Customer Reviews

White Trash Heroes

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

 

 

It is sad when a band that is brave enough to try new and imaginative things with each consecutive album breaks up. In A.O.L.'s case, the increase of creativity made each album better than the last. In a way, it's kinda good they broke up after this album because I can't imagine them doing better than this (but I also said the same thing after I first heard "All the Nations Airports").

But where ATNA is sometimes demanding on the listener, WTH's songs are splended on the first listen with well done vocal hooks (with the exception of the fantastic "Banging On a Dead Drum", which is reminiscent of Tom Waits' later work with distorted vocals that pretty much have no melody at all.)

I can name a zillion things I love about this album - the oddly timed bassline in "Dead Read Eyes", the lyrics in "One Slight Wrong Move", the full range sonic pleasure of "Fashion Bleeds", ad nauseum. But those would be nothing compared to how I feel about the title track.

The song "White Trash Heroes" shows a maturity of song writing, lyrics, and musicianship that is so rarely missing from modern popular music. To borrow a line from Kids in the Hall: "I wish that song was a day long...What a day that would be.". It's just so damn beautiful and tragic, much like the entire musical career of Archers of Loaf.

You can't go wrong purchasing any Archers of Loaf album. There's a depth to the recording that encourages me to listen to it again and again. Archers of Loaf didn't reproduce an "Icky Mettle" sound on release after release. How bored would I be? How sucky would that be? If I want to rock out, I listen to "Icky Mettle" or "Vee Vee" or "The Speed of Cattle". With bands like that, you only NEED to buy one album for your collection. This isn't AC/DC or Jackyl. I suggest you buy ALL the Archers of Loaf albums. NO, I INSIST!!! That's what makes this band great. You will like them ALL. Don't overthink this, just buy them and listen to them. You don't need to RANK them.

The final studio release from the Archers of Loaf expands on the experimental nature of their previous release, All the Nations Airports. This one features synthesizers and samplers very prominently, as well as a huge amount of tape loops and strange vocal and instrument effects. The first two songs are absolutely stunning. The 2nd "Dead Red Eyes" features a very soothing Casio-like keyboard line and Bachamnn's vocals for the first half, and then explodes with drums and bass in the last half. The real shining moment on this one is the title track, which is a 7 minute long guitar, tape loop and synthesizer epic of sheer beauty. The only song onthis one that I don't like all that much is "Slick Trick and Bright Lights". Bachmann's voice sounds like Adam Sandler on this song, and it is very unenergetic.
Although this is probably my least favorite studio album by AOL, I still give it 5 stars and recommend it highly.

I just got news that AoL are breaking up after this final tour (with Starcrunch/aka Brian Causey formerly of Man or Astroman? on guitar). All I can say is that they will be sorely missed. This album is great and for some reason really moved me on an emotional level. The final song (the title track) is quite possibly one of the greatest songs I've heard...I just can't stop listening to it...it really does end their underrated legacy on a wonderfully quiet and beautiful note. Buy the album and see for yourself.

The newest Archers CD once again expands the sonic empire of the Chapel Hill indie rock superheros. Diverse, expansive, and powerful, the Archers once again have advanced their sound, while being true to their fans. The up tempo Fashion Bleeds starts things off with a bang, and the slower Dead Red Eyes and Slick Tricks and Bright Lights complement the faster paced material. The standout track on this album is One Slight Wrong Move, which combines vocal effects and pulsating guitars and drums. This album features Eric Bachman's most contemplative lyrics to date, and bassist Matt Gentling takes the lead on the unintelligeble (yet incredible) INS. A must have for all Archers fans, and for anyone who is looking for an alternative to the alternative radio mainstream that currently pollutes out airwaves.

The Archers make their last album their best

AOL is my all-time favorite group, but what did they do in White Trash Heroes? The album is correctly named - it's trash. I like heavy guitar, but these songs have no rhythm & almost no guitar. Eric's vocals aren't raspy like their other albums. And Eric's newer group, Crooked Fingers, sound like the White Trash Heroes album. Big mistake. I don't recommend it.

Tightening their music vocabulary from All Nations Airports with keyboards and synths, the archer`s of loaf`s latest album (and apparently last) is an unsettling-sometimes meloncholy-often celebratory visit to the old home you grew up in. Normally i would be a bit sad-sad remorseful if a band i loved were slashing its own tires, but with this album a calming peace permeates. The keyboards slowly fade away from view, and in the distance snow falls on the midnight.... This album is a lovely way to sign off.

For me the aol were and will always be the greatest band EVER. The sound here is different than thier earlier releases, but if your a true fan, you will like it.
Iv'e had this album for years and now and I finialy wrote a review

i've loved AOL from the very first 7 inch...i can't count the times i've reach for their cd's and i will continue to do so - but WTH isn't an AOL album...i couldn't wait to listen to it and i was left completely devoid and let down - if you hear this album first - run...run and return it and buy Icky Mettle and work your way up to this one from there...spend a lot of time with All The Nations Airports and listen to them loud...some of my very favorite songs are AOL songs (and that's saying alot when you have thousands of cd's/records)...but i don't see this album being anything but a space filler...