Because God Luck And Good Speed is such an awesome record, I was expecting a lot from Jason… the Dragon. Although we all know that it doesn’t happen too often that a band releases two extremely good records in a row. I listened to this record for the first time while driving to a show with my pals. I was kinda in the mood (a.k.a. kinda drunk enough) to surmise that Jason… the Dragon is as good as God Luck And Good Speed. After giving it a few spins in a sober state of mind I guess I have to qualify my opinion a bit. Even though I might cause frowns at the CVLT HQ and elsewhere.
Pretty much all the basic elements of God Luck And Good Speed are present on Jason… the Dragon as well, but alltogether this record lacks a bit of fresh ideas. Of course it’s devastating slow most of the time. Of course it’s great when the speed goes up to a mid-paced tempo after a really slow part. Of course Weedeater write good Stoner Rock riffs. Of course the vocals are sick. But all in all there’s just nothing on this record that is distinct from countless other Sludge records. Maybe the two songs played just with bass and banjo – but let’s face reality, most of us wouldn’t listen to music like that if it wasn’t on a Weedeater record. So you just listen to it because you have to.
In addition to that, there are only seven “real” songs on the record, if you don’t count the intro and the two banjo tracks. I’m really not happy to write this, because I like Weedeater and would totally watch them perform, but Jason… the Dragon is just a pretty mediocre record. It’s not bad, you’ll get everything you’d expect of a Sludge record, but neither it’s extraordinary good. It’s probably still a good record to get baked and/or drunk to, though.
nick
March 28, 2011 at 1:24 pm
long over due album. god luck and god speed was a good album but and justice for y’all will forever be my favorite weedeater album. checkout pill crusher when you get a chance. if you can’t find anything of theirs online e-mail me and I’ll upload it for you.