Argyle Park - Misguided (90's Era)

Argyle Park Misguided 1995

Released in 1995, Arygle Park's Misguided is a dark album comprised of different viewpoints about faith, enveloped with a twinge of attitude, and steep confrontation. I propose that Misguided attempts to answer some of the questions with a very poignant charge that often is lost in the transitioning of the song shapes. It's narrative somewhat contradicts the edict it wants the listener to care about, and that sometimes annoys rather than propels.

I think overall Misguided's strength would have worked if the songs weren't jumbled mish-mash of ideas trying to compete for attention. I think its an interesting album which tries, but falls down because of mix of production/themes its presenting. Just from what I've been able to garner within the details, this record feels like it was conceived with fists rather than harmoniously. I should add I do know about the(then) Christian music scene connection, but I didn't feel this was designed for that aesthetic.

The thing that is crucially important is this album marks a career shift for the players involved. Either they went on to have successful solo careers, or labored about in a ravine of obscurity.  Musicians like Tommy Victor of Prong, Klank Diolosa of Klank, Klayton(Scott Albert) of Circle Of Dust and Celldweller. Whereas members of Drown(Lauren Boquette, Marco Forcone), Mortal(Jyro Xhan), Foetus(Jim Thirlwell), and Stavesacre(Jeff Bellew) were unknown outside of of the underground scene, or the christian market. Mark Salomon whom would continue the Argyle Park brand for AP2 didn't quite work in the same manner that Misguided had. Tonally different, more Euro house style.

I would postulate that the Euro dance music had a decided impact on where the rhythms would go, and the embellished ambiance that wheedles rather than elicit anything profound still in my estimation is a curious affair that had been shunned when it was released.

I think ultimately this album did what it set out to accomplish, be an album that was hard to get, had little promotion, and when it was finally heard it was a very strange reaction it garnered. When I heard this it was very different, but after awhile it lost its allure because its ugliness would show. Its not a pretty record by any stretch, but I genuinely think they wanted to give it an interesting approach that somewhat fell in the streets without much interest or care that it existed. Thanks for reading.

B