@@gruntilda2 Jockstrap is so good, can't wait for their debut. I just realized Skye has never reviewed them (I think?) and he likely does not know their connection to bcnr. Professor if you're reading this you gotta listen to Jockstrap.
For me not only did it check every box, it FAR exceeded my wildest expectations, from the opener, to still, to the race is about to begin…. For me it’s a masterpiece. SO much growth in a year.
I'm in the "scene" and go to the windmill and all that stuff yada yada and I'm a huge fan of both BC,NR and Black Midi. Tbh I have never met someone who listens to one band and not the other. I'm not saying that this competition doesn't exist but to me I have found both communities accepting of the other.
I love Black Midi and am really not into BCNR. I find their stuff pretty monotonous, bleh and overrated. But I get that I am the odd one out with this opinion
I’m in that area where I appreciate BCNR but theyve never connected with and excited me like Black Midi, but i also haven’t honestly given BCNR my full attention for an album. but i do gots the ADHDs
@@DrowningUpsideDown I like a lot of music that's in a similar vein so I thought I would like BCNR but it just doesn't do much for me. I don't have ADHD but I also got bored about 2/3rds of the way through. But maybe it's one of those bands that I'll connect with a few years from now after revisiting
marcus_ascends_forth here - absolutely amazing to hear you talking about my page and so great to hear that you got enough out of it to reference it in this review!! Thank you, and thanks as well to everyone who’s followed :) I find your thoughts on the title track super interesting - I had something different written than what I put into my post, but then I thought of the devil idea and scrapped it. Here’s that: “It’s unclear what our friend is describing here - it could just as much be the music itself as the literal setting where these stories take place. Either way, he commands us to enter. To enter hell itself, a war-torn past, the album on which you have just pressed play. You’re in his world now.” I especially like your theory that it’s Mr. Bongo’s train of thought as he meets with the prostitute. My innocent mind thought that verse 3 was about an injured arm or something.
Someone has probably told you, but the bassist, Cameron (I forgot his last name), actually provides vocals on a couple tracks, and has been since Schlagenheim. Some examples are Speedway, Slow, Eat Men Eat, basically any song that doesn’t have Greep’s unique inflection. Also, another fun fact, Years Ago was actually sung by their former second guitarist, who’s name was Matt. He left the band for whatever reason during Cavalcade’s production, and I’m actually not sure what he’s up to now, but I hope he’s doing good. Great video, by the way :) Edit: after a single google search, I found out that Matt had taken time off from the band due to mental health struggles, and is still taking a break as far as I know. I hope he gets better soon, because I really liked his vocals on Years Ago, and it’s one of my favorites off of Schlagenheim. Edit 2: I probably should have watched the whole video before commenting.
Hey man not sure if you'll see this comment! Just wanna say I'm really glad you make these videos, you put the time in to understanding these albums and it greatly enhances my own enjoyment and experience of the albums you talk about, thank you:)
It came to me whilst listening to this review, that this is a very "20's" album. Not just 2020's, but also in a weird hellish sense, the 1920's, as well as the 20th century in general. This album is like a jarring, nightmarish retrospective on the common spirit of the people, deceived, deluded, damned. It is like the band playing on the Titanic as it sinks, but sinking into a lake of fire. This album on first listen caught me off guard with the dualities of hectic, frenetic chaos, and melancholy, sometimes spiritual even, serenity. This has been a theme and motif within all three of their albums so far, but I think they handle it much more effectively on Hellfire than Cavalcade. The overall tone of this album reminds me slightly of Carl Jung's Red Book, wherein he travels to Hell. He provides a quote I'll thusly paraphrase: "Nature is both cheerful play and cold horror."
38:43 "The themes of impotence rise..." may be the funniest thing I have ever heard. In all seriousness though, great review and amazing insight! I will definitely be checking out some Faulkner after this.
It very much is an active listening album, appreciated it 5x more when I was at home with headphones in than listening to the livestream while in a crappy work van
Hey Prof, I often walk or cycle around, with my phone in my pocket, listening to your videos in headphones, but it uses my mobile data very fast to stream a video. My question is this: would you consider uploading the audio from your videos as podcasts on Spotify/streaming platforms?
This may be coming from a point of privilege(I apologize if so) but RUclips premium is well worth the price tag. You can 'close' the phone and use audio only
This album reminds me of Pynchon more than any other author. The mix of complexity and absurdity, the silly character names and the song within a song, it's the most Pynchonian album I've ever heard.
I am only 30 minutes in, but the section on Faulkner made me laugh. So, two weeks ago I was talking to with a coworker about their favorite novels, and they recommended the genre of surrealist literature, and they said Sound and the Fury was their favorite from the genre. The next day I bought it at my local bookstore and I started reading it, and I had that exact feeling of confusion that you described. I did not continue reading after I completed the first chapter however, even though I thought it elicited an interesting reading experience, but at this point in my life it's not really my thing... (I'm more into Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky) Also, the new Black Midi is phenomenal. Definitely waaayyyy stronger than the first record (which I am not incredibly partial to), and is an amazing logical progression from the insanity of Cavalcade. This currently is a 9/10 for me, and I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually becomes a 10/10 for me.
I've never heard anyone express the "inverted groove" thing. Absolutely love the term, and as a drummer for 16 years, I can definitely relate to the different feeling of it. Very nice
Did you reference the show “I Think You Should Leave” when you said “kind of like a cosmic gumbo”? Or is this an actual saying? Either way thank you as always for the awesome analytical, insightful and passionate dissection and reviews! You’re the best :) congrats on your new future child.
