Mastodon - Crack the skye :-0

[FarBeyondMetal]

I know this came out not too long ago but am I the only one here that thinks this is the best album put out in a long time? The mix is awesome but what I think is so great about it is the concept and the atmosphere. Most people know that guitarist Brent Hinds wrote most of the music in a kind of delerious state while recovering from getting rocked after the VMAs. Most people don't know however, that the drummer Brann's sister Skye committed suicide when she was a teenager, and that the album is a tribute to her. Many songs are fictional narratives that are metaphors for if Brann could have saved his sister. I have a huge respect for art made from a place that deep and can relate to this through a loss that I have suffered in my life. The album never fails to touch on a sensitive spot which is rare because I tend to casually listen to not so casual music. So does anyone else love this or am I just a deuche ?

 

[slashvanyoung]

Great album! It has some lengths here and there but overall it's really good IMHO.

And the production, well for me it's always great to hear a top-notch metal album that has such natural sounds on it. Lovin' it!

 

[AEL89]

Easily one of my favourite albums ever. Production pisses on almost everything else out there IMO.

 

[Joematthews]

Amazing album, one of my favorite ever, but the production? nah, its good but not amazing.

Joe

 

[MetalJonesy]

i think its one of the best albums ive heard in th last year, song wise etc, the mix suits the band really well so can't really complain on that!

 

[egan.]

I think it's a great record. It's hard to believe it's the same band.

 

[Machinated]

Yeah, mastodon really stepped it up on that album and I loved their older stuff! CTS has great production too, although I also love the bayles produced stuff.

 

[AEL89]

but the production? nah, its good but not amazing.

fair enough. I personally struggle to find anything better...

EDIT: And yes - their older stuff is equally amazing!

 

[Chris_P_Critter]

I started digging this band from the first time I heard "March of the Fire Ants". From then to now their songwriting has improved exponentially - this album is unbelieveable. Definitely one of the best album purchases I've made in the last year or two!

 

[Altitudes]

Great album. When it first came out it was all I would listen to. Still love it and is still fresh to my ears whenever I listen to it.

Note that I didn't like Mastodon previously. Now I can kinda get into their other albums.

 

[Damian B]

I like older Mastodon better, but CTS is a great album. I love the production!

 

[GarethSE]

i thought blood mountain was one of the most epicly dissapointing albums id ever heard at the time
pretty much lost all faith in them
crack the skye has too much prog rock wankery on it for my tastes still but theres a couple of tracks that more than make up for it.
oblivions chorus alone makes the album a 9/10

 

[Chris_P_Critter]

oblivions chorus alone makes the album a 9/10

+1

 

[HeadCrusher]

Well, it makes the Chorus a 9/10 at least.

 

[NicholasDWolfwood]

really never looked at the lyrics from a perspective of "could I have saved her"... it never even occurred to me.

either way this album is def in my top5 for this year. seeing it done live makes it even better.

 

[Damian B]

i thought blood mountain was one of the most epicly dissapointing albums id ever heard at the time

Agreed, Leviathan and Remission are ace though

 

[GarethSE]

Agreed, Leviathan and Remission are ace though

leviathan gets a 7.5 from me

remission gets a 9/10

 

[Machinated]

the problem with crack the skye is when i listen to it, i just want to listen to the whole album. not a bad moment on it for me, every song seems to get me excited.

 

[FarBeyondMetal]

really never looked at the lyrics from a perspective of "could I have saved her"... it never even occurred to me.

either way this album is def in my top5 for this year. seeing it done live makes it even better.

I never did either until I read an interview with Brann where he explained that. There's obviously more to the album but that's a huge part of it i think.

 

[AEL89]

i thought blood mountain was one of the most epicly dissapointing albums id ever heard at the time
pretty much lost all faith in them
crack the skye has too much prog rock wankery on it for my tastes still but theres a couple of tracks that more than make up for it.
oblivions chorus alone makes the album a 9/10

Dude, you're so right here. I think Pink Floyd should have re-written Comfortably Numb and Shine On You Crazy Diamond in pop structure, whore out the big choruses and get each in at 3 minutes exactly.

You are right that they could have released an epic album of pop-style songs with big choruses but it wouldn't have been as good in my opinion. Vibe the fuck out, then listen to it... the depth of it, the meaning of it - everything. Machinated said it so well - once you listen to Oblivion, before you know it an hour has past and you've been rinsing up the air guitar and attempting to sing their weird vocals.