Searcha or Destroya: Black Heart Procession

All I know is that the damn woman outside Sideshow by the Seashore wouldn't allow any more people in to see their performance (as part of the Siren festival). Yeah, buy THIS from the gift shop...

I heard they're spooky/moody, and somewhat country-flavored. From what I've heard of Three Mile Pilot (mostly instrumental pieces of an evocative cinematic nature, similar to an orchestral Rodan, I guess), that's not surprising. (Three Mile Pilot, of course, gave rise to the Black Heart Procession.)

I quite like them. But then, I'm a sucker for minor chords and dark lyrics and weepy vocals.

Ned's written an AMG entry for them, so I'm sure he'll have things to say. I'm only familiar with 1, which is amazing, and tends to be the record I hear people playing most often -- certainly seems like the appropriate place to start. The AMG gives 2 it's pick, but I don't really trust AMG picks unless the same reviewer's written most of the individual entries: I think I've written too many "this is crap" reviews for them, only to find them placed next to even worse records by the same band with glowing reviews.

Therefore: 1, then 2, then 3. No "search" or "destroy," as their output doesn't seem differentiated enough for anything of the sort.

And I'd say search: 2.

Destroy: Any songs in a major key (if they have any), uptempo songs

I like their first album best, the one with the small yearbook-y looking photo on the cover. All the songs are about hearts and fires and horses and guns. Makes you want to straight kill yourself. But in a good way.

2 is loaded with catchy dirges about the sea, and not the type you would expect coming out of San Diego. 3 mixes things up just a little. I guess you could destroy "Til We Have to Say Goodbye" from 3, which is Leon Redbone in a poignant mood. I never sought out 1, but now it sounds like I must.

Three Mile Pilot's "Chief Assasin to the Sinister" is pretty intense with a rhythmic bass-heavy, less tuneful kind of thing.

And you will take possession of the Pinback self-titled album.

Ned's written an AMG entry for them, so I'm sure he'll have things to say.
How would he say? NED TO THREAD!

Here you go.

i quite like three mile pilot more, especially the last one: a goth supertramp?

something about his voice can really irk me in the wrong mood, tho.

Search: "A Light So Dim." One of my favorite songs. Yeah, it's a dirge. I think it's even freely available at epitonic.com.

Spinning "amore del tropico," their newest, this morning and really liking it a lot. Previous efforts put me off: the doomy schtick doesn't work if the lyrics are dull, which they are. But the new one's got a real half-light/half-dark guitar-pop thing going. Nice.

Interesting, that wasn't immediately in evidence a few months back at their show opening for the Melvins. I will have to investigate.

Easy. 1, 2 and 3. Then move onto the Three Mile Pilot stuff.

def search 2. it is their spookiest, whirliest, most carnivalesque best.

nitsuh is on the money w/ the 1, 2, 3 in that order... i heard the new one at AQuarius and it didn't rub me right...

the last song on 1 is this brilliant Before And After Science homage as done by proggy ex-hardcore/emo superstars... "a heart the size of a horse"... search it.

i'll take 3MP over TBHP though... that's me.
search = the chief assassin to the sinister (the dgc reissue w/ the ep tacked on).

Search: The second disc, self titled. and "Amore De Tropico".

"Amore De Tropico" is the better of the two. It took awhile me to get into it. It has a way of getting under your skin. Moody, dark & just a little bit...romantic or at least cinematic. But don't let that turn you off! Their good I swear.

Destroy: I only got the ones mentioned. Sorry.

I only own 3, and it's good. A bit monochromatic, but good. I don't know if I'd pick up another album by the group (due to the lack of diversity), but from what I've heard the new one (Amore Del Tropico) varies things a bit, so I might give it a chance.

i listened to the last song on the first album again last night ("heart the size of a horse")... as time passes the first album gets better for me.

All of their records are good. Although 3 is my personal favorite.

3MP > Pinback + TBHP, however.

It makes sense that if you like Pinback (at least the bass sound) and you like TBHP (the vox and the moods inspired) you are going to love 3MP if you have never heard them before.

Search: Chief Assassin to the Sinister & Another Desert, Another Sea.