loudlooppress.com » Shrinebuilder http://loudlooppress.com Amplifying Chicago's Music Scene Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:15:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Weekend Diversions http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/ http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/#comments Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:01:15 +0000 Ross Meyerson http://loudlooppress.com/?p=3944 [/caption]Better late than never I suppose... This weekend, we're spotlighting tonight's Dirty Projectors show, Shrinebuilder and Chicago's own Bottomless Pit. But before we get to our picks for top weekend shows, a reminder: Loud Loop Radio will once again grace the intertubes tomorrow, Saturday, November 14, at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. CST on Radio DePaul. We'll probably talk about The Pixies and other cool stuff. Joining me in the studio this Saturday will be Loud Loop contributor Audrey Leon. Let's get to it, shall we? The Dirty Projectors The group seems to be at the peak of their powers right now. Their new album Bitte Orca is easily among the year’s very best releases, not to mention their fantastic back catalog. Appearances on The Tonight Show, and other programs have shown that they band knows how to bring it live. They’ve even been introducing some awesome new material on this tour and it sounds great on stage. It’s just , that’s worth it just to hear this. - Dan Henshaw 9:00 PM. Friday, 11/13. Bottom Lounge. SOLD OUT. Shrinebuilder You have not one but two chances to see Shrinebuilder at the Empty Bottle this Saturday. There's an 8 o'clock show with Arkansas's Rwake and an 11 o'clock show with local metal experimenters Yakuza. If you have a short memory perhaps you might want to read my glowing review of the self-titled Shrinebuilder. - Ross Meyerson 8:00 PM & 11:00 PM. Saturday, 11/14. Empty Bottle. 21+. . Bottomless Pit Chicago's Bottomless Pit kind of have a little old school indie rock vibe. A little pavement, a little Spent, a little Versus. What makes their show Saturday at the Hideout so interesting is the opener, The Karl Hendrix Trio, an actual holdover from the 90's indie rock scene. My friends and I always considered them as our private secret gem, and it seems they are sort of back. If you can find their stuff it is worth the hunt, especially '93's Some Girls Like Cigarettes. In the meantime get in the wayback machine and enjoy the early 90's for the first time all over again. - Ross Meyerson 9:00 P.M. Saturday, 11/14. The Hideout. 21+. .]]> http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/feed/ 0 Shrinebuilder – Shrinebuilder http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/ http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:21:21 +0000 Ross Meyerson http://loudlooppress.com/?p=3747 d9d50809-3be6-459f-9214-4344ca4851ce Comprised of St. Vitus's Scott "Wino" Weinrich, Om's Al Cisneros, Neurosis's Scott Kelly, and the Melvins' Dale Crower, Shrinebuilder are the proverbial who's who of doom metal. Legend has it the album was recorded in a mere three days, which makes its cohesion all the more remarkable. It seems Shrinebuilder was more than able to avoid the usual pitfalls that typically derail supergroups. What can one say about the supergroup that hasn't already been said? A group, yes. Super? Rarely. There are reasons galore for why disappointment is too often the result when giants collide, but that is not the case with Shrinebuilder's self-titled debut. Problem one with most of these collaborations is that they usually consist of icons past their songwriting prime. Take the Traveling Wilburys. On paper it's almost too ridiculously huge to fathom: a Beatle playing with Bob Dylan? Roy Orbison's creepy falsetto mixing with Tom Petty's southern drawl? Yet the results were a batch of unremarkable songs by guys with not much left to say. This is clearly not the case with Shrinebuilder. Wino is the old man here, the Roy Orbison if you will. He's been carrying the Sabbath torch since the mid-80's after their heyday but way before most anyone else started picking through the rubble for inspiration. He was already outdated when he started which is probably why he so easily found kinship here with others willing to explore and experiment often in the face of current trends or common wisdom. Kelly's Neurosis have always twisted the definition of metal, adding ambiance and industrial to the mix.Whereas Cisneros's Om has been mining the hypnotic, mystical side only hinted at by others. And Crower's Melvins have gone wherever they damned well pleased, often painfully slow. Shrinebuilder may not deepen these explorations, but to hear each member's unique style is what makes the album sound fresh and relevant. Not just an exercise in hubris. The fact that all these divergent styles have come together to form a truly cohesive sounding album is one of Shrinebuiler's biggest achievements. "Solar Benediction" kicks things off with a pretty standard Sabbath-esque riff but quickly darkens as Wino's straight forward vocals give way to Kelly's menacing growl. Sure, it's like interjecting a Neurosis song into the middle of a St. Vitus one, yet the flow feels totally natural in their hands. Eventually, the song finds a completely hypnotic groove. This is where it becomes clear that Shrinebuilder is what a supergroup should be: cagey veterans. Having been around, these guys have no fear in taking their time and letting things stretch out. And when "Solar Benediction" starts to build slowly out of the breakdown, it ends up hitting the main riff at half time rather than ending where it began. Small things like that are what make this album something to behold. Perhaps the greatest juxtaposition of styles comes in "Pyramid of the Moon" when Scott Kelly's slow burn gives way to Al Cisneros's repetitive chant. Not only does it completely change the course of the song, but with a full band behind him, it's the closest thing to Sleep Cisneros has done since that band split. Dale Crower does his best to flesh out the vibe by cramming it full of crash cymbals. Again, the varying styles, often the death of the supergroup, are so well melded here that nothing comes completely out of the blue or sticks out like a sore thumb. Instead of trying to harness the sound of many into something more homogenized - what in the hell was Ted Nugent doing in Damn Yankees anyways? - Shrinebuilder found a way for everyone to work their distinctness into the album without it sounding like each other's backing band. Speaking of Ted Nugent, the one song where you can't really hear a Neurosis part or an Om part is "Blind For