Aftertaste

[eht13]

http://www.helmetmusic.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=32

Since Monochrome has its own discussion forum, I thought maybe we could have discussion threads for the other albums here.

So get some Aftertaste discussion going...

[BornSpeechless]

this album for me was my introduction to Helmet, and for that it will always have a special place in my collection. I have always believed the first album you get into from a band usually becomes your favorite or at least one that you will always enjoy listening to. the first time I heard the opening riff in Pure kick in I was hooked.......great album..

[JonCurcio]

I've seen a lot of people complain and say this album is their least favorite, and sometimes I can feel that, but overall I think the music is brilliant. Sometimes I'll think that Betty is the most unique Helmet album, but I think in terms of general rock music Aftertaste and Strap it On really stand out as well with their musical personalities. In terms of guitar, some of Page's rhythm work on this album is pretty impressive in the subtle nuances. It's a more aggressive album than Betty but it still has atmosphere and imagination. I'll deduct points for somewhat muddy production and lack of fresh energy. Some people blame Sardy. Too many takes?

[Electric Ordinary]

This was the first HELMET album I ever purchased. It's always going to be special to me.

I bought the cd right before I took my first (memberable) trip to California. Everytime I listen to this one, I always think of the ocean and the hot, La Jolla sunshine. I loved it so much that while I was out there, that I ran to the nearest cd store and bought "Meantime" and "Betty"

I'd have to say my fav's from this album are...

"Pure"
"Driving Nowhere"
"Insatiable"
and
"Crisis King"

[barkmarket]

Yeah, I've always really liked this album, and definitely wouldn't say that it's the worst one (my vote for worst would be SM).
I kinda like the way it sounds in comparison to the other albums. It has a really 'dry' feel to it, e.g. the snare has no ring to it, and there's very little reverb on anything (at least to my ears anyway!).
I enjoy the fact that each Helmet album has its own identity through how it sounds sonically.
I find Meantime to be drum and bass heavy (always a good thing!), with a really good guitar mix.
Betty is bombastic and crystal clear. Possibly my favourite.
Strap It On is really old-school, rough and ready.
The same could go for Monochrome in a way, although the mix isn't nearly as good. The drums don't really stand out on Monochrome, but perhaps that's as much down to the playing as the mix itself, especially when it come to some of the fills.

But anyway, back to Aftertaste. My favourites would be Pure, Exactly What You Wanted (gotta love that little guitar/bass trade off after the first chorus!), Like I Care (definitely one of my favourite tracks ever), Diet Aftertaste, and Crisis King (old school repetitive riffing).

[RockMessiah]

Diet Aftertaste is real fun on guitar. dee-du-daahh-du-dee-dee Hehe.

[wakmastera]

Aftertaste is my 4th favorite. Betty, Meantime, Size Matters, Aftertaste, Monochrome, Strap it On. I get in Aftertaste moods though, for sure. I'm not a fan of Page's singing style on Aftertaste, its real goofy. Like if I didn't already know what he looked like, I'd expect a Sesame Street character with just a slit for a mouth that can't make an "O" shape. Some of the songs are too slow for my tastes too. Songs like Easy to Get Bored and Like I Care sound too slow, laborious, and lunkheaded. My favorites include Pure, Insatiable, Renovation, Birth Defect, and (High) Visibility.

I think I got it third (Meantime 1st, then Betty) on eBay which I guess tells you how long I've been a fan. My guess would be summer 03? I was rediscovering my love of grunge and Helmet was listed as a similar artist to Tad on allmusic.com. So I gave a few songs a listen and that was the end of it pretty much.

So Aftertaste is ok for helmet and good by anyone else's standards. It doesn't really hold any special place in my heart and I don't have a cute little story that involves Aftertaste, but every now and again...I rock it out.

[barkmarket]

Some of the songs are too slow for my tastes too. Songs like Easy to Get Bored and Like I Care sound too slow, laborious, and lunkheaded.

I'd have to say that that's the thing that would've put me off SM when I heard it. A lot of the tracks didn't have any life in them, but just kinda trudged along. There are some slow ones on Aftertaste, but the slowest ones - 'Like I Care' and 'High Visibility' work really well IMO. Plus Aftertaste has one of the fastest, most direct, and trimmed down Helmet tracks - 'Crisis King'.
Classic!

[wakmastera]

barkmarket..fast, direct, stripped-down classic is how i feel about Birth Defect...rock!

[BOAWS]

I always remember people complaining that Aftertaste sounded to "clean". I never saw that, especially when you compare it to a lot of mainstream rock albums today that sound almost to slick for their own good. Regardless, I do think it falls to somewhere in the middle when ranking Helmet's material. Absolutely love "Insatiable", "Pure", and "Like I Care".

[JonCurcio]

Aftertaste is one of the last albums I'd call clean.

[chinstrap]

My first Helmet record I ever bought was Meantime. It rocked me to holy hell when I first listened to it. At the time, (back in '94) it was my favorite album. From head to toe, it was nonstop.

After Meantime, I went out and bought Strap It On. It wasn't what I hoped for, but it still stuck with me. I would always put this album on the back burner, but it somehow would always find itself back in my CD player. The album grew on me out of the appreciation that I have for the band.

Betty was a big 180° when I bought it. It had more class and style. The blunt lyrics were scarce and there was more melody added. John's drumming was more visible and Henry's bass was meatier. It was a very progressive album for Helmet. Considering that the previous album was a 10 legged horse. Again, I loved it and with time it grew on me and became my most favorite Helmet album.

Aftertaste. - Fucking priceless. The lyrics seemed to have more meaning and I think that's what drew me in mostly about this album. Yes, the lyrics. I related easily to most of the songs on Aftertaste. Another thing I love... The vocals had some gravel and snarl in them, making those songs more resentful and bitter or more meaningful. Also, it gave me a vibe that Strap It On gave me. ...Old school with a new twist.

It's an all around 10 and still is over any other Helmet album IMO. Size Matters and Monochrome are good albums in their own way, but to me, Aftertaste leaves me more scornful than any other Helmet album ever will.

[Hutch]

I was 18 when I bought this but a true Helemt fan for years before. I didn't like it. I thought it was weak... as time went on, and funny a discussion just broke loose, I just listened to this last month and It was like listening to a different record. So many great things happen in this record that I didn't pick up before.

Pretty much the best "written" record Helmet has ever released. You can tell how much Page had progressed from Meantime. The work is very mature, tight and always true. I also love this record because Page said before that this was his best work. and his favriote album. I like to remind myself that when I play it.

[human5]

this is actually my favorite helmet album. i love the guitar tones. they have a warmth to them yet they're gritty. i think all around this album has the best of the best tone wise for everything to me. and it was pretty much un-matched at the time.

[couch X slouch]

this is actually my favorite helmet album. i love the guitar tones. they have a warmth to them yet they're gritty. i think all around this album has the best of the best tone wise for everything to me. and it was pretty much un-matched at the time.

I feel the same way. Guitar sound on Aftertaste is my all time fav. guitar sound. Drums sound huge and I'm actually glad Stanier changed his snare sound to more of a mid-range tuning. It's still crisp and loud as fuck and when I'm listening to it I just know he's beating the shit out of those drums.

This is my all-time top 5 record. Flawless.