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4 posts since 6/19/2004
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Posted on 8/3/2004 at 6:38:32 AM
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Floating Widget – Praises To The Riff Monolith Reviewed by J.T. Cole (StonerRock.com) Independent Release Available Now Quebec stoner rockers Floating Widget will endure more than their fair share of Kyuss comparisons after the recent release of their debut disc, Praises To The Riff Monolith. But what stoner rock band doesn’t? It’s almost a right of passage to have to differentiate your band from Kyuss in some unique and fundamental way. Floating Widget manage that mainly on the strength of lead vocalist Olivier Comtois’ unique harsh timbre and his unorthodox phrasing of the cryptic lyrics contained throughout the disc. At first listen Comtois’ s t y l e can throw the listener off a bit, as it is very near to the John Garcia stoner rock howl but seems to be a bit off, as if it was just a bad attempt to imitate Garcia’s stylings. However a deeper examination will reveal the fact that Comtois has a more expressive range and a greater dedication to making the vocals work in the context of the music. Not to mention he can sing in French if he has to (see track seven – “Pit de Sable”), which automatically provides a unique aspect. That is also not to say that much of the rest of the disc makes much more sense lyrically than “Pit de Sable” does to those of us who cheated to get through French class in high school. The lyrics don’t abide by any particular logic, but they are without fail interesting and often flat-out funny. A quick glance at song titles can give you a pretty good idea of what I mean. How could you go wrong with song titles like “Cheeseburger,” “Punch-Drunk Pancho,” and “Gidget the Midget?” Shockingly though, the lyrical highlight is not on any of those tracks but on the six-minute plus ode to police brutality that is “Ociffer.” The brooding intensity found in the axe work of guitarists Alexandre Leclerc and Stephane Vigeant on the opening track “Agartha” is a portent of the tasteful chaos and tight arrangements found throughout the disc. The jazzy breakdown to that track suggests a musicality that perhaps surpasses that of Kyuss and many other popular stoner rock bands. Nowhere is Josh Homme’s guitar influence greater than in the slithering single note lines played throughout the intro and verses of “Leave Your Families, Grab a Sword, and Come With Me.” While admittedly somewhat derivative, at least Floating Widget manages to sound like Kyuss at the top of their game. That is not always the case with bands that wear their allegiance to the mighty founding fathers of modern stoner rock on their sleeves. The guitar tones definitely benefit from the experience of Pierre Remillard (Cryptopsy, Misery Index, former guitarist for Obliveon) as does the overall production of the songs on the disc. Speaking of production, the art work on the digipack is very tasteful and well done. It’s obvious a fair amount of someone’s money went into producing this album. According to the press info included with my copy of the CD, Floating Widget were named the “best kept secret of the year” by the Montreal Industry Music Initiative in 2002. I don’t know what governmental conspiracy has prevented word from getting out to the masses since then, but it’s safe to say that after the public gets a hold of Praises to the Riff Monolith, the cat will be out of the bag. Interesting arrangements, a satisfying amount of monster riffage, and a unique vocal s t y l e all combine to make this initial offering an impressive one from the Canadian five-piece.
URL: http://www.floatingwidget.com/
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7,388 posts since 11/24/1999
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Posted on 8/13/2004 at 3:01:52 PM
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A period of adjustment is to be expected
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7,967 posts since 12/12/2003
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Posted on 9/30/2004 at 11:13:35 AM
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Review - Daredevil magazine Floating Widget-Praises To The Riff Monolith CD These guys remind me a lot of the good old Kyuss. No...not another clone of Kyuss. These guys are pretty original a bring in a lot of fresh wind, but you can hear that Floating Widget dig the sound of Kyuss. I like the voice much more than the voice of Garcia, cause it´s with more power and with much more emotion...sometimes Olivier reminds me a bit of Janes Addiction, but that´s maybe just me...so forget it...hahaha. What are you waiting for...this is a CD which I would set on the same level as "Wretch" and "Blues For The Red Sun"...some of you will say now..."Blasphemy!!!"...I don´t give a f**ck...Floating Widget is doing a cool sound. Eleven hard rumbling Stoner hymns with a lot of energy and power...yep...I will go to bed now.