All To See," what almost feels like a doom take on the Motor City Madman's "Stranglehold" bridge. Why Nugent comes up so often is beyond me. Whereas Polvo's "D.C. Trails" off their latest only hinted at the classic Nugent breakdown, there's is no denying the resemblance on the Shrinbuilder track. The only thing missing is the flanged-out, backwards drums. That said, the song might be the stand-out track on the album. The languid pace actually allows for some pretty cool guitar work reminiscent of Kirk Hammet on the Master of Puppets instrumental take, "Orion." It's interesting that the one song most devoid of recognizable influence from the members of the band conjures up Nugent and Hammet. But it's what they do with the groove, adding hints of psychedelia and dark and menacing tones, that makes the song so striking, and it hints at the direction the group may with a little more time together. This leads to my one disappointment, albeit a minor one. Shrinebuilder, merely only five songs and clocking in barely above 39 minutes, ends too soon. It's a sentiment borne by how good the album is, and one that begs for this to be more more than a one-off. At the conclusion of "Science of Anger," the album begs to be played again. It can probably be said without argument that this is not the best thing any individual member has offered. When you have an Enemy of the Sun, Dopesmoker, Houdini, and Born Too Late under your belt, it's not surprising that, no matter the circumstances, you won't top yourself. Still, there's no denying that Shrinebuilder has overcome a pretty awful and embarrassing track record left by many supergroups, which are nothing more than a failed attempt at bringing together the biggest and the best. Taken at face value, without the orgasmic hoopla about who's in the band, this album would no doubt still kick ass. It's doom at its finest. Its full of small touches that make it rise above more standard Sabbath retreads, and it's heavy as shit. Maybe it takes a subversive genre like doom metal, with its outsider, us vs. them mentality, to finally earn the right to use the "super" in supergroup. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Catch Shrinebuilder Saturday, November 14, at the Empty Bottle. Tickets are available on Ticketweb.com right now for only ! _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Shrinebuilder - "Solar Benediction" httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL4BkunJqes
]]> http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/feed/ 1 Loud Loop Press 2009 Fall Concert Guide http://loudlooppress.com Amplifying Chicago's Music Scene Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:15:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 loudlooppress.com » Shrinebuilder http://loudlooppress.com Amplifying Chicago's Music Scene Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:15:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Weekend Diversions http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/ http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/#comments Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:01:15 +0000 Ross Meyerson http://loudlooppress.com/?p=3944 [/caption]Better late than never I suppose... This weekend, we're spotlighting tonight's Dirty Projectors show, Shrinebuilder and Chicago's own Bottomless Pit. But before we get to our picks for top weekend shows, a reminder: Loud Loop Radio will once again grace the intertubes tomorrow, Saturday, November 14, at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. CST on Radio DePaul. We'll probably talk about The Pixies and other cool stuff. Joining me in the studio this Saturday will be Loud Loop contributor Audrey Leon. Let's get to it, shall we? The Dirty Projectors The group seems to be at the peak of their powers right now. Their new album Bitte Orca is easily among the year’s very best releases, not to mention their fantastic back catalog. Appearances on The Tonight Show, and other programs have shown that they band knows how to bring it live. They’ve even been introducing some awesome new material on this tour and it sounds great on stage. It’s just , that’s worth it just to hear this. - Dan Henshaw 9:00 PM. Friday, 11/13. Bottom Lounge. SOLD OUT. Shrinebuilder You have not one but two chances to see Shrinebuilder at the Empty Bottle this Saturday. There's an 8 o'clock show with Arkansas's Rwake and an 11 o'clock show with local metal experimenters Yakuza. If you have a short memory perhaps you might want to read my glowing review of the self-titled Shrinebuilder. - Ross Meyerson 8:00 PM & 11:00 PM. Saturday, 11/14. Empty Bottle. 21+. . Bottomless Pit Chicago's Bottomless Pit kind of have a little old school indie rock vibe. A little pavement, a little Spent, a little Versus. What makes their show Saturday at the Hideout so interesting is the opener, The Karl Hendrix Trio, an actual holdover from the 90's indie rock scene. My friends and I always considered them as our private secret gem, and it seems they are sort of back. If you can find their stuff it is worth the hunt, especially '93's Some Girls Like Cigarettes. In the meantime get in the wayback machine and enjoy the early 90's for the first time all over again. - Ross Meyerson 9:00 P.M. Saturday, 11/14. The Hideout. 21+. .]]> http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/feed/ 0 Shrinebuilder – Shrinebuilder http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/ http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:21:21 +0000 Ross Meyerson http://loudlooppress.com/?p=3747 d9d50809-3be6-459f-9214-4344ca4851ce Comprised of St. Vitus's Scott "Wino" Weinrich, Om's Al Cisneros, Neurosis's Scott Kelly, and the Melvins' Dale Crower, Shrinebuilder are the proverbial who's who of doom metal. Legend has it the album was recorded in a mere three days, which makes its cohesion all the more remarkable. It seems Shrinebuilder was more than able to avoid the usual pitfalls that typically derail supergroups. What can one say about the supergroup that hasn't already been said? A group, yes. Super? Rarely. There are reasons galore for why disappointment is too often the result when giants collide, but that is not the case with Shrinebuilder's self-titled debut. Problem one with most of these collaborations is that they usually consist of icons past their songwriting prime. Take the Traveling Wilburys. On paper it's almost too ridiculously huge to fathom: a Beatle playing with Bob Dylan? Roy Orbison's creepy falsetto mixing with Tom Petty's southern drawl? Yet the results were a batch of unremarkable songs by guys with not much left to say. This is clearly not the case with