Customer Reviews

Yesterday & Tomorrow's Shells

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

 

 

It's hard to figure out where to begin when discussing this album. It is Ash Bowie of Polvo's first solo effort, and mostly consists of home recordings that he's been making since 1993. A Polvo fan may approach this album thinking that it will either sound like a new Polvo album, or completely different from Polvo; it actually sounds like both things. In many ways it builds off some of the things going on in "Shapes," the final Polvo record, such as instrumentation and less rocking songs. Some of the songs have a somewhat chaotic feel to them, like they're going to sort of implode at some point. At times the songs are tedious, but at its best the album showcases the best of what Ash has to offer. Because it was recorded over such a long period of time, it is more of a collection of songs than a fully realized album. I would like to see Ash release a studio album which he writes and records to be such. Until then, Polvo fans will find this at least intriguing if not enjoyable.

Ash continues his form of innovation on Libraness only more Dynamically. If you like Polvo or early Sonic Youth your collection will suffer without this gem.

Well, this is what it is: a collection of demos and stuff from one of the guitarists of Polvo. Recording quality is not superb but it is interesting. Interesting tones and tunes throughout, a couple tracks on here are a must-hear. Especially if you're into Polvo.

Ash Bowie has created a singularly wierd solo outing under the name Libraness. Punked-up assaults like "Totempole" (which sounds like Brainiac and Ween trying to outplay eachother) alternate with prepared-banjo (sounding) string-twisters and downbeat indie-rock introspection.

Guitars spiral, swoop and churn in an angular and carefree way -- yet through it all, Bowie's warm, scratchy whisper of a voice lends a pleasant lo-fi murk to otherwise challenging material.

The great majority of the album sounds like it was 4-tracked in the living room or basement, then sandblasted and left out in the rain.

Don't mistake the seemingly paltry four star rating for not totally loving the crap out of this beautiful album. It took me a long time (a few years) to really come to appreciate this awesome work of schizophrenic artistry, but, oh, I am glad that I finally did.

Hey, it is very WEIRD music. It is also extrememly diverse, yet it somehow manages to flow like a mo-fo. No joke, folks. When the night is right, I put this one on and drink my face off, repeating "Yesterday and Tomorrow's Shells" from start to finish until sunrise. It wholly alters everything. Then I put it away for a long time so I can come back to it again far into the future, to span special time with my old buddy.

That's what might happen to you, should you elect to purchase this. Just kick down the used price and get your Libraness on already. (It's better than Polvo, I think.)

THIS ALBUM STANDS ALONE...IT'S ONE OF A KIND AND I THINK THAT ALL OF YOU WHO READ THIS NEED TO GET THEIR HANDS ON IT....IT'S AMAZING....ROCK DA HOUSE LIBRANESS.

I have been a Polvo fan for the past 7 years and I have to admit, this is as good as any Polvo album. I recommend this to anyone. This album shows how much influence Ash Bowie had on Polvo.

Although the recording quality is not up to the standards of previous Polvo recordings, this record is still essential listening for any fan of Polvo. It's got real rockin' off-time guitar tracks like "Face on Backwards" to mellow (yet still experimental in the Polvo way) songs like "No Separation." Regardless of the quality of the recordings, it is worth the price of admission alone just to hear what Ash has been up to over the past few years. Now if he'd only play live again ....*sigh*