Alrighty, I think that an album review section is in order on this page. I didn't want to dedicate a whole forum to it so I thought I'd make it a thread. Anyhoo, I'm going to break it in with a review of the new album "Sam's Town" by the Killers.
If people think they're going to be getting more of the same kind of material that was on the Killers' last album "Hot Fuss" they're mistaken. Their sound, while still very catchy, has progressed beyond the original garage-band feel of their previous album and has come out silky-smooth and wonderful to listen to. I'll give you a rundown of the tracks to give you an idea of it.
1. "Sam's Town" - A good solid song to open the album on. Comes in with a good kick and keeps you listening. Opens with dramatic-sounding synths and guitar and fades into a very dancable beat. The chorus revisits the feeling of the intro, feeling quite grand and dramatic. The song dissolves into something carnival-like, with an oompah-band-like tuba part. Hard to describe exactly what it reminds me of. Either way, it's really, really good.
2. "Enterlude" - A simple piano piece which accentuates singer Brandon Flowers' lyrics.
3. "When You Were Young" - This is the lead single from the album and rightly so. First thing that caught my attention about this song is that it has a very Springsteen-ish feel to it. Everything from the music, the lyrics and the vocals make me think of a good Springsteen tune. Even Brandon Flowers' voice has a springsteen-like tremolo. The music in this piece is big and loud without being too noisy. It's really, really balanced. It's no wonder why this song made me want to hear the rest of the album.
4. "Bling (Confessions of a King)" - A song that starts quietly and sort of off-key which explodes into a really neat song that makes me think of old westerns for whatever reason. The acoustic guitar in the background thrums all throughout the verse and then things change a bit, getting a fairly 80's-ish feel to it in the chorus. Before you know it though, it streams smoothly back into the tune of the verse. The vocals are really strong throughout and the lyrics are pretty great.
5. "For Reasons Unknown" - A song with a real Britrock flair to it right in the beginning. Reminds me a little of the bands Pulp and Stereophonics. The song is upbeat and fun to listen to. Probably would make a good driving song. It's a great little song and is really nice and catchy though I don't find it stands out tall on the album like "When You Were Young" and "Bling" do.
6. "Read My Mind" I have a hard time trying to think of what this reminds me of. It's an interesting song with a fairly bland tune for the verses but a chorus that is interesting enough to hold the song together. It's not one of the stand-out songs on this album.
7. "Uncle Johnny" - A really interesting guitar riff opens the song which is then accompanied by what sounds like a funk-inspired bass. The song reminds me of some of Neil Young's less whiny material for the most part before erupting into the Killers' distinct flair in the chorus before fading back into that same great riff that had been playing up until that point. The song is never boring and is definitely one of the more interesting tracks on the album. An excellent rock song.
8. "Bones" - The song starts with a chorus singing "Come with me" and then erupts into a VERY 80's style keyboard part. The verse is sung over frequently-muted guitar and synth. The chorus is accompanied by horns that a reminiscent of some 70's-ish music. Like something that would accompany Tom Jones or something. A very intriguing track.
9. "My List" - Starts off kinda creepy with the sound of a clock ticking, heavy drums and strange synths playing. The vocals come in quietly and stay that way, the initial sounds remaining and then being accompanied by a piano. After the first chorus, the song picks up into something more powerful. The music is powerful and very vaguely reminds me of a mix between Pink Floyd and the Beatles, with the latter seeming to be the bigger influence.
10. "This River is Wild" - The song starts strongly and stays that way for the most part. The verse's lyrics flow well and the chorus picks up strength the same way it does on most of the tracks on this album. The synths play a good part in this song, adding a violin-like part to make the song seem more grand than it otherwise would have in some places. Not my favourite song on the album, but not terrible by any means.
11. "Why Do I Keep Counting" - Comes in quiet and seems as though it might be a ballad and I suppose it's about as close as the album comes. I keep trying to figure out what every song sounds like but it's hard. This song seems to have an 80's influence but it's hard to place. The Killers really do know how to amalgamate sounds and styles to make something really fantastic.
12. "Exitlude." - A reprise of the "Enterlude". Is a nice, generally upbeat song, with the lyrics being sung by a group of guys rather than just Flowers'. Very nice.
13. "Where the White Boys Dance" (Bonus Track) - This song has such a HUGE 80's sound. Reminds me of the Clash and the Cure a bit. The vocals in the verses remind me a little of Queen.
14. "All The Pretty Face" (Bonus Track) - A dark sounding song which opens with guitars that are a lot heavier than the typical sound for the band. Again, a strong 80's beat that is vaguely reminiscent of "Tainted Love" seems to work its way in to the track. The lyrics seem kind-of dark. For some reason, I end up thinking of the Cure and the Clash again but I also feel that I'm WAY off on that.