Awesome review. I love this album. You should do a Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems review! It came out a few months ago and I was surprised to see you have’t covered it. Amazing punk album with hip-hop elements too.
Fantastic review as usual. This album is sensational but I just can't get over Diamond Stuff and Ascending Forths. As an album, I prefer this one but their previous album had such raw and creative songs
This all sounds right, from the perspective of a person who fed homeless addicts; there is divine in the filthy, filthy in the divine. And, there are those just evil enough to exploit the people they forced into stupidity. The real truth (one of them) is that no one can live long without the heart and mind engaged. Another is that people awake enough to see this have, at the very least, a drive to care for others. Evil has no room for community.
I learn and understand so much of reality through music and the music community. Really the perfect form of media for my type of mind. Also dangerous. Sometimes I think I could be completely brainwashed if music was pretty enough. Gotta stay on my toes.
Thanks for showing us your grotesque bodily reality professor. Had my first day of grad school today and was feeling like an imposter since I’ve jumped across disciplines. Huge black midi fan, your analysis chock full of insights and humor lifted my spirits. Definitely an album I’ll be spinning for a long time to come. Technical, silly, evocative, emotional but funny
I think the Faulkner comparison definitely has something to it. The Sound and The Fury is one of the choppiest books I've ever read. This album was quite James Joyce-esque to me too
When you talked about a general sense of disillusionment now and in art a hundred years ago I had to come here and comment about how the same is observable here in Brazil - in 1922 we had the most transformative art movement called the Semana de Arte Moderna (modern art week) and now in 2022 we are living under a fascist inspired government with most of our personal liberties being put in check, and the same strategies of 'talking about it without talking about it' or the general sense of confusion in art is being observable here too. So yeah, I see it too! Thanks Professor, another great review!
I think your theory regarding post 2010s disillusionment coming out in 2020’s post punk is spot on, and it’s nice to have someone put words to what I’ve been feeling for quite awhile now!
It's quite interesting with references. Now after 2 days with Hellfire, Cavalcade appears as easy-to-listen/background music :). You just have to love people who go their own way and just do "what needs to be done", whatever it may cost and whatever the outcome will be. In a cruelly unfair world, it is still incredibly fair that bands like Black Midi get attention and praise. @Skye, what a fantastic decomposing of Hellfire, I have to come back and look clear at a later time
Your videos are really great. You always give a good perspective. I watch your videos when I am drawing and the kind of free flowing way you go through your videos. I didn't know anything about the black midi and black country new road argument. I love them both and they both slap.
Hi Skye it’s super interesting to hear what you said at around the 5;40 mark and onwards about the fandoms of these bands as it’s completely true- I’d be lying to say i didn’t do it at times! Also you completely hit the nail on the head on what it was like to go to the two bands concerts- as (unwillingly and not due to the band at all) the black midi atmosphere was certainly much more rowdy and vitriolic in its sense of pride towards being there. It is strange as many people love both the bands yet still add a competition element… maybe this is just an infinite occurrence. Ultimately I am just glad we are getting so much great music in such close proximity, seeing both bands evolve in ways which suit their expertise while also enhancing their emotive expression. Either way both bands are super lovely people- both coming and chatting to their fans and getting photos before and after the show
I saw the band in atlanta and spent the end of the concert waiting for three guys to stop asking questions and stopping others from saying hi. It was one of my first concerts and the moment I realized what you mean about the fandom taking them more seriously than they wanted to be. The concert was FUN, they are goof balls and I loved it!
Hey Mr. Skye! I loved this video, thank you so much for your continued service of digging deep in all these important modern albums. I was wondering if you could release your videos in podcast format as well. I've been listening to a lot of podcasts while doing chores and whatnot, and I think it's a great format. Anyway, thank you again for the videos!
One little reference that was made that you didn’t pick up on: there are a couple of lines in The Race that references Laura Nyro’s “Sweet Blindness” from 1968 (an artist I think you would definitely love): A little laughter, a little silence A little magic, a little kindness A little all over me, yes me I’m awful at analyzing poetry and making connections (which is why I need your channel), so if you can decipher the purpose behind this strange allusion, I would greatly appreciate it.
Nice catch ! I didn’t even pick up on it till you said it- so many little things hidden, but then again it is 100mph Probably just an ironic fun link to the song but in both cases both songs are about blindness. In that the narrators know they are blocking their perception of life- through gambling in race or booze in sweet blindness- but choose to live this way.
Your comparison of Greep to Faulkner really opened my eyes. Like you said, it's possible he isn't even aware of him or his work, but the overall ethos of this record and its stories of impotence, and eventual consequence for said impotence, seems pretty on the nose.
I agree! Even if he doesn’t know his work Greep seems to be rather culturally and artistically educated but never in an obnoxiously obvious way- one of my favourite aspects of his diverse storytelling in his writing
Black midi did go to the same music school together! (An arts school that Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Rex Orange county also went to.. obviously they took a different turn than those artists but. They studied music.
