Heavy Rocks, also known as Heavy Rocks 2 or Heavy Rocks 2011, is the sixteenth studio album by the Japanese experimental band Boris. The album was released on May 24, 2011, through the label Sargent House.[11] It is the second of three Boris albums of this title, with the others being released in 2002 and 2022; all feature the band exploring hard rock and heavy metal sounds.[12] The band repeated the album title for this release because they "seek to redefine 'heavy' music in a culmination of the band's tireless efforts over the past two decades".[13]
Heavy Rocks | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | May 24, 2011 | |||
Recorded | 2009 - 2011 at Sound Square | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 53:00 (Sargent House CD) 52:07 (Daymare CD) | |||
Label | Sargent House, Daymare Recordings | |||
Producer | Boris | |||
Boris chronology | ||||
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Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Metacritic | 70/100[1] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [2] |
The A.V. Club | B+[3] |
Consequence of Sound | C-[4] |
Drowned in Sound | 7/10[5] |
Pitchfork Media | 5.2/10[6] |
Popmatters | [7] |
Rock Sound | 8/10[8] |
Spin | 7/10[9] |
Sputnikmusic | 4/5[10] |
The album was released on the same day as Attention Please, with which it shares the track "Aileron."[14] It also shares different mixes of the songs "Jackson Head" and "Tu, La La" with New Album.
Initial track list information had the song "8" (previously available on Japanese Heavy Rock Hits) listed as the second track, but the final release replaced it with "Leak -Truth, yesnoyesnoyes."[15] On March 29, 2011, Pitchfork Media released the song "Riot Sugar" in promotion for the album.[16]
The vinyl edition features extended versions of "Missing Pieces" and "Czechoslovakia."[17] An additional full length mix of "Czechoslovakia" with vocals by Tomáš Zakopal was released on a split 7-inch with his band, Saade.[18] On May 16, Heavy Rocks in its entirety was made available in full for streaming on NPR Music.[19]
All songs and words by Boris with the exception of Track 2 by Boris and Keisuke Suzuki.
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Riot Sugar" ("甘い暴動", lit. "Sweet Riot") | 3:56 |
2. | "Leak-Truth,yesnoyesnoyes-" ("Leak-本当の反対の反対の反対の反対-", "Leak (The Opposite of the Opposite of the Opposite of a Real Opposition)") | 4:11 |
3. | "Galaxians" | 4:09 |
4. | "Jackson Head" ("ジャクソンヘッド") | 3:00 |
5. | "Missing Pieces" | CD:12:22 LP:14:27 |
6. | "Key" ("扉", lit. "A Door") | 1:46 |
7. | "Window Shopping" | 3:57 |
8. | "Tu, la la" | 4:21 |
9. | "Aileron" ("エルロン") | 12:45 |
10. | "Czechoslovakia" ("チェコスロバキア") | CD:1:35 LP:5:46 |