Artist: Slices
Album: Cruising
Release: 2010
Label: Iron Lung
Tracklist:
1. Medusa
2. Nightmare Man
3. Red Raft
4. John's Public Hell
5. Floodlight
6. Robbie
7. Mike's Insane Problem
8. Guide To Incest
9. Laughing While Eating
Slices' debut LP was my most anticipated release of 2010, partially because I don't really ever know what's scheduled for release and partially because they're one of my favorite bands going at the moment. Their first two 7"s absolutely blew me away and it became evident that the band had captured the throne of Pittsburgh true hardcore warriorkings from the semi-inactive/inebriated Brain Handle (who still tower over most others.) I can say with confidence that with this LP, Slices have capitalized on the promise of their 7"s and have produced their finest work yet.
Crusing takes its cues from the 16oh 7" track "Cave Crawl" and the Home Invasion 7", which may come as a disappointment to those who loved their faster, more straightforward hardcore material. I guess that means they aren't hardcore warriors, then. Oh well. While I did prefer the 16oh 7" to the Home Invasion one, I must admit that the band did the right thing by following this path. Taking their Pittsburgh hardcore sound and marrying it to noise-rock a la Landed, the band has truly found its sound.
I find the entire record to be absolutely incredible and its only fault is that it's a little lopsided, as the A-side rules, but the B-side is flawless. The first side opens up with "Medusa," which is classic Slices and flows into the surprising "Nightmare Man." Whether or not the band intended for it, the guitar riff is straight-up pop-punk. It's certainly unexpected, but it works gloriously. As a matter of fact, it's not the quality of the A-side that makes it live in the shadow of the B-side, but more the sequencing, in that there are less conventional songs on it. Instead, the band breaks up the flow of things with the intro of "Red Raft" and the sound piece "John's Public Hell." It's not a huge flaw, however, and these moments are quite interesting, particular the latter, which sees the band getting back to its noise roots.
The band returns to its contemporary sound with "Floodlight," which signals the moment in which the record really takes off. Really, it could be easily argued that the quality of the songs grows as the album progresses and the album ends perfectly, with the one-two punch of "Guide To Incest" and "Laughing While Eating." The former is probably the best faster song they've released thus far, even surpassing "Nub City," but the latter is definitely my favorite thing they've ever done. Hilariously-titled and ultra-heavy, "Laughing" plods along in true headbanging goodness with one of the coolest guitar lines I've heard in awhile. Maybe someday the phrase "Cruising Side B" will be a normal part of the punk lexicon.
I can't really speak much more highly about this record. It's certainly not perfect, but it's no doubt a monumental achievement for the band and will definitely proof to be one of the best releases of 2010. Be sure to pick this up from Iron Lung before it's too late.
Also, download this particular link because it is from the masters, straight from the band and not some vinyl rip.
Download Here (re-upped!)
Buy Here
-Adam
P.S. I don't care what anyone says, I love the cover and I wish the bad masks had straps so I could actually wear mine!
Album: Cruising
Release: 2010
Label: Iron Lung
Tracklist:
1. Medusa
2. Nightmare Man
3. Red Raft
4. John's Public Hell
5. Floodlight
6. Robbie
7. Mike's Insane Problem
8. Guide To Incest
9. Laughing While Eating
Slices' debut LP was my most anticipated release of 2010, partially because I don't really ever know what's scheduled for release and partially because they're one of my favorite bands going at the moment. Their first two 7"s absolutely blew me away and it became evident that the band had captured the throne of Pittsburgh true hardcore warriorkings from the semi-inactive/inebriated Brain Handle (who still tower over most others.) I can say with confidence that with this LP, Slices have capitalized on the promise of their 7"s and have produced their finest work yet.
Crusing takes its cues from the 16oh 7" track "Cave Crawl" and the Home Invasion 7", which may come as a disappointment to those who loved their faster, more straightforward hardcore material. I guess that means they aren't hardcore warriors, then. Oh well. While I did prefer the 16oh 7" to the Home Invasion one, I must admit that the band did the right thing by following this path. Taking their Pittsburgh hardcore sound and marrying it to noise-rock a la Landed, the band has truly found its sound.