Shrinebuilder. Wino is the old man here, the Roy Orbison if you will. He's been carrying the Sabbath torch since the mid-80's after their heyday but way before most anyone else started picking through the rubble for inspiration. He was already outdated when he started which is probably why he so easily found kinship here with others willing to explore and experiment often in the face of current trends or common wisdom. Kelly's Neurosis have always twisted the definition of metal, adding ambiance and industrial to the mix.Whereas Cisneros's Om has been mining the hypnotic, mystical side only hinted at by others. And Crower's Melvins have gone wherever they damned well pleased, often painfully slow. Shrinebuilder may not deepen these explorations, but to hear each member's unique style is what makes the album sound fresh and relevant. Not just an exercise in hubris. The fact that all these divergent styles have come together to form a truly cohesive sounding album is one of Shrinebuiler's biggest achievements. "Solar Benediction" kicks things off with a pretty standard Sabbath-esque riff but quickly darkens as Wino's straight forward vocals give way to Kelly's menacing growl. Sure, it's like interjecting a Neurosis song into the middle of a St. Vitus one, yet the flow feels totally natural in their hands. Eventually, the song finds a completely hypnotic groove. This is where it becomes clear that Shrinebuilder is what a supergroup should be: cagey veterans. Having been around, these guys have no fear in taking their time and letting things stretch out. And when "Solar Benediction" starts to build slowly out of the breakdown, it ends up hitting the main riff at half time rather than ending where it began. Small things like that are what make this album something to behold. Perhaps the greatest juxtaposition of styles comes in "Pyramid of the Moon" when Scott Kelly's slow burn gives way to Al Cisneros's repetitive chant. Not only does it completely change the course of the song, but with a full band behind him, it's the closest thing to Sleep Cisneros has done since that band split. Dale Crower does his best to flesh out the vibe by cramming it full of crash cymbals. Again, the varying styles, often the death of the supergroup, are so well melded here that nothing comes completely out of the blue or sticks out like a sore thumb. Instead of trying to harness the sound of many into something more homogenized - what in the hell was Ted Nugent doing in Damn Yankees anyways? - Shrinebuilder found a way for everyone to work their distinctness into the album without it sounding like each other's backing band. Speaking of Ted Nugent, the one song where you can't really hear a Neurosis part or an Om part is "Blind For All To See," what almost feels like a doom take on the Motor City Madman's "Stranglehold" bridge. Why Nugent comes up so often is beyond me. Whereas Polvo's "D.C. Trails" off their latest only hinted at the classic Nugent breakdown, there's is no denying the resemblance on the Shrinbuilder track. The only thing missing is the flanged-out, backwards drums. That said, the song might be the stand-out track on the album. The languid pace actually allows for some pretty cool guitar work reminiscent of Kirk Hammet on the Master of Puppets instrumental take, "Orion." It's interesting that the one song most devoid of recognizable influence from the members of the band conjures up Nugent and Hammet. But it's what they do with the groove, adding hints of psychedelia and dark and menacing tones, that makes the song so striking, and it hints at the direction the group may with a little more time together. This leads to my one disappointment, albeit a minor one. Shrinebuilder, merely only five songs and clocking in barely above 39 minutes, ends too soon. It's a sentiment borne by how good the album is, and one that begs for this to be more more than a one-off. At the conclusion of "Science of Anger," the album begs to be played again. It can probably be said without argument that this is not the best thing any individual member has offered. When you have an Enemy of the Sun, Dopesmoker, Houdini, and Born Too Late under your belt, it's not surprising that, no matter the circumstances, you won't top yourself. Still, there's no denying that Shrinebuilder has overcome a pretty awful and embarrassing track record left by many supergroups, which are nothing more than a failed attempt at bringing together the biggest and the best. Taken at face value, without the orgasmic hoopla about who's in the band, this album would no doubt still kick ass. It's doom at its finest. Its full of small touches that make it rise above more standard Sabbath retreads, and it's heavy as shit. Maybe it takes a subversive genre like doom metal, with its outsider, us vs. them mentality, to finally earn the right to use the "super" in supergroup. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Catch Shrinebuilder Saturday, November 14, at the Empty Bottle. Tickets are available on Ticketweb.com right now for only ! _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Shrinebuilder - "Solar Benediction" httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL4BkunJqes
]]> http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/feed/ 1 Loud Loop Press 2009 Fall Concert Guide http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/ http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/#comments Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:01:15 +0000 Ross Meyerson http://loudlooppress.com/?p=3944 [/caption]Better late than never I suppose... This weekend, we're spotlighting tonight's Dirty Projectors show, Shrinebuilder and Chicago's own Bottomless Pit. But before we get to our picks for top weekend shows, a reminder: Loud Loop Radio will once again grace the intertubes tomorrow, Saturday, November 14, at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. CST on Radio DePaul. We'll probably talk about The Pixies and other cool stuff. Joining me in the studio this Saturday will be Loud Loop contributor Audrey Leon. Let's get to it, shall we? The Dirty Projectors The group seems to be at the peak of their powers right now. Their new album Bitte Orca is easily among the year’s very best releases, not to mention their fantastic back catalog. Appearances on The Tonight Show, and other programs have shown that they band knows how to bring it live. They’ve even been introducing some awesome new material on this tour and it sounds great on stage. It’s just $15, that’s worth it just to hear this. - Dan Henshaw 9:00 PM. Friday, 11/13. Bottom Lounge. SOLD OUT. Shrinebuilder You have not one but two chances to see Shrinebuilder at the Empty Bottle this Saturday. There's an 8 o'clock show with Arkansas's Rwake and an 11 o'clock show with local metal experimenters Yakuza. If you have a short memory perhaps you might want to read my glowing review of the self-titled Shrinebuilder. - Ross Meyerson 8:00 PM & 11:00 PM. Saturday, 11/14. Empty Bottle. 