I admire you so much. Since this album has released my brain has been swirling with so many thoughts and emotions as I’ve tried to put to words and explain to people everything I love about this album. I have spent more time on the internet talking to internet people in the past few days then I have in my entire life, and you are the only person I’ve encountered eloquent enough to say what I’ve been trying to say. I mean I couldn’t even figure out how to refer to the narrative aspects of this album! LORE! OF COURSE! I’ve been theorizing and connecting the dots as much with Hellfire as I have with Game of Thrones or Dark Souls! Sometimes I feel like Joseph Grand from Albert Camu’s “The Plague” because i have trouble finding the “right words” to express my thoughts, but that’s why I love writing and content like yours because I become more eloquent myself. Not to be that troupe, but I genuinely feel like you think similarly to me and that’s why I’m so attracted to your content, even down to the struggling with reading but thriving with audible comprehension. Anyways, I’ve been really anticipating you reviewing this album because I truly think it may be one of my favorites of all time. Sorry for the cringe gentlemen. Hmu if you want to talk Hellfire lore ;)
26:05 I actually see this a lot in hip hop, in artists like yeat, destroy lonely or even carti to a lesser extent. They break down every limit put on the genre to the point of being no hook, not rapping on beat, and on dark trippy almost nauseating beats. It transmits to me a similar feeling of an absurd existence that black midi does
I love how you noticed possible literary references in the album! Whenever Geordie says "The clown can be a martyr, The whore can be an angel" it makes me think of Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment" and "The Idiot". Also "Crime and Punishment" obv comes to mind during "Dangerous Liaisons".
To be fair I really don't think there is any "beef" between the fans. In my experience at least, the fanbases usually cross over and I think most people can enjoy both bands. It's not that strange to me seeing the different groups of "the windmill scene" being constantly compared. People writing in the comments "If you like BCNR you should listen to black midi" being perceived as toxic masculinity is a bit of a shallow interpretation in my opinion. But then again, that's just from my own experience. I don't honestly doubt that there exists toxic fans in the black midi community, however I personally don't believe it's anywere near as bad as you think it is.
the beef is funny because if you look at a Venn diagram of black midi fans and bcnr fans, the overlap would be so great it would basically be a circle.
I actually don’t think you’re wrong, I think the beef is very real. It’s just funny because most like both bands so the beef is really “black midi is bussy, but Black Country New Road is GOATed” and vice versa. I think edgelord accurately describes the behavior happening in the comment sections.
I habitually, absent-mindedly, read comments on live performances and stuff and I swear I haven't seen any toxicity around this. Both bands seem to have young but mature - dare I say sophisticated? - fanbases that I would be surprised to that from. If you wanna see pointless toxic rivalry just say Messi/Ronaldo is your favourite football player anywhere on the internet.
Great video. In you piece on Welcome to Hell I mentioned Scott Walker and I feel a strong Scott Walker vibe in Geordie's crooning. As an added BM/BCNR junction Walker gets name dropped in Sunglasses. I'm 100% sure Geordie is aware of his work.
another literary comparison to be drawn is how pynchonesque a lot of the storytelling is, not only in its winding density but also the narrative absurdity of the record.
at first glance, i thought Eat Men Eat was doing sort of an allegory comparing the expeditions of the great navigations period to modern mining sites. maybe it feels like a loose comparison, but to me, drunk capitans; mentions of Rio Tinto (a multinational mining company); single ingredients being the only food left; drying clothes in the sun; and this description of being in a place like hell, it all feels to me like the same thing: two awful places where men with no other chance left, work, suffer and die just to get almost nothing out of it. "almost something"
48:10 what you’re saying here is the exact story arc portrayed in cobra Kai where it shows the formative experiences of John Kreese in the military. There’s an particular scene when his captain/general guy recruits him gives him this big speech, essentially pushing him down a violent path through sheer bravado.
yoooo this is actually perfect, esp grosz. similarly, schlagenheim has heavy dada vibes to me. overall something very weirdly modernist yet still super contemporary about bm
Yeah for sure- also has links to the film cabaret which recreates many of Dix’s paintings, and funnily enough Greep (definitely in the 27q Freddie song bit) sounds like the master of ceremonies from the film. Love the environments this band can blend between old and new- hellfire definitely feels like it exists in the elevated yet seedy reality that musicals like cabaret also do.
Also wanted to say that I also thought that Half Time was a reference to Radio Raheem in Do The Right Thing. I believe it’s a reference to a real Boxing Journalist named Radio RAHIM. ruclips.net/video/h30uTmahNFQ/видео.html
I honestly think that the album is about people existing in constant war of ideas that can't really stop because no answer fully fits questions that are eating at us and it's repercussions. Always love the vids tho
Also, my one thing of note to add that I don't see many mentions of when people talk about BM, is the similarities to Dylan's storytelling style in terms of just stacking up verses
I have basically no idea what the album is about. I haven't watched your review and I've only listened to it twice. I just wanna declare that listening to it felt a lot like reading Blood Meridian, or if BM was an album this would be it. [Later] Damn, "Absalom, Absalom" is actually 3rd on my reading list right now. After "As I Lay Dying" and maybe "Mason & Dixon" if I get along with it. Gonna have to move it up! Of course many will know the McCarthy's greatest single influence is probably Faulkner so not surprising I'm getting those vibes. I also listened to "The Sound and The Fury". My god, I have never been more confused in my life than in that first section. The text uses italics to cue the reader that time is shifting, but on audio you don't have that. Seriously for the first 30 mins I didn't know if Benjy was 33 or 5. Certain lines would pop out regardless: "I heard the night coming" (close enough, try searching S and F in google and it's all Macbeth).
Hey! Geordie Greep just released a new solo single that leans into the storytelling aspect of Hellfire, and I think you would enjoy it. His new album releases in October.
"Eventually found, I was sentenced to life Spent reading the letters of a million wives Sun Sugar came, wouldn't be shit without me The youngest executioner in tabloid memory" the pov of sugar/tzu is a child i think. thats why he is so short and why he is "The youngest executioner in tabloid memory" AVAA
Encore une très bonne analyse ! Le parallèle avec Rabelais est plus que pertinent. Par ailleurs je ne comprends jamais pourquoi personne ne parle de King Crimson car pour moi il est évident que l’album Lizard est l’œuvre dont Hellfire se rapproche le plus.