URL: http://www.daredevil.de/reviews/2004%20reviews%20september04/2004%20r
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2,871 posts since 12/15/1999
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Posted on 9/30/2004 at 1:29:25 PM
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Well done, J.T. Good job describing the vocals. You've provided a very nice analysis indeed.
I still can't decide about this one. I love about half the songs, but the other half just don't click. There's no denying that they've put an original spin on a very derivitive genre, though.
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I`ve weathered the storms, and today is cloudless.
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I found this today at a store i go too. I thought just from the look it was stoner rock..never noticed it on the site!..my fault. I put this in while handing out halloween candy. I thought kyuss soon as it came on. But not kyuss in an early dozer way. Kyuss in a influence but we have something else to offer. I love the music when the guitars really kick in..noticed it i think in the mid of track 3. I liked the cd alot and was glad i picked it up. It was a very good day as i also got a remastered version of aqualong used too!..
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7,967 posts since 12/12/2003
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Posted on 11/12/2004 at 11:30:04 PM
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Thanks Earl. I'm curious as to what store that would be as other than online, in store it's pretty much only available in Quebec.
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7,967 posts since 12/12/2003
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Posted on 1/2/2005 at 9:41:01 PM
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FLOATING WIDGET: "Praises To The Riff Monolith" (Self released) Here's an interesting one. Floating Widget is a Canadian (Montreal) band whose sound is much akin to older Kyuss (Wretch-days) and a groovier Orange Goblin. No fluffy intros or laid-back interludes, just solid monolithic guitar licks and strange high-pitched vocals somewhere situated in between Burke Shelley (Budgie), Lynden Williams (Jerusalem) and Ross Westerbur (500ft of pipe) that are equally seductive, wailing, disturbing and stabbing. Of course there's the occasional relaxed moment on taken to light up, but then it's back to the riffs, baby. Like I said, I’d connect it with work by Kyuss and Orange Goblin or even a touch of Queens of the Stoneage, but of course most groups in the genre could probably have little traces compared to either of those groups as well. Not only that, but their songs are well constructed and the quality of the recording is very good as well, giving the release a great sound even though it's self released. Most of the tracks ("Agartha" and "Punch-drunk pancho") are mid-tempo numbers with jangling guitar parts with bursts of frantic energy while others (Vanishing point and Gidget the midget) rock out pretty well and keep the catchy factor going. None of the songs stand head–and–shoulders above the others, but all are enjoyable and worth inclusion on this disc. Just one major critical complaint: a stoner band without guitar solos is as a pub without beer…. leave that to the Nu-metal community. Praises to the riff monolith isn’t bad at all and for a debut, Floating Widget have done well. The packing is worthy of a mention too. Not only has the heart and soul gone into the music, but also in its stunning package. With a new album due towards the beginning of next year, it will be interesting to say the least, to hear what the band are capable of progression wise next time. 82/100 Cosmicmasseur
URL: http://www.concreteweb.be/reviews_2004/cdreviews_11_09_2004/floating_
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7,967 posts since 12/12/2003
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Posted on 1/2/2005 at 9:42:26 PM
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floating widget "praises to the riff monolith" format: cd website: http://www.floatingwidget.com All hail and praise the low end and a little tokey tokey here and there, preferably here, with me (toke, toke), but I digress. What I'm rambling about is Floating Widget ... OK, so you're still no more out of the dark than you were moments ago when you started this review (a decision you may be starting to regret, but please, don't, not yet). Floating Widget is a Canadian contribution to the sadly underappreciated stoner genre. What Kyuss made a name as the god of, Floating Widget is carrying on the flame of. (Damn, two dangling prepositions in one sentence.) Downtuned, energetic riffage licks like solar flares into your altered mind while a voice calling gravelly - yet melodically - from within the music hollers at you about some poetic lyrics and stuff. In other words if you wanna jam to some pretty groovy stoner rock, you should give a look-see (should that be listen-hear?) to Floating Widget's dose of aforementioned stoner rock - "Praises to the Riff Monolith". All right? review written by: Upchuck Undergrind
