Customer Reviews

Salt Sinks & Sugar Floats

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

 

 

764-Hero, made up of John Atkins (of Hush Harbor and Ugly Cassanova fame) and Polly Johnson (who runs the label Suicide Squeeze) are the two most talented musicians I have ever heard. Their simple progressions, slow rhythms and occasional thrust into harder, more intense rock ("Loner Getaway Car")can and will convince you they are the best-kept secret in Washington state. This album was recorded by Steve Wold in June of 1996. The cover was designed by Tae Won Yu (from Kicking Giant). 764-Hero's first seven-inch, "Now You're Swimming," is a good introduction to this band (on Suicide Squeeze)--it prepares you for such beautiful, achingly-sweet, emotional songs like "Sick of Apologizing" and "The Way A Leash Feels." Every note John hits and every lyric he sings is incredibly moving--Polly is an amazing drummer; she takes the simplest beat and makes it entrancing ("Gospel Truth"). This band is what every other band wishes they could be--they are original, talented musicians who make music enjoyable. I'd give this album ten stars if I could!

After listening to this CD, I couldn't help but hum the tunes in my head all day. It's my favorite of all 764-Hero's recordings so far. I recommend this CD to anyone interested in hearing mellow, yet driving tunes. Don't miss out!

So here's 764-HERO's debut album, obscured by time (and the other CDs in the discount bin). Although the rather critical guys at Allmusic gave this album a lazy garbage review, this record definitely deserves more. It's a Northwestern (dare I say) masterpiece, and properly set 764-HERO up for greatness. And it's amazing how great 2 people were at making such an album! John Atkins and Polly Johnson were both very talented at creating a sparse and slow set of songs that swing more towards the pessimistic (enough for close-minded folks to call "emo"). I'd say this is one of the most essential Up Records releases, along with anything by Modest Mouse and Built To Spill. It's lo-fi sleaziness, often exploding into indie blows and bangs. I don't really know how else to describe this album without talking to someone who has already experienced it. It's like a treasure, like a really old computer game on a floppy disc that you find on some dusty shelf and play with great nostalgia. A piece of sunburned emotion that has been recorded. I highly recommend, along with their other tremendous albums that greatly matured on each record.

Was there a time I ever actually cared for this stuff? I think my love for Cursive was single-handedly responsible for all these generically gruff, indie emo off-ramps.

So I was a big fan of Hush Harbor, and this has good stuff, but it's not 5-star quality. I mean come on, Built to Spill is 5 stars. This just needs more hooks. It tries, but it just doesn't quite get me there.