Black Mountain rises from within the Vancouver-based fiefdom of Stephen McBean, the hazy-toned singer and meandering songwriter who also heads up Pink Mountaintops. Both groups languish in a fog of psychedelia and sexual release. But while the latter opts for arty avant folk, Black Mountain lives up to its name with a heavier foundation. The self-titled debut on Jagjaguwar (its eight-song count and subdued cover art are a dark mirror to Pink Mountaintops) busts open half-lidded Velvet Underground fetishisms with squalls of Blue Cheer guitar, and further channels the heady sounds of the late '60s with a moodily dwelling organ. McBean shares vocal duties with Amber Webber throughout, but she becomes an especially important factor on the twosome that closes Black Mountain, since her stoned and elegiac vocals make them something more than simply idling jams. "Heart of Snow," for example, flutters like a warped and ancient recording of "Space Oddity" as Webber draws out the syllables in lines like "Heart of snow/Let go let go/But your sad wings/Won't fly you home"; feedback and pounding drums periodically join in. It's a damaged lues sound comparable to that of Jennifer Herrema's Royal Trux outgrowth RTX, but McBean's vaguely mystic lyrics also dovetail Black Mountain back into Pink Mountaintops territory. "Modern Music" and "No Satisfaction" rock a White Light/White Heat tumble that's nevertheless well done, particularly on the former, which features some spectacular sax assistance from Vancouver area player Masa Anzai. The remainder of Black Mountain positions stoner ock chording over swirling vintage keys and the ever-impressive vocals of McBean and Webber. It's a referential sound, to be sure. But there's enough weight to Black Mountain's mojo to make it more than worthwhile.
Thinking back, I wasn't too crazy about Black Mountain the first time i heard them. At the time, I was consuming massive amounts of new music. They just didn't fit what I was into at the time. But, lately, they keep sneaking their way into my shuffle and I stop to see who it is. It's Black Mountain AGAIN!Maybe I DO like this retro rock (60's/70's style) more than I initially figured. There's so...
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Why haven't I heard of these guys until now?? This band kicks some major ass! This is why I love music... Day after day I can listen to such repetitive garbage and then BING! BANG! BOOOOM! Black Mountain falls from the sky. Their sound is very much classic rock with a modern psychedelic chocolate fudge twist. The leader of the band Stephen McBean (check out his other band Pink Mountaintops) has...
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Some albums I have bought recently have faded fast, becoming nothing more than background music to my screenwriting marathons. Vancouver band 'Black Mountain's self titled album definitely doesn't fit into this category. Black Mountain's sound is exactly what it says on the box, "BLACK and MOUNTAINOUS". From the tongue in cheek sax built dig at the music industry of 'Modern Music' to the Sabbathes
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bringin it down half a notch..
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Some albums I have bought recently have faded fast, becoming nothing more than background music to my screenwriting marathons. Vancouver band 'Black Mountain's self titled album definitely doesn't fit into this category. Black Mountain's sound is exactly what it says on the box, "BLACK and MOUNTAINOUS". From the tongue in cheek sax built dig at the music industry of 'Modern Music' to the Sabbathes
More >
Thinking back, I wasn't too crazy about Black Mountain the first time i heard them. At the time, I was consuming massive amounts of new music. They just didn't fit what I was into at the time. But, lately, they keep sneaking their way into my shuffle and I stop to see who it is. It's Black Mountain AGAIN!Maybe I DO like this retro rock (60's/70's style) more than I initially figured. There's so...
More >
Why haven't I heard of these guys until now?? This band kicks some major ass! This is why I love music... Day after day I can listen to such repetitive garbage and then BING! BANG! BOOOOM! Black Mountain falls from the sky. Their sound is very much classic rock with a modern psychedelic chocolate fudge twist. The leader of the band Stephen McBean (check out his other band Pink Mountaintops) has...
More >
| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Modern Music |
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| 2 Don't Run Our Hearts Around |
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| 3 Druganaut |
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| 4 No Satisfaction |
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| 5 Set Us Free |
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| 6 No Hits |
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| 7 Heart of Snow |
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| 8 Faulty Times |
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| 9 Druganaut [Multimedia Track] |
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 "Black Mountain")
