[kj] Tribal Freedom

[B. Oliver Sheppard]

I personally love Hosannas to death. I saw the electronic press kit 
where they were bragging about the relatively lo-tech way it was 
recorded compared to a lot of bands these days (I guess nu-metal type 
bands). But since my primary love is raw, crusty DIY hardcore punk type 
stuff like Tragedy or Born Dead Icons or World Burns to Death, I thought 
Hosannas sounded spectacular. It's definitely a few levels above low 
budget punk type recordings (in fact quit, a bit so quite the symphonic 
components, etc.) and it seems like Jaz is really exploring the 
Lemmy/Motorhead side of his vocalizations more, which is all the better 
for me. I like it when Killing Joke are harsh, caustic, thrashy, and 
raw, personally.

However, I do think "Total Invasion" and "Seeing Red" from 2003 are two 
of the finest songs KJ have probably ever made, however they did it. 
That is just instant classic stuff.

-Oliver



Mark Kolmar wrote:

> On 12/1/06, Darth E. Vader <crackedmachine at yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

>   

>> I think the idea that overdubbing guitars was somehow

>> dishonest is the porblem with Hosanannas, as opposed

>> to all those carping about Jaz' vocals.

>>

>> The sound of the 2003 album is better because the

>> guitars sound more powerful.

>>     

>

> The production on _Hosannas_ is raw in a way that detracts slightly

> from the whole effect, as it sounds large but oddly distant.  I try to

> picture how the recording was set up to capture that sound, or if it

> was done in the mix.  Someone said it sounds like they smeared plate

> reverb all over it.  Doesn't sound like a plausible room ambience

> (_Fire Dances_ maybe), or a weird space of dubby alienation (like on

> _WTF_).  I would rather hear a raw sound that's more close-up.  Maybe

> mics on each amp, over the drums and in the room, plus vox of course,

> to get a mix of direct signal and live room.  A bit like they record

> orchestras.

>

> Also the KJ productions from 1994-2003 all sounded a bit hi-tech,

> which is a contrast that can be a bit jarring.

>

> --Mark

>

>

>