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Things have gone ridiculously well for Coldplay in the three years since 2002's A Rush of Blood To The Head. The group's global album sales have soared past the 10-million mark, putting it in the same stratosphere as U2 and the Dave Matthews Band. People have offered up their bank accounts, cars and even bodies for tickets to its shows. And, in a nice twist, front man Chris Martin married Gwyneth Paltrow, setting the tabloid world aflame. Funny thing, then, that the British quartet's much-anticipated third album, X&Y, is all about keeping its feet on the ground. In the powerful opener "Square One," the singer insists people are fundamentally the same no matter their stature. "You just want/ Somebody listening to what you say," he sings. On "Fix You," Martin grapples with imperfection and missed opportunity: "When you love someone but it goes to waste/ Could it be worse?" Meanwhile, the vibrant first single, "Speed of Sound," is all about reconnecting with the spirit and soul in the face of the paparazzo's flashbulbs. Musically, the band has never sounded more adventurous, referencing everyone from Kraftwerk ("Talk") to the Pogues ("Swallowed In The Sea"), all the while sweeping aside those Radiohead-lite comparisons to embrace a massive, moving sound that makes simplicity seem sublime. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

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It's perhaps inevitable that Keane's debut album, Hopes and Fears, will draw numerous comparisons to Coldplay. Like them, Keane were discovered by indie label Fierce Panda, who released a single ("Everybody's Changing"). And, like Coldplay, Keane also do a fine trade in catchy and heartfelt indie-pop, all bruised verses and soaring choruses. But though their sound is sure to please fans of Coldplay and Travis, the reality is that Keane manage to sound that little bit more delicate. This could be down to the band's relatively unusual make-up: rather than guitars, the trio use a piano.

At its best, Hopes and Fears is reminiscent of Bends-era Radiohead and singer Tom Chaplin's voice is closer to Thom Yorke's falsetto than Chris Martin's cracked whine. On tracks such as the hit single "Somewhere Only We Know," they manage to squeeze an epic-sounding poignancy from their stripped-down sound (a lot of this is due to the album's superb production). Across 10 tracks, all this slow-burning melancholy skates a bit close to self-indulgence and you can't help but wish they'd rock out a bit. But Hopes and Fears is still a remarkable and surprisingly mature debut album from a young band with a bright future. --Robert Burrow ... Read more

Reviews (79)

A Refreshing Album
All the people comparing this album to Radiohead and Coldplay obviously aren't fans of either band. They're kind of like this friend I have who hears a song and says "hey, don't you think this band sounds like..." This is a really good album with several songs that you'll sing at the top of your lungs as you cruise down the street (This is the Last Time, Bend and Break, Can't Stop Now). Everyone wants to compare Coldplay to Radiohead because Chris Martin was strongly influenced by Thom and the boys, but the music is quite different if you actually listen to all of their albums. Now people want to lump Keane in with those two outstanding bands and say that nothing distinguishes them. The thing that distinguishes bands like these is the fact that these bands write songs that mean something. When bands strive to do this, the songwriter's soul is bare. Thom Yorke, Chris Martin, and the boys from Keane are different people with different experiences and that comes out in the music. If you want to talk about generic music, then look no further than American rock music. Before the Strokes and the White Stripes took off, who didn't sound just like everyone else? This is a good album and is worthy of a listen, but if you are not a big fan of Coldplay or Radiohead then you might feel like some of these other reviewers. By the way, what exactly is wrong with Coldplay? Nothing.

A bold and brilliant move
The biggest thing anyone who is considering this album should know is that there are no guitars. Although almost every rock band for the last 50 years has depended on guitars for the essence of their sound, here the axe does not seem to matter one bit. Although it is easy to compare them to other British pop bands such as Coldplay, they are certainly not the same. Instrumentation aside, Tom Chaplin is an excellent singer with a wide range, and this is utilized to full effect on Hopes and Fears. The songwriting is top-notch, and there are plenty of songs that seem to resonate with me, either due to their catchiness or cleverness. Some of my favorites are "Somewhere Only We Know" and "Can't Stop Now", but there are other slower songs that are equally compelling and well done. Perhaps I simply have a tendency to favor piano based tunes over guitar based, but this album is a welcome change from guitar thrashing, and extremely well produced and planned. I would recommend it to anyone who has enjoyed British Music in the post-Oasis era.