All in all, the best way to describe this album is "Interesting". I really, really enjoyed it. Even the songs that don't stand out particularly still sound great. I was worried at first because I heard it was getting mixed reviews and then when I heard it, I could tell why. This doesn't sound much like the Killers' previous work at ALL. They really turned a major corner here. The guitar is U2-ish at times and there is a very solid 80's pop/rock influence which is obvious all over the album. The songs that stand out most for me are "Sam's Town", "When You Were Young", "Bling (Confessions of a King)", "Uncle Johnny" and "All the Pretty Face". I seriously recommend getting this album in whatever way you'd like to. (Of course, I'm supposed to recommend buying it - which I will be doing). It was worth every second of the download and will be worth every penny of the purchase.
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The Album Reviews Thread
5 posts • Page 1 of 1
The Album Reviews Thread
by Ironklaw » 29 Sep 2006, 02:57
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Ironklaw - Admiral Fluffymittens
- Posts: 1087
- Joined: 15 Apr 2006, 21:07
- Location: Ottawa, Canada
VNV Nation - Judgement
by Ironklaw » 03 Apr 2007, 22:10
Alrighty, thought I'd put another review up, this time of the newest album from my favourite band, VNV Nation.
VNV Nation are an industrial/futurepop group, composed of two members, Ronan Harris (vocals, lyrics, programming) and Andrew Jackson (percussion). They've been recording since the early 90's and slowly shaped and redefined the genres they dabbled in. In 2002 they released "Futureperfect", which basically defined what "Futurepop" was. (It is still considered the best futurepop album ever recorded. Their current release however, might just give that one a run for its money.
VNV are definitely on the upswing from their previous album "Matter + Form" which, while pretty good, didn't make the kind of waves and garner the same kind of following that many of their previous albums had. The current album, "Judgement", is an excellent piece of techno. The often deep and poetic lyrics that VNV Nation are famous for are coupled with some of the best beats and synths they've likely ever done. The sound is crisp and clean, everything mixed almost flawlessly.
The songs:
1. Prelude: "Prelude" is a dramatic introduction to the album, filled with deep, epic percussion and bass joined with orchestrally-inspired synths to set the mood for the album. Most VNV Albums feature an intro track of some kind, though out of those various tracks, this one seems to stand out exceptionally over previous albums'.
2. The Farthest Star: This one decides not to let you down and keeps the energy going. It starts with a simple rhythm and builds slowly on it as the lyrics come in. While not the most pulse-pounding track on the album, it's lyrically/vocally sound and the instrumentation sounds great. The lyrics are inspirational and hopeful, seemingly trying to keep people positive in the face of adversity.
3. Testament: "Testament" begins to draw on VNV's darker side and creates a song somewhat similar to "Chrome" off their previous album. The sounds are darker and accompanied by what sounds like an electric guitar programmed in with the distorted and flanged synths. This song has a good, dance-able beat. Lyrically, the song is a standard criticism of the human race, like many contemporary songs are and, indeed, many VNV songs are.
4. Descent: This song is terrifying. The music is menacing and the percussion hits like a bomb with loud bangs and sounds that sound like clanging metal. This is a spoken song (another style of song common on VNV albums). The lyrics speak of absolute devastation and hellish terror. As the song progresses, the percussion becomes more and more intense and prevalent, worming its way to the forefront.
5. Momentum: Though the song starts out quiet for a few seconds, the percussion kicks in fairly quickly and it comes in hard and loud. This song follows "Descent" exceptionally well, being an aggressive, dark song which has more in common with harder industrial techno than it does with VNV's trademarked Futurepop sound. The song would make a good club track with it's persistent beat and warm, massaged synths. The song slowly builds momentum until the lyrics come in (hence the title, I suppose). After the first couple of verses, the song really picks up and the fact that this song was almost custom built for clubs becomes painfully obvious. You can almost see the lasers...
6. Nemesis: Pretty much every VNV Nation album (and indeed, most albums period) have a song that could be considered an "anthem" of sorts. A song that gets the pulses going a little harder and gets people singing along and pumping their fists in the air. "Nemesis" does that. It's as close to being the title track as this album gets. The guitar-like synth is present in this track as well and it adds wonderfully to the overall sound of the song. The lyrics are great and really get the blood flowing, especially the chorus with lyrics "I want justice for the voice that can't be heard/ Vindication for all the suffering and hurt/ Let retribution hold dominion over Earth/ Because Judgement Day's not coming soon enough."
7. Secluded Spaces: VNV are good at writing albums so that at least one track on them can be considered very, very pretty. (Such as "Endless Skies" of their last album and "Holding On" off "Futureperfect") This would be that song. The instrumentation is soft, positive and non-threatening and the vocals are soft and gentle. Unfortunately, I find that the instrumentation overshadows and drowns out the lyrics fairly frequently but the overall effect of the song is to calm you down and get give your ears something pretty to absorb for a little while.
8. Illusion This keeps going with the slower pace, helping the album slowly wind down. This song is a bit emo, lyrically but it's more-or-less imploring someone to stay by him. I think it's less the need for someone to be near the narrator, and more like someone being changed slowly, and becoming less and less like who they used to be. The lyrics are simple and unadorned, not assisted by computer. They ring crisp over the piano-esque lead synths. A very sweet and beautiful song.
