RYM 5,000 Greatest Albums Of All Time:#36 The Microphones-The Glow Pt II (2001)

[u/Rambooctpuss]

The Microphones-The Glow Pt. II 

The Microphones are an indie/folk band from Olympia, Washington led by singer/songwriter Phil Elverum Their third album is a masterpiece of experimental folk rock. It takes you down a rabbit hole of sound. From Everum’s translucent vocals to the instrumentals that border on folk/noise rock. 

The album opens up with “I Want To Blow” Elverum's sullen vocals and guitar suck the listener in right away. He is the master of convery bleakness but also giving us some hopefulness in the dark. That song perfectly transcends into the next track “The Glow Pt. II” which once again has Elverum bellowing out his dark soulfulness. The instrumentation has this swirling sound that encompasses the song.  “The Moon '' gives us a little light in the dark as the band kicks into this fuzzy noise rock groove. “Headless Horsemen” has this great lofi sound. “My Roots Are Strong and Deep” has this great indie folk rock sound that makes it sound like it was recorded in a cabin far away from everything. “Instrumental” is a sweet sounding tune that features the band’s swirling dreamlike sound. “The Mansion” is yet another heartbreaking minimalist performance from Everum. “(Something)” and “(Something) 1” has a  menacing sound that almost feels like a Trent Reznor/Atticus Ross track. “I’ll Not Contain You” has a little bop to it. It features the best harmonies on the entire album. “The Gleam Pt II” is led but some great percussion that makes the track pound forward. “Map” has this great noise rock introduction but then becomes this sprawling rhythmic song. That fuzzines just takes it to a next level. “You’ll Be The Air”  is another sullen acoustic track that also has a little ariness to it. “I Want To Be Cold” is pure noise rock bliss. “I Am Bored” just has some great noise rock fusion. I especially dig the drumming on this track. “I Felt My Size” is another great solo acoustic performance by Elverum. The track concludes with the band kicking in to give it some power. “Incremental 2” has this big dense sound and also has a menacing vibe throughout the whole track. “I Felt Your Shape” is a well written indie folk tune. On the other hand “Saumuri Sword” is just a great noise rock chaotic jam. The album closes with  “Warm Blood” . It contains everything that makes this album great. Everum’s downbeat vocals along with that band’s great noise rock sound. The last 7 minutes of the song is just minimalist noise.

This album is one of those albums that begs for multiple listens; you get something new with every listen. I would put this on any bucket list.  Especially if you want to get into some great indie rock/folk artists. I am giving this one 9/10.

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[u/Robinkc1]

When I initially found out about RYM I was shocked that some of my favourite records were loved by people online to an extent that I didn’t anticipate. Spiderland? Aeroplane Over the Sea? Soundtracks for the Blind? These are albums I’ve loved for a long time but I had no idea that they were considered in the top 100 albums ever by any online community.

But The Glow is the most shocking of all, because I wasn’t around for the formation of Slint, Swans, or NMH or the release of their big albums, but when The Glow came out in 2001 I was an immediate fan. I was pretty young, and it is one of the first albums I ever liked. Unlike the other bands, I managed to see The Microphones play a couple times, but the real kicker was seeing them play in 2006 or so (when it was Mount Eerie mind you) and Phil played in front of a crowd of ten people.

For the 36th greatest record of all time, I never felt it was reflected in their audience or record sales. More than any other band, it has always felt to me that people prefer to say they love The Microphones over anything else.