The Vinyl Hunter

Today was a great day of new releases today. Wilco's The Whole Love and Mastodon's The Hunter both dropped today. I listened to each of them three or so times during the work day (I hog the stereo if left to my own devices). I ordered the super deluxe Mastodon in early August and was starting to get worried that it would not arrive in time. I would have loved to review it today (it is fucking awesome), but I have yet to find a vinyl release. If anyone hears anything let me know. The version I ordered came with lenticular poster of the wood sculpture created for the album. All told the package cost about $60, totally worth it for the poster alone. I apologize for the poor picture quality here, the lighting in my office blows hard.




The poster, as you likely can not tell, is 3-d / hologram / lenticular deal. It is fucking bad ass. In honor of the albums release, I will review their previous offering - Live at the Aragon.

Mastodon - Live at the Aragon

http://www.discogs.com/Mastodon-Live-At-The-Aragon/release/2831072

This is yet another RSD 2011 release (I am working through the pile of stuff I grabbed that day, most of it I haven't opened). The album contains the entirety of Crack the Skye as well as one track off of each previous album. It is pressed on 180 gran vinyl and comes in a heavy weight jacket. It also contains one glossy insert and a DVD of the live performance. The inner sleeves are lined with plastic and the custom labels harken back to the early Vertigo label; a mesmerizing spiral wrapped around the center hole.




The front of the gatefold jacket is presented in a very Mastodon-esque styling. Gold calligraphic text that stands out as metallic inlays on ebony wood. Four snake skeletons eat their own tails in the corners.




The back of the jacket displays the track listing framed by a larger image of the skeletal ouroboros. An unfortunate barcode is embedded in the bottom of the Celtic knot work of gold filament (Are barcodes required by law now?).




The interior of the gatefold displays a mirrored image of what I assume are the band members, I can't really tell with the color scheme. It is reflected over the center of the spiral that also appears on the custom labels.




The insert continues the black and gold spiral motif, an image of each of the band members are distorted in a circular fashion. I raged a little when I attempted to pull the insert out. It had been sucked the inside of the spine and bent. While not creased, it made me sad. At $45 retail they could have opted to sufficiently glue the spine together.

Crack the Skye is the focus of this live effort and I will analyze it first. I will abstain from an in depth lyrical analysis; I also own the studio version of this album and I feel those topics would be better suited to that review. Instead I will focus on the positives and negatives of this live interpretation of the original album.

If you have seen Mastodon live you know that at time Brent's vocals...suck. Clenched and nasal, they detract from an otherwise amazing live performance. However, this offering is a definite improvement. I recall hearing the Mr. Hines had been working with a voice coach and it really shows on this album. There are some low points, but overall he does a really acceptable job.

Side A begins with Oblivion and they do not stray from the original track listing of Crack the Skye during the album. The guitar work throughout the album is amazing, with some very interesting harmonics that are not present on the studio version. Everything feels tight and rehearsed. This is as far as I'm concerned, the best available live recording of mastodon. Side A really lays a good foundation for an amazing live version of The Czar on Side B.

The four part track, The Czar begins side B. I almost prefer the instrumental performance to the studio version. They continue on to do really excellent version of the titular track, Crack the Skye. The first album of this set really shines and would be satisfactory on its own.

The Baron, the final track of Crack the Skye, begins side C. Unfortunately, the vocals on this cut...suck. They are just bad. I am sorry. I do not know how anyone could listen to it and think otherwise. Excepting that, the track is fucking awesome. The breakdown is even more disjointed and frantic than the its studio counterpart; you can almost feel The Baron's sanity slip away and his kingdom crumble around him.

The final side of the album contains some of Mastodon's earlier work. Their seems to be a division among fans regarding Crack the Skye. I for one, do not see the need to argue. Bands mature, they change. In the words of Mr. Maynard James Keenan, "Dumb Fuck. I sold out long before you ever even heard my name." There is no reason to dislike a departure from the norm and Crack the Skye is most certainly that. I really dig both early and recent Mastodon and encourage others to try to do the same.

The CD / DVD version of this album is still in print, and at $20 or so I would not hesitate to recommend it. The vinyl version, though a limited RSD release, has actually depreciated somewhat from its original retail value. You can score a sealed couple for a little over forty bucks. I think it is worth it, but you may want to give the album a listen before shelling out the bills.

In conclusion, someone needs to get off their lazy fucking ass and release a vinyl version of The Hunter. Shut up and take my money. I do not understand the persistent disconnect between the vinyl, digital and CD versions of albums in the current market. It almost seems like the record Execs are ignoring that portion of their market. More than likely though, they know there are a few suckers such as myself, who will purchase both.

Seriously though, if anyone hears anything or knows the half-sister of someone who fellated the Warner CEO's cousin's next door neighbor and can get some info on a possible vinyl release of The Hunter, give a shout out. It would be much appreciated.