I find the entire record to be absolutely incredible and its only fault is that it's a little lopsided, as the A-side rules, but the B-side is flawless. The first side opens up with "Medusa," which is classic Slices and flows into the surprising "Nightmare Man." Whether or not the band intended for it, the guitar riff is straight-up pop-punk. It's certainly unexpected, but it works gloriously. As a matter of fact, it's not the quality of the A-side that makes it live in the shadow of the B-side, but more the sequencing, in that there are less conventional songs on it. Instead, the band breaks up the flow of things with the intro of "Red Raft" and the sound piece "John's Public Hell." It's not a huge flaw, however, and these moments are quite interesting, particular the latter, which sees the band getting back to its noise roots.
The band returns to its contemporary sound with "Floodlight," which signals the moment in which the record really takes off. Really, it could be easily argued that the quality of the songs grows as the album progresses and the album ends perfectly, with the one-two punch of "Guide To Incest" and "Laughing While Eating." The former is probably the best faster song they've released thus far, even surpassing "Nub City," but the latter is definitely my favorite thing they've ever done. Hilariously-titled and ultra-heavy, "Laughing" plods along in true headbanging goodness with one of the coolest guitar lines I've heard in awhile. Maybe someday the phrase "Cruising Side B" will be a normal part of the punk lexicon.
I can't really speak much more highly about this record. It's certainly not perfect, but it's no doubt a monumental achievement for the band and will definitely proof to be one of the best releases of 2010. Be sure to pick this up from Iron Lung before it's too late.
Also, download this particular link because it is from the masters, straight from the band and not some vinyl rip.
Download Here (re-upped!)
Buy Here
-Adam
P.S. I don't care what anyone says, I love the cover and I wish the bad masks had straps so I could actually wear mine!
22 comments:
track 4 is corrupt.
About time!
motherfucker! let me reupload it
-adam
That cover is sick. "You gotta do things that people don't think you're gonna do." - new Home Blitz album
Ohhhhh @ "track 4 is corrupt"
I get jokes.
Track 4 is actually corrupt dude!
I just downloaded it on two different computers and it all worked fine. If need be, email the blog and I can email you the individual song. Sorry for any inconveniences.
-Adam
p. sure i still have a slices trash bag t somewhere.
I think the artwork, despite the idea of "doing things people aren't going to think you'd do", is pretty terrible. I was expecting something great and this is pretty lackluster.
I refer you to "I Laugh as I Chew" from OLD's selftitled album.
Some of the best lyrics/titles ever.
"Lepers without feet
Hopping down the street
Walking on their knees
Doing as they please"
Thanks! I swear, so many bands sounding like Poison Idea today.
Hey everyone, I reupped the entire thing. Track 4 worked for some people, but not for others. Let me know if there are any more problems!
-Adam
The cover reminds me of http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=225BL7ef-Ug
This LP is one of my current favs and will thus be on my Give Me Back fanzine top 10 list. Im not really into the packaging so much, but that makes no difference. I absolutely love this record with the fury of 1000 burning suns.
Adam,
I've had the corrupt file problem a bunch. Here's what I've found: any file that's named with any non-standard character (like ',",&,%) wont open on windows un-zipping programs. Works on Macs fine, but not PCs. Word.
-kevin
-kevin: that's so frustrating, but good to know. maybe i should use another program other than 7-zip?
-Adam
I just use the zip program that's built into Mac, and then rename the file names to not have any sketched characters. (Doesn't really matter because people only look at the tags, not the file names)
Good call. I'll get on that, thanks.
do you have slices tape?
If you're referring to the demo tape, no I do not. My old roommate played it for me twice and I thought it was rad, but I haven't heard it since nor do I have mp3s of it. Sorry.
-Adam
I've been trying to find the demo tape online since i got it at chaos in tejas a few years back from the brain handle dudes. I'd put it up myself but i don't have the away to turn it in to mp3s.
Man I downloaded this from you a few months ago, got really into it and then just put it on again. This music is brutally good. Thanks for turning me on to this band.
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