Customer Reviews
Not for ipods and MP3's - By: Heathcliffe, 19 Feb 2006 
The Dead Flag Blues remains the constant track against which to judge most other post rock. And where from there? is a significant question. The answer is full of blood so to speak. But ASMZ make a good splinter. Everybody seems hunched into their earphones & it's not clear to me that this is the best, or even most aware way to hear either GSY or their offspring. Yes you can pretend that your 'phones are the next best thing to a gibsonian neural shunt (Neuromancer?? Count Zero?? Idoru?? et al))but just try it with a more three dimensional listening space. Volume too, through good, dynamic speakers. Not the boring ear crush of dance/stadium rock/bling, just up volume, clear distinction sound dynamics. I am sure that this will come alive for anybody that way. But perhaps I am just wrong -who knows. Pretentious, shallow? Wellllllllllllllllll if they are then you can write off 99.99999999999% of the boring inexpressive, corporate music company image stuff that fouls the airways.
sad but soulless - By: Mr. N. S. W. Morgan, 29 Jan 2006 
my housemate was a huge (and obessive) Constelation fan & he played this, at the time, little known LP constantly for a year. At first it intrigued me with it's melancholly & rich textures. After a while it drove me to try & remove my own kidney with a spoon. As the gentlemen did have generally excellent music taste - I've tried this album again (now that im living on my own) as I thought maybe I'd been a little unfair. All I can say, is this is intense but dire. As previous reviewers have hinted thought not stated explicitly, this is remminicent of (the wonderful) Godspeed - particular their first album, but is by no stretch of the old light black matter -as good. It doens't have a soul despite all the folorn cries & screeting guitars. Quite/loud check. Etherial sadness, check. Shit lyrics. Check. Excellent musicains without a songwriter check.
The tone of the album is what grates most for me, & I can't help but thinking FAKERS everytime I hear it! it's acadenmic music, playing at feeling. Monotonous musical motifs with ripped off Jonathan (Mercury Rev) Donahue styled vocals. I don't believe anything this band playsin my heart, clever as it can be. It reminds me of Radiohead at their "lets do another song bases on the theme of resigned lamentation" worst. Summary: Sad but souless.
Simply amazing stuff - By: White frog, 09 Jan 2004 
For anyone wondering about the content of this album, well, you gotta think that you're venturing on Constellation's territory. Of course, like a million times before, it gets compared to GYBE & I must admit it's getting a little annoying. You want some Godspeed, you buy some Godspeed. Now, if what you are looking for is music that speaks so loud & with such beauty it will make you cry, then I could never recommend any of the Silver Mt Zion enough.
Started as a side project by Efrim (piano, guitars, voice,...), Sophie (violin, voice) & Tierry (bass) from GYBE, they then expanded to a larger ensemble over the following 2 albums, which to me work as one piece (check out Constellation's website if u want to know more).
Of course, this is as remote to pop tunes as you could think. Instead, you get music that comes from pure hearts, tourmented at times, taking you along for a ride you will not forget. This is the kind of record that you'll be happy to have spent some of your life with, & probably stillin 20years time. It's completely out of time, achingly beautiful, poetic & sad too. Listen to "13 angels standing gard..." & it will all make sense.
Buy all 3 albumsin order & u'll will never regret it.
Simply amazing stuff...
A Nice Try. - By: , 01 Dec 2003 
Unfortunatley this side-project really doesnt live up to it's big brother Godspeed. The album lacks the plus points GYBE had with their haunting guitar melodies & the long drawn-out build ups that really made the music unique. The album contains some really beautiful string parts but unfortunatley these are ruined by their repetitiveness & lack of direction. On the other hand the album conveys a lot of emotion which puts its above a lot of modern music. I think maybe Post-Rock has gone a little too farin the wrong direction this time but it certainly makes a pleasent change to a lot of the bland rock about nowadays.
ooooooooooooo - By: Rhyl hollyhead, 27 Oct 2003 'a silver mt zion' use violinsin a gripping & moving way but this album is not consistent to that .There is the odd track that can get you sitting on the edge of your seat & even the hairs on the back neck to stand on end, but this (unfortunately) is between forgetable music.
