Test Of Time 1:::MWP solo records - Art Attack in Two Places At Once / Solo Work & Side Projects Forum

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Test Of Time 1:::MWP solo records - Art Attack

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fandorin	Test Of Time 1:::MWP solo records - Art Attack	Lead	[-]
Posts: 5900 (11/04/2006 03:55) Faith Healer Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Tags : martysolo Remove this ad i'm revisiting a part of my collection i havent seen for a long time. solo albums. havent heard any for years, xept Remindlessness remasters. Funny, today they leave a completely different impression, some for the worse, some for the better. ------------------------------------------------------------ 1) Art Attack. I used to like this a lot. First solo record I heard anyway. I was really disappointed to find so much acoustic guitar stuff in here, but it had left the impression of a nice singer/songwriter LP. Today, "Art Attack" is almost unlistenable to me. First, the album title is horribly ridiculous. "Careful, everyone, Art with a capital A on the way!!" Or is it an attack on art? Maybe my least favourite. Contains too much elements I loathe. Synth recorder flutes. Quite charming imagery on some places ("my umbrella boat" " src="http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/smile.gif"> ), lots of nursery rhymes and awkward poetry and weird metrics. "aa-hi can see-hee the ray-hayn clouds emptying". The mousetrap fishtails. Spoken-word intros: [Laddie] The gondolas, sometimes they sleep. But othertimes they swim. [Lassie] And you? [Laddie] Me? [Me] Arrgh...! "She's king" and "You whisper" share an underwhelming chorus. "Too round to be square". Not the best song title ever. Drowns in synthetic strings and drum machines, and, hell, there's another spoken-word passage. Argh! Speed this up to a rocker, and you'd notice the charming melody.The "experimental tracks" seem ridiculous to me. I don't know if I have listened to "Word" in its entirety, but after 3 minutes i wasnt really interested in the ending anymore. Guess this was written with Bach's Passacaglia or Pachelbel's Canon in mind, but repetition needs invention. "Jupiter Finger"...come on!! Sounds like Chaplin's Great Dictator shouting in Tomanian. And then there's the song about Thatcher. There must be a reason why MWP never did another duet with a double bass. He tries to breathe fire and brimstone on this, but this definitely doesnt work. Any song containing "Can't you see there's people crying." should be left to Michael Jackson at his wussiest. On the pro side - the brilliant Takamine sound, mostly capoed somewhere on the 15th fret, is recorded crisp and clear. "On the tip of my tongue" finally builds a little suspense and surprises with a real chorus. "Listen-Space". I like this a lot, reminds me of the Go-Betweens, who apparently stole it for "Devil's Eye". All in all, five poppy, if similar songs plus a load of weird "ideas" going nowhere. This incongruency must be the "Attack". Just that it's not too exciting to reverse a spoken word poem or repeat random Webster's entries over and over, or... I doubt if I'll listen to this again from start to end BUT I really liked the attached "In Reflection" songs. Edgier, catchier, misty, mysterious, without the forced attempt in graveness. TBC Senseless working overtime Fandorin Music Fandorin Files Last Edited By: chrome3D 12/20/2007 03:01. Edited 1 time.