21+. $15. Bottomless Pit Chicago's Bottomless Pit kind of have a little old school indie rock vibe. A little pavement, a little Spent, a little Versus. What makes their show Saturday at the Hideout so interesting is the opener, The Karl Hendrix Trio, an actual holdover from the 90's indie rock scene. My friends and I always considered them as our private secret gem, and it seems they are sort of back. If you can find their stuff it is worth the hunt, especially '93's Some Girls Like Cigarettes. In the meantime get in the wayback machine and enjoy the early 90's for the first time all over again. - Ross Meyerson 9:00 P.M. Saturday, 11/14. The Hideout. 21+. $8.]]> http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/feed/ 0 loudlooppress.com » Shrinebuilder http://loudlooppress.com Amplifying Chicago's Music Scene Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:15:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Weekend Diversions http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/ http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/#comments Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:01:15 +0000 Ross Meyerson http://loudlooppress.com/?p=3944 [/caption]Better late than never I suppose... This weekend, we're spotlighting tonight's Dirty Projectors show, Shrinebuilder and Chicago's own Bottomless Pit. But before we get to our picks for top weekend shows, a reminder: Loud Loop Radio will once again grace the intertubes tomorrow, Saturday, November 14, at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. CST on Radio DePaul. We'll probably talk about The Pixies and other cool stuff. Joining me in the studio this Saturday will be Loud Loop contributor Audrey Leon. Let's get to it, shall we? The Dirty Projectors The group seems to be at the peak of their powers right now. Their new album Bitte Orca is easily among the year’s very best releases, not to mention their fantastic back catalog. Appearances on The Tonight Show, and other programs have shown that they band knows how to bring it live. They’ve even been introducing some awesome new material on this tour and it sounds great on stage. It’s just , that’s worth it just to hear this. - Dan Henshaw 9:00 PM. Friday, 11/13. Bottom Lounge. SOLD OUT. Shrinebuilder You have not one but two chances to see Shrinebuilder at the Empty Bottle this Saturday. There's an 8 o'clock show with Arkansas's Rwake and an 11 o'clock show with local metal experimenters Yakuza. If you have a short memory perhaps you might want to read my glowing review of the self-titled Shrinebuilder. - Ross Meyerson 8:00 PM & 11:00 PM. Saturday, 11/14. Empty Bottle. 21+. . Bottomless Pit Chicago's Bottomless Pit kind of have a little old school indie rock vibe. A little pavement, a little Spent, a little Versus. What makes their show Saturday at the Hideout so interesting is the opener, The Karl Hendrix Trio, an actual holdover from the 90's indie rock scene. My friends and I always considered them as our private secret gem, and it seems they are sort of back. If you can find their stuff it is worth the hunt, especially '93's Some Girls Like Cigarettes. In the meantime get in the wayback machine and enjoy the early 90's for the first time all over again. - Ross Meyerson 9:00 P.M. Saturday, 11/14. The Hideout. 21+. .]]> http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/feed/ 0 Shrinebuilder – Shrinebuilder http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/ http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:21:21 +0000 Ross Meyerson http://loudlooppress.com/?p=3747 d9d50809-3be6-459f-9214-4344ca4851ce Comprised of St. Vitus's Scott "Wino" Weinrich, Om's Al Cisneros, Neurosis's Scott Kelly, and the Melvins' Dale Crower, Shrinebuilder are the proverbial who's who of doom metal. Legend has it the album was recorded in a mere three days, which makes its cohesion all the more remarkable. It seems Shrinebuilder was more than able to avoid the usual pitfalls that typically derail supergroups. What can one say about the supergroup that hasn't already been said? A group, yes. Super? Rarely. There are reasons galore for why disappointment is too often the result when giants collide, but that is not the case with Shrinebuilder's self-titled debut. Problem one with most of these collaborations is that they usually consist of icons past their songwriting prime. Take the Traveling Wilburys. On paper it's almost too ridiculously huge to fathom: a Beatle playing with Bob Dylan? Roy Orbison's creepy falsetto mixing with Tom Petty's southern drawl? Yet the results were a batch of unremarkable songs by guys with not much left to say. This is clearly not the case with Shrinebuilder. Wino is the old man here, the Roy Orbison if you will. He's been carrying the Sabbath torch since the mid-80's after their heyday but way before most anyone else started picking through the rubble for inspiration. He was already outdated when he started which is probably why he so easily found kinship here with others willing to explore and experiment often in the face of current trends or common wisdom. Kelly's Neurosis have always twisted the definition of metal, adding ambiance and industrial to the mix.Whereas Cisneros's Om has been mining the hypnotic, mystical side only hinted at by others. And Crower's Melvins have gone wherever they damned well pleased, often painfully slow. Shrinebuilder may not deepen these explorations, but to hear each member's unique style is what makes the album sound fresh and relevant. Not just an exercise in hubris. The fact that all these divergent styles have come together to form a truly cohesive sounding album is one of Shrinebuiler's biggest achievements. "Solar Benediction" kicks things off with a pretty standard Sabbath-esque riff but quickly darkens as Wino's straight forward vocals give way to Kelly's menacing growl. Sure, it's like interjecting a Neurosis song into the middle of a St. Vitus one, yet the flow feels totally natural in their hands. Eventually, the song finds a completely hypnotic groove. This is where it becomes clear that Shrinebuilder is what a supergroup should be: cagey veterans. Having been around, these guys have no fear in taking their time and letting things stretch out. And when "Solar Benediction" starts to build slowly out of the breakdown, it ends up hitting the main riff at half