah blah, but it evokes as time which I have not been a part of, which would be that of any burgeoning alterative rock/indie scene in a city somewhere. Seattle or New York or San Francisco? Maybe. For ten dollars...geez. You are only too lucky if you buy this.

this is an amazing album by a very original and inventive band. dark and beautiful, subtle and haunting, every song has something great to offer. mary timony is an incredible songwriter and musician. her voice seamlessly blends into the fascinating sounds and intricate musical arrangements that are on this album. for those who want to hear something refreshing or for those who don't like their music spoonfed to them by mtv, i recommend you give this a try. you won't be disappointed.

This album is a modern masterpiece: dark, catchy, and most importantly highly unique -- that is, I've not heard any other bands that sound like Helium does on this album. Twisted indie pop with a serious dark edge; chalk the success of this one up to Mary Timony's serious songwriting genius. I would also highly recommend Helium's superball ep, which has 4 songs that cannot be found elsewhere (the track listing for the ep on amazon is wrong -- they list only one extra track, which is incorrect). Any fan of helium or of the dirt of luck should get the superball ep immediately; all of the songs on the superball ep fit in perfectly with the style of songwriting on the dirt of luck (incidentally, this is my quibble with more recent helium releases: although good, they are not as stunningly classic as the dirt of luck/superball ep one-two punch).

A very personal record, like a dreamy, rockin' soundtrack. It feels good on the ears with all its sonic beauty and grit. What can I say? I used to hear tracks from it on college radio back in '95 and it definitely caught my attention. But it wasn't until one long and beautiful night in Oct. 97 that I really listened to it. Now it's my friend. I just recently got hooked on it again and I can't seem to get it out of my head or my cd player. It holds up well over time because it's genuine. This record will get into your blood. It will wrap around you and give you sonic hugs and kisses.

This album was on my cd player 24/7 for half a year...It's worth it.

Not to sound flippant or anything--I absolutely adore this record; it's one of my all-time faves. It also has eliminated the need, at least for me, to own several alt-rock classics--"Loveless" by My Bloody Valentine (who's austere, celestial guitar haze is evoked expertly on " Baby's Going Underground" and "Silver Angel") "Slanted and Enchanted" by Pavement (the dolorous, understated twang n' hiss of "Honeycomb" , a track which also niftily does away with the need for Mazzy Star) and "Dirty" by Sonic Youth ("Pat's Trick" and "Medusa" are effortlessly dead-cool--a perfect blend of distaff snarl and urban grit offhandedly intoned from behind Velvets fly shades). Lots of young bands wear thier influences proudly, especially on debuts, but Helium distill thiers in such a way that they end up with something fresh and thrilling. "The Dirt of Luck" is the sound of one young woman (Mary Timony-- the medieval indie-grrl of my dreams) getting together with a couple of friends, plugging in the distortion pedal, and deciding to rule the world--so long as they get done in time to hit the thrift stores before the wannabe-hipsters raid all the courderoy from the factory-seconds rack.