― Crossbow, Sunday, 31 August 2003 14:03 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Johnny Badlees (crispssssss), Sunday, 31 August 2003 20:16 (9 years ago) Permalink
― keith (keithmcl), Sunday, 31 August 2003 22:19 (9 years ago) Permalink
I think their particular approach flamed out pretty quickly, though. Betty just seemed like going through the motions, and I never heard anything after that. I wish they could have found a way to liven or broaden their sound somewhat. For all the lip service Page Hamilton paid to guys like Ornette Coleman, or how into "jazz" he always claimed to be, you sure couldn't hear it in the music.
There are definite affinities between the music of Helmet and some of the nu-metallers. What little I've heard of the Deftones struck me as kind of a Helmet redux. I actually just auditioned Betty a few weeks ago, because I've been going through a cd purge (it didn't make the cut); I listened with the nu-metal guys in mind, as I've heard the idea of a linkage advanced before. But who can say how much of that is a direct borrowing/whatever? Most of the formal elements in Helmet's music had long been present in the metal vocabulary. The churning, repetitive chord-based riffs of AC/DC; the fussy time signatures and jerky rhythms of something like King Crimson's Red. Sometimes their occasional use of space even recalled Pink Flag-era Wire.
I once saw 'em in like 1991 opening up for the Melvins in a little shithole performance space that was only around for a couple years. It was a great show. Helmet's sound completely filled the room; it was like swimming in sound waves. LOUD AS FUCK.
― Mr. Diamond (diamond), Sunday, 31 August 2003 22:33 (9 years ago) Permalink
I can see a link to nu-metal in that Helmet was one of the first bands to get significant airplay blending many of nu-metal's signature elements, though they lacked nu-metal's hip-hop stylings and angsty lyrics.
― Jeremy (Jeremy), Sunday, 31 August 2003 23:14 (9 years ago) Permalink
_meantime_ really, really bores me.
― your null fame (yournullfame), Monday, 1 September 2003 00:20 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Damian (Damian), Monday, 1 September 2003 02:08 (9 years ago) Permalink
― brg30 (brg30), Monday, 1 September 2003 17:24 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Bryan (Bryan), Monday, 1 September 2003 18:33 (9 years ago) Permalink
Never liked their music much, though the song "In The Meantime" was okay.
― unperson, Monday, 1 September 2003 20:54 (9 years ago) Permalink
That's the other way round, surely? Chaos AD was perceived as their sellout/bandwagonjumping album because they moved to the US and adopted the sound/songwriting that was popular in the US at the time (Biohazard/Pantera et al). A typical "me too" album, so to say...
― Siegbran (eofor), Monday, 1 September 2003 21:35 (9 years ago) Permalink
DESTROY: Paige playing for Bowie.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 1 September 2003 21:39 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Monday, 1 September 2003 21:43 (9 years ago) Permalink
― sean marvin (williamtell), Monday, 1 September 2003 22:27 (9 years ago) Permalink
― Dan J, Monday, 1 September 2003 22:32 (9 years ago) Permalink
I've seen it around on slsk and wasn't sure if it was a rarities album but i found the above article. So has anyone heard it?
― Beaker, Thursday, 29 July 2004 14:09 (8 years ago) Permalink
― gygax! (gygax!), Thursday, 29 July 2004 14:33 (8 years ago) Permalink
― Softly Weeping at the Oki Dog (Ben Boyer), Thursday, 29 July 2004 15:37 (8 years ago) Permalink
When the show was over, I slipped on a patch of ice outside and landed right on my ass.
I hope this record sucks and sells peanuts.
― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Thursday, 29 July 2004 16:31 (8 years ago) Permalink
Anyway yeah, listening to Monochrome. Not having heard anything since Betty, I'm sort of thrown by how shredded his voice sounds now.
Oh wait, the title track sounds like King's X. WTF?!
I'm not sure I want to finish this.
― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 17 June 2006 05:09 (6 years ago) Permalink
Helmet just didn't seem to be able to come up with enough good tunes after that one. Betty would about make a good EP.
I would have liked to seen them live back then, but never got around to seeing them play.
