Archers of Loaf
Seconds Before the Accident
[Alias; 2000]
Rating: 7.0
I can recall only one concert that ever converted an entire roomful of disbelievers to
indie missionaries. It was 1996, in a small Australian town. Roughly 100 Slayer and
Metallica fans had gathered, mostly against their will, to see the Archers of Loaf.
The longhairs initially responded to the set with deformed sneers and abuse, yet the
gig ended amidst tears of revelation and recognition. Such was the power of the Loaf.
That year, the Archers released Vitus Tinnitus, an EP that adequately captured the
coarse might of their live shows. Their recorded output had always threatened to bring
them wider exposure, but after the release of their fourth LP, White Trash Heroes,
lead guitarist Eric Johnson departed, and by the start of the new millennium, the Archers
had disbanded, leaving only Eric Bachmann's Crooked Fingers to carry on the legacy.
Seconds Before the Accident records one of the Archers' final shows in their
hometown of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and the vocal crowd reflects the affection
with which their fans regarded them. The liner notes explain that the songs were chosen
"based on listenability," and indeed, the tracks function to highlight the brighter points
of the band's career. "Dead Red Eyes" opens the record, setting Eric Bachmann's dry,
melodic vocal line over sedated keyboards and a punchy, distorted bass. The track
segues nicely into Vee Vee's "Fabricoh", one of the band's many signature skewed,
dirty rock songs. The pop classic "Web in Front" is followed by Bachmann's heartfelt
warning to his crowd: "If I have an aneurysm tonight, it's out of gratitude."
"Fashion Bleeds" showcases the confident interplay between Bachmann's driving rhythm and
Johnson's unique atonal lead. Their energetic, distorted drone is focused throughout by
Bachmann's intelligent if somewhat angry lyrical reaction to consumer society. His drawl
on Icky Mettle's "You and Me" is welcomed by a cacophony of drunken voices shouting
along with the first verse. At the close of the set, Bachmann returns to the stage
unaccompanied to bid farewell with the beautiful piano ballad, "Chumming the Oceans".
Even through the sterile bits of digital technology, there's an undeniable sense of
sadness emanating from the crowd as one of the great Chapel Hill bands of the 90s
departs for possibly the last time.
The collection of moments that comprise Seconds Before the Accident, and the live
spectacle itself, will elicit the same reaction from anyone familiar with the Archers'
eight-year commitment to incredible rock music. Perhaps the roughness of the live sound
would rule this album out as a proper introduction to the band's work-- especially with
their monumental 1993 debut, Icky Mettle, filling that niche appropriately. But
to fans, this will prove a fitting swansong, and excellent documentation for an experience
lost to another time.
-Pete Nicholson, July, 2000