Abandoned Pools is a one-man band created by former Eels founder, Tommy Walter. Based on the Wikipedia page, Tommy either comes off as a perfectionist or as kind of a dick. Based on the perfectionist route, you can hear the effort he puts into Humanistic.Beth introduced me to this album when we first started dating. While having a really dark general theme, Tommy creates a different atmosphere on each track. His vocals come off similar to Billy Corgan’s and his style varies with some rocking out on ‘Seed’ and then others like ’Suburban Muse’ and ‘Ruin Your Life’ that are so pleasant you can’t help but picture a walk in the park.
Tommy did release one more album in ‘Armed to the Teeth’, which was an admiral effort. Unfortunately, he has been on a hiatus ever since.
I recently got a large IPod and have been loading my entire music collection to ITunes over the last month. My forecast has me finishing in mid-June, but I finished the ‘A’s two weeks ago and enjoyed dusting off ‘Humanistic’. It has been out for awhile now, so I am guessing this is not a new album for most of you. If all else, this will be a celebration of what I deem a solid album from top to bottom. Favorites are 'The Remedy', 'Monster', and 'Blood'.
Suggested Listening: Humanistic (2001)
I have to say, I was a little disappointed when Thomas said he wanted to change his week from Marilyn Manson. I know his kind of music isn’t typically what I enjoy - but for some reason I’ve never heard a Manson song that I didn’t kind of like, and I was kind of pumped to explore... but there’ll be other times for that.
ReplyDeleteI have to say, I was initially pleasantly surprised by Abandoned Pools. I know David had a hard time finding a download, but I found it on Grooveshark no problem. Then when I heard it for the first time I realized that I not only have heard the first track, “The Remedy,” but I know it well. This kind of music was really typical for me in 2001 (outside of boy bands of course ;)) It led to obsessions with alternative rock bands leading into Incubus, Hoobastank and even Linkin Park in my early college years. Even today, I still have a soft spot for stuff like this.
I’m pretty sure that was the only track on this album that I’d heard before this week, but there’s a lot to be said about opening with a familiar track. I don’t think this album is genius or anything, but I think familiarity helped me to be more open about liking the other tracks. I can’t say he strayed too far from the formula that worked for him on “The Remedy.” A lot of the other songs have similar structure and sound. The problem is none of the other tracks stand out quite like it, which is probably why I don’t remember hearing anything else from him on the radio (at least from this album, although correct me if I’m wrong).
Still, none of the tracks were particularly offensive, and some were better than others in general although that’s going to be the case on most albums. Other than the initial track, I liked the acoustic nature of “Never” the best.
It’s interesting to see how musical tastes progress over the years. I was just talking with my mom today about how what a person listened to in the past somehow affects what they listen to in the future. The truth of the matter is that I can’t pick a track from this album that I particularly loved listening to it on my own aside from “The Remedy” - and I can’t tell if I’d even like that one had I not heard it on repeat on the radio all those years ago, or if I’d love one of these other tracks if they started playing it today. Anyone else have any thoughts on that?
I'll check in later if anyone else has any responses to that.
ReplyDeleteI have to say unlike Laura, when I saw that Thomas had switched from Marilyn Manson to Abandoned Pools I was quite excited. This album is very much nostalgic for me. It brings back memories of visiting Thomas at Maryville on Thursdays and we would take off and explore the Chesterfield area with this album as our backdrop. Having said that, I guess you can tell that it has a special place in my musical history. I had not listened to the whole album in quite a long time so for me it was a trip down memory lane, and made me feel “young” again.