― Earl Nash (earlnash), Saturday, 17 June 2006 05:31 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Orange Pimp (Orange Pimp), Saturday, 17 June 2006 06:04 (6 years ago) Permalink
― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 17 June 2006 09:58 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 17 June 2006 11:45 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 17 June 2006 12:11 (6 years ago) Permalink
― kyle (akmonday), Saturday, 17 June 2006 13:33 (6 years ago) Permalink
― scott seward (scott seward), Saturday, 17 June 2006 13:37 (6 years ago) Permalink
Page Hamilton has one thing to prove: "can he make another good record?"
Because that hasn't happened since Meantime.
He does have a right to be a grumpy old man. Garbage like Candlebox stole his gimmick and trademark riffs and hit platinum with them. And becuase they did, they got dated quick.
― Uncle Tom (Uncle Tom), Saturday, 17 June 2006 19:00 (6 years ago) Permalink
Not once have I ever heard a Candlebox song on the radio and thought "hmm, is this Helmet?"
― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Saturday, 17 June 2006 20:14 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Marmot 4-Tay (marmotwolof), Saturday, 17 June 2006 21:05 (6 years ago) Permalink
Dunno about that, but Page stole it from Prong in the first place, so it's all relative.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Saturday, 17 June 2006 21:09 (6 years ago) Permalink
― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 17 June 2006 21:16 (6 years ago) Permalink
anyway...strap it on and meantime are classic.
― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 17 June 2006 21:18 (6 years ago) Permalink
― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 17 June 2006 21:21 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Marmot 4-Tay (marmotwolof), Saturday, 17 June 2006 21:23 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Marmot 4-Tay (marmotwolof), Saturday, 17 June 2006 21:32 (6 years ago) Permalink
― latebloomer (latebloomer), Saturday, 17 June 2006 21:39 (6 years ago) Permalink
Bwahahahaha
― Marmot 4-Tay (marmotwolof), Saturday, 17 June 2006 21:43 (6 years ago) Permalink
Candlebox's breakout hit had a hook that ripped off "In The Meantime."
― Uncle Tom (Uncle Tom), Sunday, 18 June 2006 00:45 (6 years ago) Permalink
Um, you've heard Prong, right?
― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Sunday, 18 June 2006 00:58 (6 years ago) Permalink
it's true, that "heaven let your light shine down" turd they did
― Q('.'Q) (eman), Sunday, 18 June 2006 01:25 (6 years ago) Permalink
that was collective soul not candlebox wasn't it?
― latebloomer (latebloomer), Sunday, 18 June 2006 01:34 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Q('.'Q) (eman), Sunday, 18 June 2006 01:36 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Sunday, 18 June 2006 01:37 (6 years ago) Permalink
― ¨ˆ¨ˆ¨ˆ¨ˆ¨ˆ¨ˆ (chaki), Sunday, 18 June 2006 01:43 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Marmot 4-Tay (marmotwolof), Sunday, 18 June 2006 05:19 (6 years ago) Permalink
its definitely better than Candlebox's hit at least! i can't even hardly remember what it sounds like.
― latebloomer (latebloomer), Sunday, 18 June 2006 09:20 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Marmot 4-Tay (marmotwolof), Sunday, 18 June 2006 09:24 (6 years ago) Permalink
― latebloomer (latebloomer), Sunday, 18 June 2006 09:29 (6 years ago) Permalink
Ok anyways Helmet rules and Page is OTM here:"I hear so many bands that, to me, I can't distinguish between them," he said, talking about the current scene. "It's sort of like, 'Insert four guys with tattoos here.' And it's pseudo-hardcore or pseudo-punk rock or emo. It just seems like you get your 'Rock Star 101' manual and fill in the blanks. This music just doesn't interest me at this point in my life."
― Marmot 4-Tay (marmotwolof), Sunday, 18 June 2006 09:50 (6 years ago) Permalink
― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 18 June 2006 14:31 (6 years ago) Permalink
He's in Battles.
― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Sunday, 18 June 2006 14:38 (6 years ago) Permalink
― scott seward (scott seward), Sunday, 18 June 2006 14:44 (6 years ago) Permalink
Sorry, but you're an utter dingbat.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Sunday, 18 June 2006 16:09 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Sunday, 18 June 2006 16:14 (6 years ago) Permalink
If you can't tell the difference between shit like "Prove You Wrong" (the only Prong song anyone other than metal mooks ever heard or cared about) and Helmet you are deaf and musically ignorant.
