Piglet
lava land


4.0
excellent

Review

by Matt Wolfe EMERITUS
September 28th, 2008 | 56 replies


Release Date: 2004 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Kick back.

Ah, the simple pleasures in life. Mid-afternoon naps. Beer at the beach. The morning dump. Where would we be without them? That is a world that doesn’t even bear thinking about. Now, this is not to say that ‘Piglet’, a three piece instrumental math rock band from Chicago, are a simple pleasure. They are not a simple band. Quite the contrary, they are actually very technical, throwing intricate melodies and catchy-as-hell hooks into a melting pot of lush, diverse guitaring and masterfully intuitive drumming. But I’m sure you’ve heard that all before. What separates Piglet from the rest is their ability to remain weightless in a universe which is heavily bogged down by overly complicated song-writing. Despite the songs meandering this way and that in structure, technicality and style, the band manage to keep your attention without you feeling any sense of lethargy for having to keep up. It’s ridiculously enjoyable stuff, an aspect of math rock which is often oddly absent.

Technicality-wise, Piglet have got it down. The drumming on Lava Land really is top notch, skilful and imaginative, the drummer paying attention as much to the silence in between the notes as the notes themselves. The guitarists are also particularly impressive. Instead of relying on two handed tapping orgies to make themselves known, they instead focus on creating smooth, catchy, original riffs which can change direction as quickly as they started but not somehow not leaving the listener struggling to catch their breath. The interrelations between the instruments is also note-worthy. The band can be seen concentrating a great deal on the importance of intertwining melodies between different timbre for the enhancement and variety of harmony and song progression. Despite it’s easy-going and unburdened listen, there are a surprising amount of intricacies and technicalities within the EP, and this is the reason you’ll still be listening to it months down the line.

The best thing about each of these six tracks though is that they never so much demand your attention as sit down and have an enjoyable conversation with it. You’ll want to concentrate on the record because it is interesting and unique, and takes time to figure out, not be forced to just because you can’t keep up. As much as the genre of math rock is technically impressive, it, for me, is rarely truly enjoyable. Tap and snap all you want, shake the song up, flick the lid and watch it explode, that is not the equation for an automatically enjoyable listen. What Piglet have here is a magical, intelligent, chilled-out album that eases and relaxes the listener as much as it intrigues and shocks them, a less than common appearance in the genre. For me, Lava Land is the perfect higher pleasure accompaniment for the more simple pleasures in life. Some advice; crack open a beer, sit out in the sun, and play this record now.



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user ratings (186)
4
excellent


Comments:Add a Comment 
AtavanHalen
September 28th 2008


17919 Comments


Is this actually in lower case?

Minus The Flair
Emeritus
September 28th 2008


870 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

The album title says different, but I think it is. I'm not sure. I didn't add the band/album.

AtavanHalen
September 28th 2008


17919 Comments


Either way, review's alright dude

badtaste
September 28th 2008


824 Comments


Nice, cosy review. Well written.

Serpento
September 28th 2008


2351 Comments


good review as usual. this sounds pretty good, i need some chill-out music.

MrKite
September 28th 2008


5020 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

this is really cool music. i think this is something i should look into more.

charlesfishtitz
September 28th 2008


783 Comments


one of the best albums i've ever heard in my life. more people should listen to this.



oh, and great review

foreverendeared
September 28th 2008


14741 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

awesome review. i'll definitely be checking this out.



*Edit: you should probably have mentioned that this is an instrumental band. Don't know about you, but to me that's a fairly important aspect that you neglected to mention in the reviewThis Message Edited On 09.28.08

whatduffhuck7
September 28th 2008


163 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

great band

Minus The Flair
Emeritus
September 28th 2008


870 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, thanks forever, been listening to too much instrumental music lately, just forgot to mention it in the review. Fix'd.

foreverendeared
September 28th 2008


14741 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

thanks, i'll vote now ha

niobium
September 29th 2008


238 Comments


tepid level in between Dianogah and Breadwinner

Abaddon2005
September 29th 2008


684 Comments


this is okay but this type of music is getting a little played out for me. they would sound better if they had a singer.

Minus The Flair
Emeritus
September 29th 2008


870 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Give this album time and you realize that a singer would just be a needless addition which adds unnecessary weight to a near-perfectly balanced record.

SnackaryBinx
September 29th 2008


2309 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

this reminds me a lot of Tera Melos on their split with By The End of Tonight. THat means it's awesome.

foreverendeared
September 29th 2008


14741 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Give this album time and you realize that a singer would just be a needless addition which adds unnecessary weight to a near-perfectly balanced record.
i don't know i see what you're saying but i can't help but be curious to hear how they'd sound with vocals

charlesfishtitz
September 30th 2008


783 Comments


definitely don't need a singer to muck everything up.

jrowa001
October 12th 2008


8752 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

solid album

tombits
October 27th 2008


3582 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

This album is great, although suffers from the drawn out style of songwriting. They just need to cut down some of the more filler-esque material in amongst their songs to shorter lengths. There's some super catchy hooks in here though, especially in "Bug Stomp".

foreverendeared
October 27th 2008


14741 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

^agreed



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