REVIEW:
I was watching Bladerunner recently and it made me think how so many great forms of entertainment are just ahead of their time. That movie was made in 1982, and it seems only in the past few years that it become the cult sensation it is now. Others came to mind as well such as Brazil, Metropolis, 1984, and 2001: A Space Oddessy. Sure these are all sci-fi films, but they were created before they were understood or globally appreciated. This also made me think of amazing musicians that created their masterpiece’s only to be honored years later. Bands in recent years that come to mind are Far, Refused, Failure, Hum, and God Lives Underwater. Today we are fortunate, though, because we are getting a second chance with one of these. God Lives Underwater has risen from the ashes to bring us one of the finest albums to ever grace my ears. Let’s not allow time to pass before we appreciate this jewel.
In the mid to late 90’s God Lives Underwater recorded 2 brilliant albums and an Ep that never quite cut the tether of their underground acclaim to achieve mainstream success. It seemed that it was never gonna happen either. The lastest album in question “Up Off The Floor” almost never was. They recorded it in 2000, only for them to find it indefinitely shelved. Portions of the album spread to the internet, and were beloved, but it was believed this was the last of God Lives Underwater. Drug addictions and other pitfalls made the impending release of the album, well, impossible. But, thanks to a bout of homelessness, jail time, and eventually a 12 step program, David Reilly and Jeff Turzo made it happen. They had to, they owed this to the world.
God Lives Underwater is a rock band first and foremost, but the skeleton for their ventures lie in electronics. You don’t have to look much further than Linkin Park (as ugly as that may sound) to see the influence GLU has had on bands. The album clocks in at 40 minutes with 10 tracks. There is no filler, or weak stuff. They were on a mission when they wrote this. It’s just a pity is took 4 years for it to reach an audience. The opener “White Noise” is an industrial fueled classic, that would make Filter sick. It thumps along with it’s electronic pulse, that just screams “turn this to 11 and roll the windows down.” The track “No Way” is a grab bag of what rock n’ roll should be. The pure mixture of rock, electronica, and jazz fusion almost seems unparalled, and this from a band thats been dead since Y2k. Some tracks like “Slip to Fall” and Whatever You’ve Got” are more some, ambient industrial mood pieces. Sometimes it seems as minimal as space and other times as busy and layered as a bee hive. “Positivity” is one of my favorites. It feels so huge and anthemic, while embracing you. Despite everything that’s going on, you can still understand every word on this album, a rarity in modern heavy music. Hopefully sucess and undeniable brilliance will force GLU out of retirement and back in the hot seat. Here’s to hoping this isn’t the last time they get “Off the Floor.”
4.3/5
RIYL:
Nine Inch Nails
Filter
Celldweller
Sister Machine Gun
Gravity Kills
Stabbing Westward
Crystal Method
-Adam Roncaglione
Original Date: 2004-00-00
Original URL: http://www.decoymusic.com/reviewscontent.php?review=1261