9. Carry You: This song picks up the pace again, not dark, but not cheerful. The synths are deep and echoing over a persistent beat and backing synths that sound like they belong in a trance song. The chorus is a bit brighter than the rest of the track, the feeling that the song conveys overall remains, feeling like another good club track.
10. AS It Fades: A very appropriately named final track on the album. The song resurrects the epic feel of the opening track in all its orchestral-sounding splendour. The feel of it is fantastic and it rounds off the album nicely, giving it its final and much-needed instrumental track. It shares several musical themes with "Prelude", feeling like it was revisiting the beginning of the album, but setting it in a way that puts a conclusion to a fantastic album.
VNV Nation are an industrial/futurepop group, composed of two members, Ronan Harris (vocals, lyrics, programming) and Andrew Jackson (percussion). They've been recording since the early 90's and slowly shaped and redefined the genres they dabbled in. In 2002 they released "Futureperfect", which basically defined what "Futurepop" was. (It is still considered the best futurepop album ever recorded. Their current release however, might just give that one a run for its money.
VNV are definitely on the upswing from their previous album "Matter + Form" which, while pretty good, didn't make the kind of waves and garner the same kind of following that many of their previous albums had. The current album, "Judgement", is an excellent piece of techno. The often deep and poetic lyrics that VNV Nation are famous for are coupled with some of the best beats and synths they've likely ever done. The sound is crisp and clean, everything mixed almost flawlessly.
The songs:
1. Prelude: "Prelude" is a dramatic introduction to the album, filled with deep, epic percussion and bass joined with orchestrally-inspired synths to set the mood for the album. Most VNV Albums feature an intro track of some kind, though out of those various tracks, this one seems to stand out exceptionally over previous albums'.
2. The Farthest Star: This one decides not to let you down and keeps the energy going. It starts with a simple rhythm and builds slowly on it as the lyrics come in. While not the most pulse-pounding track on the album, it's lyrically/vocally sound and the instrumentation sounds great. The lyrics are inspirational and hopeful, seemingly trying to keep people positive in the face of adversity.
3. Testament: "Testament" begins to draw on VNV's darker side and creates a song somewhat similar to "Chrome" off their previous album. The sounds are darker and accompanied by what sounds like an electric guitar programmed in with the distorted and flanged synths. This song has a good, dance-able beat. Lyrically, the song is a standard criticism of the human race, like many contemporary songs are and, indeed, many VNV songs are.
4. Descent: This song is terrifying. The music is menacing and the percussion hits like a bomb with loud bangs and sounds that sound like clanging metal. This is a spoken song (another style of song common on VNV albums). The lyrics speak of absolute devastation and hellish terror. As the song progresses, the percussion becomes more and more intense and prevalent, worming its way to the forefront.
5. Momentum: Though the song starts out quiet for a few seconds, the percussion kicks in fairly quickly and it comes in hard and loud. This song follows "Descent" exceptionally well, being an aggressive, dark song which has more in common with harder industrial techno than it does with VNV's trademarked Futurepop sound. The song would make a good club track with it's persistent beat and warm, massaged synths. The song slowly builds momentum until the lyrics come in (hence the title, I suppose). After the first couple of verses, the song really picks up and the fact that this song was almost custom built for clubs becomes painfully obvious. You can almost see the lasers...
6. Nemesis: Pretty much every VNV Nation album (and indeed, most albums period) have a song that could be considered an "anthem" of sorts. A song that gets the pulses going a little harder and gets people singing along and pumping their fists in the air. "Nemesis" does that. It's as close to being the title track as this album gets. The guitar-like synth is present in this track as well and it adds wonderfully to the overall sound of the song. The lyrics are great and really get the blood flowing, especially the chorus with lyrics "I want justice for the voice that can't be heard/ Vindication for all the suffering and hurt/ Let retribution hold dominion over Earth/ Because Judgement Day's not coming soon enough."
7. Secluded Spaces: VNV are good at writing albums so that at least one track on them can be considered very, very pretty. (Such as "Endless Skies" of their last album and "Holding On" off "Futureperfect") This would be that song. The instrumentation is soft, positive and non-threatening and the vocals are soft and gentle. Unfortunately, I find that the instrumentation overshadows and drowns out the lyrics fairly frequently but the overall effect of the song is to calm you down and get give your ears something pretty to absorb for a little while.
8. Illusion This keeps going with the slower pace, helping the album slowly wind down. This song is a bit emo, lyrically but it's more-or-less imploring someone to stay by him. I think it's less the need for someone to be near the narrator, and more like someone being changed slowly, and becoming less and less like who they used to be. The lyrics are simple and unadorned, not assisted by computer. They ring crisp over the piano-esque lead synths. A very sweet and beautiful song.
9. Carry You: This song picks up the pace again, not dark, but not cheerful. The synths are deep and echoing over a persistent beat and backing synths that sound like they belong in a trance song. The chorus is a bit brighter than the rest of the track, the feeling that the song conveys overall remains, feeling like another good club track.