GET IT !
If you're even doubting about getting out and getting this album, DON'T. This is one of the greatest album I've even bought. The music and lyrics go perfectly in sync with each other. The band does a perfect job staying true to their songs. In a world filled with tampered pop music, this is so untouched, raw. It's exquisite. Go out and get it, you will defnitely not regret it.

Keane is Amazing!
As soon as I heard the single Somewhere Only We Know, I was amazed by Keane. They remind me of Coldplay, but I think they are much better! Their album is awesome and I can't get enough of it. Some of my favorite songs Somewhere Only We Know, Everybody's Changing, and Bedshaped. Anyone who hears the lead singers voice will fall in love with it! The combination of piano, bass, drums, and Tom Chaplins' unbelievable voice has made Keane one of my favorite bands, and I recommend that everyone give them a chance, you will not be disappointed! I have been telling everyone I know about Keane, and I listen to them constantly! I can't wait for them to tour the U.S. again, I will be sure to go see them live.

Forget about all the comparisons......
...just listen. Keane are very good at what they're doing. If you've heard their singles and liked them, the album will not disappoint you. ... Read more

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Coldplay required a lifetime to make their wonderfully assured debut,Parachutes. But it tookless than two years for the moody British quartet to deliver a masterful follow-up. As a band Coldplay have advanced to a stage where they outshine nearly every oneof their rivals in terms of imagination and emotional pull. A Rush of Bloodto the Head is a soulful, exhilarating journey, moving from the catharticrock of "Politik" to the hushed tones of "Green Eyes" without once breaking itsmesmerizing spell. Singer Chris Martin takes his voice on soaring flights,reaching places only JeffBuckley previously dared to go. And the music is nearly flawless, apersuasive cross between PinkFloyd and the Verve.Even if they haven't come up with another "Yellow," you would be hard-pressed tocare. This is exquisite stuff. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (854)

What more can you say?
This sophomore effort by Coldplay shows the music development of the band. They still talk about heartache and hope. These lyrics are complimented with infectious bass hooks and guitar riffs, interspersed with soft or loud piano and drum harmonies. "Parachutes" gave a glimpse of what the band can do, much like "Pablo Honey" did with Radiohead. And like Radiohead's "The Bends," "A Rush of Blood to the Head" shows Will, Gerry, Jon and Chris, with their different music stylings and influences, come together as four strong individuals with much to say while proving they have amazing talent.

From the loud and somewhat dischorded harmony of "Politik" progressing to the quiet and subtle "Amsterdam," "A Rush of Blood to the Head" shows Coldplay's musical range--we see the eastern influence in "Daylight" and the folk-country inspired "Green Eyes"--all the while maintaing their signature lyric ballad ("Scientist," "In My Place," "Warning Sign").

Why 4 stars? Even with the strength of all of the songs, the album still gives a hint of their potential. I'll leave the five stars until then.

A Rush of Blood to My Head
After winning one Grammy award (Best Alternative Music Album), two Brit awards (Best Group and Best Album), two VH1 awards (Best Kept Secret and "Big in Japan") and selling 1.2 million copies of their debut album Parachutes, Coldplay would have to do something miraculous to overcome the sophomore slump. With their newest release A Rush of Blood to the Head, they show the world that they aren't going down without a fight. When the album opens, with the heavy and resounding drums and guitars of "Politik", you notice the change that has occurred between albums. Coldplay abandons much of the love and loss theme that was prevalent in their early work and its place is a slightly more joyful and upbeat sound. The radio single "In My Place" follows this with equal strength, as does the entire album. Not one ounce of energy is lost as the album takes you on its spiraling journey through the mind of a musical genius. In a pop-culture music scene that is dominated by artists like Nelly, Eminem, and Linkin Park, a rock record emerges that gives hope to those of us who long for more. The standout track is definitely "Scientist", where Chris sings in earnest, "Nobody said it was easy, No one ever said it would be this hard." The raw emotion that he puts into his music gives Coldplay that unique edge over most musicians in the genre. My only complaint about this album is the tendency of some songs to sound similar. However, with the caliber of songs that are on this record, monotony can sometimes be welcome and even intensify the musical power. Finally the CD closes with "Amsterdam", where you are confuident that Chris Martin's vocals and energy have retained their strength and that Coldplay has once again delivered a near-masterpiece.

