Customer Reviews

Why There Are Mountains

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

 

 

Excellent debut by this young group of alt-indie rockers. Sounds remind you of a cross between early Pavement with a mix of early Modest Mouse and their own blend of original songs, lyrics and other instruments leave you wanting more than the nine songs on this album. As 2009 looks to be a great year for music, this one is already near the top. I look forward to seeing them live.

New York-based indie-band Cymbals Eat Guitars (what a great band name!) was formed only last year by singer-songwriter Jason D'Agostino, and already the band is making quite a name for itself. The first song release by the band, "Share" (2008), created an immediate critical buzz, and the band hasn't looked back since. This is their (independently released and self-produced) debut album.

"Why There Are Mountains" (9 tracks; 45 min.) brings a a delicious, off-center, take on indie rock. Modest Mouse and Pavement/Stephen Malkmus have been mentioned most frequently when describing the sounds of CEG, and I can certainly see certain elements of that, in particular the Malkmus post-Pavement output. Opener "...And the Hazy Sea" is my favorite track on here, an epic 6+ min. roller-coaster between instrumental passages, soft interludes and howling parts. Other highlights include "Indiana", the earlier-mentioned "Share" (another 7+ min. epic), and the dreamy "What Dogs See". The short "Living North" is the most conventional song on here. In all, this album is quite pleasant from start to finish, and at 45 min. it clips by in no time.

I was supposed to see CEG in concert for the first time a few months ago in September at the Monolith music festival at the Red Rocks near Denver. Alas, the interest in the band was so fierce that I couldn't even get into the auditorium where they were performing, a major disappointment for me. Finally, if you wonder where you can hear these guys, check out WOXY (BAM! The Future of Rock and Roll), the internet-only station that brings the best indie-music in the country, bar none. Meanwhile, "Why There Are Mountains" is an intruiging debut album and I can't wait to see where Cymbas Eat Guitars go from here.

This band was introduced to me by a friend, and as soon as i heard "...and the Hazy Sea", I was interested. Vocals are reminiscent of early Modest Mouse and Joan of Arc. Their sound is rich and layered, upbeat yet mellow, simplistic and intricate, and doesn't sound over produced. Highlights include: ..."and the Hazy Sea, Some Trees, Indiana, Wind Phoenix, and Living North". This is one of those bands that gets you excited about music again. highly recommanded!

Tremendous music and lyrics for a band so young. Each song can stand alone yet their true beauty is in the entire body of work as a whole. Listening to the album from first song to last is as if I am listening to someone's personal story. Amazing!

I just found out about this band yesterday and this is definitely one of my favorite albums of 2009 thus far.

I just heard them on Future Perfect Radio. Perhaps more time may be the key. Rome wasn't built in a day.

Cymbals Eat Guitars borrows some elements from Pavement, Built to Spill, and Modest Mouse. Fans of the genre will definitely enjoy this debut album.

One of my favorite Indie-releases of the year, Cymbals Eat Guitars channel Modest Mouse and Pavement to create their own version of indie-rock. "...And The Hazy Sea" is a beautiful mess full of swirling guitars, while other songs pull from ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead or Sufjan Stevens. "Some Trees (Merritt Moon)" beings slowly enough before galloping like Pavement into the verse and chorus. Though the band might be accused of copying too much from their influences and not making their music their own, I think that their effort mixes enough of their influences to make it an extremely fun album and a great sign of things to come.

For fans of bands that are often catagorized as "indie rock" as a genre this is a must buy. Think early Pavement meets built to spill meets J.Mascis/Dinosaur Jr. If you didn't get this album 8-9months ago before it was available on CD pick it up now.

Just when 2009 seemed to be a disappointing year for the album, I discover this young band who created a record I cannot stop listening too.

If you love Built To Spill's "Perfect From Now On" and "Keep It Like a Secret", British Sea Power's "Decline of British Sea Power" and Bright Eyes's "Wide Awake, It's Morning", you will probably really like this album too.