Customer Reviews

SUMMER IN ABADDON [Vinyl]

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In my opinion, Pinback is one of the most innovative and original bands out there right now. I count them as one of my favorites -- a band who's sound I never tire of. Summer in Abaddon, by far in my estimation, is Pinback's best work and represents the pinnacle prowess of their unique sound.

There's something here for everyone, both melancholy and jovial, although Pinback's music is best reserved for a rainy (or mentally hazy) day. As the Amazon review states, Summer in Abaddon, much like other Pinback albums, takes repeated listenings to really get a feel for -- the track "This Red Book" represents exactly the idea behind that notion. It's such a beautiful song and keeps getting more beautiful after each listening (think Penelope) ... and the others fall in right behind and in front of it. Other highlights include the devastatingly catchy intro, "Non-Photo Blue" (when was the last time you've heard such a tremendous transition?) and the fabulous ending track "AFK." But picking highlights on this album is somewhat futile. I can't pick out a favorite, because they're all favorites to me. It's that good. The entire album is great and other listeners, I'm sure, will find their own favorites, but will no doubt admit that the album in its entirety is a mellow musical feat to admire.

Rob and Zach's talents are extremely underrated, but pointedly and almost intentionally so. They simply know how to make emotionally robust and cutting edge music that stays in your mind and doesn't get old. If I were to make music with a buddy of mine in a back room converted into a makeshift musical studio, this is how we would have envisioned it.

See them live if you have the chance. They add three others to play various instruments and then things really come together. Then and only then does their sound really come together and hit you with the significance of what they've managed to do without much hype. I hope that the trend continues.

The last time I can remember getting this excited about a musical discovery (I always think they are my secret discoveries and then I go on Amazon and find so many others have had similar personal secret discoveries) was The Samples "No Room" and Josh Joplin's "Useful Music." I have had Pinback's "Summer in Abaddon," on repeat play since Amazon sent it may way seven days ago. I really haven't wanted to listen to anything else finding new discoveries and additional layers to the music with each listen. These guys are solid musicians and have made some incredibly textured music.

I think of albums from my listening history that were the only things I listened to for weeks on end and (this dates me) U2's "Under a Blood Red Sky," AC/DC's "Back in Black," Rush's "Moving Pictures," and REM's "Automatic For the People" all come to mind...not to mention Def Lepard's "Hysteria" because that one is kind of embarrassing in hindsight. Not that Pinback's music parallels any of those in style or sound but that it strikes a similar chord of repeated listen desire. For those unitiated let me take a wag at what this music is about...it is hard to categorize. There is a little of old REM vocal interplay, there's a little of the Clash, a little of the Police in places, some of the Stone Roses vocal stylings, and a few of the 80's pop new wave punk in places...for some reason the Motels come to mind.

These guys hail from San Diego and are headed up by Rob Crow, who I've learned isn't new on the music scene. Rob Crow has been a part of Pinback for awhile (at least four CD/EPs) and has been a frontman for some group called Thingy and another called Heavy Vegetable, and yet another called Optigonally Yours. He must be a big fan of one of my favorite bar games...inane creative band names.

What makes this music so great? Each song has this repeated flow and has continuity from song to song with uniqueness and originality to each piece. The vocals and instrumentation are multi-layered beautiful and seethe with an understated intensity. It takes the best parts of indie underground and sugar-spun poppery and meshes them together into something truly unique and powerful and bottomline infectious. There is so much here. From the opening track, "non-photo blue," and it's Police-like guitar chop, to the Motels/Berlin Synth and killer refrain of "Sender," to the repetitiveness experimental/minimalist mathematic and Tripping Daisy vocals of "Syracuse." Then there's the Modest Mouse-ish "Fortress," that belongs on radio play in heavy rotation and on to the head bobbing cool breeze of "This Red Book," sounding like Papas Fritas in places. There's the vocal interplay worthy of the Beach Boys or old-style REM in "3X0" with some beautiful piano highlighting the up and down of muted picked guitar and bass. It's hard to say they saved the best for last because the album is all so solid all the way through but Pinback caps it with "AFK," that shows some fierceness and pop-punk shouting, "Protect, Embrace, Engulf, Protect, Enslave, In-love...remember the summer in Abaddon."

