331/3 (#75):Slint
Spiderland
by: Scott Tennant
The latest installment in the 33 1/3 series, music journalist Scott Tennent has taken on Slint's 1991 masterpiece, "Spiderland."
It seems more than appropriate that someone has finally decided to probe into one of music's most mythic albums, released by one of the most mythical bands. The first two-thirds of the book are fascinating, as he deeply researches and probes into the birth and methodology of the mysterious Louisville quartet. However, when he gets to actually discussing "Spiderland" the pace comes to a screeching halt. His in depth descriptions of how songs like "Nosferatu Man" and "Good Mornin, Captain" become tenuous. It's as though he assumes the reader hasn't heard the album, and apparently feels that his bland descriptions can somehow replace the experience of acutally listening to the album.
In the end, it does offer a context around the album that has previous been lacking when you look at the limited discography that Slint's career left behind. And it offers perspective as to why this album, as quirky and abstract as it may be, is one of the most influential albums of the past two decades.
It seems more than appropriate that someone has finally decided to probe into one of music's most mythic albums, released by one of the most mythical bands. The first two-thirds of the book are fascinating, as he deeply researches and probes into the birth and methodology of the mysterious Louisville quartet. However, when he gets to actually discussing "Spiderland" the pace comes to a screeching halt. His in depth descriptions of how songs like "Nosferatu Man" and "Good Mornin, Captain" become tenuous. It's as though he assumes the reader hasn't heard the album, and apparently feels that his bland descriptions can somehow replace the experience of acutally listening to the album.
In the end, it does offer a context around the album that has previous been lacking when you look at the limited discography that Slint's career left behind. And it offers perspective as to why this album, as quirky and abstract as it may be, is one of the most influential albums of the past two decades.