I feel like this band is to post-punk as Richard Dawson is to progressive folk. Check out the album Henki, a collaboration between Dawson and the band Circle. Its also a masterpiece in the same kind of way.
Without counting Half Time (the interlude in the middle), the album has 9 songs. And Dante’s Inferno is structured in 9 circles. So there’s perhaps a very slight nod to Dante 😅
i do think there is a sense of being crushed by fame although not in the traditional Alex Turner Kurt Cobain type however, Isaac did feel crushed in a certain way and you know what I think he did the right thing and wish him best I'm a pretty big fan of all these bands, black midi, new road supremacy ps I recommend topical dancer by Charlotte Adigery and bolis pupul, and everything everywhere all at once, last one is a film however I believe you will really like it
hey, I think you misspoke when you talked about Eat Men Eat. you said "Picton is playing the bass", which is what he usually does. You probably meant to mention the fact that Picton is on the guitar for this one.
I’m amazed that you ignored indie rock between Radiohead in the 1990s and todays current crop of bands! There were a lot great bands between 2000-2022.
I'm trying to look further into this current post-punk movement you touch on. I've seen your other videos but it just feels like I can't learn enough. Where should I go to look into it further, what videos discuss this in detail? Could you make one exclusively dedicated to this?
La vidéo est beaucoup trop longue pour moi, mais j'aurais bien aimé entendre votre avis sur l'album:) Serait-il possible de sortir deux vidéos différentes, une longue et une autre d'une dizaine de minutes contenant les moments les plus marquants de la critique?
Black Midi, TV Priest, Viagra Boys, Idles, Squid, Crack Cloud, Protomartyr, Shame, Fontaines DC, Sleaford Mods,Ought. I love these bands Post punk these days on fire
also interesting this description fits a review of the film 'mad god' that came out recently, big guys duping little idiots, i dont recommend watching it, apparently its really gross, i havent seen it, nor have i listented to this album yet
Hi Professor Skye I love your videos. I also love the attention you give to the post punk and UK Windmill “scene”. I was curious however if you are aware of the Fat White Family? The band who I believe started this whole movement back around 2012.. I believe all the bands in this category you review have been very inspired by them. They basically created the Windmill Scene. If you go back to Lou Smiths early videos on his RUclips channel you will see the pure energy they create back then. They are also a band I noticed Anthony Fantano has completely ignored apart from one passing remark in a video unrelated to the band. They have 3 albums and a new one on the way and I’d love to hear your thoughts on the group and their work/influence. Heavily inspired by Ben Wallers and the County Teasers I think in retrospect Fat White Family will be considered extremely important when it comes to the progression of rock up until now and moving forward.. you might disagree but Id also love to hear it of you do.
*Heavily inspired by The County Teasers mostly on the first album “Champaign Holocaust” but you can hear the influence through out the discography.. but not that important anyway. Thanks
Oh you’ll need to throw in some of The Libertines influence too and some Psychedelia. Okay I’m done! Thanks again for your videos.. you’re making me a smarter person.
📢The review is about to begin, the review is about to begin
Cool pfp love me some jockstrap
@@gruntilda2 Jockstrap is so good, can't wait for their debut. I just realized Skye has never reviewed them (I think?) and he likely does not know their connection to bcnr. Professor if you're reading this you gotta listen to Jockstrap.
For me not only did it check every box, it FAR exceeded my wildest expectations, from the opener, to still, to the race is about to begin….
For me it’s a masterpiece. SO much growth in a year.
Same. I feel like this album was made for me. It’s everything I love about black midi put together and turned up to 100.
its the energey of album one with the sound pallet of album number 2. basicly everything i ever wanted
I'm in the "scene" and go to the windmill and all that stuff yada yada and I'm a huge fan of both BC,NR and Black Midi. Tbh I have never met someone who listens to one band and not the other. I'm not saying that this competition doesn't exist but to me I have found both communities accepting of the other.
I love Black Midi and am really not into BCNR. I find their stuff pretty monotonous, bleh and overrated. But I get that I am the odd one out with this opinion
I’m in that area where I appreciate BCNR but theyve never connected with and excited me like Black Midi, but i also haven’t honestly given BCNR my full attention for an album. but i do gots the ADHDs
@@DrowningUpsideDown I like a lot of music that's in a similar vein so I thought I would like BCNR but it just doesn't do much for me. I don't have ADHD but I also got bored about 2/3rds of the way through. But maybe it's one of those bands that I'll connect with a few years from now after revisiting
The riff on Dangerous Liasions is so fricking crazy, especially after Geordie screams “MURDERRR”. Such a good album
that scream changed my brain chemistry
marcus_ascends_forth here - absolutely amazing to hear you talking about my page and so great to hear that you got enough out of it to reference it in this review!! Thank you, and thanks as well to everyone who’s followed :)
I find your thoughts on the title track super interesting - I had something different written than what I put into my post, but then I thought of the devil idea and scrapped it. Here’s that:
“It’s unclear what our friend is describing here - it could just as much be the music itself as the literal setting where these stories take place. Either way, he commands us to enter. To enter hell itself, a war-torn past, the album on which you have just pressed play. You’re in his world now.”
I especially like your theory that it’s Mr. Bongo’s train of thought as he meets with the prostitute. My innocent mind thought that verse 3 was about an injured arm or something.