Prong = Just because your singer was the doorman at CBGBs doesn't make you cool. Face it, you're a 4/4 metal band.
― Uncle Tom (Uncle Tom), Sunday, 18 June 2006 23:31 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Marmot 4-Tay (marmotwolof), Sunday, 18 June 2006 23:36 (6 years ago) Permalink
Prong released three albums prior to Prove You Wrong, all of which pre-date Helmet's debut.
You're still a dingbat and obviously have a hard time admitting when you're out of your depth.
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 19 June 2006 01:20 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Alex in NYC (vassifer), Monday, 19 June 2006 01:22 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Si.C@rter (SiC@rter), Monday, 19 June 2006 08:50 (6 years ago) Permalink
or..Downtown Juile Brown!
― latebloomer (latebloomer), Monday, 19 June 2006 09:52 (6 years ago) Permalink
― StanM (StanM), Monday, 17 July 2006 18:33 (6 years ago) Permalink
― Marty Innerlogic (marty innerlogic), Monday, 17 July 2006 20:26 (6 years ago) Permalink
They're playing a local venue here tonight. 14 years ago they played to a place about fifteen times as big not far away. I don't so much feel old as think, "They've reached their best level."
― Ned Raggett, Thursday, 23 August 2007 00:37 (5 years ago) Permalink
In every old thread dug up Alex is fighting with someone in a new, very entertaining way.
― humansuit, Thursday, 23 August 2007 00:44 (5 years ago) Permalink
there are times when i really need a loud, heavy riff-charged assault a la 'meantime'. aside from these times, i don't feel the urge to listen to it all that often.
i'll add that 'i know' from betty is amazing
― Charlie Howard, Thursday, 23 August 2007 02:40 (5 years ago) Permalink
How many posts and not one mentioning how stunningly beautiful Page Hamilton is?!?!?
― Kevin John Bozelka, Thursday, 23 August 2007 03:35 (5 years ago) Permalink
i'd like to think i'm more beautiful
certainly not the reason i listen to helmet
― Charlie Howard, Thursday, 23 August 2007 15:38 (5 years ago) Permalink
It was kind of weird playing 'Born Annoying' (the song) a few mornings ago, sandwiched in between seeing John Stanier kick my head off two seperate times as Battles drummer. Dude's certainly switched up his style over time
― DJ Mencap, Thursday, 23 August 2007 16:21 (5 years ago) Permalink
Helmet's pretty good workout music.
― Bill Magill, Thursday, 23 August 2007 16:41 (5 years ago) Permalink
'betty' really does dip after the first four tracks (which are awesome). way too many tepid, 'nice-enough' snoozers deflating the energy of the thing.
― Charlie Howard, Friday, 31 August 2007 17:12 (5 years ago) Permalink
Love exactly two Helmet songs: Impressionable and the 1st version of Born Annoying. Ha ha part is that both come from a demo that AmRep released against the band's wishes. Oh yeah, and they did a swell cover of Killing Joke's Primitive. Other than that, don't give a shit.
― Bob Standard, Friday, 31 August 2007 17:20 (5 years ago) Permalink
'clean' is as good as any of the first four tracks on betty
― 6335, Friday, 31 August 2007 17:27 (5 years ago) Permalink
their best song:
― Zeno, Saturday, 6 June 2009 01:00 (3 years ago) Permalink
still reppin' for 'clean' in june '09
― 6335, Saturday, 6 June 2009 05:41 (3 years ago) Permalink
Still reppin' for Aftertaste which is a pretty underrated record IMHO.
Saw Helmet play last year at the Waldrock-festival (which is the second or third biggest metalfestival in The Netherlands), and they were the best band of the day.
― Marty Innerlogic, Saturday, 6 June 2009 10:28 (3 years ago) Permalink
He played on a Wire song from Object 47: "All Fours." Not sure he did anything that someone else couldn't have done, but it's a pretty nice track, although to be fair it sounds like Band of Susans with a different vocalist.
