|
Post by cmj on Jun 1, 2009 21:00:02 GMT
Having listenened to Damaris a few more times, I can see why people like it it, lyrically it's good. I think the problem I have with it is that it's a bit over blown musically. Some of the instrumentation sounds almost forced, it come across almost like a dodgy 80's teen movie soundtrack in places. It would imagine it would sound much better if it was stripped down and some of the extraneous stuff taken out. The choir towards the end is a bit needless and actually seems to drown out some of the power of Patricks own voice, the strings are overused, losing some of the impact they have in other songs, and there's an electronic bit that is sort of in the back ground most of the way through it that makes it sound like a Simple Minds song! I'm not really a musical expert, these are just my opinions, and I'm sure there were very good reasons for it being made the way it was, but it just doesn't work as well as the rest of the album does for me. Still, as I've said before, even at his worst Patricks still great. The lyrics for Damaris are very good and it's not a bad song even as it is. You may not be a musical expert but you put across what you wanted to say brilliantly and I agree with you 100%
|
|
|
Post by jlabouch on Jun 1, 2009 22:01:27 GMT
Absolutely love it, easily as good as his previous albums.
|
|
|
Post by scarredbyfallout on Jun 2, 2009 0:29:16 GMT
Why thank you cmj.
|
|
lana
Apparition
Posts: 47
|
Post by lana on Jun 2, 2009 5:01:59 GMT
"The Sun is Often Out" is by far the best track on the album and one of the best things he's ever written.
The worst is obviously "Battle." Should be a b-side.
|
|
|
Post by cmj on Jun 2, 2009 8:30:57 GMT
I reckon he should have released Vulture as a one off single with Battle as the B-side. As much as I like his collabs with Alec they don't particularly fit in with the rest of the album.
|
|
|
Post by shambolic56 on Jun 2, 2009 9:12:25 GMT
I'm loving the album so far, especially Damaris!! The only thing that's bugging me is how much Thickets is like The Tower and yet its not, it irritates me. Also, is today the release date for the album? Cos I ordered mine on amazon.com, after they sent me a pre-order link saying it would be dispatched on the release date, 2nd June, but I received it on Saturday, 30th May?
|
|
|
Post by cmj on Jun 2, 2009 9:20:21 GMT
Well the release date was yesterday, but they normally dispatch things a few days before to ensure that it arrives on time; as a result a lot of albums arrive the day before. (or Saturday if it's released on Monday).
|
|
|
Post by Emelie on Jun 2, 2009 10:08:53 GMT
Just listened to Blackdown for the first time. I love it. Didn't expect it to sound so happy.
|
|
|
Post by adder on Jun 2, 2009 12:37:42 GMT
i've just got to the last song and i'm pretty sure i love it. i was a bit ~iffy at first, i can't really explain why, i think it might be because after seeing lots of the songs played live before actually hearing them on the album, live they have such a big sound and so on the album they have a lot to live up to? anyway, i'm past that now and after the first listen i really think i'm going to adore this record so yay.
|
|
|
Post by naaaat on Jun 2, 2009 14:48:39 GMT
Listened to it a couple of times yesterday, my current favourites at the moment (no particular order) are: Hard Times - I just absolutely love it!! Oblivion - I love the spoken bit on this one. Thickets - Gorgeous, just gorgeous, really Blackdown - this stood out the very first time I listened to the album on his MySpace, I seriously wish I could play piano that well. The Sun Is Often Out - even though it made me cry like mad last night, it's just such a beautiful song, especially the way it builds up at the end! I'll definitely be giving a good few more listens today! Really impressed so far anyway, well done Patrick!!
|
|
|
Post by Zurich80 on Jun 2, 2009 18:02:08 GMT
I have to say that, despite the negative reaction to The Messenger, It has just had me blubbing like a baby, due to an emotional connection with my late father, and the simply gorgeous instrumentation.
