Anyone heard this? Self-released, porn-themed concept album by a much-respected Seattle-based producer. Has received massive and ecstatic praise locally, but I don't think it's been much discussed outside the Pacific Northwest. The music is a lush and frequently beautiful combination of shoegaze, post-punk, electronic and psychedelic elements. Sometimes a bit too firmly in My Bloody Valentine's wheelhouse, but more frequently wandering off in other directions.
It's basically an affectionate celebration of pornography. Starts out with a song about Radley Metzger/Henry Paris and winds up in the internet age, covering lots of ground in between. Along the way, Erik dedicates songs to Bruce La Bruce, Wakefield Poole, Rex Roman and Joe Gage/Tim Wakefield, among other characters and subjects. "Shame Spots" is particularly great, dealing with the emotional resonance of worn areas on videotape. "Constance and Casey" seems to concern the dissonance of watching actors you know from gay porn do straight scenes.
Best part is that the songs are great. Not quite ready for pop success, maybe, but interesting, appealing and memorable. I like everything about this album. Except maybe the design. The packaging is rather ugly. And the choices for singles so far have been mysterious to me. I'd have gone with "Phenominal Pornography", "Amputee" or "Shame Spots" over "Lethur" and "Today's Lover". Still, recommended to fans of pornography, oddball concept albums and/or shoegaze guitars.
@ Spotify - WARNING: imagery is NSFW
― i know your nuts hurt! who's laughing? (contenderizer), Wednesday, 29 August 2012 18:20 (twelve years ago)
Always. Would also point the curious & Spotify-equipped toward "The Lonesome Death of Henry Paris" and "Share Your Love".
I've been struggling with whether or not I should include the album's two videos here. Struggling because I don't like them and I don't think the songs chosen represent the album particularly well - but what the hell, someone out there might like them more than I do. Both videos produced by SlowCore Pictures:
"TODAY'S LOVER"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUr_oMLJij8
"LETHUR"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWKmBPI_cNY
― i know your nuts hurt! who's laughing? (contenderizer), Wednesday, 29 August 2012 19:01 (twelve years ago)
^^ both more suggestive than explicit, but decidedly NSFW
― i know your nuts hurt! who's laughing? (contenderizer), Wednesday, 29 August 2012 19:02 (twelve years ago)
okay, so i was wrong about "lethur". it's good, and i get why EB chose it as the second single. the stuff i like best rocks a little harder, but the melody is lovely.
― i know your nuts hurt! who's laughing? (contenderizer), Thursday, 30 August 2012 03:12 (twelve years ago)
four years pass...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhQrmgoUtFA
Erik Blood's last album certainly flew under the radar despite being really good. Surprised he isn't more well-known outside of Seattle music production circles.
― yesca, Thursday, 8 June 2017 06:29 (eight years ago)