time rather than ending where it began. Small things like that are what make this album something to behold. Perhaps the greatest juxtaposition of styles comes in "Pyramid of the Moon" when Scott Kelly's slow burn gives way to Al Cisneros's repetitive chant. Not only does it completely change the course of the song, but with a full band behind him, it's the closest thing to Sleep Cisneros has done since that band split. Dale Crower does his best to flesh out the vibe by cramming it full of crash cymbals. Again, the varying styles, often the death of the supergroup, are so well melded here that nothing comes completely out of the blue or sticks out like a sore thumb. Instead of trying to harness the sound of many into something more homogenized - what in the hell was Ted Nugent doing in Damn Yankees anyways? - Shrinebuilder found a way for everyone to work their distinctness into the album without it sounding like each other's backing band. Speaking of Ted Nugent, the one song where you can't really hear a Neurosis part or an Om part is "Blind For All To See," what almost feels like a doom take on the Motor City Madman's "Stranglehold" bridge. Why Nugent comes up so often is beyond me. Whereas Polvo's "D.C. Trails" off their latest only hinted at the classic Nugent breakdown, there's is no denying the resemblance on the Shrinbuilder track. The only thing missing is the flanged-out, backwards drums. That said, the song might be the stand-out track on the album. The languid pace actually allows for some pretty cool guitar work reminiscent of Kirk Hammet on the Master of Puppets instrumental take, "Orion." It's interesting that the one song most devoid of recognizable influence from the members of the band conjures up Nugent and Hammet. But it's what they do with the groove, adding hints of psychedelia and dark and menacing tones, that makes the song so striking, and it hints at the direction the group may with a little more time together. This leads to my one disappointment, albeit a minor one. Shrinebuilder, merely only five songs and clocking in barely above 39 minutes, ends too soon. It's a sentiment borne by how good the album is, and one that begs for this to be more more than a one-off. At the conclusion of "Science of Anger," the album begs to be played again. It can probably be said without argument that this is not the best thing any individual member has offered. When you have an Enemy of the Sun, Dopesmoker, Houdini, and Born Too Late under your belt, it's not surprising that, no matter the circumstances, you won't top yourself. Still, there's no denying that Shrinebuilder has overcome a pretty awful and embarrassing track record left by many supergroups, which are nothing more than a failed attempt at bringing together the biggest and the best. Taken at face value, without the orgasmic hoopla about who's in the band, this album would no doubt still kick ass. It's doom at its finest. Its full of small touches that make it rise above more standard Sabbath retreads, and it's heavy as shit. Maybe it takes a subversive genre like doom metal, with its outsider, us vs. them mentality, to finally earn the right to use the "super" in supergroup. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Catch Shrinebuilder Saturday, November 14, at the Empty Bottle. Tickets are available on Ticketweb.com right now for only ! _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Shrinebuilder - "Solar Benediction" httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL4BkunJqes
]]> http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/feed/ 1 Loud Loop Press 2009 Fall Concert Guide http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/ http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:21:21 +0000 Ross Meyerson http://loudlooppress.com/?p=3747 d9d50809-3be6-459f-9214-4344ca4851ce Comprised of St. Vitus's Scott "Wino" Weinrich, Om's Al Cisneros, Neurosis's Scott Kelly, and the Melvins' Dale Crower, Shrinebuilder are the proverbial who's who of doom metal. Legend has it the album was recorded in a mere three days, which makes its cohesion all the more remarkable. It seems Shrinebuilder was more than able to avoid the usual pitfalls that typically derail supergroups. What can one say about the supergroup that hasn't already been said? A group, yes. Super? Rarely. There are reasons galore for why disappointment is too often the result when giants collide, but that is not the case with Shrinebuilder's self-titled debut. Problem one with most of these collaborations is that they usually consist of icons past their songwriting prime. Take the Traveling Wilburys. On paper it's almost too ridiculously huge to fathom: a Beatle playing with Bob Dylan? Roy Orbison's creepy falsetto mixing with Tom Petty's southern drawl? Yet the results were a batch of unremarkable songs by guys with not much left to say. This is clearly not the case with Shrinebuilder. Wino is the old man here, the Roy Orbison if you will. He's been carrying the Sabbath torch since the mid-80's after their heyday but way before most anyone else started picking through the rubble for inspiration. He was already outdated when he started which is probably why he so easily found kinship here with others willing to explore and experiment often in the face of current trends or common wisdom. Kelly's Neurosis have always twisted the definition of metal, adding ambiance and industrial to the mix.Whereas Cisneros's Om has been mining the hypnotic, mystical side only hinted at by others. And Crower's Melvins have gone wherever they damned well pleased, often painfully slow. Shrinebuilder may not deepen these explorations, but to hear each member's unique style is what makes the album sound fresh and relevant. Not just an exercise in hubris. The fact that all these divergent styles have come together to form a truly cohesive sounding album is one of Shrinebuiler's biggest achievements. "Solar Benediction" kicks things off with a pretty standard Sabbath-esque riff but quickly darkens as Wino's straight forward vocals give way to Kelly's menacing growl. Sure, it's like interjecting a Neurosis song into the middle of a St. Vitus one, yet the flow feels totally natural in their hands. Eventually, the song finds a completely hypnotic groove. This is where it becomes clear that Shrinebuilder is what a supergroup should be: cagey veterans. Having been around, these guys have no fear in taking their time and letting things stretch out. And when "Solar Benediction" starts to build slowly out of the breakdown, it ends up hitting the main riff at half time rather than ending where it began. Small things like that are what make this album something