Hanani	I'll do the same thing	#1	[-]
Space Saviour Posts: 1252 (11/04/2006 08:21) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Without reading too far into your post, i think i'll do the same thing, fandorin, since it's been years as well for me. I gave all my Church Solo CDs to Imawomber when I went to Japan for safekeeping, and while I've listened to a few songs here and there, it's been a while to be sure. I remember really being struck by the clarity of the acoustic guitars when this album came out since the church was always awash in layers and multiple textures. I had picked up the acoustic soon after purchasing this, which I'm sure is a reflection of Marty's artistry on the 12-string. I loved the new voices I was hearing. I also remember thinking that I was too young to understand lyrically what was going on. i felt the voiceovers were romantic, but more schmaltzy than anything else. What I loved then: "Too Round to be Square," the 12 string in "You Whisper" rocked my world , "Frightened Just because of You," and actually, since I bought the CD, I got the "IN REFLECTION" e.p. with it, which I liked immeasurably more, probably b/c it sounded more church-like. I still remember the opening verse lyrics of "Night is Over." Why does this now remind me of Nocky I??? I must be simple in my tastes. There are outdated sounds, particulary the keys/synths on "too round to be square" but I still love this melody. I am still a sucker for the minor chords. I'm a romantic I guess, and my heart tells me that there is room for "pop" music, and Marty has plenty of charmers, this being one. "listen/space" still sounds nice to my ears, and I still appreciate the honesty of marty's words. Good one. Some of the more "experimental" stuff -- "evil queen of England" and "word" just would be passed up nowadays on my iPod. sorry. Overall, the CD was way too long. So listening to this now, "night is over" is the song that still sticks -- Thanks Marty! I think I've written one song in my life --no, two-- that sticks. This one far surpasses my little masterpieces.
fandorin	Re: Test Of Time 1:::MWP solo records - Art Attack	#2	[-]
Posts: 5900 (11/04/2006 14:39) Faith Healer Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	*Quote:* i think i'll do the same thing, fandorin cool, Hanani, that's what i hoped for. *Quote:* I got the "IN REFLECTION" e.p. with it, which I liked immeasurably more so did I, first i didnt understand it was another record attached.... It's fun to listen to music I listened to so long ago.... I hope you post more, loved to read it!! Senseless working overtime Fandorin Music Fandorin Files
another earth	Re: Test Of Time 1:::MWP solo records - Art Attack	#3	[-]
Columbus Posts: 999 (11/07/2006 17:35) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	It's funny this should come up, because I've been listening to Marty's solo CDs "Art Attack" and "Spirit Level" a bit more often lately. I usually listen to them around this time (autumn) when I get into them again, because they bring back warm memories for me, personally, of late 1994, when I was first really into these CDs. (I got "Art Attack", "Rhyme", and "Spirit Level" all for my birthday in August 1994, incidentally). I always liked "Art Attack", despite the synthesized flutes, and considered it an overall pleasant acoustic work from Marty. The only tracks I never really got into are "Fear", "Evil Queen of England", "White Spots on my jupiter Finger", and "Word" kind of got on my nerves (the CD-R version in my car omits these tracks). But the other songs - pure acoustic gold to me. "Well I got a fever, and I'm feeling fainter, I'm a dim receiver, I'm a Cold War painter, If you can just hold still, I will make you all so beautiful"
Sleepycat	Re: Test Of Time 1:::MWP solo records - Art Attack	#4	[-]
Faith Healer Snowfaller Posts: 529 (12/13/2006 05:33) Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Remove this ad Never got into this one as much as Marty's other albums, but I quite often come across relatively casual Church fans who still have it and love it to bits. They tend to be acoustic guitarists too.
melancholy girl	Art attack	#5	[-]
Perfect Child Posts: 311 (12/19/2006 14:28) Glow Worm Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I agree with you Another earth in almost everything with the exception of your opinion about "Word": I love the sound of every word and the way Marty pronounces (that sublime British and such a clear pronunciation... Oh, my God!!). You can notice every single word has been chosen very carefuly: each one is beautifuly connected with the others in sound and sense. PErfect... And you're right when you said: '"Word" kind of got on my nerves'... perhaps that's another reason why I love that song: It develops a permanent tension between calm and nerves!
fandorin	Re: Art attack	#6	[-]
Posts: 5900 (12/19/2006 14:30) Faith Healer Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Art Attack...or: The Definite Way Of How To Record And Play A Takamine... i mean...this record made me buy one Senseless working overtime Fandorin Music Fandorin Files
thechurchcat	unlistenable	#7	[-]
Maven Posts: 58 (06/13/2007 10:00) Maven Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Unlistenable is right to me, unfortunately. The acoustic playing is lovely and the vocals are all right, but man, the lyrics define pretentiousness...I guess it's a matter of taste. I still have it, but everytime I put it on, I end up skipping over every track until it ends. Oh well!
