52. A Place to Bury Strangers

A Place to Bury Strangers by A Place to Bury Strangers
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

Here's a shoegazing band that has a sound all their own. The ambient static and psychedelic, dream-like melodies make for a feeling somewhere between sleeping and waking.

"Missing You" has got some awesome guitars that echo steadily while the vocals drone out in a very melancholic, monotonic fashion. "Don't Think Lover" starts off with an industrial kick, then softens up with a sound that is pop-friendly with enough static to make you feel electrified. It's like trying to find the right radio station on the tuner, but barely being able to.

"To Fix the Gash in Your Head" is one of my favorites. Great speed in rhythm. The lyrics are violent, but strangely satisfying. I hate to say it, but Ackermann makes domestic violence sound cool. (Don't take my word for it, it's just that musically, this is an incredibly cool song even if the idea is pretty terrible). The electronics are harsh, abrasive, and metallic-like.

The beginning of "The Falling Sun" reminds me of the end of a really sad 80s movie. I mean that as a compliment. Then it outgrows itself immensely and becomes something atmospheric and enchanting. You can easily imagine yourself in a great hall or cavernous building of mammoth proportions. The echoing and ambient sound just envelops you. It may be overwhelming for some, but I think it definitely can be fulfilling to listen to.

"Another Step Away" is more upbeat and is a refreshing contrast to the other tracks. You can actually hear the sun coming out on this one. It's interesting how Ackermann's voice has a sort of nonchalant simplicity. He doesn't ever sound happy. At the same time, he doesn't need to. Stylistically, it seems to work.

"Breathe" is a rock song in every sense. There's something faintly reminiscent of Nine Inch Nails to this band's style. I think it's the heavy white noise. The drum machine-like rhythm coupled with real drums in the background and the guitar riff make this a very catchy piece of music.

"I Know I'll See You" takes a turn into more mysterious territory and is one of the first songs on the album where you can actually hear Ackermann's vocals clearly without it being enveloped in all the ambient noise. It has great interaction and spacing between guitar, noise, and vocals.

"My Weakness" is pretty amazing. There's this sound like a jet taking off in the beginning and then Ackermann actually sings with a sense of feeling. It's very different from the other tracks because he sounds a lot more emotionally involved.

"Ocean" makes me wonder if Ackermann is actually from Great Britain. The accent seems slightly British. The percussion is pretty rockin' towards the middle of the song because it's syncopated amid the other elements. Again, the spacey guitars and white noise make this a signature A Place to Bury Strangers song.

Check out the Japanese and European bonus tracks too. "Get On" reminds me of something Trent Reznor would write, and "Run Around" is hardcore space rock at its best. Also, "Sunbeam," believe it or not, shows a more sensitive, tender side to this band.

Colder in sound and perhaps even a bit of a downer, this album takes you to another place. It's really unlike anything I've ever heard before. The electronic distortions and obvious love of white noise create a trippy, atmospheric, electrified collection of songs that are pretty freakin' original.



Track listing:

1. Missing You
2. Don't Think Lover
3. To Fix the Gash in Your Head
4. The Falling Sun
5. Another Step Away
6. Breathe
7. I Know I'll See You
8. She Dies
9. My Weakness
10. Ocean
11. Never Going Down (Japan and Europe bonus track)
12. Get On (Japan and Europe bonus track)
13. Run Around (Japan and Europe bonus track)
14. Half Awake (Japan and Europe bonus track)
15. Sunbeam (Japan and Europe bonus track)

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Who are A Place to Bury Strangers?