10. AS It Fades: A very appropriately named final track on the album. The song resurrects the epic feel of the opening track in all its orchestral-sounding splendour. The feel of it is fantastic and it rounds off the album nicely, giving it its final and much-needed instrumental track. It shares several musical themes with "Prelude", feeling like it was revisiting the beginning of the album, but setting it in a way that puts a conclusion to a fantastic album.
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Ironklaw - Admiral Fluffymittens
- Posts: 1087
- Joined: 15 Apr 2006, 21:07
- Location: Ottawa, Canada
Colony 5 - Lifeline
by Ironklaw » 30 Jul 2008, 19:40
Yet another review of an album by a group most of you have likely not heard of.
Firstly, a little background on the artist. Colony 5 are a darker variant of the Future Synthpop (or Futurepop) genre. They hail from Sweden and, as I've discovered, are rather entertaining. Their music is highly dance-able and peppered with surprising harmonies which actually add to the song as opposed to other groups who try and fail at the same kind of strategy.
I'm going to review their first full-length album, 2001's "Lifeline". It's their first serious effort and, from what I've heard since, it's also one of their best. While their handle on the English language sometimes makes for some simplistic and blunt lyrics (especially in the tracks "The Bottle" and "Crackhead", their music and vocals tend to make up for it. And now the rundown.
1. Colony 5: While typically, naming a song after your group is kind of lame, this track makes up for it by being one of the stronger tracks on the album. It opens with various members of a crew (likely for a spacecraft) checking systems and prepping for liftoff. The song is about a group of people fleeing Earth before it's completely destroyed and heading off to a space colony called "Colony 5". Simple enough, hm? Musically, the song is highly dance-able and a delight to listen to. The lyrics echo through the song and the lyrics are well written, taking the typical "Final Countdown" kind of material and taking much of the cheesiness out of it. A really solid start to the album.
2. Trust You: "Trust You" brings the tempo down just a wee bit with a song about personal trust, apparently between people in a relationship of some kind. Beeps and quick synths keep the tune rolling while the beat keeps the tempo dance-worthy. Their usual great harmony fills the chorus and is very nice to hear, giving a boost to an already good song. The English in this one is a bit broken, but it's forgivable due to how solid the song ends up being.
3. Suicidal What's any album in a genre usually enjoyed by goths if it doesn't have a song with the word "suicide" in the title somewhere? Pounding beat and somewhat reasonable synths carry the track while the usual dark, brooding lyrics typical of this type of song stumble along through it. Speaking of the lyrics, they're not terribly engaging and don't seem to flow in places, detracting from the song. One of the weakest songs on the album.
4. The Bottle A surprisingly heartfelt if blunt ballad about alcoholism. The narrator is obviously singing to a lover of some description. The beat is slow but pleasantly hard. The lyrics are fairly blunt, not hiding the meaning of the song behind any metaphors which the song could use here and there. Some lines like "The only thing I care to do/ Is to fill my body with booze" are a bit goofy. The English is again fairly broken, especially lines like "Maybe a little too much of parties" and "All those I stumbled in and throwing up in our bed". All the same, the harmony is back for the chorus which adds an element of beauty to a song about a sometimes difficult subject. Especially when it's sung in an apologetic way and seems to be asking the listener to help him. One of my favourites on the album.
5. Liquid Love I suppose this song could seem dirty, and, in some ways it is. It seems to be about being wasted in a club and picking up a random woman. He then seems to regret it the next morning, lol. The chorus goes "Do you mind if I put my arms around you/ would you be pleased if I took you home with me/ do you mind if I gave you a kiss and touch you/ then we make love, until the sun will rise". Cheesy, but the song is excellent and the vocalist's voice is clear and pleasant to listen to. The pace is pretty good, especially in the chorus when the tempo picks up and the synths kick in a bit stronger. What sounds like a choir quietly sings in the background during the more up-tempo portions of the track. A great song and a terrific club song.
6. Be My Slave The song is definitely dark but it has a great, fast tempo and a terrific beat. Well timed drum hits add to the overall atmosphere. The lyrics don't always rhyme and aren't all that great but the overall feeling of the song is pretty good, especially for a song about wanting someone to become your servant and help him "Rule the world". Overall, it holds up well with the rest of the album and musically, it kicks more than a little ass.
7. Crackhead Oh lord . . . "Crackhead". This song is kinda silly. It's also one of the first songs I heard by Colony 5. It's not brilliant by any regards. The tune's a bit too gothy for me and the lyrics are blunt and not terrific. Lines like "So you thought you really were so cool/ Everybody smoked, so why shouldn't you?" And the use of the word "Crackhead" throughout makes it feel kind of silly. My least favourite song on the album, I think.
8. Stay Young This song is a whole lot of fun. It's like the anthem for the 'me' generation. It's an up-beat, fun song about not wanting to settle into the societal norms of marriage and parenthood. The first verse goes something like "Until death do us apart/ and you sell your life/ for a wife, kids and house/ is this the meaning of life?/ To make a family and raise a child/ No, not for me/ I want to be free/ As free as I can be". It's a fun song with great lyrics and awesome background music to go along with it, emphasizing the percussion as much of their music does. The chorus is great. "I want to stay young/ At least in my mind/ I want to feel free/ To do whatever I want to do/ I want to party all night long/ Making love/ To all the girls/ That's what I want." I love this song. A lot.
