Customer Reviews

Hide the Kitchen Knives

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Post love-affair hatred burnt onto a plastic disc. When a serious relationship turns sour, the resulting anger, desperation, blame and self loathing can easily turn into a veritable tsunami of ugly, dangerous situations. The Paper Chase singer John Congleton knows how this feels and he put it all on display for us to hear. This is an album of pure emotion, although it is far, far darker and more frightening than anything falling under the emo banner. Rampant, almost Jesus Lizard-esque, filthy post-hardcore squalls back up Congleton confessions like the soundtrack to an evil psychological thriller. And with song titles like I Did A Terrible Thing and A Little Place Called Trust and indeed the album title itself, you can feel the pain in the man's heart running through every contorted note. Uneasy listening in every sense, but quite, quite brilliant nevertheless.

I stumbled on the paper chase when I happened to see them live one night. I stood staring at the stage with my mouth wide open, completely amazed at what I was hearing. I immediately bought "Young Bodies Heal Quickly, Don't They" and "Cntrl - Alt - Delete - U" and listened to them almost daily. A few months later they came back through, bringing this CD with them. At first when I listened to it, I didn't like it as much as the first two. After a few more listens, though, I think this is one of the most brilliant albums I have ever heard.
The song titles alone are amazing. Each title tells a story, and you need to think about them whilst listening to the album. The recording should best be listened to as a whole, with each song fitting well with every other song. The album is at once incredibly disorienting and strangely uplifting. It's also achingly beautiful.
I won't even try to describe the paper chase, because it's too hard. All I can say is listen to this album, and you won't regret it. It is one of the most evocative things I have heard in my entire life. Pianos, bass, guitar, drums, samples, organs, and one of the most interesting vocalists working today all add up to an amazing piece of work.

First, off pAper chAse is amazing...I'm way late for writing a review on this album, considering their next amazing album is going to be released a month after I write this. Anyways...this cd is has every element you need. Scary, weird, fun...laced with brilliant tallent. GO see their show. I've seen in 7 times. It's seriously an addiction for myself, A pAper chAse cult member.

On their second full-length release and third overall, Dallas' the Paper Chase (or the pAper chAse, as they like to have it spelled) have quite obviously made their best album to date. This four-piece has gotten through the occasional annoying traits that harried the group on previous outings, working out a series of songs that breathes success. While their first album, Young Bodies Heal Quickly, You Know was unique and creative, it was pestered by the lack of an appreciable structure, knowing that it wanted to be appreciated by a wider audience, yet still delving into the noise and chaos genres that bands such as Black Dice and Merzbow are known for. While those styles are great in and of themselves, it was obvious the pAper chAse were having identity problems. The situation continued to a lesser extent on their follow-up EP on Divot Records, CTRL-Alt-Del-U. The emphasis on rhythm and drive and a dedicated focus to direct the message with a more palatable approach has helped the band overcome any previous falterings to make a successful album of 13 manic, chaotic, and frantic songs. Utilizing samples, noise, and the occasional saxophone, this brilliant quartet has once again served up an album that delves into frontman John Congleton's panic-stricken mind. Hide the Kitchen Knives is quite clearly the pAper chAse at their best: pissed off, scared, panic-striken, and giving listeners one hell of a wonderful ride.

Paperchase is a great band, as long as you can multi-task between everything they do. But thats not really why I wrote this. To anyone who said "If you want real sad music, go check out Bright Eyes"

Yeah... you should be punched in the throat for saying that. Paperchase and Bright Eyes are nowhere near each other musically. This is avant garde/noise, Bright Eyes is folk music. So quit comparing the two.

And if you actually LISTENED to the lyrics, they aren't really "Oh Im a sad tragic soul in an unforgiving world" type lyrics.

Now if you don't like it, that's fine, not everyone will. But please, quit it with the Bright Eyes. Conor will not have sex with you for mentioning his band in every review.

