fucking awesome words man, much thanks for your insight. I’m beyond convinced and will be ordering that plus the imports of Conquerer and Lifeline next month.
just curious, how much did Pale Sketches come out to? It’s imported from the UK, correct?
how’s the packaging? It’s great to see Justin in FULL control of his product.
I can feel autumn approaching and winter chasing it. it’s soon to be Jesu season.
listening to “you wear their masks” at this page, which includes an interview with justin about the track:
http://www.paperthinwalls.com/singlefile/item?id=1165
holy shit! I fucking hate being in debt. this track is killer. I can definitly hear that early 90’s vibe on it which he’s talking about.
edit: !!!
just looked at the jesu myspace, and lo and behold, I see they’re coming to NYC saturday night. I litearlly am going to cash in my coins for this, this is what it’s come down to, but goddamnit it’s worth it. my first time seeing jesu too, passed them the past few times.
Jizzwad, ahh beat me to it - was going to start up a thread on this, especially after you asked my thoughts on it. What an awesome review you posted though.
I hadn’t looked forward to a release in a long time, but I always do for Jesu. I ordered it and didn’t even want to hear the MP3s in the chance that it may ruin my taste for the release. It wouldn’t have mattered anyhow, as I really do like Pale Sketches. I’ve been listening to it quite a bit and am currently doing so. I immediately liked “Wash It All Away” and “The Playgrounds Are Empty” (I couldn’t have put it better than ‘Broadrick’s saddest + finest masterpieces’), but it is rather hard to pick and choose from this album. It does show his talent through such a simplistic way indeed. I’m very glad he released this stuff. I feel taken aback just like I did when I first heard “Heartache” and his self titled. He always did well with the repetitive stuff amazingly - it just doesn’t feel repetitive. For being leftovers or whatnot, I am truly amazed. It is very intriguing.
The album is quite reminiscent of Boards of Canada’s “Geogaddi” at times, for example, with “Can I Go Now”. If you like that, do check out Boards if you haven’t already. I think it’s the mellow keyboards that remind me of this.
I’ll be going to the Chicago show for sure (with Fish) - definitely not a tour that should be missed.
Ok… treading dangerous waters here [:P]
What is so good about Jesu? I couldn’t find the thread where people had recommended downloads, better songs etc, I downloaded a random one, mother earth I think, it was OK, but nothing spectacular. Did I pick a bad “first song” or are they all in that vein?
heh, well, you picked my 2nd LEAST favorite Jesu track ever.
=/
umm, i’ll give you my list of one per release to check out, I can’t do better than that as a recommendation i think. If you don’t like it, then you don’t.
Ruined (Heartache EP - a bit hard to find maybe)
Friends are Evil (s/t LP)
Wolves [original beats] (Silver Japanese EP - or the official myspace: http://www.myspace.com/officialjesu )
Stanlow (Conqueror LP)
You Wear Their Masks (Lifeline EP or go to Paperthinwalls linked in this thread)
I purposely didn’t put some stuff on there from the harder to find/obtain releases. Check the myspace first, there’s a handful of tracks to check out.
-E
What is so good about Jesu? It’s that fresh breath of air that you’ve been yearning for, for a while. Ha! Or so everyone would have you believe - but in all honesty, it is for me. It’s just, for the most part, each album is quite different from another. I play the albums at work all day or when I’m just chilling…
The song you heard may not be the best for newcomers to the band to hear.
The first EP, Heartache, has parts which will remind you of Godflesh, yet his singing and the melody makes the sounds on this one quite calm, though there are heavy guitars. Heavy as in heavy, not fast, thrash metal, etc. Each song on the EP runs for about 20 minutes. Many may say it’s repetitive but put it on, sit back and just relax. The lyrics, as the EP title suggests, is about heartache (“What’s become of you?/ You’ve been false for some new thing / I hope for anything, but you believe there’s nothing”).
Then his first full length (though the Heartache EP is 40 minutes), includes “We All Faulter” (one of my favs) as well as “Friends Are Evil” and many other similar tracks. The tracks just flow well with one another on his albums. Though he uses guitar extensively and heavily, as I said before, it’s done in a way that isn’t overpowering and further compliments the music.
The Silver EP mixes things up - this is probably a good one to hear if you’re new to Jesu. More upbeat yet still Jesu. From this link, you can download a remix of the title track, Silver (Original Beats), (which is available on the Japanese release):
http://www.adultswim.com/williams/music/warmandscratchy/
The remix has stripped away most of the guitars however, so the original sounds quite different. Jesu style lyrics (“I don’t understand the pain/ I just don’t feel quite the same / When you hear them walk away / Left you here so you can stay / Silver’s Just Another Gold”, etc).
Then Conqueror, another full length. Yet again, the tracks flow well. Stanlow is an awesome track from this one. Mother Earth, the track you heard, is from this album. There are more releases but I’m sure others will chip in…
This new one (can only be purchased from him), Pale Sketches, is totally different than any of his stuff - in fact you’ll find that each of his releases are different from one another, yet still has that Jesu signature on it.
Get some of the stuff, let it sink. It’ll probably leave you wanting more… But please don’t listen to crap quality MP3s of his work - it won’t do it much justice.
I think I like these “throwaways” more than the released material, so far! I don’t have the s/t album, though, so that’ll be next.
yeah, i find it hard to believe that these are his “b-sides”. fucking awesome record, i wonder if justin will ever disappoint?
I need to get Pale Sketches when I have money. I just bought my ticket last night for the Jesu show in Seattle next month. Eluvium and Sunn 0))) are also on the bill. Can’t wait.
what i also love about jesu is their subtle album covers. silver and pale sketches are prime examples. nothing flashy, nothing over the top. brilliant.
other artists need to take notes.
I haven’t heard Pale Sketches yet, but I would sincerely like to thank this board for introducing me to Jesu.
And yes, anyone who hasn’t heard them yet or those have heard just a few tracks don’t waste your time on crappy mp3’s or myspace or shoddy streaming audio clips. I feel the same way about the USSA material, but it is essential to truly appreciate Jesu.
what i also love about jesu is their subtle album covers. silver and pale sketches are prime examples. nothing flashy, nothing over the top. brilliant.
Yes - this is what also what I like.
In fact, I hung up some vinyl covers from Jesu and Pelican on my living room wall and it looks really good (I think):
http://prongs.org/~afra/vinyl.jpg
Especially the Silver cover (at the top)…
that is fucking awesome. I’m about to cop a vinyl copy just for the artwork to be hung up…looks great.
btw, the “sun down” vinyl cover pic makes for a killer desktop
alright! just paid off my credit card and looks like I’ll be going to the jesu show tonight. will come back with a report…and hopefully something from the merch booth. Maybe he’ll have Pale Sketches there so I won’t have to order online? I’m crossing my fingers for that Final stuff to be there too, but I don’t think it’s likely. Oh well, can’t wait either way[:)]
I’m gonna do my best about the setlist, as I don’t own anything past Silver, and I won’t get shitfaced at all [:P]
it’s a really cool venue. saw amon tobin there earlier this year when he did his surround sound set. it’s an old converted movie theatre, so it really has this cool run down 1930’s feel to it, plus seating on the steps. I’m bringing two Jesu virgins with me too, one who only knows Justin from Napalm Death, the other who only knows Justin from Final, so this should be really interesting.