Someone has probably told you, but the bassist, Cameron (I forgot his last name), actually provides vocals on a couple tracks, and has been since Schlagenheim. Some examples are Speedway, Slow, Eat Men Eat, basically any song that doesn’t have Greep’s unique inflection. Also, another fun fact, Years Ago was actually sung by their former second guitarist, who’s name was Matt. He left the band for whatever reason during Cavalcade’s production, and I’m actually not sure what he’s up to now, but I hope he’s doing good. Great video, by the way :)
Edit: after a single google search, I found out that Matt had taken time off from the band due to mental health struggles, and is still taking a break as far as I know. I hope he gets better soon, because I really liked his vocals on Years Ago, and it’s one of my favorites off of Schlagenheim.
Edit 2: I probably should have watched the whole video before commenting.
Hey man not sure if you'll see this comment! Just wanna say I'm really glad you make these videos, you put the time in to understanding these albums and it greatly enhances my own enjoyment and experience of the albums you talk about, thank you:)
I read everything, and thanks!
It came to me whilst listening to this review, that this is a very "20's" album. Not just 2020's, but also in a weird hellish sense, the 1920's, as well as the 20th century in general. This album is like a jarring, nightmarish retrospective on the common spirit of the people, deceived, deluded, damned. It is like the band playing on the Titanic as it sinks, but sinking into a lake of fire.
This album on first listen caught me off guard with the dualities of hectic, frenetic chaos, and melancholy, sometimes spiritual even, serenity. This has been a theme and motif within all three of their albums so far, but I think they handle it much more effectively on Hellfire than Cavalcade.
The overall tone of this album reminds me slightly of Carl Jung's Red Book, wherein he travels to Hell. He provides a quote I'll thusly paraphrase:
"Nature is both cheerful play and cold horror."
38:43 "The themes of impotence rise..." may be the funniest thing I have ever heard. In all seriousness though, great review and amazing insight! I will definitely be checking out some Faulkner after this.
Idk if you know this but Geordie greep is neither singer nor songwriter on eat men eat or still, the bassist Cameron Picton was
It very much is an active listening album, appreciated it 5x more when I was at home with headphones in than listening to the livestream while in a crappy work van
when you said "if black midi is Faulkner, then viagra boys is hemmingway" i emitted a very large smile and silly giggle, i get what you mean
Quelle Chris says they're going to tour together! Sounds so amazing
Insanity 😂
THANK YOU FOR TALKING ABOUT THAT PART IN STILL it's probably my favorite little moment on the whole album
Welcome To Hell is possibly my favorite Black MIDI song.
Hey Prof,
I often walk or cycle around, with my phone in my pocket, listening to your videos in headphones, but it uses my mobile data very fast to stream a video.
My question is this: would you consider uploading the audio from your videos as podcasts on Spotify/streaming platforms?
this would make sense considering his love for unedited, stream of consciousness reviews.
That would be huge, head this man professor
This may be coming from a point of privilege(I apologize if so) but RUclips premium is well worth the price tag. You can 'close' the phone and use audio only
AVAA , bump
Missing this to watch my younger brother's first drum corp competition. Darn you, family values!!!
Absolutely the right decision!
Which corp does he play for? Would kill to be at DCI today
@@CaesarSalads honestly. I hate I couldn’t get into spirit before I aged out :(
@@CaesarSalads He's a mallet player for The White Sabers, a DCA corp out of New York State. He's aiming for Carolina Crown before he ages out!
This album reminds me of Pynchon more than any other author. The mix of complexity and absurdity, the silly character names and the song within a song, it's the most Pynchonian album I've ever heard.
Yes! I couldn't agree more.
I am only 30 minutes in, but the section on Faulkner made me laugh.
So, two weeks ago I was talking to with a coworker about their favorite novels, and they recommended the genre of surrealist literature, and they said Sound and the Fury was their favorite from the genre. The next day I bought it at my local bookstore and I started reading it, and I had that exact feeling of confusion that you described. I did not continue reading after I completed the first chapter however, even though I thought it elicited an interesting reading experience, but at this point in my life it's not really my thing... (I'm more into Tolstoy, and Dostoevsky)
Also, the new Black Midi is phenomenal. Definitely waaayyyy stronger than the first record (which I am not incredibly partial to), and is an amazing logical progression from the insanity of Cavalcade. This currently is a 9/10 for me, and I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually becomes a 10/10 for me.
Everyone’s more into Dostoyevsky
tolstoy and dostoyevsky W but schlagenheim is by far their best
I've never heard anyone express the "inverted groove" thing. Absolutely love the term, and as a drummer for 16 years, I can definitely relate to the different feeling of it. Very nice
Did you reference the show “I Think You Should Leave” when you said “kind of like a cosmic gumbo”? Or is this an actual saying? Either way thank you as always for the awesome analytical, insightful and passionate dissection and reviews! You’re the best :) congrats on your new future child.
I always quote itysl whenever it fits . Totally fit there. 😀
@@professorskye your're not getting anything for Christmas this year. Santa doesn't care if you quote ITYSL, but its not good behavior
Awesome review. I love this album. You should do a Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems review! It came out a few months ago and I was surprised to see you have’t covered it. Amazing punk album with hip-hop elements too.
Fantastic review as usual. This album is sensational but I just can't get over Diamond Stuff and Ascending Forths. As an album, I prefer this one but their previous album had such raw and creative songs
This all sounds right, from the perspective of a person who fed homeless addicts; there is divine in the filthy, filthy in the divine. And, there are those just evil enough to exploit the people they forced into stupidity.
The real truth (one of them) is that no one can live long without the heart and mind engaged. Another is that people awake enough to see this have, at the very least, a drive to care for others. Evil has no room for community.