9. Freedom Buzzing synths and reasonable percussion lead off this slower song, which sounds like some manner of a breakup song. The thing that bothers me about this track is that it doesn't seem to stand out among the other tracks on the album. The pacing and tempo are fairly uniform through the song and I found that his vocals, which seem to save some of their lesser songs, don't really shine in this track. It's not bad, but it's not all that impressive, either.
10. Before I'll Give In The song gets off on a good foot with a good tempo and decent music which drops off for some sub-par lyrics to get rolling. Eventually the music comes back and the song gets going. Lyrically, it's another fairly gothy song, which is disappointing. Lots of lyrics about death and the like, which I think this band is capable of doing much better than. It's a so-so track.
11. Heal Me Some 80's-ish sounding synths open the track and give way to some decent beats and backing synths when the song gets rolling. It's another slow song, which could be much worse. The lyrics aren't bad at all, and seem to be another breakup-type song. The vocals shine in this song as well and carry it for the most part, seemingly pushed to the front and providing the main melody. Mid-song, this nice echoing synth sequence plays, providing an enjoyable break in the main song before the percussion and vocals kick back in. It all ends with a nice, simple piano tune.
12. Friends A song about a friendship turned a full 360 and turned to bitter enmity. Again, the lyrics are a bit blunt, but the song makes up for it with a good tune and a nice, quick tempo which promotes dancing. You can almost see the smoky dance floor and the lasers playing through the clouds of dry ice. A great song, overall and very enjoyable to listen to.
And that's that, furries! Next up will be a few albums by mind.in.a.box, a mind-blowing group with a very intriguing approach to songwriting.
Firstly, a little background on the artist. Colony 5 are a darker variant of the Future Synthpop (or Futurepop) genre. They hail from Sweden and, as I've discovered, are rather entertaining. Their music is highly dance-able and peppered with surprising harmonies which actually add to the song as opposed to other groups who try and fail at the same kind of strategy.
I'm going to review their first full-length album, 2001's "Lifeline". It's their first serious effort and, from what I've heard since, it's also one of their best. While their handle on the English language sometimes makes for some simplistic and blunt lyrics (especially in the tracks "The Bottle" and "Crackhead", their music and vocals tend to make up for it. And now the rundown.
1. Colony 5: While typically, naming a song after your group is kind of lame, this track makes up for it by being one of the stronger tracks on the album. It opens with various members of a crew (likely for a spacecraft) checking systems and prepping for liftoff. The song is about a group of people fleeing Earth before it's completely destroyed and heading off to a space colony called "Colony 5". Simple enough, hm? Musically, the song is highly dance-able and a delight to listen to. The lyrics echo through the song and the lyrics are well written, taking the typical "Final Countdown" kind of material and taking much of the cheesiness out of it. A really solid start to the album.
2. Trust You: "Trust You" brings the tempo down just a wee bit with a song about personal trust, apparently between people in a relationship of some kind. Beeps and quick synths keep the tune rolling while the beat keeps the tempo dance-worthy. Their usual great harmony fills the chorus and is very nice to hear, giving a boost to an already good song. The English in this one is a bit broken, but it's forgivable due to how solid the song ends up being.
3. Suicidal What's any album in a genre usually enjoyed by goths if it doesn't have a song with the word "suicide" in the title somewhere? Pounding beat and somewhat reasonable synths carry the track while the usual dark, brooding lyrics typical of this type of song stumble along through it. Speaking of the lyrics, they're not terribly engaging and don't seem to flow in places, detracting from the song. One of the weakest songs on the album.
4. The Bottle A surprisingly heartfelt if blunt ballad about alcoholism. The narrator is obviously singing to a lover of some description. The beat is slow but pleasantly hard. The lyrics are fairly blunt, not hiding the meaning of the song behind any metaphors which the song could use here and there. Some lines like "The only thing I care to do/ Is to fill my body with booze" are a bit goofy. The English is again fairly broken, especially lines like "Maybe a little too much of parties" and "All those I stumbled in and throwing up in our bed". All the same, the harmony is back for the chorus which adds an element of beauty to a song about a sometimes difficult subject. Especially when it's sung in an apologetic way and seems to be asking the listener to help him. One of my favourites on the album.
5. Liquid Love I suppose this song could seem dirty, and, in some ways it is. It seems to be about being wasted in a club and picking up a random woman. He then seems to regret it the next morning, lol. The chorus goes "Do you mind if I put my arms around you/ would you be pleased if I took you home with me/ do you mind if I gave you a kiss and touch you/ then we make love, until the sun will rise". Cheesy, but the song is excellent and the vocalist's voice is clear and pleasant to listen to. The pace is pretty good, especially in the chorus when the tempo picks up and the synths kick in a bit stronger. What sounds like a choir quietly sings in the background during the more up-tempo portions of the track. A great song and a terrific club song.
