| Heavy Rocks | ||
|---|---|---|
 Cover for Heavy Rocks. | ||
| Studio album by Boris | ||
| Released | May 24 2011 | |
| Recorded | 2009 - 2011 at Sound Square in Tokyo, Japan | |
| Genre | Stoner Rock, Stoner Metal, Heavy Metal | |
| Length | 53:00 | |
| Producer | Boris | |
| Boris chronology | ||
| Attention Please (2011) |
Heavy Rocks (2011) |
Präparat (2013) |
Heavy Rocks (also known as Heavy Rocks Purple, Heavy Rocks 2 or Heavy Rocks 2011) is the sixteenth studio album by the Japanese experimental band Boris. The album was released on 24 May 2011, through the label Sargent House in what would be one of three Boris albums released through the label that year. Its original release date was 26 April 26 but this was pushed back.[1] This album has the same name and cover style as their album released in 2002 called Heavy Rocks, although the cover is purple instead of orange. The band brought back these elements because they "seek to redefine 'heavy' music in a culmination of the band's tireless efforts over the past two decades".[2]
The album was released on the same day as Attention Please, with which it shares the track "Aileron".[3] It also shares different mixes of the songs "Jackson Head" and "Tu, La La" with New Album, released two months prior via Sargent House.
Background[]
Work would begin on Heavy Rocks in 2009 through 2010. Signing with Sargent House in early 2011, Boris would announce three albums, the first being New Album and then Attention Please and Heavy Rocks.[4] The album would feature numerous guests such as Ian Astbury (The Cult), Michio Kurihara (Ghost, White Heaven, The Stars), Keisuke Suzuki (Flower Companyz), Kensuke Saito (9dw), Faith Coloccia (Mammifier, Pyramids, etc.) and Aaron Turner (ISIS, Sumac, Old Man Gloom, etc.).
Initial track list information had the song "8" (previously available on Japanese Heavy Rock Hits) listed as the second track, but the final release replaced it with "Leak -Truth, yesnoyesnoyes."[5]
On 29 March 2011, Pitchfork Media released the song "Riot Sugar" in promotion for the album.[6]
The vinyl edition features extended versions of "Missing Pieces" and "Czechoslovakia".[7] An additional full length mix of "Czechoslovakia" with vocals by Tomáš Zakopal was released on a split 7" with his band, Saade.[8]
On 16 May Heavy Rocks in its entirety was made available in full for streaming on NPR Music.[9]
Heavy Rocks would attain some positive reception, though many critics would much prefer New Album or Attention Please to this record. It would attain a score of 70/100 on Metacritic.[10] Some critics would be positive of the record, notably SPIN (7/10),[11] Drowned in Sound (7/10),[12] The A.V. Club (B+)[13] and Rock Sound, whom awarded the album an 8/10 score and would state that "said record does exactly what it says on the tin, veering between fuzzed-up garage rock stomp and mesmeric psychedelic sprawl".[14]
Some critics would be less receptive to Heavy Rocks, however. Consequence of Sound would award a "C+" score and though they would praise the first few tracks, would criticize the frequent style jumps and cite it as a "choppy listening experience", ultimately stating "Heavy Rocks can’t seem to figure out what it wants to be, it falls short of other Boris albums."[15] Pop Matters, while awarding a 7/10, would criticize the track arrangement and pacing, along with both of the longer tracks.[16] Lastly, Pitchfork would award a 5.2, describing the record as a "metal grab bag" and stating "It's the sort of motley metal that brought you to the fold one way or another, but that means you've already heard it-- all of it, from the massive soundscapes on Pink to the dynamic sizzle in Amplifier Worship-- several times before. Here, it's all offered like a mixtape, with no narrative arch or musical momentum.".[17]
Tracklist[]
All songs and words by Boris with the exception of Track 2 by Boris and Keisuke Suzuki.
CD Version[]
- 1. Riot Sugar (3:56)
- 2. Leak-Truth,yesnoyesnoyes- (4:11)
- 3. GALAXIANS (4:09)
- 4. Jackson Head (3:00)
- 5. Missing Pieces (12:22)
- 6. Key (1:46)
- 7. Window Shopping (3:57)
- 8. Tu, la la (4:21)
- 9. Aileron (12:45)
- 10. Czechslovakia (1:35)
LP Version[]
- 1. Riot Sugar (3:56)
- 2. Leak-Truth,yesnoyesnoyes- (4:11)
- 3. GALAXIANS (4:09)
- 4. Jackson Head (3:00)
- 5. Missing Pieces (14:27)
- 6. Key (1:46)
- 7. Window Shopping (3:57)
- 8. Tu, la la (4:21)
- 9. Aileron (12:45)
- 10. Czechslovakia (5:46)
Personnel[]
Boris[]
- Takeshi - Bass, Guitar, Vocals
- Wata - Guitar, Echo, Keyboards
- Atsuo - Drums, Percussion, Vocals
Musical Guests[]
- Ian Astbury - Vocals (1)
- Michio Kurihara - Guitar (2, 5, 7)
- Kensuke Saito - Analogue Synth (3)
- Yoshiko Kawakita - Vocals (7)
- Faith Coloccia - Piano (9)
- Aaron Turner - Guitar, Loops, Vocals (9)
Technical Personnel[]
- Fangs Anal Satan - Engineer, Design
- Stephen O'Malley - Design
- Souichirou Nakamura - Mixing, Mastering
- Yoshiko Ikeda - Translation
- Miki Matsushima - Photography
- Futuyong - Logotype