I'm waiting for the buzz to catch up with the brilliance of this music but secretly hoping it can remain my find (and a few others). Word will get out...I used to think the Pixies and Throwing Muses were my finds but others now know and appreciate. Pinback will get some mass recognition...it's unavoidable. Don't take my word for it, stick this one in the shopping cart and get addicted like moi.
--MMW

I used to describe Pinback to people who didn't know of them as a cross between Portishead, Radiohead, Tool, and the Pixies. That didn't quite fit. Then I started describing them to people who had never heard them as a cross between Primus, They Might Be Giants, and the Beach Boys. That isn't quite right either. There's a great thing about a band that is difficult to describe. It means they're doing something original.

Portishead elements? Pinback is the mellower than mellow. Their CDs are the ultimate chill CDs. I can be in absolutely any mood and want to listen to them. Radiohead, Pixies, and Tool elements? No, Pinback doesn't have blazing guitars or a yelling singer; even though Rob Crow and ABSIV are unique co-front men. I compare them to those bands because they do know how to create a really complex song structure. Like Tool and Radiohead, it takes several listens to really understand and hear the complexity of their music.

Primus elements? Armistead IV is an incredible bassist. One of my favorite things about Pinback is that they really know how to use the bass. Some songs, like "Fortress", even use two basses (Take that White Stripes!). Armistead uses a strum style that is similar Les Claypool. It is amazing.

Beach Boys elements? The cool harmonies of Rob Crow and ABSIV are soothing and wonderful. I have lived in San Diego for 13 years. Many bands from here have touched upon what could be called a "San Diego Sound". Blink182 sounds like the lame poseur punks who hang out in one of the 50 Pacific Beach tattoo/piercing shops. P.O.D. and Switchfoot represent the large number of people living in this town who are way too self righteous never shut up about their religion. The only two San Diego bands who I've ever been able to really get in to have been Deadbolt and Pinback. Pinback sounds like the ocean. Pinback is what it sounds like to go down to Ocean Beach and watch the sun set while surfers glide on waves under the pier. Pinback is what it sounds like to walk through Balboa Park at midnight eating cheap 'Bertos tacos with friends under a full moon. I don't even know if they like this town, but Pinback is the first San Diego band that makes me think about everything that I like about this city.

I'm the type of person who doesn't like it when other people find out about the band that was previously my little secret. I don't feel that way about Pinback. Following them as a fan for several years, I think they're great guys and deserve as much success as they can get. They've been around for a long time, and are in it because they love music. Get this CD, and get turned on to a great band. I like all of their CDs equally, and can't really say that one is better than another. They're all different. It's "indie rock" that doesn't suck. It's "mellow rock" that isn't wussy. Also, if you can see them live, do so. They change the arrangements of all of their songs instead of just rehashing what you can listen to at home.

I gave this album 5 stars because it is a glimmer of hope amongst crappy music. Too many bands put marketing ahead of the music. Far, far too many, maybe 95% of bands. Pinback is the exception to the rule.

'Summer in Abaddon' employs the same basic approach of Pinback's other albums: melodic rainy day music that is beautifully layered and contains brilliant transitions. This is an album that does not speak to a certain demographic, such as Simple Plan attempting to reach the "alienated and angst filled teens". This album is about beautiful, complex music that rewards repeated listens. I'm on my 8th time through, and the hooks are still great. Here are some of the highlights for me:
-the entire first song, 'Non-Photo Blue', is so damn catchy. The best opening track I've heard in a long time.
-the layering of guitars in "Bloods on Fire", with the guitar picking that fades in and out and then finishes the song.
-the transition in "3X0" from downbeat to a gorgeous upbeat melody that runs until the end.

This is well crafted music; the difference between a BMW and a Cavalier. These guys are passionate about music. Band websites are mostly crap centered around the band's 'image'. Pinback's is modest, as is the band. Their label completes the triad of modesty: Touch and Go records (which is also the label one of my other favorite bands, 'TV On The Radio') cares not about glamour.

Conclusion: Pinback is a great band and sets a great example.

I became an instant Pinback fan about four years ago while looking through a friend's CD collection, and I immediately went out and bought "Blue Screen Life". "Summer in Abaddon" is a great follow up to a near perfect album. The arrangements are interesting and gorgeously haunting,while the lyrics are alternately accessible and hermetic- perfect for pondering into the wee hours with a never ending cigarette.

