Eureka (studio album)
by Jim O'Rourke

From seb7 03/04/2023 06:49 | #294682

A comprehensive conclusion in catharsis and joy

Jim O'Rourke has never ceased to confuse me. The more I learn, the less I know, but I guess that's with anything. I think I first discovered this album through BEA on some random chart I can’t remember. I was, like most, visibly and audibly shocked by the cover. Who wouldn’t be? Bright pink and some fat dude pleasuring himself with what appears to be a plush bunny. The stuff of fever dreams and nightmares. Suffice to say, my expectations were far off from what this album truly is. Because there isn’t an album more gorgeous.

The night is dark and full of bad memories. The dreams didn’t live up to reality and now you’re stumbling on the sidewalk towards the opposite direction of wherever you need to be going. There is no work, there is no school, there is no joy, there is no love. There only is the life you’re running from and the few people who are also up and out in these wee small hours. There is only the sidewalk that fills vision. The dew makes it into your shoes and the grime covers your hands; car exhaust fills your nostril and tears fill your eyes. Stupid tears. It is over. Once again, this time is the last, it is utterly and completely over. Fatigue increases and the stumble slows. You give up on walking, just like you’ve given up everything else. You pick a nice spot on the sidewalk at your side. You sit up against a wall and rest for just a few minutes. You look up for the first time in what seems like your whole life. In one fleeting moment, the crack of thunder in a brain fog, the dawn breaks above. The world is tremendous.

I can’t explain the effect this album has had on me. When I learned there was a movie, I had to see it. Yurika by Shinji Aoyama is a deep expression of a human cry into the night. A dark, cynical movie about trauma and loneliness. It is one of the greatest films ever made. The title track of this album, Eureka, plays a prominent role. The greatest 9 minutes in all of cinema. It hasn’t left my head since and it never will. This album will always be here for me. This is the album.

-Sen

From rockbluesfolkjaz 11/23/2021 19:56 | #276609

Very sad that it can't be found in most purchase places, or anywhere else to get a listen, except on youtube.

From Sandrof1969 02/19/2018 22:26 | #208860

Più delle canzoni, mi piace il suono, che poi è in parte quello che si troverà nei dischi dei Wilco ( realizzati proprio in collaborazione con O'Rourke ) della prima metà del decennio successivo e che contribuirà a farne i capolavori che sono. Musica spesso intima, riflessiva, non propriamente frizzante…

avant-pop at its finest. Jim O'Rourke is truly an underrated musical genius.

From louisjwyatt 12/01/2017 18:22 | #202465

An absolutely stunning album that is far too underrated.

From wooolf 11/18/2017 18:16 | #201589

First listen. Mind blown.
One of the best sounding albums I've heard.

Best Tracks: Prelude To 110 Or 220/Women Of The World, Something Big

From exileonthehell 02/23/2016 03:13 | #160567

An astral travel .... or whatever, with every single beautiful thing in the universe

Prepare to have your mind blown! !