m b v

UPDATE: 100 - 95 (giving it a fairer rating) It is almost impossible to put into words the impact this album has had on me ever since the fateful afternoon I decided to give it a whirl. I remember when I first heard She Found Now, and wanted to close my eyes. I ended up listening to the whole thing blind (Literally and figuratively). No other album has ever put me on such a trance to not only want to close my eyes, but visualize each song as well. The guitars sounded like those drills they would use to fill in a cavity at the dentist, like distorted mechanical saws drilling into and out of my head.

Who Sees You, with its drum fill intro to these entrancing guitars creates the perfect moody ambient sound. That "Wrong" sound in the back of the wailing guitars is pure wonder and genius. I dare say that Who Sees You is the bands most realized track to date. Now I will briefly state that mbv is not known for their lyrics, however, the lyrics on this album should be an exception, especially on Who Sees You and Wonder 2. Both lyrics on those 2 songs should be appreciated just as much as the music that carries it along. I say this because Kevin's poetry really captures that "faraway resonance" or uncertainty the guitars makes you feel. The entire album feels like there is something wrong, something missing, and his writing both musically and lyrically help sell that mood to sheer perfection. Of which is why I enjoy this album so much. It encapsulates that emotion in a true sonic form. Something I feel the band truly excells at. It's also why I said this album is the soundtrack to my brain. My entire music taste sums up to emotional bittersweetness.

I will leave you with one quote that is on the CD of this album, "Nothing is this, and yes, I really love you."

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OLD REVIEW: 97

The music sounded like it was trying so conflictedly to match the other soundscapes, making it sound like the instruments were crying in the sheer peril of a faraway resonance. The texture is unbelievable. If there were one album I would wish to listen to again for the first time, It would be this one; It is the soundtrack of my brain.

m b v evokes an emotion, a distorted euphoric mood that is infectious as all hell. This album is completely different in tone from Loveless. I heard this quote in the YouTube comment section for the album and I think it perfectly defines what I think of the album, "Comparing the two albums is missing the point. There's ego-driven music made for the mind and there's music that comes from a deeper place." m b v captures a mood through music unlike any other album I have heard and that Is why I love it so much and one song I would say best does this is "who sees you." The 3rd track on the album.

Who sees you is like a mental breakdown in a sonic form, sorrowful but not without anger. The vocals glide with the music and sound haunting. Then the guitars scream in anguish, leaving you breathless as they go in and out of coherence. Until you reach a climax that is even more unrelenting than the start, and instead of going in and out, it is more coherent and painful. Lastly falling back into uncertain flickering and stopping abruptly, leaving you whip-lashed in its blare. Kevin Sheild's killed it on this song

Some of the songs are softer like the opening track or new you and are still pretty emotionally potent. The last song "wonder 2" is also one of the stand-out tracks on the album. It starts with what sounds like a helicopter into this jungle-esque rollercoaster. It also has one of my all-time favorite lyrics as well and is said at the end of the song, "You were always late to see tomorrow. Everyone knows that you're such too soon." Hauntingly brutal.

In summation, Mbv has drawn me in once again with their transcendental Shoegaze. The album is more abstract than I thought it would be, especially near the end with the building drums into wonder 2. m b v is an abrasive first listen, even for some recurring Shoegaze listeners. It is a grower for sure. But don't let that uncertainty stop you, let it drive you to the end of the album in curiosity and come to your own conclusion.