to behold. Perhaps the greatest juxtaposition of styles comes in "Pyramid of the Moon" when Scott Kelly's slow burn gives way to Al Cisneros's repetitive chant. Not only does it completely change the course of the song, but with a full band behind him, it's the closest thing to Sleep Cisneros has done since that band split. Dale Crower does his best to flesh out the vibe by cramming it full of crash cymbals. Again, the varying styles, often the death of the supergroup, are so well melded here that nothing comes completely out of the blue or sticks out like a sore thumb. Instead of trying to harness the sound of many into something more homogenized - what in the hell was Ted Nugent doing in Damn Yankees anyways? - Shrinebuilder found a way for everyone to work their distinctness into the album without it sounding like each other's backing band. Speaking of Ted Nugent, the one song where you can't really hear a Neurosis part or an Om part is "Blind For All To See," what almost feels like a doom take on the Motor City Madman's "Stranglehold" bridge. Why Nugent comes up so often is beyond me. Whereas Polvo's "D.C. Trails" off their latest only hinted at the classic Nugent breakdown, there's is no denying the resemblance on the Shrinbuilder track. The only thing missing is the flanged-out, backwards drums. That said, the song might be the stand-out track on the album. The languid pace actually allows for some pretty cool guitar work reminiscent of Kirk Hammet on the Master of Puppets instrumental take, "Orion." It's interesting that the one song most devoid of recognizable influence from the members of the band conjures up Nugent and Hammet. But it's what they do with the groove, adding hints of psychedelia and dark and menacing tones, that makes the song so striking, and it hints at the direction the group may with a little more time together. This leads to my one disappointment, albeit a minor one. Shrinebuilder, merely only five songs and clocking in barely above 39 minutes, ends too soon. It's a sentiment borne by how good the album is, and one that begs for this to be more more than a one-off. At the conclusion of "Science of Anger," the album begs to be played again. It can probably be said without argument that this is not the best thing any individual member has offered. When you have an Enemy of the Sun, Dopesmoker, Houdini, and Born Too Late under your belt, it's not surprising that, no matter the circumstances, you won't top yourself. Still, there's no denying that Shrinebuilder has overcome a pretty awful and embarrassing track record left by many supergroups, which are nothing more than a failed attempt at bringing together the biggest and the best. Taken at face value, without the orgasmic hoopla about who's in the band, this album would no doubt still kick ass. It's doom at its finest. Its full of small touches that make it rise above more standard Sabbath retreads, and it's heavy as shit. Maybe it takes a subversive genre like doom metal, with its outsider, us vs. them mentality, to finally earn the right to use the "super" in supergroup. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Catch Shrinebuilder Saturday, November 14, at the Empty Bottle. Tickets are available on Ticketweb.com right now for only $15! _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Shrinebuilder - "Solar Benediction" httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL4BkunJqes
]]> http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/feed/ 1 loudlooppress.com » Shrinebuilder http://loudlooppress.com Amplifying Chicago's Music Scene Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:15:31 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Weekend Diversions http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/ http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/#comments Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:01:15 +0000 Ross Meyerson http://loudlooppress.com/?p=3944 [/caption]Better late than never I suppose... This weekend, we're spotlighting tonight's Dirty Projectors show, Shrinebuilder and Chicago's own Bottomless Pit. But before we get to our picks for top weekend shows, a reminder: Loud Loop Radio will once again grace the intertubes tomorrow, Saturday, November 14, at 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. CST on Radio DePaul. We'll probably talk about The Pixies and other cool stuff. Joining me in the studio this Saturday will be Loud Loop contributor Audrey Leon. Let's get to it, shall we? The Dirty Projectors The group seems to be at the peak of their powers right now. Their new album Bitte Orca is easily among the year’s very best releases, not to mention their fantastic back catalog. Appearances on The Tonight Show, and other programs have shown that they band knows how to bring it live. They’ve even been introducing some awesome new material on this tour and it sounds great on stage. It’s just , that’s worth it just to hear this. - Dan Henshaw 9:00 PM. Friday, 11/13. Bottom Lounge. SOLD OUT. Shrinebuilder You have not one but two chances to see Shrinebuilder at the Empty Bottle this Saturday. There's an 8 o'clock show with Arkansas's Rwake and an 11 o'clock show with local metal experimenters Yakuza. If you have a short memory perhaps you might want to read my glowing review of the self-titled Shrinebuilder. - Ross Meyerson 8:00 PM & 11:00 PM. Saturday, 11/14. Empty Bottle. 21+. . Bottomless Pit Chicago's Bottomless Pit kind of have a little old school indie rock vibe. A little pavement, a little Spent, a little Versus. What makes their show Saturday at the Hideout so interesting is the opener, The Karl Hendrix Trio, an actual holdover from the 90's indie rock scene. My friends and I always considered them as our private secret gem, and it seems they are sort of back. If you can find their stuff it is worth the hunt, especially '93's Some Girls Like Cigarettes. In the meantime get in the wayback machine and enjoy the early 90's for the first time all over again. - Ross Meyerson 9:00 P.M. Saturday, 11/14. The Hideout. 21+. .]]