Pull

Arcwelder

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 23, 1993)
• Original Release Date: March 9, 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Touch & Go Records
• ASIN: B0000019JK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #200,855 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars a dense, swirling pop gallery, December 26, 2000

By	Michael Heminger "pantherboy" (Pardeeville, WI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

How can it be that people haven't reviewed this great band?? O.K., if you haven't heard them before, you owe it to yourself to do so. Yes, they can be compared to Minne-mates Husker Du, but only in the sense that they play loud, heady pop songs. Whereas the Huskers took a more straightforward approach to songwriting, Arcwelder gives off a more nebulous feel, as if an album sort of 'happens' when they get together. Live, the trading of bass and guitar between the brothers Graber lends the feeling that we are watching something being born - perhaps for the first time.

Many songs here convey the feeling of being drawn into something dense and swirling ("Criminal") yet not entirely hostile. Another effective Arcwelder mood is the bored yet articulate pensiveness found in "Will When You Won't", featuring (uncredited) horns that add to the I-dont-wanna-go-outside rainy feeling.

Their methods border on madness at times, and a penchance for distorted vocals (Bill Graber) and crashing noise cadences can become distracting or downright annoying, but the quality of songs here will still hold your interest. Some of Bill's songs take us on a tinny, trebly ride that prefers a dronelike linearity over chord changes, and can create an evocative mood such as the eastern-tinged "Lahabim". Scott Macdonald's vocals have been compared to those of Bob Mould, with personal themes shrouded in more complexity and dense tones.

All this may sound too serious, but the 'Welder boys are usually either rocking out or poking fun at themselves, as in the opening cut "Truth" where Bill reminds us "When it's all done/This is just a song". "What Did You Call It That For" may be a hint at its title's irrelevance to the subject matter, but the seriousness of the spinning riff will keep you guessing with each successive play.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Overlylord knows best., November 17, 2001

By	"donkeye" (all up in your face) - See all my reviews

I believe the review by the Overlylord is one that puts it best. This is a killer good album. I dream about it. I dream about its goodness and cry while asleep, which scares the dickens about my girlfriend, especially when I yelp, Pull! Pull! Pull! Arcwelder!!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I got free stickers from this band, November 10, 2001

By	"overlylord" (canada) - See all my reviews

All the emotion of a fugazi album without any of the politics.
Finger pianos, crunching guitars, songs about being lonely and remorseful. One of the best releases from the glory days of touch and go records. I once sent this band a letter asking if I could use track 2 from this album in a movie i was making. In exchange I offered them a place to stay if they played a gig in my city. I got stickers as a response, the family I was living with were glad they never showed up.