Customer Reviews

Who Killed Sgt Pepper (Ogv) [Vinyl]

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

this is a gatefold double LP, the vinyl is cream with a raspberry splatter, physically the presentation is just gorgeous. but even better: this is mastered and pressed exceptionally well. the bass is deep, the tonalities are rich, the sound is completely fabulous. if this music were a church then the mp3's take you to the porch/foyer and the vinyl is a venture through the temple into the sanctuary. it is high quality.

that's it for the physical specs. as for the album itself, it flows. it's an arrangement of songs that create a semblance of a whole. i'm not going to describe song by song, because you can listen to it in full length at the band's web site via a series of entertaining youtube videos, streamed for free. so decide for yourself. personally i find the entire album completely enjoyable, cohesive and strong. try "feel it" for an introduction. some of the songs are super heavy, some clearly experimental, and just layers of influences, nods, and conceptual artistic exposition. overall very engaging. there are interviews etc all over the web if you are interested in deconstructing the material, as for me, i'd rather just spin the vinyl and feel it.

Brian Jonestown Massacre came back from the music wilderness with a very fine 2008 album "My Bloody Underground", and Anton Newcombe & Co. have been busy ever since, with several other EPs since then, and now comes the band's 10th proper studio album. Of interest is that this album marks the return of original guitarist Matt Hollywood.

"Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?" (13 tracks; 72 min.) departs from the earlier sound at times, less psychedelic, and with good result. The opener "Temp 116.7 (Reaching for Dangerous Levels of Sobriety)" is a mostly instrumental, grooving track, of which there are plenty on this album. It is followed by "Tunger Hnifur", which is an all-out rocker. "This Is the First Of Your Last Warning (Icelandic)" is another heavy instrumental. "This Is the One Thing We Did Not Want To Have Happen" somehow reminded me of Joy Division, of all things. "Detka Detka Detka" is the lightest tune on here, and irreverent at that. "Feel It" is another rolling tune, and one of my favorite tracks on here. As with many BJM albums, there is also a lot of excess (and isn't that exactly the point of it?), none more than the 10+ min. closer "Fett Tipped Pictures of UFOs", which goes nowhere and is simply unnecessary. Cut a couple of the weaker tracks, make it a 50 min. album and we're talking 4.5 stars. But then again Anton Newcombe is gonna do what he's gonna do.

BJM's touring has been sporadic over the years, although it's getting better in more recent times. I saw the band for the first time in 2007 at the Monolith festival at the Red Rocks in Colorado in 2007, which was tension-filled from start to end, Anton was not having a good day apparently and it wasn't clear they would make it through the entire set but somehow they made it through. Saw them again at Coachella last year (with Matt Hollywood in the line-up) and that was a much more relaxed affair, with great result. BJM is starting a massive world tour in support of this album shortly, and they'll make a stop in Cincinnati in June. You can bet I will not miss that. Meanwhile "Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?" is a fine album, and a must for any BJM fan.

Biased and "hip" sources have consistently accused Anton and his entourage of international psych-masters of overplaying the same chords in one song or sounding lo-fi and not progressing since (name any pre-2008 album here)... It sucks and simultaneously feels rewarding to say that this band belongs to it's rampant die-hards and cult-like fans. Even seeing them live, you can always pull out the fakers in the crowd who don't dig the density of the band. Honestly, from an outside perspective, I would say that "Who Killed Sgt. Pepper?" deserves a 10 out of ten from every smack talking reviewer out there. First off, the album features songs done in 3 different languages. That being said, no, it's not Spanish, French, and English... In fact, it's Icelandic, Russian, and English. My first point being that Anton travelled far and worked hard to find some fantastic singers outside of the bubble within the United States here. Secondly, he is not exactly stepping down from the vocal spotlight because of the impact of "Dig!" or whatever you might want to make up in your head; he's sharing the spotlight and helping foreign psychedelic artists out who do not have as big of a psychedelic rock movement in their towns/cities. The singer on "Detka! Detka! Detka!" is none other than Felix from Amazing Electronic Cave (a fantastic St. Petersburg based musician who makes some killer psych rock, check him out)... His vocals are really unique and his presence on the album is extremely different and appealing, throwing in Russian folk influence as much as synth pop. Those two influences I just mentioned don't seem to fall into the older discography, do they? Well, there's another reason to listen. Thirdly, I read a review on Pitchfork media that said that the song "Felt Tipped Pen Pictures of UFO's" was a bit too much and that "the Scottish woman ranting about a John Lennon movie" was ridiculous, and so on and so forth. Scottish woman? It's Anton's wife coincidentally and um, don't think she's Scottish... Anyhow, the song isn't a disaster in the slightest bit if you listen to it in the right situation. I once put it on at a party just this past January, and while people were interested, it wasn't a dance tune. But who ever said it was or had to be? I suggest listening to it alone, and on repeat... It has some awesome audio clips, a really spaced-out but well plotted synth loop, and of course, Anton's wife conversing about "Dead Famous," which is truely worth listening to, because it's food for thought and not some soulless pop radio hit.