6. Be My Slave The song is definitely dark but it has a great, fast tempo and a terrific beat. Well timed drum hits add to the overall atmosphere. The lyrics don't always rhyme and aren't all that great but the overall feeling of the song is pretty good, especially for a song about wanting someone to become your servant and help him "Rule the world". Overall, it holds up well with the rest of the album and musically, it kicks more than a little ass.
7. Crackhead Oh lord . . . "Crackhead". This song is kinda silly. It's also one of the first songs I heard by Colony 5. It's not brilliant by any regards. The tune's a bit too gothy for me and the lyrics are blunt and not terrific. Lines like "So you thought you really were so cool/ Everybody smoked, so why shouldn't you?" And the use of the word "Crackhead" throughout makes it feel kind of silly. My least favourite song on the album, I think.
8. Stay Young This song is a whole lot of fun. It's like the anthem for the 'me' generation. It's an up-beat, fun song about not wanting to settle into the societal norms of marriage and parenthood. The first verse goes something like "Until death do us apart/ and you sell your life/ for a wife, kids and house/ is this the meaning of life?/ To make a family and raise a child/ No, not for me/ I want to be free/ As free as I can be". It's a fun song with great lyrics and awesome background music to go along with it, emphasizing the percussion as much of their music does. The chorus is great. "I want to stay young/ At least in my mind/ I want to feel free/ To do whatever I want to do/ I want to party all night long/ Making love/ To all the girls/ That's what I want." I love this song. A lot.
9. Freedom Buzzing synths and reasonable percussion lead off this slower song, which sounds like some manner of a breakup song. The thing that bothers me about this track is that it doesn't seem to stand out among the other tracks on the album. The pacing and tempo are fairly uniform through the song and I found that his vocals, which seem to save some of their lesser songs, don't really shine in this track. It's not bad, but it's not all that impressive, either.
10. Before I'll Give In The song gets off on a good foot with a good tempo and decent music which drops off for some sub-par lyrics to get rolling. Eventually the music comes back and the song gets going. Lyrically, it's another fairly gothy song, which is disappointing. Lots of lyrics about death and the like, which I think this band is capable of doing much better than. It's a so-so track.
11. Heal Me Some 80's-ish sounding synths open the track and give way to some decent beats and backing synths when the song gets rolling. It's another slow song, which could be much worse. The lyrics aren't bad at all, and seem to be another breakup-type song. The vocals shine in this song as well and carry it for the most part, seemingly pushed to the front and providing the main melody. Mid-song, this nice echoing synth sequence plays, providing an enjoyable break in the main song before the percussion and vocals kick back in. It all ends with a nice, simple piano tune.
12. Friends A song about a friendship turned a full 360 and turned to bitter enmity. Again, the lyrics are a bit blunt, but the song makes up for it with a good tune and a nice, quick tempo which promotes dancing. You can almost see the smoky dance floor and the lasers playing through the clouds of dry ice. A great song, overall and very enjoyable to listen to.
And that's that, furries! Next up will be a few albums by mind.in.a.box, a mind-blowing group with a very intriguing approach to songwriting.
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Ironklaw - Admiral Fluffymittens
- Posts: 1087
- Joined: 15 Apr 2006, 21:07
- Location: Ottawa, Canada
by Ironklaw » 24 Jun 2009, 23:48
Album: Of Faith, Power and Glory
Artist: VNV Nation
Label: Anachron America
Genre: Future Synthpop
Release: June 23rd, 2009
Alright, I know I just write shit here for my own entertainment, but I like to think I may be broadening some horizons while I'm at it. Anyway, today I'm reviewing an album by a band I've reviewed in this thread before, whose latest album I've waited for with baited breath since its announcement back in December. The artist is VNV Nation (again) and the album is "Of Faith, Power and Glory", released this week.
VNV Nation have taken Futurepop from a genre to a philosophy about how music should be made. They are constantly on top of their game and none of their peers sound anything like them, which is why they've remained tied for the position of my favourite band ever (with Mind.In.A.Box sharing that title). They are still comprised of the Irish/English duo of Ronan Harris (vocals/synths/programming) and Mark Jackson (percussion). This album shows off both of their skills in spades. While it still doesn't reach the level of excellence that their 2002 album "Futureperfect" did (it is the album used to define their genre), this is likely their best work before or after.
The album draws on the bands early influences of war, religion, technology and how the three intermingle, this time focusing mostly on the themes of war and faith (though it's not at all a religious album). The songs are solid almost the whole way through and the sound of the album is diverse and creative. I'll walk you through the album song-by-song.
1. Pro Victoria: The title is Latin for "For Victory" and it sets the mood of the album by presenting one of the most bombastic intro songs VNV has ever produced. It's filled with powerful, militaristic drums; blaring horns and a real sense of occasion. Every VNV Nation album has an introductory track to set the mood for the album and this one sets a strong mood right away.
