Greedy Baby (+DVD) - Plaid

Advantages: A very unique Plaid release. Some brilliant moments.
Disadvantages: Some bland moments. Uninspired.

...Not for Threes was Plaid's first "real" work, after 3 Eps and their 1991 debut album Mbuki Mvuki. It was released in 1997 by the infamous Warp Records. Plaid would latter release 2 other interesting works, Rest Proof Clockwork (1999) and Double Figures (2001), improving their musical skills. In my opinion, Plaid stand for the deep-rooted doctrines of electronica, very purist and clichéd. There is nothing wrong with that... It's just that I favour musical development over...well, musical conservatism and invariable compositions. That being said, Not for Threes does contain some moments of magic, and could almost be considered as an equal to Plaid's best effort, Double Figures. Not for Threes has a total running time of 40 / 41 minutes approx. and contains 16 tracks. Abla Eedio, our opening track, sounds like a deep-jungle mix with big... Read review

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Advantages: variety
Disadvantages: variety (for stricly metal fans)

...I'm not a heavy metal fan, and QOTSA are "supposed to be" a metal band, but overall i like this album, 'cos there isn't much Lead or Iron in evidence - i can't help being reminded particularly of the Gun Club's first album Fire of Love, with its' alternation between delta-bluesy type riffs and gentler moments, and it's those gentler moments i find myself being drawn into here. The version of the album i have is the "standard" one i.e. without bonus tracks or DVD, and was bought from HMV for £15.99. The first track is a gravely-voiced ballad, which is a great intro, and not what i was expecting at all - i was expecting something more like the second track, which is a full-on punky tune called Medication, and which wouldn't be out of place on a Green Day album (give me novocaine!). The third track, though, is one of those songs... Read review

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Advantages: More mature than previous albums. Some magical moments.
Disadvantages: Some horrendous moments.

...Plaid's finest. Plaid have release a considerable amount of material under the Warp Records, between 1992 and our present time. Not all of it was good... unless you are, or were, an I.D.M purist; from the LFO era for instance. Double Figures is, in my opinion, their best album. You could say that it retains the cheesiness of Not for Threes and Rest Proof Clockwork, but at the same time, expands their repertoire of sounds and textures. Most importantly, Ed and Andy stay true to their ideas, without entering the pompous and featureless territory of their latter work, the 2003 album by the name of Spokes (Warp Records). Double Figures has a running time of 70 minutes approx. and features 19 tracks; a lot of material, in other words. Eyen features a dreamlike electric guitar riff, surfacing from a noiseless patch of 10 seconds, or so... Read review

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