From the opening blast of overdriven guitars and hyperkinetic drums it's apparent A Place to Bury Strangers, self-described "loudest band in New York," want to pummel you into submission with their unique take on white noise-derived guitar splendor, but then a hypnotic single-string riff takes over to briefly deliver a respite from the assault, recalling the classic era of shoegaze. The swirling atmosphere of guitar feedback and reverb-drenched vocals immediately bring to mind the most obvious comparison: vintage Jesus and Mary Chain. And while the Mary Chain circa Psychocandy evoked the Beach Boys on bad acid or the the Shirelles gigging poolside at the Manson family compound, A Place to Bury Strangers also evoke a host of noisy early-'90s British bands like My Bloody Valentine, Swervedriver, Ride, Chapterhouse, Pale Saints, and the Catherine Wheel without sounding exactly like any of them. These bands knew how to cloak their essentially straightforward and anthemic rock songs in layers upon layers of guitar effects to lend an air of psychedelia and psychosis to what without that noisy dressing would strip down to candy-coated pop confections. And what A Place to Bury Strangers indeed do is write pop songs, with simple, traditional arrangements, primarily in slightly menacing minor keys, and saturated with their own unique brand of sonic mayhem. This is facilitated by the fact that their guitarist/singer designs his own effects pedals at his day job, allowing for a trademark-able and wide variety of signature bombastic sounds (he also does custom work for illustrious members of other similarly minded space rockers). Many songs, like the obvious single "To Fix the Gash in Your Head," feature a pile-driving drum machine enhancement which adds to the multiple layers and recalls a time when dark dream pop (Curve, Slowdive, the Telescopes) and dancefloor-friendly goth rock (Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, early New Order) were club mainstays. And aside from the lone doom-laden ballad "The Falling Sun," these songs are actually danceable. Or perhaps moshable, at the proper volume. The majority of the album keeps up the frenetic onslaught with which it opens, and even amongst the caustic thrash and thick slabs of sonic detritus there is an exhilaration, a catharsis, a beauty in the cacophony, and the listener is happily buried in the ear-splitting bliss. Many albums' liner notes suggest the listener should "PLAY THIS LOUD", but in this case it's never been more essential.
A Place To Bury Strangers released their self titled debut album back in 2007 to wild acclaim and now the Brooklyn based band are signing to Mute records for their second LP. The group are known for their noise-rock intensity and organic rhythms and recently, APTBS front-man Oliver Ackermann spoke out about the deal with Mute: "They have put out some of our favorite records over the years.
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A Place To Bury Strangers (w/ Ten Kens)The Cockpit, Leeds, UK (5 Dec 2008) Last night I finally had the chance to see A Place To Bury Strangers headline a show, in the third set of theirs I've seen within the year (the first since my move from US to UK). There isn't much that I can add to my earlier raves (here and here). But this episode in Ollie Ackermann's continuing quest for a guitar sound...
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I knew when I left home yesterday, after extricating myself from the myriad conference calls that dot my schedule, that seeing A Place To Bury Strangers live could either completely satisfy, or prove a massive disappointment. There was no middle ground. I had heard too many good reports from faithful moggers whose word I trust.Being too excited to possibly wait, I left home at 4pm, hopped in th...
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Its' not often you can go to a tiny city venue and see an amazing band that is clearly too good for the walls holding it in. But last night, a Tuesday of all days, for a whopping $10 per ticket, Jaye and I went to Chop Suey in Seattle to see A Place to Bury Strangers. It’s not that they were polished and slick in performance; actually they were the exact opposite…rough and loud and perfect b
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Intro - "Locals Only":http://www.localsonlyindy.com/Locals Only is a small Indianapolis bar that bills itself as a music and art bar. This was only the second time I've been to the place, and it was the first time I'd gone to see a band play. The bar looks like it has been around for a while; then again, it's the type of bar that probably looked aged when it was new. The place has that certa...
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I knew when I left home yesterday, after extricating myself from the myriad conference calls that dot my schedule, that seeing A Place To Bury Strangers live could either completely satisfy, or prove a massive disappointment. There was no middle ground. I had heard too many good reports from faithful moggers whose word I trust.Being too excited to possibly wait, I left home at 4pm, hopped in th...
