/mu/ - /mu/ Makes An Album - Best of 2017
Before the shills of the early ‘20 decade got together to network and help one another grow as artists, and sometime after the shills of early ’10 finished their last round of soggy biscuit, the shills of 2017 had no clue what they were doing. Unlike the boring compilations Best Of /mu/ Volume 1 and 2, though, Whole Damn Town admirably compiled a compilation that more effectively represented the fringe taste of /mu/ than everything that preceded it. /mu/ Makes An Album - Best of 2017 is compiled by a serious music enthusiast, and while it’s not perfect, is a lot better than it deserves to be.
L's true name is Lawrence and he dies is an incredibly lame opener. One might expect another shitshow à la The Best Of /mu/ Volume 2, though the following album picks up drastically in quality. Tuba Mirum - probably not is a surprising, moody treat, with an admirable progression and delightful percussion. The sampling of Taylor Swift almost ruins it, but the gorgeous ravishing guitars are far too consistent. Whenever samples of famous musicians are utilised, such as Kanye and Bjork during The Sounds of Kanye West Fucking Bjork While Kim Masterbates in the Corner 0_0, the album does it in an incredibly tasteful manner. Moreover, the use of space throughout these tracks is thoroughly captivating. Even when it doesn’t take itself seriously, it works. For instance, Lacrimosa (feat. Pitbull) starts off as a joke, but somehow pulls off its absurd aesthetics, creatively blending the realms of hip hop and industrial rock.
The album takes a surprising spagetthi western turn half way through, starting with The Resurrection of GG Allin – a gorgeous, acoustic western soundscape. If it's called this I ain't participatin', pardner. Sure am fed up a city slickers thinkin' I thank my sister purty. she ain't is an amateurish follow-up, but it’s bearable. Lastly, Saloon Shootout (Yee-Haw!) is majestic and smooth, like a glass of whiskey. While the themes are nothing to brag about, the unification of ideas is pleasant and gives the tracklisting personality, as opposed to the inconsistent track-listings of previous /mu/ compilations. Further down the tracklisting is Funeral Doom Ballad pt. 28 of 30, which starts off in an elegant manner before it delves into maniacal soundscapes that are both omnious and enthralling. Free spray candy at the Neibenhaur's house down the street continues the subdued progression in a charming manner, utilising real life sampling and gloomy field recordings in a captivating manner. Sadly, the album takes an incredibly large nosedive after these tracks. The exceptions are the enigmatic Funeral Doom Ballad pt. 29 of 30 and the fitting closer There is a service engine light that will never go out. Both tracks make listening to the end worth it.
As mentioned before, despite containing a commendable number of solid pieces, the album contains an overwhelming number of duds, especially towards the end. Stalk On You Crazy Diamond (Parts I-V), a tribute to Bjork, is more enjoyable in concept than execution. Seaweed Sam & Sharkman Steve, orange bone meal part 1, GAWDDAMN and Health Hazard are obnoxious fluff. A sissy (?) love story, I know, I was just posting it for the meme and Fuck the Geetars are all generic, boring edm midi filler. They got the cover already is the worst Flume cover to ever exsist. Lastly, Badadookin' for Love in All the Wrong Places is generic, formulaic rnb, but it’s difficult to hate since it contains so much soul. The curator should have opted for quality over quantity, as there’s too many dull tracks to warrant a 26-track listing.
The highs are incredinly high, but the lows are bad. Had it not been for the filler, the album could have honestly stood with the greats. Regardless, despite not being completely consistent, the tracklisting flows together swimmingly. Furthermore, when it clicks, it makes up for the lame moments. It’s a darn shame no artists were associated with these tracks, as they warrant attention. Considering the the noticeable bump in quality from previous releases, it’d be interesting to see what compilation /mu/ comes up with next – especially in the post COVID-era. Nevertheless, /mu/ Makes An Album - Best of 2017 is the best thing /mu/ has ever done collaboratively to date.
Good
Listen to it here:
https://wholedamntownproductions.bandcamp.com/album/mu-makes-an-album-best-of-2017
/mu/ - /mu/ Makes An Album - Best of 2017