2. Sentinel: "Sentinel" gets things started right away with something that could easily be danced to. Pounding, simple synth drums and interesting, twangy synths get things started. Vocalist Ronan Harris' poetic and introspective lyrics come in strong with some excellent imagery and commentary on the chaotic nature of the human race and convey a sense of disappointment with the way things are going. As the chorus asks: "When will the banners and the victory parades/ Celebrate the day a better world is won?"
3. Tomorrow Never Comes: This song starts off strong and introduces throbbing, string-like synths and a piano line that continue throughout the song. The lyrics follow the theme of the last song, only with less of a militaristic approach. The song is paced well for dancing and could easily fill a floor. The song speaks of what would happen when we realize that there is no-one who will save our species in the end and states in the chorus: "There'll be no laughter there'll be no tears/ When tomorrow never comes".
4. The Great Divide: VNV aren't all about predicting the demise of humanity and they tend to produce a dearth of positive, upbeat singles. This is a song about moving on with your life. The Great Divide itself is a metaphor for the threshold of change. The song has a recurring synth line that sounds somewhat akin to a guitar (an effect they used several times on their last album), and it's used to great effect here. The song isn't really a dancefloor album but it's an incredibly bright and positive song. A lot of fun to listen to.
5. Ghost: A VNV Nation album wouldn't be complete without a couple of slow songs. There's usually one slower one and one that could definitely be called a ballad. This is the former. The song builds slowly and takes awhile to get going, using varied percussion and string synths to set the mood for the lyrics that actually start almost 2 minutes into the songs. It seems very introspective and, after listening to it a good many times, I can't really figure it out. I'm guessing it's very personal. I like the song for what it is but it falls flat since it never really picks up, but rather plods on for 5 minutes.
6. Art of Conflict: This one is also typical of a VNV album. It's a mainly instrumental track, designed to fill dance floors with a deep, thumping beat and liberal use of heavy bass. Alarm-like sounds sound over it and, as the song progresses, more and more sounds and parts are added to it. In the background, Ronan philosophizes about warfare, drawing heavily from Sun Tzu's "Art of War". Lines like "There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare" and "The general who advances without seeking fame and who retreats without fear of disgrace, who's only thought is to protect his country and to the service of his sovereign is the jewel of his kingdom". A song that just begs for lasers. Lots and lots of lasers.
7. Defiant: Supposedly singing about a soldier (or an officer) with a reputation for never backing down, "Defiant" sings of being defiant to the last man and never surrendering. It's a very upbeat song, and a whole lot of fun to listen to. It sounds almost like an ode to some great hero. One of my favourites on the album.
8. Verum Æternus This is a slower song and by far the poppiest song on the album. The vocals echo constantly, and the synths pop nicely. What really stands out on this one is the drum work. It's obvious that they weren't programmed but rather played live by Mark Jackson. The drum work is chock full of fills and improvisation - something that is sorely lacking in most electronic music.
9. From My Hands: The album's ballad. The song speaks of a sad separation; of a break-up or a departure. The song is almost entirely an echo-y piano piece with some light strings in the background. While it's a pretty song, it's fairly long and kind of boring, when compared with the rest of the album. On an album so full of energy, the song seems to drowse dreamily in the end. It's a beautiful ballad, but it feels out of place.
10. Where There Is Light: A song about seeking the good from the bad. VNV likes to close their albums with songs like this. Sometimes they go with something light and instrumental (like on their last album) or they go with a bright, powerful and anthemic song like this one (or "Perpetual" from their "Matter + Form" album). They enjoy songs about light and the various metaphors it can represent. This one speaks of light as a sort of redemption and euphoria in otherwise dark times.
Ultimately, this is a very powerful album. The slower songs hold up well if not taken as part of the album as a whole. Otherwise, the album has all the elements usually present on a great synthpop album and this should end up up there with some of the great albums of the genre. Not everyone's cup of tea for sure, but if you're a fan of electronic music (or are a rock fan looking for a good band to help bridge the gap between rock and electronic), I would highly recommend this album to you. Find yourself a copy online or buy it and support the band (the label is their own). You can find them on iTunes, Amazon.com as well as stormingthebase.com
Until next time!
Artist: VNV Nation
Label: Anachron America
Genre: Future Synthpop
Release: June 23rd, 2009
Alright, I know I just write shit here for my own entertainment, but I like to think I may be broadening some horizons while I'm at it. Anyway, today I'm reviewing an album by a band I've reviewed in this thread before, whose latest album I've waited for with baited breath since its announcement back in December. The artist is VNV Nation (again) and the album is "Of Faith, Power and Glory", released this week.
VNV Nation have taken Futurepop from a genre to a philosophy about how music should be made. They are constantly on top of their game and none of their peers sound anything like them, which is why they've remained tied for the position of my favourite band ever (with Mind.In.A.Box sharing that title). They are still comprised of the Irish/English duo of Ronan Harris (vocals/synths/programming) and Mark Jackson (percussion). This album shows off both of their skills in spades. While it still doesn't reach the level of excellence that their 2002 album "Futureperfect" did (it is the album used to define their genre), this is likely their best work before or after.