Heres a perfect example of the toolmaker being the master builder as well. John Congleton has effectively driven himself sane by wrapping himself insanity over the years, periodically emerging to share his progress. The latest Paper Chase release, Hide The Kitchen Knives is a stroll through the mind of an outcast. If you can reconcile the disturbing message of escapism through masochism, you ll find a record that bends all the right rules regarding song architecture and musicality. A detached, third person writing approach doesn't do much to veil Congleton's own feelings of hostility and alienation. Take for instance, Where Have Those Hands Been which touches on a recurring theme within Paper Chase's music: That the hands are independent of the body, leaving the body blameless for any act. A real creepy way to rock out, but effective as hell. You can almost sympathize with the notes squeezed from Congleton's guitar as misfits thrust into a cocktail party, with only their own broken rhythms to comfort them. There are moments on Knives where those notes rise above the discomfort, however, to prove the viability of their existence as in the playfully backhanded Don't You Wish You Had Some More - I like to think you are ashamed. I like to think you thought I think you got away, but as for you, you got lucky once, but that won't happen again. I Tried So Hard To Be Good, a killer's soliloquy delivered with disturbing calm leads into a brilliant display of command of waveform experimentation with ping-ponging sharpening knives. Each track melts seamlessly in to the next, making Knives as much a concept album as a personal catharsis for Congleton; this is a tremendous step for the band.

It has been said that the pAper chAse are the future of rock n' roll. As a burned out local newscaster I tend to agree. The album is a tour through Mr Congletons poor track record in life. Whether racing in the indy 500 or attempting to become a distance runner Congleton seems to fail. However in the sphere of recording records and making music Congleton seems to be at the top of his game. Jerky rhythms, roots tapping, and tourtured vocal delivery throughout. A soundtrack for people who want to feel better about themselves.

Bright Eyes freakin blows you bonehead. the pAper chAse is everythign u ever need in music. They will kick your balls. This album is awesome, buy it.

First, trust me when I say that I listen to music that is comparable in genre and feel to this album. I bought it a couple of weeks ago, and I've been listening to it off and on, trying to like it. However, the parts of this album that should feel like you're experiencing a burst of raw emotion just feel entirely too contrived. It's as though Congleton tried to make his music as repulsively dissident as Chris Carrabba makes his pretty. The desired effect? To epitomize his music within the genre. Every musician does it, but if you want something that can AT LEAST trick you into believing the singer is as big an emotional and social wreck as he pretends to be, I suggest you surf on over to Bright Eyes.

I'm sure that some people will find this album original, fresh and daring. However, if you lived through the late 80's and remember it, you'll know this album already. It's a hodgepodge of various elements that were exploited ad nauseum by countless indie, industrial, proto-goth, proto-alt bands that clogged up the evaporating LP bins and swarmed froth from MTV's 120 Minutes.

The vocals are a straight-up homage to Robert Smith - a nasally, whiney, "I'm so tortured in a cruel, indifferent world" delivery that's more fake here because you'd expect it from a pasty Brit circa 1988, but not from a Texan 15 years later. What is going on in the background is sometimes interesting - lots of deliberate dissonance and intentional train-wrecks. In the very least it certainly sounds like they went to awful lot of trouble to impress *someone,* so I feel I have to give them credit for that, even if it doesn't warrant my respect. Mostly, I found interesting just to dust off those old memories and figure out which 80's band they ripping off. However, the unforgivable sin for me is how the music (sans the obnoxious "LOOK AT ME!!!" vocals) at first seems to want to challenge the listener, with its "this isn't going where you think it's going," wink-wink vibe. Take it up on that challenge, and you'll quickly discover just how contrived it really is. If, after that realization sets, you still yearn for something earnestly tortured and genuinely challenging, ditch this and check out Bright Eyes.

I suppose with all the myopic 80's retro nonsense going on, something like Paperchase was bound to happen. If you like this, fine, knock yourself out. If you want to think it's fresh and daring, OK, lie to yourself if it makes you feel better. Just don't insult my intelligence (and my memory) by claiming this will somehow save rock music from its current throes of mediocrity. I remember when we thought that about the bands Paperchase are imitating back in the late 80's/early 90's, and what did we get? Pearl Jam.

So go ahead and sing out prophetic praises in Paperchase's name - just don't get bitter when they prove themselves unworthy of your optimism. You've been warned.