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Comets on Fire - Avatar

Rating

RIYL

The MC5
Super Furry Animals
Mudhoney
The Doors

Tracklist

1. Dogwood Rust
2. Jaybird
3. Lucifer's Memory
4. The Swallow's Eye
5. Holy Teeth
6. Sour Smoke
7. Hatched Upon The Age

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In this information generation, avatar is synonymous with “buddy icon,” “AIM expression,” and “emoticon,” when in fact the origin of the word has nothing to do with small, animated gifs. In the Hindu philosophy, an avatar is most commonly referenced as the Earthly incarnation of the Hindu God, Vishnu. Hmmm – an interesting transition. But never mind that.

Avatar also happens to be the latest release from Sub Pop’s Comets on Fire, which in all honesty, makes perfect sense – to an extent. Comets on Fire has been known as a violently chaotic band, in the past, but with Avatar, we witness the band expand forwards and backwards simultaneously. The forwards we’ll get to later, but first – the backwards: Comets on Fire are fucking hippies. And they’re hippies in the original sense of the word; none of this pseudo-rock, pseudo-free-spirit garbage. These guys could’ve been just as well received 30 years ago with Avatar. In that sense, it only makes sense that they name their newest in honor of an eastern philosophical god.

Now – forwards. Even though Comets on Fire may embody 70s rock n’ roll, they are purely 21st century. Previous releases, like 2003’s Blue Cathedral, were fuzzed-out, stoned-out, MC5 freak-out jam sessions, with relatively little song structure or accessibility. For those foreign to Comets, Blue Cathedral and earlier releases are about as pleasing to the ear as rabid wolverines fucking over a loudspeaker – at least the first time. Okay, maybe not that bad, but it still wasn’t exactly soothing. However, things have changed since Blue Cathedral, which I eventually came to love.

This time around, Comets on Fire have elected for a more melodic path, and the result on Avatar is nothing short of miraculous. I realize I say this at least once a year – probably closer to a dozen – but Avatar is quite the awing specimen of classic rock. Last year, it was Sleater-Kinney’s The Woods, which won the nod for my 2005 album of the year, and it appears another classic rock album will contend for that spot this year. Rock revival bands always risk sounding too much like their influences, thus sounding like second-rate hacks, but Comets on Fire masterfully craft their own original sound through an eclectic blend of influences on Avatar.

Even though Avatar is more melodic, that doesn’t mean the frenzied, super-charged stoner jams are gone; just check out “The Swallow’s Eye” or “Holy Teeth,” two of the loudest songs recorded all year. There, you’ll hear the band’s affinity for the Melvins, Black Flag, Black Sabbath, and MC5. Balancing out that equation comes Comets on Fire’s notable love for psychedelica and jam bands – the latter genre I despise almost in full. On tracks like “Dogwood Rust” and “Sour Smoke,” you’ll be able to hear Pink Floyd, the Doors, and the Allman Brothers.

These tracks are all sensational, and quite magnificent. However, the album’s third and best song, “Lucifer’s Memory,” is one of the greatest rock songs you may hear – ever. This track is epic, ladies and gents. Seven minutes long, the piano-driven, somber epic is supported by subtle, yet crafted guitars encapsulating vocalist Ethan Miller’s soft melody. The concludes with an awing, melodic climax.

Every member of Comets on Fire, which now includes Ben Chansy AKA Six Organs of Admittance, freely pushes their own instrumental boundaries but is always cautious and aware of each other, and results in a loosely defined jamming style. Drummer Utrillo Kushner’s performance on Avatar is remarkable, and surely goes down as the most impressive drumming performance in years. Combine all these impressive individual efforts, and you get Avatar: one of the best records of 2006.

--Kamran Rouzpay