I learn and understand so much of reality through music and the music community. Really the perfect form of media for my type of mind. Also dangerous. Sometimes I think I could be completely brainwashed if music was pretty enough. Gotta stay on my toes.
Thanks for showing us your grotesque bodily reality professor. Had my first day of grad school today and was feeling like an imposter since I’ve jumped across disciplines. Huge black midi fan, your analysis chock full of insights and humor lifted my spirits. Definitely an album I’ll be spinning for a long time to come. Technical, silly, evocative, emotional but funny
This was not only a review, but a fantastic listen as well! Cheers
Good god, man. This was incredible.
Thank you!
I was waiting on this one. amazing record!
Finding your channel has been a blessing for me. In the same place, similar age, similar thoughts, similar search. I appreciate what you do so much.
I think the Faulkner comparison definitely has something to it. The Sound and The Fury is one of the choppiest books I've ever read. This album was quite James Joyce-esque to me too
When you talked about a general sense of disillusionment now and in art a hundred years ago I had to come here and comment about how the same is observable here in Brazil - in 1922 we had the most transformative art movement called the Semana de Arte Moderna (modern art week) and now in 2022 we are living under a fascist inspired government with most of our personal liberties being put in check, and the same strategies of 'talking about it without talking about it' or the general sense of confusion in art is being observable here too. So yeah, I see it too! Thanks Professor, another great review!
I think your theory regarding post 2010s disillusionment coming out in 2020’s post punk is spot on, and it’s nice to have someone put words to what I’ve been feeling for quite awhile now!
It's quite interesting with references. Now after 2 days with Hellfire, Cavalcade appears as easy-to-listen/background music :). You just have to love people who go their own way and just do "what needs to be done", whatever it may cost and whatever the outcome will be. In a cruelly unfair world, it is still incredibly fair that bands like Black Midi get attention and praise. @Skye, what a fantastic decomposing of Hellfire, I have to come back and look clear at a later time
Your passion makes these videos so watchable, it’s great!
Your videos are really great. You always give a good perspective. I watch your videos when I am drawing and the kind of free flowing way you go through your videos. I didn't know anything about the black midi and black country new road argument. I love them both and they both slap.
Hi Skye it’s super interesting to hear what you said at around the 5;40 mark and onwards about the fandoms of these bands as it’s completely true- I’d be lying to say i didn’t do it at times! Also you completely hit the nail on the head on what it was like to go to the two bands concerts- as (unwillingly and not due to the band at all) the black midi atmosphere was certainly much more rowdy and vitriolic in its sense of pride towards being there. It is strange as many people love both the bands yet still add a competition element… maybe this is just an infinite occurrence. Ultimately I am just glad we are getting so much great music in such close proximity, seeing both bands evolve in ways which suit their expertise while also enhancing their emotive expression. Either way both bands are super lovely people- both coming and chatting to their fans and getting photos before and after the show
I saw the band in atlanta and spent the end of the concert waiting for three guys to stop asking questions and stopping others from saying hi. It was one of my first concerts and the moment I realized what you mean about the fandom taking them more seriously than they wanted to be. The concert was FUN, they are goof balls and I loved it!
Hey Mr. Skye! I loved this video, thank you so much for your continued service of digging deep in all these important modern albums.
I was wondering if you could release your videos in podcast format as well. I've been listening to a lot of podcasts while doing chores and whatnot, and I think it's a great format.
Anyway, thank you again for the videos!
One little reference that was made that you didn’t pick up on: there are a couple of lines in The Race that references Laura Nyro’s “Sweet Blindness” from 1968 (an artist I think you would definitely love):
A little laughter, a little silence
A little magic, a little kindness
A little all over me, yes me
I’m awful at analyzing poetry and making connections (which is why I need your channel), so if you can decipher the purpose behind this strange allusion, I would greatly appreciate it.
Nice catch ! I didn’t even pick up on it till you said it- so many little things hidden, but then again it is 100mph
Probably just an ironic fun link to the song but in both cases both songs are about blindness. In that the narrators know they are blocking their perception of life- through gambling in race or booze in sweet blindness- but choose to live this way.
Your Faulkner/Black Midi - Hemingway/Viagra Boys joke was really good Skye, it made me laugh :)
Your comparison of Greep to Faulkner really opened my eyes. Like you said, it's possible he isn't even aware of him or his work, but the overall ethos of this record and its stories of impotence, and eventual consequence for said impotence, seems pretty on the nose.
I agree! Even if he doesn’t know his work Greep seems to be rather culturally and artistically educated but never in an obnoxiously obvious way- one of my favourite aspects of his diverse storytelling in his writing
@@mrmogford8117 agreed
Listen to Cardiacs, John Zorn, Mr Bungle, etc etc....this is not new, its a good contemporary evolution of previous great albums
Black midi did go to the same music school together! (An arts school that Amy Winehouse, Adele, and Rex Orange county also went to.. obviously they took a different turn than those artists but. They studied music.
I admire you so much. Since this album has released my brain has been swirling with so many thoughts and emotions as I’ve tried to put to words and explain to people everything I love about this album. I have spent more time on the internet talking to internet people in the past few days then I have in my entire life, and you are the only person I’ve encountered eloquent enough to say what I’ve been trying to say. I mean I couldn’t even figure out how to refer to the narrative aspects of this album! LORE! OF COURSE! I’ve been theorizing and connecting the dots as much with Hellfire as I have with Game of Thrones or Dark Souls! Sometimes I feel like Joseph Grand from Albert Camu’s “The Plague” because i have trouble finding the “right words” to express my thoughts, but that’s why I love writing and content like yours because I become more eloquent myself. Not to be that troupe, but I genuinely feel like you think similarly to me and that’s why I’m so attracted to your content, even down to the struggling with reading but thriving with audible comprehension. Anyways, I’ve been really anticipating you reviewing this album because I truly think it may be one of my favorites of all time. Sorry for the cringe gentlemen. Hmu if you want to talk Hellfire lore ;)
26:05 I actually see this a lot in hip hop, in artists like yeat, destroy lonely or even carti to a lesser extent. They break down every limit put on the genre to the point of being no hook, not rapping on beat, and on dark trippy almost nauseating beats. It transmits to me a similar feeling of an absurd existence that black midi does
They've really hit their stride. A masterpiece.