If you're already a fan of the band and it's associated acts, well, you're probably not reading this-- you're probably listening to it right now. I actually only wrote a review now because I saw there was very few and I felt enraged by the "indie" media's rotten portrayal of a fantastic album that has a song to suit just about anyone. You've gotta learn, Anton is an "everything" sort of artist; he's not going to back down and release worse music as he ages, he keeps trucking continuously in the music world, dabbling in every style and trying out new things. Doesn't anyone get tired of the same sound over and over and over with a lot of modern bands? There's pretend and there's real, and this here is real-- a product of the world.

Once upon a time, BJM released engaging albums with actual songs, that showcased songwriter, Anton Newcombe's collision of 60's psych rock and sonic shoegaze.
This hybrid presented the band as definite stylists, lighting the way to a musical movement that never fully took hold.
Sadly, the signature sound has given way to Newcombe's current obsession with indulgent instrumental experiments that meander without purpose, and much worse, chirpy disco beats (Feel it).
As BJM's ringleader & one-time mastermind, all blame should be laid at the feet of Anton.

What makes a record like,"Who kiled Sgt. Pepper?" so frustrating, is the fact that Newcombe could pen better material in his sleep.
One spin of BJM's two disc retrospective from 2004, confirms the abundant talent of the songwriter, a talent spread through a multi-tude of releases & peaking with 2001's, "Bravery, repetition & noise."
Even their tour in 2009 showcased a newer song (Pre-fab Ambulation), that pointed in the direction of the classic Brian Jonestown Massacre sound.
However, The material on "WKSP" seems to gleefully sacrifice melody & sharply layered instrumentation, for electro beats & droning soundscapes.

In the end, art is entirely subjective, and maybe, as a listener, i'm conflictd by my own interpretations of what i consider BJM to be as a musical entity.
It's also entirely possible that Anton's homespun electro-experiments, should remain boxed in Iceland, allowing room for the "real" songs to emerge.
Maybe, one day.

I just saw BJM live in Portland. They killed, just like the last time I saw them. They were tight, knew their stops, and eschewed rock theatrics to concentrate on their musicianship. Zia from the Dandy Warhols even joined them on stage for "Not if You Were the Last Dandy on Earth." BJM's consistent output, despite all of the lineup changes, tells you something about Anton's unstoppable vision. I would go see a BJM show before I'd go see U2, Bruce Springsteen, or just about anyone else who's been making music for 20 years. Don't just buy this CD: buy all of them.

Doesn't sound like the classic BJM records? Get over it. Anton's gonna do what he's gonna do. Hop in and enjoy the ride or stay at home and listen to your classic rock. This record is great fun, the on-line videos are fresh and hilarious. The packaging is el cheapo, but certainly as green as can be. The last track is a throwaway and basically serves to remind you to hit restart or move on to something else. Kinda clever if that is the intention. I think this is a fine addition to BJM's catalog of aural intoxication. Feel it!

This is an album that the Amazon sampler does no justice. You need to buy this album and listen to it from beginning to end. You'll find many layers to it and eventually become enveloped in its composition. Buy it, its good.

This album is a great shift from My Bloody Underground. At that point you could already see the transition taking place in the sound of BJM. I'm a fan of every album and although this is a totally different sound compared to ten plus years ago, it's worth getting. And like mentioned above get yourself The Dead Skeletons song. It's amazing like this album.

I'm having one issue though...I'm not sure whether I like it better blasting out through giant speakers or plugged directly into my brain with headphones. Anton and BJM in their latest techo/ambient incarnation have truly hit their stride...all these tracks are great. I recommend spending the extra 99 cents and getting Dead Mantra by Dead Skeletons as a sort of bonus track to Who Killed Sgt Pepper? That track definitely falls into the blasting at super loud volume category. And one has to wonder, where will Anton & Co. take us next? A fabulous journey inside our heads...tickets, please...and be sure to bring some supplies, if you know what I mean

if they were stranded on a desert island who's collection of music would you take if you had the choice? BJM. They are the greatest rock band of all time. And they no doubt have close to the most albums of any band. Anton is perhaps no genius (even though I think he is). Just one great musician. I love the 60s and psychedelia influence, along with his obsession with the Stones, etc. With BJMs canon of music, they must crank out 5 or 6 songs every nanosecond. And they are all brilliant or close to that each and every album. You should also experience them live. I took my wife to see them at a small venue in south St. Louis called Off Broadway last year. My wife likes stuff like New Pornographers, Neko Case, crap like that. I brought her with no expectations. We sat on old wood benches overlooking this band. Honestly, my wife left thinking it was the best concert she had ever been to. The band was so tight and there was such harmonic guitar brilliance stretched across oh, 6,7, 8 guitarists. If there is a hint of madness or just anger in Anton's lyrical content these last few albums it probably is just a touch of frustration that his voice doesn't get more attention. But he has his audience and his canon of music will hold up well beyond 99 per cent of all rock music. Guaranteed.
This latest album has a loose, infectious groove to it that is every bit as listenable and strong as anything they have ever recorded.