Here's what I think, on the fly. I've been listening to a promo copy.
Firstly, I didnt take to this as quickly as BWTB but this albums a real grower, a good sign and there are some instant 'hits' here meaning songs that many will love straight off. Uninvited has a lot of class. I love some tracks on the Beast cd but this is the one, with more strength musically, more of a structure and finish so to speak. Yuk, sorry about the lame description but I know what i mean. Mind you I think Pearls from BWTB is a gorgeous track that i love to death.
BLOCK's a killer of an opening track. There's no way you'd mistake this for anything but a Church track. I love the way it kicks off with Steve's voice coming through nice and clear and then the guitars start building up and up in the background with the very gentle drumming getting faster and faster but still indiscreet... this is an epic song with just a tiny memory of 'Ripple' to me. My favourite songs ever are ones that bring into the mix a range of soft, heavy highs and lows. I love the line 'even Jesus Christ was betrayed by a kiss, and that was before he even got in showbiz' and then it dies down 'so I got a fever, and Im feelin' fainter'...hear the guitars around here. Better stop before I write a whole page on this song that believe me I didnt even get at first because initially I jumped to the latter easier to take in tracks.
UNIFIED FIELD - joyous euphoria. I love that guitar loop. It makes me think of the most perfect day, a beautiful wedding.. absolute bliss. This is one of those rare church songs that have you grinning inside and outside because its so upbeat and happy. I couldnt imagine anyone but SK singing this one! Great backing vocals from the guys too. Cant wait to see the guitars do this one.
SPACE NEEDLE - Steve kind of speaks his way through this one...this week I've been really digging this song..... the music, guitars the mandolin... are beautiful..( about halfway) on it just sounds fantastic.. abrupt ending but not an issue as it goes straight into....
OVERVIEW - like Duane, this became my favourite song from ULTC - and I still love it a lot. Love the piano on this. Lyrics arent anything special (in church terms) but who cares, the music's wonderful and SK does it well. The guitars could go crazy on this one 'live'...please put it on the setlist guys! (PS they didnt play it even with Laney there!! ... sob )
EASY - to me, this is easily a great song for a single along with UF. Its easy-going, gentle on the ears, you find yourself singing along and tapping your foot to it and it takes me back to the past a bit, a little bit of jangle and that gorgeous mandolin - summer on a stick.
SHE'LL COME BACK FOR YOU TOMORROW - i first heard this live at a church gig and loved it straight off. Very lovely song by Marty and like most of his tunes, so much presence.
PURE CHANCE - one of my favourite tracks. It could have come from AENT. This is so beautiful and dreamy. I could just close my eyes and drift away on this. Nice lyrics SK. Nice backing vocals too. I bet if they ever they play this live its going to have even more magic in it. (ps they proved me right even with the sticky start in soundcheck)
NEVER BEFORE - in the last few albums Peter's songs have been absolute highlights and this is no exception tho' for me it would be hard to beat A New Season and Appalatia. Could be a killer 'live' track too with that frenzied finish! I've heard so many Pink Floyd references to this song, Im not gonna mention it here
REAL TOGGLE ACTION - not totally sure what this one's about (so whats new?) but its a real jazzy little number with some great little sound effects from the guys and I really love the strange chanting towards the end (american indian chanting)
UNTOWARD - whoah, here comes the jangle! This one ebbs and flows, very bright and lots of acoustic guitars.
DAY 5 - Another favourite... hearing this live just lifted it even more so. Gorgeous the way it comes in on the harmonium and SKs voice again, gentle and drifting but then .. I love the way SK delivers 'this kind of world we'll start a little colony, this kind of earth will need a little energy" etc. Its just killing me trying to think what or who this song takes me back to even though its based in the future? Is it a religious theme as someone just suggested? clever!
SONG TO GO... the only track that didnt impress me as much but lucky for me it was on the end. I found it kind of creepy, even for me. I like the maudlin but this make me think of a circus after hours...thats what this makes me think of. Maybe it will grow? Cello is nice. (ps its growing and actually becoming a favourite)
Hmm then, 9 1/2 out of 10... not bad hey!
One thing I've got to say is that Im ecstatic the vocals are so distinct and upfront on this cd, the music ebbs and flows beautifully. Classic. Its not hard to believe they can create something like this in such a short space of time because they are The Church and they do what they do because they're SO good at it... once again they've woven magik!