URL: http://www.fishcomcollective.net/index.php?p=reviews&id=1042
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7,967 posts since 12/12/2003
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Posted on 12/7/2005 at 10:01:29 PM
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From stonerrockchick.com Floating Widget Date2004 By:Deanna St.Croix Floating Widget - Independent Kicking ass all the way from Montreal, Floating Widget's 'Praises to the Monolith' is a fucking kicking album with heavy riffage, loads of fuzz, wicked guitar (yeah I said that already but seriously, I love the guitar on this album). With the amount of fuzz and the swirling stoner rock guitar I guess that would classify them in the stoner rock genre, and at this point in my review career I seriously could give two shits if some of you Neanderthals cannot or will not appreciate this genre because it's suddenly become 'not cool'. Get over yourselves. Oliver Comtois vocals are a mixture of clean and rough, and they are downright sexy when he gets into the clean vocals. Chicks check out the track Agartha to see what I mean. Feel it baby! Because it is there. The slow desert vibe and silky guitar that is the intro to Resurrection sets off the highs and lows of this song. From slow and sexy to faster and grittier, this is one of my favorite tracks on this album. No shit. I love that groove sound and the lyrics, while I'm not entirely sure what they stand for, are really interesting. An ode to zombies? Who would have known. Maybe the guys are big fans of Romero. Or maybe this is about the resurrection of memories. Only the band knows. Yeah maybe the vocals are a tad like Garcia, personally I can not really see this but...this has been the general consensus. There is also no doubt that these guys can do the desert trip better than a lot currently doing the desert trip, and that is a great feat, considering. The one thing that is fairly obvious here on Praises to the Monolith is the superb talent of the band and the wonderfully sexy vox of Olivier. I love the loud and flowing guitars that hold the sound together. The songs all have layered texture and they fluctuate between harder edged, progressive, and desert rock. This is a combination I can't resist and man, I have no idea about the lyrics, but they are unique and I really dig them. They're also catchy as hell (see: Cheeseburger). Staying true to their roots, they are also kind enough to throw in songs in French (Pit de Sable) and I think this is really cool. Over all, and excellent album from Floating Widget. Expect much more from them as I understand side project galore are coming out or are out now. For a debut disc, these guys kick and maybe when they haul ass to the place I call home - Toronto, I'll get a chance to check them out in all their blistering, desert rock glory, close my eyes, and listen to the vox and that desert guitar sound I love so much. Props to the guys on their debut. And Chartattack - this is NOT nu-metal. You can catch the video for 'Put de Sable' on the Floating Widget website and also check out a few of the songs from this album. Well worth it fellow rock babies. Band Members: Olivier Comtois - Vocals Alexandre Leclerc - Guitar François Legendre - Bass Vincent Peake - Drums Stéphane Vigeant - Guitar http:///www.floatingwidget.com
URL: http://www.stonerrockchick.com/rdcindex.php/?aID=Reviews&myID=554&typ
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7,967 posts since 12/12/2003
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Posted on 12/7/2005 at 11:38:56 PM
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Meh, I just got a new review so I posted it. I don't care if I do 17 bumps. Sue me.
Thanks for the extra bump by the way and for giving me the opportunity to re-bump. You could've at least waited a little while so they wouldn't be all so close together.
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317 posts since 4/13/2005
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Posted on 12/8/2005 at 6:47:22 AM
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Thanks for the reviews Widget.
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25,023 posts since 5/8/2000
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Posted on 12/9/2005 at 9:38:17 PM
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my in depth review: meh
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digital vinyl = butthurt meh
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