Comments on: A Monster Review of Monster Magnet’s Mastermind

By: Matt

Matt — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 21:38:15 +0000

Nobody’s commented on this in awhile, but I thought I’d insert my 2 cents anyway.

I am not a big fan of God Says No, Monolithic or 4-Way, not because they’re terrible, but because they simply don’t measure up to what I love about Monster Magnet, and I find them kind of lacking in general. There are a few good cuts on Monolithic, the best one being the b-side they left off the album entirely, called Ultimate Everything.

That said, I really dig Mastermind. It’s the heaviest, gloomiest album they’ve done in forever, and contrary to the reviewer’s opinion, the 3 track progression of * Perish in Fire – Time Machine – When the Planes Fall From the Sky * comprise the most solid rock and roll I’ve heard in forever. It is psychedelic, it is ragged, it is heavy, punk-fueled, diesel engine fury, with this cloud of beautiful sadness in the middle.

I don’t hear any filler at all on this album. Now, I understand everyone’s got their opinions, and the reviewer’s here is just as viable as mine, but I get the feeling that tracks like Time Machine and Titan are just misunderstood by people who don’t care to hear slow, sad songs that don’t build into monster walls of rock. Which is fine, but to call them “unfinished” or whatever kind of betrays a desire to constantly be bombarded by bombast.

I love this album from beginning until the last two tracks, which I agree sound a bit out of place, like they belong on 4-Way Diablo or another of their “meh” albums.

But they’re not terrible songs. This album has 10 of 12 really heavy, groovy, emotional, real, raw, raging tracks that blow me of way.

And I’ve been a hater for the past 10 years, so I’m very, very happy to hear Dave finally laying off trying to make commercial rock hits and really writing from his soul instead.

To me, this really is a return to form. It’s comparable to Spine of God, Superjudge or Dopes, but none of those albums are comparable to each other, and I think this fits in right after Dopes as a progression of great, varied, trippy albums of solid rock and roll.

By: Manuel Perez

Manuel Perez — Sat, 18 Dec 2010 22:55:44 +0000

As a MM’s fan, I find this new record as delightfull as the old ones… because I like MM style and their music’s evolution… this review contribute with a subjective opinion that, by the way, only can be taken seriously by amateur listeners… as Mike said… If you are a fan, you’ll get it… otherwise, yo’ll get this opinion…

By: Jay Longley

Jay Longley — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 17:23:52 +0000

Interesting and fair review; I guess reviews are always subjective to a large/small extent so people are bound to disagree. Case in point: Perish in Fire, Time Machine and Ghost Story are, for me, stand out tracks with fantastic lyrics.

Love the album from start to finish. Incidentally, I would follow the band through anything, and will regale you at length with tales of Wyndorf’s genius and the band’s innovative style.

By: AssHat

AssHat — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 17:29:00 +0000

Perhaps people should realize that bands of this caliber are always evolving. You state that they cannot capture their former glory. I ask of you, why should they try to? Perhaps you should judge bands/albums on their merit in THIS day, not how they compare to 20 years ago.

By: Twitchi

Twitchi — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 21:02:03 +0000

I’ve only started listening MM from the God says no album on, and I have to say they’re good enough to turn me back listening to the long abandoned rock sound. Besides, there’s at least one song on the new album that I know of for sure, which makes me want to buy it.

By: asshat mcgillicuddy

asshat mcgillicuddy — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 02:16:46 +0000

As a fan of Monster Magnet, a Jersey resident and someone who genuinely believes they helped shape stoner rock into what it became in the 1990′s…..

I’ll clip this part of the review as it directly applies to me, but I’ll leave off the latter….

I’ve been a tremendous fan from their onset and continue to spin all their releases to this day. Definitively tag them as my favorite band and i suppose, as you called out – will follow the band through anything, and will regale you at length with tales of Wyndorf’s genius and the band’s innovative style.

And I’m totally OK with that.

By: IgnacioBrown

IgnacioBrown — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:20:30 +0000

I was very disappointed by this album. I do think that their last four albums are all pretty lackluster. All of them have moments, but don’t come anywhere near the fucked up brilliance of Superjudge and Dopes to Infinity.

By: jimmyjames

jimmyjames — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:55:39 +0000

I thought this was a fair review, even not hearing the record; the reviewer obviously understands the band’s strengths and tendencies. I’m waiting for Wyndorf and company to lay off the quest for ‘radio fidelity’ layering and work with some different rock vibes that are not just dave on keyboards. that said, every record they’ve done after powertrip has always had 3-4 good tunes which make it worthwhile, and i’m looking forward to hearing what they’ve done this time around.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:26:57 +0000

I’m a twenty year veteran fan of MM and once resident of your beloved Garden State. I don’t think the band has ever put out a bad album, but some are certainly better than others. I’m looking forward to hearing this one, but I’m not excited the way I am for new ones by bands lioke Electric Wizard or Cough. MM are kinda like stoner rocks Slayer, AC/DC or Motorhead. You know what your gonna get, it’ll be MM and it’ll be solid. If you’re a fan you’ll be happy. If you not a fan by now, they won’t ever put anything out to change your mind at this stage in their career.