It's a divine piece of music. Thank you Patrick.
|
|
|
Post by Rhiflect on Jun 2, 2009 18:12:13 GMT
I'm so excited about listening to the whole thing today. (I've waited til i had a physical album in my hands). From the few tracks i've listened to, I LOVE IT! Obvs. Liking Oblivion, Count of Casualty and The Bachelor so far!
|
|
|
Post by quiksilver28 on Jun 2, 2009 18:29:57 GMT
Kriegspiel- yeah....well, lol. i dont know how to rate this... ...nice? lol. Hard Times- Lovely, although i'm getting a bit bored of it, since i played the single soooooo many times. Love the violins in it! Oblivion- My second favourite track on the album; just love the tempo and the lyrics and the instruments and EVERYTHING!! ;D The Bachelor- I found myself singing this in my head during my english exam today lol it's so catchy. Damaris- Not bad. My favourite part is when he sings '..and i smash my fist..', just cause its so powerful, and it brings back moments when he jumped and landed on his knees live Thickets- Not my most favourite song on the album, for sure; but it's still listenable... Count of Casulty- My favourite song on the album! LOVE the 8-bit style opening; reminds me of certain songs on lycanthropy because of the style. Who Will?- It's not bad, but i like the build up towards the massive bit at the end. Vulture- Almost always liked this song. Though i wasn't sure about it at first. A good contrast from 'Who Will?'. Blackdown- desire, desire, deep down inside of meeee! The lyrics are really honest and pure. love it. The Sun Is Often Out- Didn't like this at first, but i really got into it after my second listen. Quite good. Theseus- On par with Damaris, in my opinion. Battle- Love the change of style, love the lyrics; reminds me of ATR alot! The Messenger- A nice final track. Quite a catchy chorus, and interesting use of beats in my opinion In order of most liked: Count of Casulty Oblivion Hard Times Vulture The Bachelor The Messenger Damaris The Sun Is Often Out Battle Theseus Blackdown Who Will? Thickets Kriegspiel *probably subject to change as i play the album more.
|
|
Rose
Empress
Great, great minds against themselves conspire...
Posts: 166
|
Post by Rose on Jun 2, 2009 21:33:40 GMT
Theseus: I found this one really inspirational... I think the narration at the start of it works well, the voice of hope reminding me a bit of one of those ancient greek oracles; tying well in with the Theseus metaphor. I love the lyrics and the way the music builds up and swells as well. I agree, and the oracles were called Sibyls, I think. It's rekindled my love of Greek myths, which I adore. Theseus is my favourite, at the moment, and Damaris, and I also really like The Bachelor and Oblivion. Who Will is lovely, and I was surprised I managed to listen to it without laughing at the innuendo ( ). Count Of Casualty is growing on me. But why, Patrick, why Battle?! It's brilliant live, but in reality... All it did was get stuck in my head during my maths exam on Monday, and it's no good trying to do quadratic equations when you've got a Wolf-man in your head shouting, "BATTLE BATTLE!!"
|
|
|
Post by scarredbyfallout on Jun 2, 2009 22:00:27 GMT
that would be pretty off putting, hehe. I've had Damaris stuck in my head all day, distracting because I keep wanting to sing it while serving customers, but for some reason it sounds different in my head. I think I actually prefer the Radio Me version is that wrong?
|
|
|
Post by White Onyx Elephant on Jun 2, 2009 22:18:08 GMT
What a wonderful album it is! I think it may be my favourite of all his albums to date. I really need to just sit down and listen to it carefully, with the booklet in my hand to make sure. I don't have any most and least favourite songs right now (probably will after listening to it a couple more times), but I have to say that The Sun Is Often Out is the most touching song he has ever written.
|
|
Chris
Libertine
Posts: 85
|
Post by Chris on Jun 2, 2009 22:31:22 GMT
Aha. The same sort of thing happened to me with my Media Studies exam yesterday; I just had the whirring violin part from 'Hard Times' on a loop in my head. Pretty distracting when you're trying to anaylse a TV clip As for singing Damaris aha.... I find all of Patrick's songs really invade your head; I imagine I'll be singing 'Desire, you are not the maker of me' to some poor soul on saturday at work.
|
|
|
Post by scarredbyfallout on Jun 2, 2009 22:52:28 GMT
That could lead to some unfortunate misunderstandings in the work place
|
|
Chris
Libertine
Posts: 85
|
Post by Chris on Jun 2, 2009 22:57:28 GMT
Aha, yeah right. I suppose it could probally be worse. You wouldn't really want to sing 'Who Will' with the amount of innuendo in it
|
|
|
Post by adder on Jun 2, 2009 23:06:26 GMT
off topic slightly but i always manage to get really annoying tv advert theme tunes in my head in exams. NOT GOOD :S
|
|