Heavy Rocks (2011 album)

Heavy Rocks
Studio album by
Boris
ReleasedMay 24, 2011 (2011-05-24)
Recorded2009 - 2011 at Sound Square
Genre
Length53:00 (Sargent House CD)
52:07 (Daymare CD)
LabelSargent House, Daymare Recordings
ProducerBoris
Boris chronology
New Album
(2011) 		Heavy Rocks
(2011) 		Attention Please
(2011)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic70/100[1]
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
The A.V. ClubB+[3]
Consequence of SoundC-[4]
Drowned in Sound7/10[5]
Pitchfork Media5.2/10[6]
Popmatters[7]
Rock Sound8/10[8]
Spin7/10[9]
Sputnikmusic4/5[10]

Heavy Rocks, also known as Heavy Rocks 2 or Heavy Rocks 2011, is the sixteenth studio album by the Japanese experimental band Boris. The album was released on May 24, 2011, through the label Sargent House.[11] It is the second of three Boris albums of this title, with the others being released in 2002 and 2022; all feature the band exploring hard rock and heavy metal sounds.[12] The band repeated the album title for this release because they "seek to redefine 'heavy' music in a culmination of the band's tireless efforts over the past two decades".[13]

The album was released on the same day as Attention Please, with which it shares the track "Aileron."[14] It also shares different mixes of the songs "Jackson Head" and "Tu, La La" with New Album.

Background[edit]

Initial track list information had the song "8" (previously available on Japanese Heavy Rock Hits) listed as the second track, but the final release replaced it with "Leak -Truth, yesnoyesnoyes."[15] On March 29, 2011, Pitchfork Media released the song "Riot Sugar" in promotion for the album.[16]

The vinyl edition features extended versions of "Missing Pieces" and "Czechoslovakia."[17] An additional full length mix of "Czechoslovakia" with vocals by Tomáš Zakopal was released on a split 7-inch with his band, Saade.[18] On May 16, Heavy Rocks in its entirety was made available in full for streaming on NPR Music.[19]

Track listing[edit]

All songs and words by Boris with the exception of Track 2 by Boris and Keisuke Suzuki.

No.TitleLength
1."Riot Sugar" ("甘い暴動", lit. "Sweet Riot")3:56
2."Leak-Truth,yesnoyesnoyes-" ("Leak-本当の反対の反対の反対の反対-", "Leak (The Opposite of the Opposite of the Opposite of a Real Opposition)")4:11
3."Galaxians"4:09
4."Jackson Head" ("ジャクソンヘッド")3:00
5."Missing Pieces"CD:12:22 LP:14:27
6."Key" ("扉", lit. "A Door")1:46
7."Window Shopping"3:57
8."Tu, la la"4:21
9."Aileron" ("エルロン")12:45
10."Czechoslovakia" ("チェコスロバキア")CD:1:35 LP:5:46

Credits[edit]

  • Takeshi – vocals, bass, and guitar
  • Wata – guitar, echo, and keyboard
  • Atsuo – vocals, drums, and percussion
  • Michio Kurihara – guitar on tracks 2, 5, and 7
  • Ian Astbury – vocals on track 1
  • Kensuke Saito – analog synth on track 3
  • Yoshiko Kawakita – vocals on track 7
  • Faith Coloccia – piano on track 9
  • Aaron Turner – voices, guitars, and loops on track 9
  • Design by Fangsanalsatan and SOMA
  • Recording by fangsanalsatan at Sound Square 2009–2011
  • Mix and Mastering by Soichiro Nakamura at Peace Music 2011
  • Translation by Yoshiko Ikeda
  • Production by Boris
  • Photos by Miki Matsushima
  • Logotype by Futuyong

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Heavy Rocks – Boris". Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  2. ^ Jurek, Thom. "Heavy Rocks – Boris". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  3. ^ Heller, Jason (May 24, 2011). "Boris: Heavy Rocks / Attention Please". The A.V. Club. The Onion. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  4. ^ Young, Alex (May 27, 201). "Boris – Heavy Rocks". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  5. ^ Gardner, Noel (May 26, 2011). "Album Review: Boris – Attention Please/Heavy Rocks". Drowned in Sound. Silentway. Archived from the original on December 27, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  6. ^ Currin, Grayson. Attention Please / Heavy Rocks review pitchfork.com. 2011-05-20. Retrieved on 2011-05-28.
  7. ^ Branson, Scott (May 25, 2011). "Boris: Attention Please / Heavy Rocks". Popmatters. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  8. ^ Kemp, Mike (May 19, 2011). "Boris – Attention Please / Heavy Rocks". Rock Sound. Freeway Press Inc. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  9. ^ Schultz, Christopher (May 24, 2011). "Boris, 'Heavy Rocks' (Sargent House)". Spin. SpinMedia. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  10. ^ Andrew, Elijah (May 20, 2011). "Review: Boris – Heavy Rocks II". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved February 18, 2015.
  11. ^ Boris Store Is Now Open borisheavyrocks.tumblr.com. Retrieved on 2011-03-26.
  12. ^ Hadusek, Jon (2022-08-04). "Boris unveil riff-hitting new song "My Name Is Blank": Stream". Consequence. Retrieved 2022-08-07.
  13. ^ Press release of the album on Sargent House Records
  14. ^ Announcement of Heavy Rocks and Attention Please
  15. ^ Official Heavy Rocks preorder Archived 2011-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
  16. ^ New Boris: "Riot Sugar"
  17. ^ "Preorder for Heavy Rocks vinyl release". Archived from the original on 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2011-03-25.
  18. ^ Split with Saade
  19. ^ NPR Music streams Heavy Rocks
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Heavy_Rocks_(2011_album)&oldid=1216760401"