Last of the January journal entries for me to update. From here I'll revisit a few from Jan-Feb that I want one more fresh listen on before adding an entry. Then we'll tackle some new CDs followed by a nice group of LP rarities (including one amazing story) that are on the way to me now. Oh, and need to get back to the large stash of cassettes as well.
On Pendragon's The Jewel review I mentioned that it was the second best listen of 2023. Screams and Whispers is first (so far). On this session I added a +2 taking it to the rarified echelon of a Gnosis 13. Some background of my history with Anacrusis from my review of their second album Reason two years ago:
My first encounter with the St. Louis based Anacrusis was with their 3rd album Manic Impressions, which I purchased real time. It quickly became a personal favorite, and I look forward to telling that story some day. Within the next 2 years I also picked up their 4th and final album Screams and Whispers, while also finding their debut Suffering Hour on LP at a St. Louis record store. This chronology is important, as while I loved their 3rd and 4th, I really couldn't deal with the raw and pseudo-deathy Suffering Hour (an apt title BTW)... So I never did hear the album "in between", as I was never quite sure which side of the aisle it would sit in. The scant reviews were never definitive enough for me to pursue in earnest. 28 years later, I finally gave in to that curiosity. That album, of course, is Reason... Without a doubt, Reason is a departure from the debut and lays the groundwork for their masterwork Manic Impressions.
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Screams and Whispers is Anacrusis' 4th and final album (for all intents and purposes). And as you see above, it was their 3rd album that I held in the highest esteem. And while I always enjoyed Screams and Whispers, it never transcended like its predecessor. It has now. I have them on equal footing, and it could very well be my favorite when it's all said and done (still need to revisit Manic). But why are Anacrusis resonating with me more now than ever? It's the 80s influences that I missed on initial impact. Their techy/proggy thrash approach appealed to me right from the get, but I didn't capture the influence of their love of 80's music. In particular, on what I just noted on Theatre of Hate - Post Punk. Anacrusis admits a strong affection to acts such as The Cure and New Model Army and it shows when focused on it. And true to the tech thrash genre, the music is all over the place and unpredictable. When they sing in softer tones, the 80s Music element is clear. And then Nardi starts screeching like a banshee pointing to their primary metal motif. One of the most bizarre mixes one can hear, and the music is timeless because of it. If you haven't heard these Anacrusis albums - or you did back in the day but were nonplussed - give them a shot. Your filters have probably changed. I know mine have. Brilliant really.
Ownership: CD: 1993 Metal Blade. Standard jewel case release. Purchased new upon release. Still easy to find and there's plenty of reissues including on vinyl.
1993; 2013; 3/25/23 (new entry)
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