Killing Time music reviews

Like many people posting reviews here, I was introduced to Killing Joke via the song 'Eighties'. This actually got a little rotation on college radio and late-night MTV during that decade.

I quickly found a friend who had some KJ albums, and dubbed them to cassette. However, he didn't own "Night Time", so I became a fast fan of their earlier sound instead. In short time, I had dismissed 'Eighties' as the product of sell-out syndrome and basically forgot about it for years.

Many years and music collections later, while stationed on a military base in Iceland, my interest in Killing Joke was rekindled after hearing that Jaz Coleman had lived there for some time. EG Editions was reissuing many of the old albums on CD, so I decided to purchase "Night Time" based on it's low price - not even remembering that 'Eighties' was one of the tracks.

Needless to say, "Night Time" is an album that has survived quite well. Actually, 'Eighties', while a great song, is the weakest track here.

I listen to alot of different genres but Avant-Classical, Progressive Rock and Metal are mainstays. This album, while not really any of those things, has enough to appeal to anyone who enjoys said styles.

"Night Time" is a great (re)introduction to KG. It's slightly more accessible and less texturally harsh than much of their work. It's also one of the few albums I have that is great workout music AND great 3am intimate soundtrack fodder.

I recommend most of KG's albums to anyone who appreciates a unique and sophisticated band that do things their own way. Some other bands you might find interesting are: Psychic TV, Dead Can Dance, Voivod, The Stranglers, Celtic Frost, The Damned, Hawkwind, Blue Oyster Cult, The Swans and The Chameleons.

This might be their most accessible album but it is also the one I prefer. The melodies are fantastic without sacrificing the punch of their approach. Very very heavy still. I saw them during the tour after this album and it really was something back then. Very very heavy 80's music.

This is Killing Joke's most accessible album for anyone interested in getting into this band or for the casual listener. You will not be disappointed! If you hate Killing Joke for whatever reason, you will instantly love this album! The best songs are here: Night Time, Love Like Blood, Kings And Queens, Multitudes, Europe, Eighties, oh and did I mention Love Like Blood? I'm very shocked to know that this album didn't give the band major success and exposure to the mainstream back then. Just because they didn't doesn't mean the album sucks. This album is the perfect New Wave rock album! Trust me! :)

Skip James recorded the songs on this CD in 1964, the same year he was "rediscovered" and performed at the Newport Folk Festival. This is simply one of the most direct blues recordings I've heard. This is just Skip James, nothing is added to the performances. Skip James frequently sings in a melancholy falsetto and accompanies himself on acoustic guitar tuned to minor keys. Even when he sings in a lower register he sounds like he is mumbling or talking to himself, which makes the music seem turned inward, as opposed to shouting out the blues to the world. This is dark, deep, brooding blues, and is such a great listen. The sound quality is great too and it sounds like he is right in the room with you. Skip James sings of his battle with cancer on "Washington D.C. Hospital Center Blues" and of course sings about woman trouble on songs like "Devil Got My Woman", my favorite song on this CD. This is one of my favorite acoustic blues CD's, there are times when only Skip James can hit the spot. The way he delivered his vocals was unique and combined with his guitar playing made for some incredible music. If you are a fan of acoustic blues Skip James has to be in your collection, and this disc is a great place to start.

Where would the Delta be without Skip James? Deeper and more soulfull than Robert Johnson's Crossroads, less preachy and more down-to-earth than the Death Letter Blues of Son House, Skip James strikes a beauiful minor chord in the soul. His soft hand on the guitar blends with the sweet eeriness of his voice in such perfect musical and emotional harmony as to command the casual listener to catch every note with the ear and savor each chord with his heart. A must-have in any respectable blues collection.

I often find myself frustrated when I track down the recordings of various Blues legends, only to find the sound quality terrible. I grew up on Blues inspired Rock, and spent countless hours analyzing chords and solos, and find myself less than satisfied with scratchy hissing recordings of the Blues greats.

This recording is wonderful! The sound quality is fantastic, as he returned to record this in 1964. The price of the CD is worth it just to get the title song, and the rest of the CD demonstrates his range. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Killing Time is an absolute power prog masterpiece of writing and playing! It is interesting in that some people call this punk and some progressive. It is complex, musical mastery with exceptional musicians with prog backgrounds. It is interesting to me as well that the sheer anger and fury with which this record was made is right in keeping with the energy of the punk-rock movement of that time... but nobody is breaking their instruments here (smile)! Contrast in to Playbak80 by Daevid Allen. Dark complex and forboding. Excellent spin!

This is probably what The Magic Band - circa Trout Mask Replica/Lick My Decals Off, Baby - would've sounded like if they'd hired Arto Linday as an additional guitar player and tried to be punk.

A couple of corrections to the reviews below :

1 - this album was recorded in '81, not in the late 70s, so they were right in the thick of the No Wave movement.

2 - this is not a "Bill Laswell production". He was just a member of the group. In fact there are no production credits on the album, so I think it's safe to assume that it was "produced" collectively by the group.

Amazing!!! Although it sounds like a new "no-wave" release, this was actually recorded in the late 70's-not bad for an era of flared jeans and disco fever. This record pummels, jerks and roars like a broken robot on the freeway. It's a shame that musicians today are not nearly as daring as this trio. A must for fans of U.S. Maple, Melvins & Boredoms - It's not heavy metal...just HEAVY.

