In my nearing-the-end-of-the-year wrap-up, which involves re-listening to all those 2003 albums I bought way back in Jan-March, I made my way to Mount Eerie. I believe my first impression with the alb. was that it was “creative,” and possibly even an “opus.” Listening to it again, I’d add the words “unpleasant” and “ridiculous” and “unsuccessful.” I agree w/ AMG’s review saying that the entire affair sounds more like a school pageant than a concept album; but what the writer fails to note is that that assessment could also apply to a large portion of the dreck K Records has been churning out lately.

Like I note in my upcoming Blow review, K Records has become one giant, elitist inside-joke. Which would be alright if their music was entertaining, but sitting here listening to Mount Eerie I feel nothing. At the least, the album doesn’t even convey a palpable mountain-death-climb mood. I can think of nothing redeeming about the album, other than the simple fact that Elvrum had the guts to release the entire embarrassing mess; which I think is the sole reason the alb. got so many favorable reviews. Reviewers didn�t know what to say other than to call it a “massive artistic statement.” Audacity alone doesn’t warrant praise. See Cronenberg’s Crash.