Another consistently amazing album by Pinback! Pinback follows the same formula as previous albums but manages to capture an underline intensity both lyrically and musically on Summer in Abaddon. This album at low volumes sounds very straightforward and mellow but takes on a whole new attitude at higher volumes. Both Rob and Armistead are brilliant on their instruments and arrangements and it's certainly highlighted on this album. If you're a former Pinback fan, you...like me...might think it's a lot of the same, but please do them and yourself a favor and give it a few complete listens through. This album sits at the top slot on my best of 2004 list so far.

Rob Crow comes by way of Heavy Vegetable, Thingy, Optiganally Yours and his list goes on. Armistead Burwell Smith IV comes by way of 3 Mile Pilot and just recently released his own side project called Systems Officer.

Buy and enjoy, I have been a little too much!

Patience is a virtue when delving into a lot of Pinback's work but SIA has more ferocity than any of Pinbacks earlier efforts (except maybe Offcell EP) and is an easy casting-off point for new fans of the group. The third full album by Pinback is simply stunning. With more "user friendly" tracks like "Fortress" and "Non-Photo Blue" alongside songs like "This Red Book" and "Bloods on Fire" (which are more akin to the tracks of Blue Screen Life and Pinback), Summer in Abaddon is a pleasant journey into an emotional realm consisting of pain and longing previously left un-touched by Pinback's often technical or even methodical style.

The tracks flow into one another flawlessly, with the softer and the more upbeat songs placed at appropriate intervals, all building to the climactic, drum-driven "AFK": screaming at the listener to "remember the summer in Abaddon". But such a remarkable moment is hard to forget. My only complaint about the album is that now I have to wait for Pinback's next move...

Roll down the windows and turn up the volume. Give Summer in Abaddon a few spins and its infectious grooves and dark melodies will latch into your psyche with a deathly grip.

Rob Crows's hypnotic and seemingly effortless crooning will serenade you into relaxation while Absivs' rhythmic instrumentation and backing vocals will keep your knee tapping.

Music critic John Wenzel of Aversion.com, says "the band's intricate structures reveal greater levels of detail with every listen." Wenzel is dead on as with every spin, you'll uncover different piano, guitar, and synthesizer undertones in this atmospheric, almost surrealistic gem. The complex layering from so many different instruments, joined with Crow's soothing vocals make this offering a must.

Pinback has both the knack and resourcefulness for blending digital and electronic elements with live instruments. Summer exemplifies this prowess magnificently.

Songs tracks on Summer like "Non Photo-Blue," "3xØ," and "AFK" blend that sort of Porno for Pyros / Jane's Addictionesque tropical feel with dark, gloomy lyricism. Pinback manage to mix these two unlikely elements with crisp production and flawless execution.

The relaxing "Soaked" has an almost lackadaisical pimp-like sound to it while the up-tempoed and catchy sing-a-long "Fortress" will play perfect background to any workout.

Not a track is wasted on this effort, and not a cent will be wasted from your wallet.

This disc is a must on any beach/aquatic vacation, top-down summer drive, or quiet Sunday afternoon at home.

For fans of: John Frusciante & Josh Klinghoffer's "A Sphere in the Heart of Silence," Porno for Pyros, the Pixies, Jane's Addiction, Coldplay, older Blur albums, and Radiohead fans looking for a bit of sunnier-sounding content.

this CD is one of those rare CDs that you can play the whole CD through and through, and not be disappointed. I heard the first few notes of this CD...and fell in love with Pinback. This is the first of their music that i have ever heard, so now i have to work backwards, and find the other hidden beauties of this group.

this CD is great when you need just chillax. when the wind is blowing, and your mind needs to be free. the harmonies are superb. 'syracuse' might frustrate those who want to hear clear lyrics...but the obscurity of the lyrics just enhances the way this song was composed - with catchy tunes that you cannot get out of your head for days.

this CD is definitely original, and there is no comparing this group to many others. with the winter weather just around the corner, this is definitely my top choice for CD of the year in my collection.

This album is incredible. I am a huge fan of the self-titled first album, so I came to this one guarded and reluctant. But I was blown away by the way this album takes off, taking the listener to dark corners of the human mind and the bright hallways of its spirit. the use of instruments is more measured and beautiful than any of their other albums, and I'm especially happy with their inclusion of more piano. the contrapuntal harmonies and contrasting vocal parts that are pinback signatures are also geniusly done here. There is literally not a single mediocre song on this album- they all soar. And with every listen, new layers unfurl. Highly recommended.