Shipping News - Three Four

List Price: $14.98
Our Price: $9.72
You Save: $5.26 (35%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $0.25 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details

CD Details

Music reviews of Three Four

Music Review: Junkmedia Review - Three limited EPs compiled here
Rating: 3 Stars

Seeing As three-four is a compilation of sorts, made up mostly of three limited EPs that were released over the past year in which each of the three members contributed "solo" songs, it's a bit more scattered than their previous two releases. Jeff Mueller and Kyle Crabtree contribute four songs each, while Jason Noble dominates with six songs. It can be broken down like this: Mueller brings the quiet solo songs. Crabtree rocks it out the most like June of 44 or a younger, wilder Shipping News might have. Noble goes for the biggest adventure, though, bringing six very different and relatively unusual songs to the mix.

"Paper Lanterns" and "We Start To Drift" both drone on hypnotically, with incredible restraint for a band known for building up to cathartic crashes. "You Can't Hide The Mark Inside" would do great as a sountrack to a nightmare involving bees, while "Variegated" soothes like something he might have written for the Rachel's, without the orchestra. Not to say the other two don't have their moments ("Haymaker," Crabtree's second contribution is a favorite on the CD, Mueller's "Everglade" work fantastically as an album-closer), but Jason Noble is King of the Mountain here. He's the one who really commands the listener's attention, throwing out surprises and keeping everyone engaged.

The one thing that holds the whole record together stylistically, though, is that Shipping News play Very Serious Rock Music, much like Rachel's (sans "Rock") and June of 44 do/did. The music isn't dour or sad or angst-ridden, just Very Serious. No time for fun here, kids. These guys rock like painters poring over a canvas; somewhat transcendent, but mostly intense and overwrought.

The packaging of three-four takes a step back with muted sepia tone photos of letterpress blocks, photos of scrawled notes on pieces of paper sewn together. It brings with it a feeling of "this is important, we used a dying craft to package our art, because its so precious and, did we mention, important?" that comes through very much in the music. Sonically, though, this record represents the most adventure I've heard yet from the Shipping News (well, Jason Noble), so as long as they (he) keep expanding like this, then I guess they can be as glum and arty as they want, if they really must.

Martin Pavlinic
Junkmedia Review

Description of Three Four

Alternative Rock CDs

• Music > Styles
• Miscellaneous
• Pop
• Rock