Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 10, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: DEAD OCEANS
• ASIN: B001PSQGN6
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #228,125 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band (MSHVB) is a troupe of lively young spirits, and the breathtaking pace of their 11-song debut never falters. Tracks like “Cheer for Fate” and “Masquerade” whirl swinging bass lines, wailing guitar, and twitchy percussion. Lead singer Benjamin Verdoes is a sharp and deliberate lyricist, particularly on the whimsically imagistic “Going On a Hunt” (“I’m going to spear the mighty giant squid / I’ll steal its ink / To write you letters”) and the Coleridge-referencing “Albatross, Albatross, Albatross,” an epic storm of a song that opens with thudding synthesizer as Verdoes snaps, “Who’s that fool around your neck?” Verdoes's wife, keyboardist Traci Eggleston, complements his throaty, intent, and emotive voice with sweet harmonies. (His brother, MSHVB drummer Marshall Verdoes, was all of 13 years old when this album was recorded.) The standout "En Fuego," a perfectly devilish song at once trembling and audacious, finds Verdoes confessing, “Just want to send those shivers back down your spine.” It’s a daunting yet fitting metaphor for the music on this album – so bold and vital, it positively glitters. --Erin K. Thompson

Product Description

At first blush, this album recalls Wolf Parade with the band's frayed melodic sensibilities and urgent, driven vocals in particular. Of course, Wolf Parade borrowed a few ideas from Modest Mouse, whose beginnings were indebted to the Pixies. This is the sort of musical lineage that creates the foundation for this group's debut. But dig a little deeper and strains of Queen's epic rock peer through, while exhilarating guitar work that nods towards Thin Lizzy appears in more than a few songs.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must listen!, March 23, 2009

By 

Sean Elliott "humanencounter" (Seattle, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band (MP3 Download)

A must have for anyone who likes Modest Mouse, The Shins, Cake, and White Stripes. There's even a bit of a Brittish sound in there. That being said this band has much originality. This album has a nice blend of 60's, 70's and present day rockin' goodness. It almost feels like it's going to bust into some old school metal with the lead style guitar, but pushes it into a pop/punk infusion. Give it an ear! very good candy!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breathing new life into tired old Rock, September 28, 2009

By 

Cheapsk8 "cheapsk8" (pleasanton, ca) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band (Audio CD)

This band takes Rock to a uniquely new place. Blending guitar styles more reminiscent of the 1970's with rhythms, lyrics, and vocals more akin to Alternative and Indie rock, Mt St Helens Vietnam Band has taken a tired, worn out genre and has breathed new life into it. My pathetic attempt to compare them to other genres really underscores how truly unique this band is. Their songs are heart, soul and cajones wrapped in one. This band is good from the ground up. The rhythm section is second to none, and the guitarists show an amazing amount of collaboration on par with the Allman Brothers.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars great record, May 19, 2010

By 

Mr. Aidan L. Volkofsky "vinyl junkie" (Swan Hill, VIC, AU) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mt. St. Helens Vietnam Band [Vinyl] (Vinyl)

wow so good! i had only heard of these guys from [...] and was blown away by the 4 tracks there. The rest of the album fits so great!