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Was It Fear

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Was it Fear
Studio album by
Released2002
RecordedLivinghead Studios
Genreemo, Indie rock
Length62:30
LabelSunset Alliance (ALLY 019)
ProducerMike Hissong
Half Visconte chronology
Death of Marat/Half Visconte Split EP
(2000)
Was it Fear
(2002)

Was it Fear is the debut full-length album of indie rock band Half Visconte. It is also the band's final recording and was released almost two years after the band broke up.

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Indieville90%[1]
Action Attack HelicopterA [2]

Was it Fear was widely praised by critics.

Jeff Petermen at Action Attack Helicopter Magazine gave the record an A, calling it "A wonderful delve into Indie rock."[2] According to Petermen, this "disc . . . packed full of rock and roll and indie goodness" creates a disturbingly serene contrast between vocals that "are clean and haunting," "the scratchy fuzz of the guitars and bass," the soothing drums.[2]

The critic at Adequacy.net would give reviews that are just as praiseworthy, calling Was it Fear "an absolutely stunning entry into the modern music underground."[3] Praising the group's improvisation and musicianship, the critic found "The music [to be] sometimes jarring, sometimes soothing, and always challenging as it swings from angular to atmospheric with ease. It’s a testament to the skill of the band that these songs sound so complete and the improvised sections are so fluid and transcendent."[3] He concluded by stating that "Half Visconte intentionally push themselves and their songs to go farther: beyond the fences, past the tiny orange surveying flags, and deeper into the looking glass. The stuff they brought back is phenomenal."[3]

Matt Shimmer at Individual.com called Was It Fear? "an amazing record," describing this effort as "the emotional nature of emo, subtract the whining, [and] add[ing] excellent songwriting." .[1] Giving Was it Fear a grade of 90%, Shimmer writes that "If Was It Fear? is any indication, HV could be heading towards legendary status - defying musical convention all the way to the indie rock hall of fame."[1]

Finally, Hayden Blades at SLAM Magazine would describe the music from this "beautiful album" as "at one point, a cacophony of Punk splattered on a canvas, with hints of Progressive and sometimes even Americana." Then, "at another point, [Half Visconte] [draws] a visceral likeness to bands such as Godspeed You Black Emperor!, who expertly melt the serene with exponential builds of crescendos and powerful musical mantras."[4]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."I Tried to Erase"5:01
2."Racked and Martyred"2:28
3."His Song"1:31
4."Money Shot"6:02
5."11"8:26
6."I Wear Fast"0:21
7."A Walking Tour of Trinidad, CO"5:34
8."O The Lyin' Papa"2:31
9."Name"13:35
10."A Few Moments Before Sleeping and Waking"17:01

References

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