3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
The most accessible work by a great 80's band, June 11, 2000
This review is from: Exploring the Axis (Audio CD)
In my opinion, Thin White Rope was one of the most interesting bands of the 1980's, and I was always sad that they didn't get more attention. "Exploring the Axis" was their most accessible and creative album (although I'd rank the angst-powered "In the Spanish Cave" as their best). "Down in the Desert" was a perfect first song to set the tone for the rest of the band's career -- it's quirky and mystical and just a bit sinister, and the band's music and vocals always did sound like a glass of water was urgently needed. I love the guitar hooks in "Lithium," and the way Guy Kyser sings "I'm not proud of how I drag you down..." over them.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Best Band You Never Heard Of, July 4, 2007
This review is from: Exploring the Axis (Audio CD)
Thin White Rope is a great guitar band that sadly was two years too early. They wrote and sang some of the hardest, most vicious music of the 1980s while the "hard rock" world was interested in Bon Jovi and White Lion. By the time they had totally hit their stride with IN A SPANISH CAVE the world wasn't ready for real two guitar, dense, tight lyrical music.
Then Nirvana hit and the world changed. It should have been the time for Thin White Rope to blow up, but some problems with record companies and the reluctance of the brilliant guitarists -- Guy Kyser and Roger Kunkel -- to be famous killed the chances for this brilliant band to break through.
Exploring the Axis is a wonderful amalagem of the influence and direction of their music. You can get a great feel for who they were and what they were trying to achieve in this piece.
Roger Kunkel joined Acme Rocket Quartet, a band best described as science fiction influenced jazz played in a Holiday Inn.
Guy Kyser went back to university, and resumed his studies of soil science. He started a new band, The Mummydogs, who haven't done all that much and never reached the greatness of Thin White Rope.
Essentially, anyone who loves dueling guitars, wry and odd lyrics, Americana and simply wonderful arrangements and writing should give Thin White Rope a chance. They are, simply, my favorite American band since 1980 and deserve much more credit than they've received.
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