Now we need a black midi interview!
I love how you noticed possible literary references in the album! Whenever Geordie says "The clown can be a martyr,
The whore can be an angel" it makes me think of Dostoyevsky's "Crime and Punishment" and "The Idiot". Also "Crime and Punishment" obv comes to mind during "Dangerous Liaisons".
To be fair I really don't think there is any "beef" between the fans. In my experience at least, the fanbases usually cross over and I think most people can enjoy both bands. It's not that strange to me seeing the different groups of "the windmill scene" being constantly compared. People writing in the comments "If you like BCNR you should listen to black midi" being perceived as toxic masculinity is a bit of a shallow interpretation in my opinion. But then again, that's just from my own experience. I don't honestly doubt that there exists toxic fans in the black midi community, however I personally don't believe it's anywere near as bad as you think it is.
the beef is funny because if you look at a Venn diagram of black midi fans and bcnr fans, the overlap would be so great it would basically be a circle.
Thanks for the insight. Maybe I have a warped view.
I actually don’t think you’re wrong, I think the beef is very real. It’s just funny because most like both bands so the beef is really “black midi is bussy, but Black Country New Road is GOATed” and vice versa. I think edgelord accurately describes the behavior happening in the comment sections.
@@professorskye professor, I would agree with OP as well. Black midi was my aoty last year, BCNR will win the year. No beef
I habitually, absent-mindedly, read comments on live performances and stuff and I swear I haven't seen any toxicity around this. Both bands seem to have young but mature - dare I say sophisticated? - fanbases that I would be surprised to that from.
If you wanna see pointless toxic rivalry just say Messi/Ronaldo is your favourite football player anywhere on the internet.
Great video. In you piece on Welcome to Hell I mentioned Scott Walker and I feel a strong Scott Walker vibe in Geordie's crooning. As an added BM/BCNR junction Walker gets name dropped in Sunglasses. I'm 100% sure Geordie is aware of his work.
another literary comparison to be drawn is how pynchonesque a lot of the storytelling is, not only in its winding density but also the narrative absurdity of the record.
I watched a bit of this review, went and listened to the album, and then caught myself nodding backwards while listening lol
at first glance, i thought Eat Men Eat was doing sort of an allegory comparing the expeditions of the great navigations period to modern mining sites. maybe it feels like a loose comparison, but to me, drunk capitans; mentions of Rio Tinto (a multinational mining company); single ingredients being the only food left; drying clothes in the sun; and this description of being in a place like hell, it all feels to me like the same thing: two awful places where men with no other chance left, work, suffer and die just to get almost nothing out of it. "almost something"
48:10 what you’re saying here is the exact story arc portrayed in cobra Kai where it shows the formative experiences of John Kreese in the military. There’s an particular scene when his captain/general guy recruits him gives him this big speech, essentially pushing him down a violent path through sheer bravado.
Black midi and Faulkner in the thumbnail? I knew I was gonna love this video
hellfire reminds me a lot of interwar weimar new objectivity, like otto dix, george grosz and max beckmann
yoooo this is actually perfect, esp grosz. similarly, schlagenheim has heavy dada vibes to me. overall something very weirdly modernist yet still super contemporary about bm
Yeah for sure- also has links to the film cabaret which recreates many of Dix’s paintings, and funnily enough Greep (definitely in the 27q Freddie song bit) sounds like the master of ceremonies from the film. Love the environments this band can blend between old and new- hellfire definitely feels like it exists in the elevated yet seedy reality that musicals like cabaret also do.
This album is the majestic announcement of the end of Modernism.
Also wanted to say that I also thought that Half Time was a reference to Radio Raheem in Do The Right Thing. I believe it’s a reference to a real Boxing Journalist named Radio RAHIM.
ruclips.net/video/h30uTmahNFQ/видео.html
I honestly think that the album is about people existing in constant war of ideas that can't really stop because no answer fully fits questions that are eating at us and it's repercussions. Always love the vids tho
like the internet
camera looks amazing!
28:10 hahaha it wasnt hard to predict but you absolutely nailed the logic behind the result
This would be a good podcast, would probably work without even editing the audio
Never would’ve expected hippo campus to be brought up in a black midi review haha
As a Quebecer, I hope your daughter is enjoying her time in Quebec!
I have hyperhidrosis. Thanks for lifting your arms up in that moment, it's good to remember it's just a thing some people have. AVAA.
Also, my one thing of note to add that I don't see many mentions of when people talk about BM, is the similarities to Dylan's storytelling style in terms of just stacking up verses
there are some times i’m convinced these bands made their albums for you
I have basically no idea what the album is about. I haven't watched your review and I've only listened to it twice. I just wanna declare that listening to it felt a lot like reading Blood Meridian, or if BM was an album this would be it.
[Later]
Damn, "Absalom, Absalom" is actually 3rd on my reading list right now. After "As I Lay Dying" and maybe "Mason & Dixon" if I get along with it. Gonna have to move it up!
