A great deal of hyperbole flies around regarding re-issues, which in it of themselves can be very tricky propositions, particularly ones that may or may not be integral to have a re-issue. Gore no longer exists as a unit, but the three piece's legacy resonates today in heavy (be it metal, be it some other genre) music and serves as a touchstone for instrumental bands that plumb the depths of heavy music genres. Originally Gore's second album, Mean Man's Dream more than likely served as a footnote on the musical landscape, but given a push by well respected record labels and other musicians, Gore and this album are experiencing a resurgence of sorts.
The sound quality on Mean Man's Dream is surprisingly good considering that the recording originates from 1987; each instrument is succinctly audible and the discreetness, even with the fuzz distortion, is truly an achievement. The drums sound monstrously damaging and cavernous filling, particularly on the title track, "Chainsaw," and "Love." Drummers everywhere might kill for this kind of recording quality. In terms of composition, Gore's Mean Man's Dream is a little light and not very complex at all and their tempos are all in the mid to fast paced range. Gore falls back on several tricks like having stuttering parts where all the musicians stop and start on dimes (see "Love," "Last Steps," and "Mean Man's Dream"), and although that is great sounding the first couple of times, going back to it as much as they do makes the technique lose its effect. At first "Meat Machine" sounds a great deal different than other songs on the album, but as it progresses it sounds more and more like the other tracks.
Mean Man's Dream surely has its moments, but it is difficult to hide my surprise at the amount of hype that the group gets from some. Don't get me wrong. Mean Man's Dream is gorgeous sounding (see the drum sound), but I keep waiting for one of the songs to reach out and grab me with something that involves me emotionally or intellectually. Ultimately, I leave the album with this comment, "If I was a recording engineer, I would listen to this a bunch but other than that this album does not affect me in any way." Still, I am glad that I got to hear the album because it is really something to hear for the sheer sound.