More >
From the YouTube site:From APTBS monster debut LP on Killer Pimp, here's the official video for "I Know I'll See You."The video was shot via webcam by Director Adam Grabarnick (adamgrabarnick.com) from his home in Los Angeles while the band were in their RV on a rainy Sunday afternoon in Ohio during their recent tour.The band was was parked at a Denny's in Delaware, Ohio prior to their show at ...
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Live from the Gibson Showroom in NYC during CMJ 08Who needs an audience to absolutely rock it... not these guys... wow!!!!
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According to their myspace, A Place to Bury Strangers are the loudest band out there now. They are performing tonight in NY but I am scared I may blow my ear drums....What do you think?They got serious raves at CMJ and the bartender at my neighborhood dive bar has been wearing their t-shirt for days.They remind me of the Smiths and JAMC with a darker shade of black...
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Its' not often you can go to a tiny city venue and see an amazing band that is clearly too good for the walls holding it in. But last night, a Tuesday of all days, for a whopping $10 per ticket, Jaye and I went to Chop Suey in Seattle to see A Place to Bury Strangers. It’s not that they were polished and slick in performance; actually they were the exact opposite…rough and loud and perfect b
More >
A Place To Bury Strangers (w/ Ten Kens)The Cockpit, Leeds, UK (5 Dec 2008) Last night I finally had the chance to see A Place To Bury Strangers headline a show, in the third set of theirs I've seen within the year (the first since my move from US to UK). There isn't much that I can add to my earlier raves (here and here). But this episode in Ollie Ackermann's continuing quest for a guitar sound...
More >
A Place To Bury Strangers is one of the two bands to come out of the dreampop band Skywave (1995-2003), the other being Ceremony. Since the first and only MOG post about APTBS so far (from June 2006, huge props to aytch!), the band have had various recordings that have been sold on CD-Rs at shows or circulated in the Internet professionally mixed, mastered, and released as an album by Killer P...
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Intro - "Locals Only":http://www.localsonlyindy.com/Locals Only is a small Indianapolis bar that bills itself as a music and art bar. This was only the second time I've been to the place, and it was the first time I'd gone to see a band play. The bar looks like it has been around for a while; then again, it's the type of bar that probably looked aged when it was new. The place has that certa...
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Just one last post before I go out and party in 2009. (it's so weird to type that: 2009) Thanks for posting, commenting, and doing everything else that makes MOG so awesome. I hope 2008 was as good to you as it was to me, but I hope that 2009 is extraordinary for you and your family. 2009's going to be a big transitional year: new president, sure, but I'm going to college. Egad. But as long...
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I just discovered this album today and am digging it. If you like super-heavy fuzzy noise and extremely loud reverb-drenched music in the vein of bands like the Jesus and Mary Chain, then you will like this.Anyway, this is the first track off their album, which came out in '07. Give it a listen if you haven't already.Here is a link to their myspace, where they have a few songs available for dow...
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....only things in the last three years matter for shit!! Despite repeated efforts by the brits, they were previously unable to inspire these same hipsters at a younger age. better late than never?!?! dont listen to me....Pitchfork has obviously informed these people that J&MC once existed and are sick despite not being invented post 'said's' college graduation. who knew?
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A Place To Bury Strangers released their self titled debut album back in 2007 to wild acclaim and now the Brooklyn based band are signing to Mute records for their second LP. The group are known for their noise-rock intensity and organic rhythms and recently, APTBS front-man Oliver Ackermann spoke out about the deal with Mute: "They have put out some of our favorite records over the years.
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Missing You |
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| 2 Don't Think Lover |
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| 3 To Fix the Gash in Your Head |
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| 4 The Falling Sun |
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| 5 Another Step Away |
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| 6 Breathe |
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| 7 I Know I'll See You |
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| 8 She Dies |
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| 9 My Weakness |
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| 10 Ocean |
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Click to purchase…
© 2006-2009 Mog Inc. All Rights Reserved
 "A Place to Bury Strangers")