ReplyDelete“The Remedy” is the track that probably all of us are familiar with, and I have to say is what got me interested in the band in the first place. I actually think I heard this for the first time on WLCA, and probably pestered Justin on many a Friday night to play it. The fact that this guy is literally a one man band is highly impressive. If you look up in the album cover, there is only like one or two instruments that Tommy gets added help with. Otherwise everything you hear is him performing. The song has a uniqueness to it that I love, and the tempo’s gradual building always sucks me in. “Mercy Kiss” is one of my least favorite tracks on the album. For some reason the chorus bugs me and I can’t really pinpoint why. “Start Over” is another great track. I like the message in the fact that he talks about how some people are longing for someone else’s life , and think about if they had a chance to start over what they would do differently. “Monster” is a good track, and I really love the build up to the chorus that makes for a powerful feel to the song. “Blood” is one of my very favorite tracks, I love everything about it. From the lyrics to the crazy beeping sounds in the background that sound like they are coming off some spaceship. I also have to say that I think each song flows well into each other, almost effortlessly. While “Ruin Your Life” has a very dark message to it, I actually LOVE this song. I don’t really listen to it for the lyrics, but for the airy happy go lucky feel that is going on musically. I love the fact that when I put this track on I automatically get happy, which I am sure is not what Tommy was necessarily looking for. “Seed” is very much unlike anything else on the album to me, and Thomas and I were talking about it today and how much it reminded us of The Smashing Pumpkins. Tommy’s voice even sounds eerily similar to Billy Corgan. While this is not a favorite track of mine, I actually think it shows that Tommy kind of goes all over the place.
This was a great pick for me, and I am glad it was brought back to my attention so I can get reacquainted with some music from back in Thomas’s and I first year or so together.
I also plan to write up something to Laura's comment, just gotta head to be for now. Have an early day tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteI felt like I was back on the air Friday nights on WLCA while listening to this album and that’s not a bad thing. The first 2 tracks on Humanistic were played quite heavily when I was there, “The Remedy” more so than “Mercy Kiss” but both were instantly distinguishable. I had no clue this was an Eels solo effort/side project until this week and found the results pretty pleasurable. After the initial listen of the album all the way through, I will give Tommy credit for juggling many different sounds and still making a cohesive effort.
ReplyDeleteThe piano opener of “The Remedy” shoots me back 10 years instantly. This song is such a perfect example of what college radio was trying to harness during the early 00’s. There are remnants of the experimental electronic rock that the Smashing Pumpkins were making in the late 90’s mixed with the muddled indie-pop rock that was inescapable at the beginning of the millennium. “Blood” sounds eerily familiar but I don’t know where I may have heard it; it is another well-structured, radio-ready tune that is very catchy. If you’ve ever heard the Eels, this music is a big surprise. Tommy clearly has an idea of the music he wants to make and his do-it-all approach seems to better serve the album. Solo efforts can teeter heavily on self-indulgences and weird experimentation, but this album walks the line of creativity and cohesiveness pretty well. My attention is never lost throughout the album as tracks like “Ruin Your Life” pop up and surprise me; a facetious groovy track that begs to be repeated on a lengthy car-ride. “Never” is the last track that stands out, building around a nice acoustic guitar. Chalk this one up, as another surprise Thomas pick. I quite enjoyed Abandoned Pools.
Did David forget to post?
ReplyDeleteNo, I didn't forget to post. We're taking several weeks off, so I spent time working on my hardcore league stuff. I will do it when I get some time off work and school. I thought we weren't going to have a strict time table on this anymore anyway?
ReplyDeleteFrom elementary school through sophomore year, I had many different phases of musical taste. I had a country kick when my dad was recording, a rap phase when Andrew bought home Puff Daddy's 'No Way Out' (Where the fuck my bitches at?), and had a Z107.7 phase in middle school. Right when I got my driver's license, New Found Glory released their self titled album and I felt this album expressed the energy and fun I was having being young and becoming independent. From then on, I transitioned to the more aggressive stuff as I have found it speaks to who I am now and have been over the past several years. Therefore for me, I don't think I listen to the stuff I listened to then just because that is what I listed to then. I feel, like my love life, I spent my younger years trying different things and seeing what suits me. Then eventually I found "the one" and have no need to look back.
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