chrome3D	Art Attack	#8	[-]
Posts: 5335 (12/06/2007 23:17) Faith Healer Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Remove this ad Art Attack without nostalgia points after 3 listens. O´STOCKHOLM- I can see that vision when I close my eyes. Stockholm rising to the new morning and seen through the eyes of an outsider. How much warmth I feel for you...been there. Excellent opening, short and sweet. To the playlist. WATER - First spoken lines set the mood for something naive. That´s okay with me, I like it naive and enthusiastic. In the end the song opens up with synthflute and more familiar spacy guitar outro. The first two songs are really good and MWP´s transition from aussie spacerocker into swedish troubadour seems like a logical move forward. Before he was rocking Tantalized and now busking in Södermalm, Stockholm playing his crispy and clear 12-string. The esthetics of these songs feel very familiar for my sometimes sparse scandinavian taste. Swedish chick, his muse, wailing there in the background adds another good dimension. Those men come from all over the world, seduced by the scandinavian stare and elegance of swedish chicks. Can´t blame them. My favourite tune. To the playlist. SHE`S KING - A bit typical pop is a bit of a letdown after tracks 1 and 2. Okay and good for a single. Out of playlist. TOO ROUND TO BE SQUARE - Okay, with dated drummachine that could have been left out. Out of playlist, maybe. YOU WHISPER- Aah, the nursery rhyme. Feels definetely good this one. Guitar sounds heavenly and it twinkles like a christmas song. "Your marzipan skin in a crystal stare". "You glow and glint, I blink you winked". Err, can you be more mush mush? Dude is in love, and that feels good. To the playlist. FEAR- The first real (he)art attack. I appreciate the fact that MWP is wildly experimenting here. Where can you experiment if not on your first soloalbum? Out of playlist though. EVIL QUEEN OF ENGLAND- The second (he)art attack The bass background reminds me of Tom Waits´ songs around the same time. Vocals are quite Waits too. The songs have been done in a long period and there is no one theme and that is why the album has started to fall apart. MWP sounded so enthusiastic in other tracks that he now goes head first in to the wall. His reinvention of himself as a scandinavian troubadour was a triumph but as an english protest singer he fails. Out of playlist. ON THE TIP OF MY TONGUE- Good one in a simple way. More usual MWP over emotional vocals and guitars run in Sparky way. To the playlist of course. LISTEN/SPACE- Much needed break after 3 previous songs. ...to the playlist?...mmm...yes. FRIGHTEND JUST BECAUSE OF YOU- Slide guitars and harp adds country vibe. Nothing spectacular here but enjoyable. To the playlist. WHITE SPOTS...- 3rd (he)art attack. What is he up to? Interesting, sure, but out of playlist. Or maybe if I have to keep one (he)art attack then it would be this one. (Crazy!) So, to the playlist. WORD- 4th (he)art attack. This track starts to be annoying very soon. SKIP. Out of playlist of course. ÅH STOCKHOLM- The album comes a full circle and the first song is here in swedish. Back to all the things that were good in this album. To the playlist. 13 songs and 7 (+ 1) songs to the playlist. Not bad but those (he)art attacks make the album what it is. Singer/songwriter who is not afraid to experiment even though he shouldn´t. I just wish he would have restrained himself more and do the scandinavian troubadour album he had in himself but maybe that was never going to happen. This is MWP and there has to be odd noises and farts. His name is not Mats, Håkan or Björn and that´s the way it is. Then there are the In Reflection tracks. Most of those have dated drummachines, which drops some points for me. The full album is not there but I guess these are the best tracks of it. These are okay tracks but I just liked "O´Stockholm", "Water" and "On the Tip Of My Tongue" more. Many people seem to like these more but for me the best tracks of Art Attack are above these. Maybe some more listens show that these songs have more enduring character. These form some kind of unifying feeling but Art Attack going to so many directions attracts me more as an album. He drums impatient fingers on the chrome and on the leather Last Edited By: chrome3D 12/20/2007 03:22. Edited 2 times.

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