― dlp9001, Saturday, 6 June 2009 18:05 (3 years ago) Permalink
what am I missing about this band?
― admrl, Friday, 18 June 2010 17:21 (2 years ago) Permalink
― _▂▅▇█▓▒░◕‿‿◕░▒▓█▇▅▂_ (Steve Shasta), Friday, 18 June 2010 18:01 (2 years ago) Permalink
fwd to 6:11http://bit.ly/ajosxb
― _▂▅▇█▓▒░◕‿‿◕░▒▓█▇▅▂_ (Steve Shasta), Friday, 18 June 2010 18:06 (2 years ago) Permalink
i've played my tape copy of meantime probably 300 times and it still sounds great!
― scott seward, Friday, 18 June 2010 18:50 (2 years ago) Permalink
I just had this memory come back to me that when my family took me to Israel when I was 14 I was playing Meantime over and over again on my walkman and lusting after this girl on the tour bus. Jewish tours suck! Helmet Rules!
― Theodore "Thee Diddy" Roosevelt (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 4 August 2010 15:23 (2 years ago) Permalink
Helmet on a Kibbutz. Helmet at Masada. Helmet at King David's Tomb. It was great.
― Theodore "Thee Diddy" Roosevelt (Hurting 2), Wednesday, 4 August 2010 15:24 (2 years ago) Permalink
Unsung made the top 100 in the current ILM poll!
― pfunkboy (Herman G. Neuname), Wednesday, 4 August 2010 15:26 (2 years ago) Permalink
fuckin the best...
― Stormy Davis, Monday, 9 May 2011 05:04 (2 years ago) Permalink
i would be curious to see a best of poll. listening to "so easy to get bored" over and over today for some reason. still sounds amazing!
― Porto for Pyros (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 7 September 2011 19:07 (1 year ago) Permalink
best of records or best of songs?cause if it's the first the winner is obvious isn't it?
― nostormo, Wednesday, 7 September 2011 19:08 (1 year ago) Permalink
― Theodore "Thee Diddy" Roosevelt (Hurting 2), Wednesday, August 4, 2010 11:24 AM (1 year ago) Bookmark
― kkvgz, Wednesday, 7 September 2011 19:15 (1 year ago) Permalink
sounds like a line from a Mark Leyner novel.
songs, obv!
― Porto for Pyros (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 7 September 2011 19:18 (1 year ago) Permalink
id vote in that
― Armand Schaubroeck Ratfucker, Wednesday, 7 September 2011 19:37 (1 year ago) Permalink
the problem is i'm lazy.
― Porto for Pyros (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, 7 September 2011 20:09 (1 year ago) Permalink
are these guys touring again? sure i saw their name on a tokyo listings page.
― sam500, Thursday, 8 September 2011 04:02 (1 year ago) Permalink
"What people make the mistake of is saying, 'Well, I don't hear jazz.' I'm not playing jazz," he said. "It's not jazz. But I can hear the jazz influences. Name me one other band on the planet that's using a major-7 sharp 11 chord with a 13 in the chorus. None. This is my tuning. None. I guarantee it."
― mookieproof, Saturday, 22 December 2012 05:43 (4 months ago) Permalink
> Name me one other band on the planet that's using a major-7 sharp 11 chord with a 13 in the chorus
Shudder to Think
― Poliopolice, Saturday, 22 December 2012 06:29 (4 months ago) Permalink
this is fucking weird but I am listing to do make say think on spotify right now and p sure I just heard that song
― drunk 'n' white's elements of style (Hurting 2), Saturday, 22 December 2012 06:35 (4 months ago) Permalink
chord I mean
also I bet there's chicago and yes songs with that chord in the chorus
― drunk 'n' white's elements of style (Hurting 2), Saturday, 22 December 2012 06:36 (4 months ago) Permalink
I dig helmet and all I guess, but claiming ownership of a chord is like some next level shredder asshole nonsense.
― tiniest homeless (jjjusten), Saturday, 22 December 2012 06:41 (4 months ago) Permalink
Pity he didn't put so much care and thought into his crappy vocal melodies or Helmet would have been much better.
― MaresNest, Saturday, 22 December 2012 09:10 (4 months ago) Permalink