: ankoku butoh : [Box set]

Faith and the Muse | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 31, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: The Mercyground
• ASIN: B00302T25O
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,734 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Completing a circle with a razor-sharp edge, December 7, 2009

By 

Scott Sweet "Music Freak" (Colorado Springs, CO) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: : ankoku butoh : (Audio CD)

Recap:
With "The Burning Season", Monica Richards and William Faith shook off both their fans' expectations and their own. Since then, they've worked steadily in Permaculture and animal rights while getting their punk on in Anarcho-Vegan band Anima Mundi.

Six years later, :Ankoku Butoh: merits the wait. This time the theme is reverence for nature and soul rebirth, from the perspective of Japanese Shinto. In spite of the title ("Dance of Utter Despair"), the songs don't dwell on anger and grief as much as rediscovering our place in nature, and then taking action. Specifically, against greed, religion and social injustice.

The CD:
*The Woman in the Snow ~ Monica sensed this melody during a rough flight. The music and heartbeat crescendo, leaving only Monica's voice to reflect the safe landing.

*Kamimukae ~ A second wordless piece; check out Violin virtuoso Paul Mercer by any and all means.

*Blessed ~ After those gentle openers, WHAM! This is F&tM's fastest song to date. Don't attempt
the Running Man to this or you'll have a stroke. NOW we have lyrics, a call to join the underground.

*Battle Hymn ~ Catchy and danceable as hell. Deserves its own genre, "Shinto Rock".

*Bushido* ~ A Taiko drum interlude. Faith studied Taiko, and it's clear why the Samurai used this to juice the troops.

*Nine Dragons ~ Faith continues the war vibe, describing an attack and the liberation of "the meek and the voiceless". For me, this is a nice bookend to 1994's "Trauma Coil". William yells like a champ AND gives us excerpts from Sun Tzu's Art of War.

*Harai ~ Finally, a breather. The sound of a Shinto Garden behind a bell instrumental.

*When We Go Dark ~ Straight-up deathrock, with a rhythm and mood similar to "Scars Flown Proud".

*The Red Crown" ~ This has a nice This Ascension feel. An indictment of those who give up: "The world will end, they say...so why not watch it burn?"

*Kodama ~ A smooth blend of 60's lounge and Nat "King" Cole's "Nature Boy". The most scathing lyrics on the CD: "There was the Spirit and the Machine, the mechanical Philistine".

*She Waits by the Well ~ Monica harkens to the groove of 1999's "Chorus of the Furies". Mother Nature's patience wears thin.

*Sovereign ~ FUN, butt-shakin' deathrock. A hint of Rozz Williams creeps in through Faith's exuberance: "So come out, come out wherever you hide / Time to stand and walk with pride".

*To Be Continued ~ A somber torch song. Close your eyes, and you can see Monica standing atop a seaside cliff in high wind, singing out to a departing fleet.

The DVD:
*Videos for "Battle Hymn", "Blessed", "Into My Own", and "The Burning Season"
*Full concert film of F&tM at Convergence XIII (2007)
*Interview with Monica and William
*Footage from various concerts over the years
*Trailer for the graphic novel series "Anafae" by Monica Richards and Jim Neely

The Book:
GORGEOUS! Printed in Japanese style ("reverse" for us), every page swims with color and features many of the lyrics from :Ankoku Butoh: This is the centerpiece of some *beautiful* packaging.

To quote from the disc packaging: "It's your world. Take it back."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Love the drums!!, November 16, 2010

By 

Lisa the Valkyrie - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: : ankoku butoh : (Audio CD)

I love this album from start to finish. I listen to the CD in the car...while I'm working out at the gym...I've played it for friends and family...this new Japanese-influenced style is amazing. The best part is the heavy taiko drums that are featured throughout the album. I had the great privilege of seeing Faith & the Muse perform on the :ankoku butoh: tour-- there's nothing like seeing these songs played live.
That being said, my only complaint was that the DVD didn't contain more footage of the band performing music from the album with Serpentine dancing. I appreciate all the valuable early footage, but was expecting more of their newest music.

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious, December 6, 2010

By 

Memorial Drive - See all my reviews

This review is from: : Ankoku Butoh : (MP3 Download)

Faith and the Muse are responsible for some of indie rock's most resounding and heartfelt anthems of the 90s and this young century. They could have played it safe and revisit old territory, secure in the admiration of diehard fans.

But William and Monica eschewed the easy route and headed East. The result, : Ankoku Butoh :, a resounding and percussive album that careens from simple beauty (Harai, Woman of the Snow) to punk rock anthem (Blessed, Sovereign). On the one hand mature and composed, on the other an emotional release -- often in the same song. Fans will recognize the mythical, magical Faith and the Muse right away, but it's the taiko drums and the edgy swagger that's updated the band's sound to great effect. Favorite song on the album: The Red Crown.

There's an urgency and message embedded in this album that rides some mad line between sober reflection and devil-may-care abandon. And I REALLY like it. Hope you will too!