> http://loudlooppress.com/news/weekend-diversions-26/feed/ 0 Shrinebuilder – Shrinebuilder http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/ http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/#comments Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:21:21 +0000 Ross Meyerson http://loudlooppress.com/?p=3747 d9d50809-3be6-459f-9214-4344ca4851ce Comprised of St. Vitus's Scott "Wino" Weinrich, Om's Al Cisneros, Neurosis's Scott Kelly, and the Melvins' Dale Crower, Shrinebuilder are the proverbial who's who of doom metal. Legend has it the album was recorded in a mere three days, which makes its cohesion all the more remarkable. It seems Shrinebuilder was more than able to avoid the usual pitfalls that typically derail supergroups. What can one say about the supergroup that hasn't already been said? A group, yes. Super? Rarely. There are reasons galore for why disappointment is too often the result when giants collide, but that is not the case with Shrinebuilder's self-titled debut. Problem one with most of these collaborations is that they usually consist of icons past their songwriting prime. Take the Traveling Wilburys. On paper it's almost too ridiculously huge to fathom: a Beatle playing with Bob Dylan? Roy Orbison's creepy falsetto mixing with Tom Petty's southern drawl? Yet the results were a batch of unremarkable songs by guys with not much left to say. This is clearly not the case with Shrinebuilder. Wino is the old man here, the Roy Orbison if you will. He's been carrying the Sabbath torch since the mid-80's after their heyday but way before most anyone else started picking through the rubble for inspiration. He was already outdated when he started which is probably why he so easily found kinship here with others willing to explore and experiment often in the face of current trends or common wisdom. Kelly's Neurosis have always twisted the definition of metal, adding ambiance and industrial to the mix.Whereas Cisneros's Om has been mining the hypnotic, mystical side only hinted at by others. And Crower's Melvins have gone wherever they damned well pleased, often painfully slow. Shrinebuilder may not deepen these explorations, but to hear each member's unique style is what makes the album sound fresh and relevant. Not just an exercise in hubris. The fact that all these divergent styles have come together to form a truly cohesive sounding album is one of Shrinebuiler's biggest achievements. "Solar Benediction" kicks things off with a pretty standard Sabbath-esque riff but quickly darkens as Wino's straight forward vocals give way to Kelly's menacing growl. Sure, it's like interjecting a Neurosis song into the middle of a St. Vitus one, yet the flow feels totally natural in their hands. Eventually, the song finds a completely hypnotic groove. This is where it becomes clear that Shrinebuilder is what a supergroup should be: cagey veterans. Having been around, these guys have no fear in taking their time and letting things stretch out. And when "Solar Benediction" starts to build slowly out of the breakdown, it ends up hitting the main riff at half time rather than ending where it began. Small things like that are what make this album something to behold. Perhaps the greatest juxtaposition of styles comes in "Pyramid of the Moon" when Scott Kelly's slow burn gives way to Al Cisneros's repetitive chant. Not only does it completely change the course of the song, but with a full band behind him, it's the closest thing to Sleep Cisneros has done since that band split. Dale Crower does his best to flesh out the vibe by cramming it full of crash cymbals. Again, the varying styles, often the death of the supergroup, are so well melded here that nothing comes completely out of the blue or sticks out like a sore thumb. Instead of trying to harness the sound of many into something more homogenized - what in the hell was Ted Nugent doing in Damn Yankees anyways? - Shrinebuilder found a way for everyone to work their distinctness into the album without it sounding like each other's backing band. Speaking of Ted Nugent, the one song where you can't really hear a Neurosis part or an Om part is "Blind For All To See," what almost feels like a doom take on the Motor City Madman's "Stranglehold" bridge. Why Nugent comes up so often is beyond me. Whereas Polvo's "D.C. Trails" off their latest only hinted at the classic Nugent breakdown, there's is no denying the resemblance on the Shrinbuilder track. The only thing missing is the flanged-out, backwards drums. That said, the song might be the stand-out track on the album. The languid pace actually allows for some pretty cool guitar work reminiscent of Kirk Hammet on the Master of Puppets instrumental take, "Orion." It's interesting that the one song most devoid of recognizable influence from the members of the band conjures up Nugent and Hammet. But it's what they do with the groove, adding hints of psychedelia and dark and menacing tones, that makes the song so striking, and it hints at the direction the group may with a little more time together. This leads to my one disappointment, albeit a minor one. Shrinebuilder, merely only five songs and clocking in barely above 39 minutes, ends too soon. It's a sentiment borne by how good the album is, and one that begs for this to be more more than a one-off. At the conclusion of "Science of Anger," the album begs to be played again. It can probably be said without argument that this is not the best thing any individual member has offered. When you have an Enemy of the Sun, Dopesmoker, Houdini, and Born Too Late under your belt, it's not surprising that, no matter the circumstances, you won't top yourself. Still, there's no denying that Shrinebuilder has overcome a pretty awful and embarrassing track record left by many supergroups, which are nothing more than a failed attempt at bringing together the biggest and the best. Taken at face value, without the orgasmic hoopla about who's in the band, this album would no doubt still kick ass. It's doom at its finest. Its full of small touches that make it rise above more standard Sabbath retreads, and it's heavy as shit. Maybe it takes a subversive genre like doom metal, with its outsider, us vs. them mentality, to finally earn the right to use the "super" in supergroup. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Catch Shrinebuilder Saturday, November 14, at the Empty Bottle. Tickets are available on Ticketweb.com right now for only ! _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Shrinebuilder - "Solar Benediction" httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EL4BkunJqes
]]> http://loudlooppress.com/reviews/shrinebuilder-shrinebuilder/feed/ 1 Loud Loop Press 2009 Fall Concert Guide http://loudlooppress.com/news/loud-loop-press-2009-fall-concert-guide/ http://loudlooppress.com/news/loud-loop-press-2009-fall-concert-guide/#comments Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:45:33 +0000 Andrew Kahn http://loudlooppress.com/?p=3390 [/caption]

We've already given you a preview of what's playing in Chicago on New Year's Eve. We've told you about the new club opening up Lincoln Hall and all the great acts scheduled to play there in the coming weeks. Our Daily and Weekly Diversions keep you informed of what's on the horizon. 