Of course many will know the McCarthy's greatest single influence is probably Faulkner so not surprising I'm getting those vibes.
I also listened to "The Sound and The Fury". My god, I have never been more confused in my life than in that first section. The text uses italics to cue the reader that time is shifting, but on audio you don't have that. Seriously for the first 30 mins I didn't know if Benjy was 33 or 5. Certain lines would pop out regardless: "I heard the night coming" (close enough, try searching S and F in google and it's all Macbeth).
Hey! Geordie Greep just released a new solo single that leans into the storytelling aspect of Hellfire, and I think you would enjoy it. His new album releases in October.
Good analysis of a great album. The sense of disillusionment with the current post punk movement clicks with me.
Great video super interesting insight such a great album imo
"Eventually found, I was sentenced to life
Spent reading the letters of a million wives
Sun Sugar came, wouldn't be shit without me
The youngest executioner in tabloid memory"
the pov of sugar/tzu is a child i think. thats why he is so short and why he is "The youngest executioner in tabloid memory"
AVAA
Encore une très bonne analyse ! Le parallèle avec Rabelais est plus que pertinent. Par ailleurs je ne comprends jamais pourquoi personne ne parle de King Crimson car pour moi il est évident que l’album Lizard est l’œuvre dont Hellfire se rapproche le plus.
your camera is too high quality
I feel like this band is to post-punk as Richard Dawson is to progressive folk. Check out the album Henki, a collaboration between Dawson and the band Circle. Its also a masterpiece in the same kind of way.
Without counting Half Time (the interlude in the middle), the album has 9 songs. And Dante’s Inferno is structured in 9 circles. So there’s perhaps a very slight nod to Dante 😅
having a music scene so close to where i live makes me feel so lucky
i do think there is a sense of being crushed by fame although not in the traditional Alex Turner Kurt Cobain type
however, Isaac did feel crushed in a certain way and you know what I think he did the right thing and wish him best
I'm a pretty big fan of all these bands, black midi, new road supremacy
ps I recommend topical dancer by Charlotte Adigery and bolis pupul, and everything everywhere all at once, last one is a film however I believe you will really like it
The Prof once again proves his impeccable taste with the ITYSL reference
I try to shoehorn them in whenever I can. Sometimes it’s blatant like this, other times it’s a simple “I don’t know what to tell you, bud”
hey, I think you misspoke when you talked about Eat Men Eat. you said "Picton is playing the bass", which is what he usually does. You probably meant to mention the fact that Picton is on the guitar for this one.
Maybe 27 questions have something to do with the 27 club? This kind of cult-like glorification of the death of an artist
Loved this video!
I feel like it’s probably outside of your wheelhouse but the new Imperial Triumphant, you should review that. Would love to hear your thoughts.
I’m amazed that you ignored indie rock between Radiohead in the 1990s and todays current crop of bands! There were a lot great bands between 2000-2022.
Professor Skye, what breed is Toby?
He is the best kind of breed… a mut!
I'm trying to look further into this current post-punk movement you touch on. I've seen your other videos but it just feels like I can't learn enough. Where should I go to look into it further, what videos discuss this in detail? Could you make one exclusively dedicated to this?
La vidéo est beaucoup trop longue pour moi, mais j'aurais bien aimé entendre votre avis sur l'album:) Serait-il possible de sortir deux vidéos différentes, une longue et une autre d'une dizaine de minutes contenant les moments les plus marquants de la critique?
The video is 1h20min Prof!
Black Midi, TV Priest, Viagra Boys, Idles, Squid, Crack Cloud, Protomartyr, Shame, Fontaines DC, Sleaford Mods,Ought. I love these bands Post punk these days on fire
no bcnr ),:
Iceage as well
The live version of “Dethroned” is the best version of that song.
also interesting this description fits a review of the film 'mad god' that came out recently, big guys duping little idiots, i dont recommend watching it, apparently its really gross, i havent seen it, nor have i listented to this album yet
Hi Professor Skye I love your videos. I also love the attention you give to the post punk and UK Windmill “scene”. I was curious however if you are aware of the Fat White Family? The band who I believe started this whole movement back around 2012.. I believe all the bands in this category you review have been very inspired by them. They basically created the Windmill Scene. If you go back to Lou Smiths early videos on his RUclips channel you will see the pure energy they create back then. They are also a band I noticed Anthony Fantano has completely ignored apart from one passing remark in a video unrelated to the band. They have 3 albums and a new one on the way and I’d love to hear your thoughts on the group and their work/influence. Heavily inspired by Ben Wallers and the County Teasers I think in retrospect Fat White Family will be considered extremely important when it comes to the progression of rock up until now and moving forward.. you might disagree but Id also love to hear it of you do.
*Heavily inspired by The County Teasers mostly on the first album “Champaign Holocaust” but you can hear the influence through out the discography.. but not that important anyway. Thanks
You will hear other influences like The Fall, The Monks, Funkadelic and US garage rock
Oh you’ll need to throw in some of The Libertines influence too and some Psychedelia. Okay I’m done!
Thanks again for your videos.. you’re making me a smarter person.
I think that more than being friends, Geordie Greep and Lewis Evans even flatshare
What a great band!!!
Should have known if I was to ever hear a reference to Bakhtin in a music review it would come from you!
king
COSMIC GUMBO!!
Bro you even look like someone who would only listen to radiohead. Big drunkenly-singing-creep-at-a-festival type energy
Freebirds in Goleta is great. Def a go to everytime I visit ucsb
Fucking awesome video, the Hemingway joke 😂😂😂 if viagra boys are Hemingway I can't wait for the hunter s thompson
WHat a review! Fitting to the artist.