Is the kind of music I am looking for.

Regards, Hira

This is a great example of talent! I accidentally came upon this CD and am glad I did! Its excellent for dancing or just for listening! Not many people in the U.S. have heard of Tina Cousins and they are missing out!

Here is a brilliant dance album! from her huge hits,Killing Time,Forever... and Mysterious Times.. to the hauntingly beautiful,PRAY.. these tracks are huge in Australia,with her playing to sold out shows in various venues here. DO YOURSELF A FAVOUR,BUY THIS CD.

never mind killing time listen to rosanne on the new Witchman album due out later this year(1999)

Every song is great !!!!!!!! Her voice is simply beautiful, the music is a trip and an excellent sound. Very slow and XXL-Fat ! Just buy it!

RIK

SOUND OF GUNFIRE COMES THROUGH THE NIGHT
KILLING AND HATRED, IS A TERRIBLE SIGHT
REPORTS COMING OF THE HEAVY ATTACK
MESSAGE IS SEEN, WE'RE MOVING BACK

I cannot focus on the album's contents! The band that made this great piece of art is not Girls under Glass, but "Girl" from Britain. Great but ill-fated album from an Ill-fated band. Has many killer songs. It sounds awfully good considering that most of the tracks were just demos and that it was made almost two decades ago. It must have been sensational if this album had been produced properly and released in the 80's, even in the 90's. There are no tracks to be missed, but listen to songs like I Got Love(so simple so more beautiful), Sound of cars(just good sound all over), Big Night out, This Town make you feel like you are on dangerous rides. Well, all songs on this album make an amusement park itself, from a merry-go-round (Juliet) to a bumpy bumper car(King Rat) car to a dizzy rollercoaster.

yeah, this album by Killing Time may not be the classic that Brightside is, but The Method is still a great album by K.T. it may not be as close to the classic, late-80's NY hardcore style as some of their other peers from back in the day, but this is definitely on under-rated gem of an album. it was released on Blackout records in the late 90's, and I'm not sure if it is still in print, but I think this is still a great, heavy album, that takes the NYHC sound and gives it a very slight new school freshness.

Killing Time by the amazing Tina Cousins has got to be one of the best albums ever. This woman is so talented, not only has she the greatest voice I have heard but is also the best looking woman EVER!! (she's damn gorgeous)This album is full of dance/pop beauties with catchy melodic songs. 2003/04 is going to be a big year for her. WOW!! BUY NOW!!

These songs are all good. Its pop music but its good. You can listen to the whole thing, I rarely listen to every song on an album. Its a few years now I dont care its still amazing. Its not very famous (anywhere) but its fabulous.

My favourite songs are angel, turn back time and until the day. I like all the songs alot.

If you like good female singers you will like this. None of the songs ever get skipped.

Tina Cousins first hit the dance scene with a colaboration with Sash!- Mysterious Times. When I first heard this song, I instantly bought the single and awaited for her album to surface (likewise with Sash!). Tina proved her career with her first Australian solo release FOREVER...a great dance tune with a up beat pace that doesn't go overboard on the electronic sounds. Her voice is the asset to the song, and the chorus is quite catch like most of herb songs. The album doesn't scream dance music. It also shows her blues/jazz style with tracks like UNTIL THE DAY and THE FOOL IS ME. But, if you are into the dance scene, do not be taken away by that comment...this album still delivers in that area!!! The song PRAY is another dance song that has a choir feel to it when the chrous kicks in. ANGEL is a breathy light dance tune, likewise with LIVE AND BREATHE! The opening track is a great intro to the album, KILLIN' TIME illustrates the dance feel of the whole album...so if you like the first track- you'll love the album for sure. If you are lucky enough, try and score yourself the tour edition...it has some great remixes- i believe it was only an Australian release seeing that Australia was her biggest market for her music! It's now 2003- and we are still waiting for her to dance her way back- C'mon Tina- we are waiting with hats off!!!!

The title pretty much explains my feelings, but yeah, I think this album is great! It's not necessarily mind blowing or innovative, but it's energized alternative rock that is good to listen to anytime (and play on the guitar). Particularly, I like "Overthrown" and "In My Shadow" but you have to check out all the songs because they are ALL great! Even Johansen (the lead singer) has a really great voice, always a plus. Check out his solo album "Quiet & Still".

A friend of mine introduced me to this incredible album. At first listen, I thought the hooks were great, the guitars were solid. But as I listened a couple more times, I got addicted. 'In My Shadow' is incredible, 'Blow' is equally strong, and the thick melodies in 'Comfort' show that this band clearly has talent. I am a big fan of Blur, Oasis, and other Brit-pop type bands, but this is my favorite album of this genre since Suede's first album. Except maybe for The Anniversary's album 'Your Majesty', which kicks butt.

Libido`s "Killing Some Dead Time" is one of the best album of 98!!! It feels great to be Norwegian when you hear music like this... so if you like Oasis, the Verve, Blur, sleeper an stuff like that, you would defintely want "Killing Some Dead Time" in your collection.