April 17th for the worldwide release!
Sue C
Firstly, I didnt take to this as quickly as BWTB but this albums a real grower, a good sign and there are some instant 'hits' here meaning songs that many will love straight off. Uninvited has a lot of class. I love some tracks on the Beast cd but this is the one, with more strength musically, more of a structure and finish so to speak. Yuk, sorry about the lame description but I know what i mean. Mind you I think Pearls from BWTB is a gorgeous track that i love to death.
BLOCK's a killer of an opening track. There's no way you'd mistake this for anything but a Church track. I love the way it kicks off with Steve's voice coming through nice and clear and then the guitars start building up and up in the background with the very gentle drumming getting faster and faster but still indiscreet... this is an epic song with just a tiny memory of 'Ripple' to me. My favourite songs ever are ones that bring into the mix a range of soft, heavy highs and lows. I love the line 'even Jesus Christ was betrayed by a kiss, and that was before he even got in showbiz' and then it dies down 'so I got a fever, and Im feelin' fainter'...hear the guitars around here. Better stop before I write a whole page on this song that believe me I didnt even get at first because initially I jumped to the latter easier to take in tracks.
UNIFIED FIELD - joyous euphoria. I love that guitar loop. It makes me think of the most perfect day, a beautiful wedding.. absolute bliss. This is one of those rare church songs that have you grinning inside and outside because its so upbeat and happy. I couldnt imagine anyone but SK singing this one! Great backing vocals from the guys too. Cant wait to see the guitars do this one.
SPACE NEEDLE - Steve kind of speaks his way through this one...this week I've been really digging this song..... the music, guitars the mandolin... are beautiful..( about halfway) on it just sounds fantastic.. abrupt ending but not an issue as it goes straight into....
OVERVIEW - like Duane, this became my favourite song from ULTC - and I still love it a lot. Love the piano on this. Lyrics arent anything special (in church terms) but who cares, the music's wonderful and SK does it well. The guitars could go crazy on this one 'live'...please put it on the setlist guys! (PS they didnt play it even with Laney there!! ... sob )
EASY - to me, this is easily a great song for a single along with UF. Its easy-going, gentle on the ears, you find yourself singing along and tapping your foot to it and it takes me back to the past a bit, a little bit of jangle and that gorgeous mandolin - summer on a stick.
SHE'LL COME BACK FOR YOU TOMORROW - i first heard this live at a church gig and loved it straight off. Very lovely song by Marty and like most of his tunes, so much presence.
PURE CHANCE - one of my favourite tracks. It could have come from AENT. This is so beautiful and dreamy. I could just close my eyes and drift away on this. Nice lyrics SK. Nice backing vocals too. I bet if they ever they play this live its going to have even more magic in it. (ps they proved me right even with the sticky start in soundcheck)
NEVER BEFORE - in the last few albums Peter's songs have been absolute highlights and this is no exception tho' for me it would be hard to beat A New Season and Appalatia. Could be a killer 'live' track too with that frenzied finish! I've heard so many Pink Floyd references to this song, Im not gonna mention it here
REAL TOGGLE ACTION - not totally sure what this one's about (so whats new?) but its a real jazzy little number with some great little sound effects from the guys and I really love the strange chanting towards the end (american indian chanting)
UNTOWARD - whoah, here comes the jangle! This one ebbs and flows, very bright and lots of acoustic guitars.
DAY 5 - Another favourite... hearing this live just lifted it even more so. Gorgeous the way it comes in on the harmonium and SKs voice again, gentle and drifting but then .. I love the way SK delivers 'this kind of world we'll start a little colony, this kind of earth will need a little energy" etc. Its just killing me trying to think what or who this song takes me back to even though its based in the future? Is it a religious theme as someone just suggested? clever!
SONG TO GO... the only track that didnt impress me as much but lucky for me it was on the end. I found it kind of creepy, even for me. I like the maudlin but this make me think of a circus after hours...thats what this makes me think of. Maybe it will grow? Cello is nice. (ps its growing and actually becoming a favourite)
Hmm then, 9 1/2 out of 10... not bad hey!
One thing I've got to say is that Im ecstatic the vocals are so distinct and upfront on this cd, the music ebbs and flows beautifully. Classic. Its not hard to believe they can create something like this in such a short space of time because they are The Church and they do what they do because they're SO good at it... once again they've woven magik!
April 17th for the worldwide release!
Sue C