The album draws on the bands early influences of war, religion, technology and how the three intermingle, this time focusing mostly on the themes of war and faith (though it's not at all a religious album). The songs are solid almost the whole way through and the sound of the album is diverse and creative. I'll walk you through the album song-by-song.
1. Pro Victoria: The title is Latin for "For Victory" and it sets the mood of the album by presenting one of the most bombastic intro songs VNV has ever produced. It's filled with powerful, militaristic drums; blaring horns and a real sense of occasion. Every VNV Nation album has an introductory track to set the mood for the album and this one sets a strong mood right away.
2. Sentinel: "Sentinel" gets things started right away with something that could easily be danced to. Pounding, simple synth drums and interesting, twangy synths get things started. Vocalist Ronan Harris' poetic and introspective lyrics come in strong with some excellent imagery and commentary on the chaotic nature of the human race and convey a sense of disappointment with the way things are going. As the chorus asks: "When will the banners and the victory parades/ Celebrate the day a better world is won?"
3. Tomorrow Never Comes: This song starts off strong and introduces throbbing, string-like synths and a piano line that continue throughout the song. The lyrics follow the theme of the last song, only with less of a militaristic approach. The song is paced well for dancing and could easily fill a floor. The song speaks of what would happen when we realize that there is no-one who will save our species in the end and states in the chorus: "There'll be no laughter there'll be no tears/ When tomorrow never comes".
4. The Great Divide: VNV aren't all about predicting the demise of humanity and they tend to produce a dearth of positive, upbeat singles. This is a song about moving on with your life. The Great Divide itself is a metaphor for the threshold of change. The song has a recurring synth line that sounds somewhat akin to a guitar (an effect they used several times on their last album), and it's used to great effect here. The song isn't really a dancefloor album but it's an incredibly bright and positive song. A lot of fun to listen to.
5. Ghost: A VNV Nation album wouldn't be complete without a couple of slow songs. There's usually one slower one and one that could definitely be called a ballad. This is the former. The song builds slowly and takes awhile to get going, using varied percussion and string synths to set the mood for the lyrics that actually start almost 2 minutes into the songs. It seems very introspective and, after listening to it a good many times, I can't really figure it out. I'm guessing it's very personal. I like the song for what it is but it falls flat since it never really picks up, but rather plods on for 5 minutes.
6. Art of Conflict: This one is also typical of a VNV album. It's a mainly instrumental track, designed to fill dance floors with a deep, thumping beat and liberal use of heavy bass. Alarm-like sounds sound over it and, as the song progresses, more and more sounds and parts are added to it. In the background, Ronan philosophizes about warfare, drawing heavily from Sun Tzu's "Art of War". Lines like "There is no instance of a nation benefiting from prolonged warfare" and "The general who advances without seeking fame and who retreats without fear of disgrace, who's only thought is to protect his country and to the service of his sovereign is the jewel of his kingdom". A song that just begs for lasers. Lots and lots of lasers.
7. Defiant: Supposedly singing about a soldier (or an officer) with a reputation for never backing down, "Defiant" sings of being defiant to the last man and never surrendering. It's a very upbeat song, and a whole lot of fun to listen to. It sounds almost like an ode to some great hero. One of my favourites on the album.
8. Verum Æternus This is a slower song and by far the poppiest song on the album. The vocals echo constantly, and the synths pop nicely. What really stands out on this one is the drum work. It's obvious that they weren't programmed but rather played live by Mark Jackson. The drum work is chock full of fills and improvisation - something that is sorely lacking in most electronic music.
9. From My Hands: The album's ballad. The song speaks of a sad separation; of a break-up or a departure. The song is almost entirely an echo-y piano piece with some light strings in the background. While it's a pretty song, it's fairly long and kind of boring, when compared with the rest of the album. On an album so full of energy, the song seems to drowse dreamily in the end. It's a beautiful ballad, but it feels out of place.
10. Where There Is Light: A song about seeking the good from the bad. VNV likes to close their albums with songs like this. Sometimes they go with something light and instrumental (like on their last album) or they go with a bright, powerful and anthemic song like this one (or "Perpetual" from their "Matter + Form" album). They enjoy songs about light and the various metaphors it can represent. This one speaks of light as a sort of redemption and euphoria in otherwise dark times.
Ultimately, this is a very powerful album. The slower songs hold up well if not taken as part of the album as a whole. Otherwise, the album has all the elements usually present on a great synthpop album and this should end up up there with some of the great albums of the genre. Not everyone's cup of tea for sure, but if you're a fan of electronic music (or are a rock fan looking for a good band to help bridge the gap between rock and electronic), I would highly recommend this album to you. Find yourself a copy online or buy it and support the band (the label is their own). You can find them on iTunes, Amazon.com as well as stormingthebase.com
Until next time!
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Ironklaw - Admiral Fluffymittens
- Posts: 1087
- Joined: 15 Apr 2006, 21:07
- Location: Ottawa, Canada
by Hexpiritus » 05 Jul 2009, 01:38
Dude! You should write for music magazines! Better yet, make your own! Wowza.
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Hexpiritus - Posts: 64
- Joined: 03 Jul 2009, 00:10
- Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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