But still, we here at Loud Loop Press felt there were just too many great shows coming up in this fair city of ours that we didn't want you to miss out on. Below is a compilation of big name concerts we're spotlighting for the coming months. There's a little something for everyone, from KISS to Bob Dylan, Scott Lucas to Snoop Dogg and everyone else in between. Maybe we missed a show, if you think we did let us know what you think in the comments section below. Monday, October 19 Wilco, Tortoise, UIC Pavilion Sunset Rubdown, Logan Square Auditorium Wednesday, October 21 Get Up Kids (Something to Write Home About 10th anniversary tour), Metro Thursday, October 22 Get Up Kids (Something to Write Home About 10th anniversary tour), Metro Friday, October 23 Scott Lucas and the Married Men, Subterranean Saturday, October 24 Gov’t Mule, Riviera Theatre The Lawrence Arms (10th Anniversary Show), Metro David Bazan (of Pedro the Lion), Schubas Monday, October 26 Ben Gibbard and Jay Farrar, Lincoln Hall Tuesday, October 27 Saul Williams, Double Door Thursday, October 29 Bob Dylan and His Band, Aragon Ballroom David Gray, Auditorium Theatre Friday, October 30 Bob Dylan and His Band, Aragon Ballroom Chromeo, Congress Theater Dan Deacon, Logan Square Auditorium Monsters of Folk, Auditorium Theatre Saturday, October 31 Bob Dylan and His Band, Aragon Ballroom Disco Biscuits, Auditorium Theatre Scotland Yard Gospel Choir Benefit, Subterranean Roky Erickson, Bottom Lounge Wednesday, November 4 Simian Mobile Disco, Metro Snoop Dogg, Congress Theater Ghostface Killah, House of Blues Damon and Naomi, Empty Bottle Thursday, November 5 The Mountain Goats, Metro Future of the Left, Bottom Lounge Friday, November 6 Black Crowes, Riviera Theatre KISS, United Center The Whigs, Bottom Lounge Basement Jaxx,  MSTRKRFT, Congress Theater Saturday, November 7 Numero Eccentric Soul Revue, Lincoln Hall Sunday, November 8 J. Tillman, Lincoln Hall Tuesday, November 10 Art Brut, Lincoln Hall Wednesday, November 11 The Walkmen, Schubas Thursday, November 12 Devo, Vic Theatre Meat Puppets, Schubas The Walkmen, Lincoln Hall Ray Lamontagne, Auditorium Theatre Peter Bjorn & John, Metro Friday, November 13 Devo, Vic Theatre Meat Puppets, Schubas The Walkmen, Lincoln Hall Dirty Projectors, Bottom Lounge Wolfmother, Riviera Theatre Saturday, November 14 Meat Puppets, Schubas The Fab Faux, Vic Theatre Shrinebuilder (members of Melvins, Neurosis, Om), Empty Bottle Monday, November 16 Devendra Banhart, Vic Theatre Gil Mantera's Party Dream, Empty Bottle Wednesday, November 18 Bad Lieutenant, Vic Theatre Thursday, November 19 Old Crow Medicine Show, Vic Theatre Pixies, Aragon Ballroom Friday, November 20 Brendan Benson, Lincoln Hall Pixies, Aragon Ballroom Poi Dog Pondering, Vic Theatre Peaches, Amanda Blank, Metro Saturday, November 21 Pixies, Aragon Ballroom Fuck Buttons, Empty Bottle Wednesday, November 25 Echo and the Bunnymen, Metro The Cranberries, Riviera Theatre Baroness, Earthless, Reggies Friday, November 27 Jesus Lizard, Metro Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros, Lincoln Hall Saturday, November 28 Jesus Lizard, Metro Cornmeal, Vic Theatre Sunday, November 29 Nada Surf, Metro Monday, November 30 Melt Banana, Bottom Lounge Thursday, December 3 P.O.S., Bottom Lounge Friday, December 4 Do Make Say Think, Years, Happiness Project, Schubas Saturday, December 5 Dan Auerbach (of the Black Keys) and The Fast Five, Vic Theatre Do Make Say Think, Years, Happiness Project, Lincoln Hall Friday, December 11 Pelican, Empty Bottle]]> http://loudlooppress.com/news/loud-loop-press-2009-fall-concert-guide/feed/ 0