Album Of The Week - Sun City Girls - Torch Of The Mystics

[Calfium Jay]

I don't have time to write anything in depth about this band or this album (which is one of, if not their most, well known and respected).

SUN CITY GIRLS are an experimental/world music trio out of Phoenix Arizona and have been doing the rounds since about 1980. Though they've enjoyed little to no mainstream success and receive little to no radio airplay, it hasn't stopped them from becoming something of a force majeur in alternative music cirles.

Describing their music would be difficult as they veer all over the place, but touches upon world music, noise rock, ambient soundscapes, free jazz, spoken word and tape collage cut ups.

They are a huge influence on any number of indie rock gods. Mike Patton fans especially take note here as both Patton and his (ex) cohorts in Mr Bungle were massively influenced by the trio.

Other fans include Thurston Moore, John Zorn, Wilco, Jim O'Rourke and film maker Harmony Korine who has collaborated with them on several occasions.

Torch Of The Mystics was released around 1990 and was the album that more or less put these guys on the map. It's not my favourite Sun City Girls by a long but it's good for an introduction.

Hope this does something for you - especially the less musically adventurous amongst you.


[youtube][/youtube]

!!

[The Boss]

Nope. Fuck this shit.

I made it to 12 minutes and 30 seconds.

I've never wanted to gouge out my eardrums as bad as I did for those precious minutes. There's a reason why these idiots aren't more popular - because they suck. Really, really, really, really hard.

It's the typical wank you'd expect someone like Patton and people who try really hard to have "interesting" music taste would listen to.

No redeeming qualities whatsoever. That was literally painful to listen to. I'd rather listen to any pop music on the radio right now.

0/10

[Calfium Jay]

I can't pretend that it will be for everyone. But I've had no troubles introducing others to the music of SCG on various forums. I dunno, I was hoping that maybe a handful of people here would find something to grab on to. Maybe I was aiming a little high? I dunno. Torch Of The Mystics is ok but there are much better examples of their brilliance:


[youtube][/youtube]

[The Boss]

There is no way I'm clicking play.

[Calfium Jay]

You will miss out then. Or maybe you will go about your life as if this never happened. Either way I'm waking up tomorrow morning the same person.

[The Boss]

Kinda made me want to listen to SLEEPYTIME GORILLA MUSEUM.

Which I'll do after SLAYER.

[not tyson]

Man it's over already?

That was a blast 9.5/10.

What else should I check out Jay?

[not tyson]

Nope. Fuck this shit.

I made it to 12 minutes and 30 seconds.

I've never wanted to gouge out my eardrums as bad as I did for those precious minutes. There's a reason why these idiots aren't more popular - because they suck. Really, really, really, really hard.

It's the typical wank you'd expect someone like Patton and people who try really hard to have "interesting" music taste would listen to.

No redeeming qualities whatsoever. That was literally painful to listen to. I'd rather listen to any pop music on the radio right now.

0/10

Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?

Oh wait, you hate Mike Patton, nvm.

This is very Mr. Bungleish

Heard some Morricone as well.

Loved it.

[not tyson]

I can't pretend that it will be for everyone. But I've had no troubles introducing others to the music of SCG on various forums. I dunno, I was hoping that maybe a handful of people here would find something to grab on to. Maybe I was aiming a little high? I dunno. Torch Of The Mystics is ok but there are much better examples of their brilliance:


[youtube][/youtube]

10 minutes in and I'll think I'll give this a go another night, sure it's interesting but it's Saturday night and I'm drinking. This would be cool to listen to high on shrooms.

[Calfium Jay]

Yeah. I'm glad somebody picked up on the "Morricone" vibe. Alan Bishop of SCG put together a Morricone compilation on Patton's Ipecac label called Crime & Dissonance.

That compilation has to be acquired. Do what you have to do to get it. Just get it.

As for what else to pick up, it's difficult because although SCG have an enormous back catalogue, their albums are somewhat scarce and often tres expensive. They give new meaning to the term indie. And like other artists with a huge back catalogue (like Merzbow for instance) their releases are extremely hit and miss. Some are pretty, well crafted and beautifully recorded, whilst others can be downright odd and impenetrable.

There are a few compilations such as You're Never Alone With A Cigarette which you may want to start with. Or try the recent Carnival Resurrection Radio series, of which there around 18 different releases and contain - in my opinion - some of their finest material.

The eclectic and somewhat attention deficit music "critic" Mark Prindle has compiled and reviewed every Sun City Girls release which can be found here. Try and read through the rambling bullshit to see what he has to say about each one:

http://www.markprindle.com/suncity.htm

Personally, I like this :

[youtube][/youtube]

Çlassic. And more offensive than the first Mr Bungle album.

[not tyson]

I had a read through this which seems like a pretty good guide

http://www.trouserpress.com/entry.php?a=sun_city_girls

Surprised I've never heard of them, probably have in some capacity

[hellboy]

Going by Crows complaints I expected this to be an album of white noise. Far from it - to anyone else out there, please disregard his review before listening.

I've heard these guys before, though I haven't given this album much time (or any others to be fair). I thought it was good. It's hard to gauge a band on their influence 20 years after the time, but I enjoyed the album on several levels.

7/10

[not tyson]

The strangest part for me about Crow's review is he is a huge fan of Secret Chiefs 3

A band massively influenced by this one.

[hellboy]

The strangest part for me about Crow's review is he is a huge fan of Secret Chiefs 3

A band massively influenced by this one.

I agree. And I found these guys to be more listenable than SC3 to be honest.

[not tyson]

. . .

[Ravenpig]

Sorry, but I'm with Crow on this one. This was awful. Parts of it felt like someone was drilling a hole in the side of my head.

What the fuck was that awful "singing" around the 21 minute mark? It was a freaking chore listening to this whole album, and it's only 38 minutes long!

I apologize for the harshness, but UGH. Awful, just awful.

0/10

[Calfium Jay]

Funnily enough, I'm a bigger SC3 fan than a SCG fan.

Though I do admit, without SCG there'd probably be NO SC3.

[The Boss]

This band is nothing like SECRET CHIEFS 3 or MR BUNGLE.

Those bands, you see, are actually good.

[not tyson]

Man I have to disagree with you there.

[The Boss]

Fair enough.

I guess I'd be willing to check out this band if I was forced to.

Emphasis on "forced". I actually started hating this band around five minutes in.

[Calfium Jay]

That's just a ridiculous thing to say.

[MOG]

Very good pick Cal. I love experimental music and these guys fit the bill. They fuse multiple genres together smoothly and your introduction pretty much nailed what they are about. Rock, jazz, noise/drone/ambient all mixed together. My only complaint is a few of the tunes get a bit poppy at times, which really isn't a complaint about the music rather a matter of taste.

7.5 / 10

[petemasterpete]

part brilliant ... part boring as shit ... good for background music on shrooms (think someone said that earlier on in a review) with lots of tribal-ish drumming bits a-la the anonymous record

6.5/10

[basejumper]

part brilliant ... part boring as shit ... good for background music on shrooms (think someone said that earlier on in a review) with lots of tribal-ish drumming bits a-la the anonymous record

6.5/10

Agreed