Customer Reviews

Manic Compression

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Being a thirty three year old kinda guy who was weaned on metal and first-generation punk back in the late 70's early 8o's, I can honestly say that there are very few bands around with this much intelligence, both musically and lyrically. Great album, great band, period. And no, if Limp Bizkit is your definition of "metal", then don't buy this album. This is metal without image, where what you hear takes center stage. Crotch-grabbing and finger pointing fans need not apply. Long live music that matters.

Is there someone out there that does not love these guys? This album is full of hard punch and good guitar! I am sitting here, mad. Why am I mad? Because you don't own one of the best albums I ever heard, instead you are sitting there wondering if its any good.....IT IS! BUY IT! I GUARANTEE THIS ALBUM!

The current rise of ex-Quicksand frontman Walter Schriefels' new band, Rival Schools has sparked a resurgence of interest in his former projects. Right from the start you can hear the logical progression to Schriefels' current sound. Opener 'Backwards' is angular and coarse, yet still possesses the hint of emo-tinged melody that has come to the fore in rival Schools. Quciksand have often been touted as one of the original 'emo' bands - it's a phrase i hate to use to group together a genre, but hey - along with people like Far and weezer, and stand-out tracks like 'Landmine Spring' show you why. Throughout, the sound is angular, it sounds like a darker, more intense rival schools, buta band more prone to experimentation. indeed, i've done my best but it's actually very hard to categorise Quicksand's sound. what is evident, right from the first listen of this album, is exactly how many bands they've influenced. it's not perfect by any means, some tracks don't really develop to any great extent, and others don't possess any kind of 'hook', but overall it's a fine album and highly recommended to fans of Rival Schools, as well as any other emo/posthardcore/prententious/pointless/pigeonholing/of/music people (i'm not having a go at you guys, it's the music journalists!!! lol!!) out there!!! Enjoy!!!!

After having read the negative reviews here,I felt compelled to set the record straight. Yeah okay this isn't Slip. Get over it and try listening to Manic Compression a few more times. I first saw the filmclip for Fazer years ago in 94 and searched for anything "Quicksand" I could find. I bought Slip - and thoroughly dug it - and waited patiently for Manic to come out. I was stoked with ALL of the songs on Manic and I'd heard there was alot of tension between band members when they recorded, which I reckon comes across on the album. The song arrangements, the different tempos and the slightly sharper production quality to Manic Compression make it a different album compared to Slip for sure, but it's still an excellent Quicksand album. Don't let "Slip-heavy" fans put you off this disc - if you like intelligent, heavy, tight and rythmic music from talented musicians, GET THIS.

This is and will always be one of my favorite cds. there is such passion in this record! I love it!

Quicksand's 1992 effort "Slip" is a classic and I highly recommend it. However, I wish I could say the same for Manic Compression. Though it has just a handful of good songs, it just does not measure up to Slip. I bought this when it came out in 1995 and all I could remember is how disappointed I was and even more when they broke up. There are not many memorable tracks on this and the production is just sub-par, which I was surprised to see due to the fact Don Fury (Slip, Warrior Soul, Helmet) produced it. Walter Schreifels and Tom Capone are excellent songwriters and veterans of the New York Hardcore scene. Their combined resume is impressive with Youth of Today, Bold, Gorilla Biscuits, Quicksand, CIV, Rival Schools, Handsome and Instruction, all of which are worth checking out. These guys seem to get record deals with ease but the problem is these great bands never last. This might not be Quicksand's best but it is much better than most bands around today that call themselves hardcore.

I thought I'd right a review now being 10 years after this CD was released (WOW has it been that long!?) Quicksand influenced MANY bands and pretty much started the whole emo-core scene in the early-mid 90s. It's nice to listen again to this CD and here that it still sounds as fresh today as it did back then.

No weak points here. This album will still make your head bounce like it did when it was first released. This is by far the best work from Quicksand.

I've been listenening to them since '94. I miss these guys. I love their music. Still listen to them regularly. Good crunchy metal.

This band is truly one of the grestest bands of the 90's. Every release from this outfit is memorable and ground breaking in my opinion. They are a band that others I believe, have used as a format in thier own musical structure. Often imitated but never recreated, this band has a sound all thier own. This release is no excecption. Heavy post hardcore(if thats what you want to call it) that utilizes new and refreshing dynamics in that genre. Walters vocals are unlike any I've ever heard, still to this day. He manages to sing with a style all his own and it just adds to the overall uniqueness of the group. If you're in bands like the Deftones and even Linkin Park then this is right up your alley, except they totally were on that musical tip way before those acts. Manic is a monster of a record and will surly stand the test of time.
Curtis
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