They are still kicking it!
The sophomore effort from Coldplay is in no way a "sophomore jynx". It is not an extension from Parachutes either. It is totally different; not so much as a radiohead record but never-the-less different. Instead of coming off as indieish and a complete band effort, it sounds more mature and like a showcase for Chris Martin. This is due to the seemingly more emphasis put on the lyrics and vocals. Both of which are improved from their last outting. Also, their seems to be more keyboard used here especially on the two hit singles "clocks" and "scientist". It is difernet also in that it is much longer than thier debut; by over twelve minutes.

This record excels on many levels along with the aforementioned. It works more as a pop record and therefore seems more appealing to the casual listener. It also contains the groups strongest songs to date. However, despite its brillience, it is not perfect by any means. Among its flaws lie within lyrics. The greater emphasis draws people in. And on a couple songs, like the title track, the lyrics try to be way too philisophical and fail to accomplish their goal. Also, the record contains a couple straight forward rock songs. They are not bad but not what Coldplay excels at.

All of the flaws seem to make this record feel less complete, inviting track skipping and quick boredom. These are not qualities that Parachutes had and therefore AROBTTH is a slightly inferior record. I must urge people to pick this up though since it is still very very good. Don't expect the utter brillience from the first album to carry over however.

TRACK RUN-THREW
Politik- good opener despite werey lyrics.
In my place- pure pop
God put a smile upon my face- best rock song on the record
The scientist- sweet piano and lyrics
Clocks- captivatingly brilliant piano play
Daylight- worst track but listenable
Green eyes- good range of vocals and lyrics
Warning sign- beautiful
A wisper- driving guitar
A rush of blood to the head- too philisophical but still good/great
Amsterdam- best track

Hmmm...
I bought this album after it won a Grammy for record of the year for "Clocks," a song that I loved. I was hoping that the Cd would measure up as well, as I had heard "The Scientist" and liked that too, but I was a little disappointed. I thought a few of the songs were dull and mediocre, but maybe because this isn't my favorite style of music?
Overall, its an alright CD... I wish I had borrowed it from a friend before I bought it though, not sure I would have bought it.

alright you got me...
this band is pretty awesome. Ordinarily you'll find me listening to music genres like grunge, punk, metal and all that but this is the one band I cross into the mainstream/emo vibe. I first heard the song Yellow and was hooked, then after I heard clocks thats when I really started liking the band more and more and now as much as I hate mainstream stuff usually I find myself a fan of coldplay, the guys are great musicians and have a simplistic vibe about them that makes this just calm, sorta chill out music. So to finish; good album, worth picking up. ... Read more

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Oasis albums have always prompted flashbacks--Was that a Beatles melody? Is that chorus on loan from T. Rex? Wait, wasn't that a Crowded House song once? But the mouthy British group's latest really sounds like a pop artifact. Both in production and execution, Don't Believe The Truth feels like an album better suited to 1965 than 2005. From the tambourines and jangling guitars that chime in opening track "Turn Up To The Sun" to the tinny pre-hippie philosophizing of "Keep The Dream Alive," it's an album that thinks the way forward is by looking back. First single "Lyla" borrows its opening swagger from the Rolling Stones' "Street Fighting Man," while "The Meaning of Soul" lifts the Small Faces' mod jitters wholesale. But hack through the clichéd lyrics and worn riffs and the most important element on the follow up to 2002's Heathen Chemistry remains distinctly Oasis' own: Attitude. And in such wonderful abundance, "No one could break us/ No one could take us," they sing. --Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (1)

BEST ALBUM SINCE WHATS THE STORY MORNING GLORY
Well... just heard it as a promo adn i must say Oasis have gone back to their roots and now have turned up with the their best album since Whats the Story Morning Glory.A def. buyand must have item for the summer and its always good to album that will be a piece of music history. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Music doesn't come more touching than this. With their debut single alone, the emotion-fortified "Shiver," Coldplay prove they can shift between elated and crushed in a breath, as singer Chris Martin pours out music's oldest chestnut (unconditional yet unrequited love) with the shakiest of voices and a backdrop of epic guitars. For 10 tracks on Parachutes, he adds new-found meaning to the most tired and overused rock sentiments--love found, love lost, love unrequited--over acoustic guitars and emotionally fraught rock. And for once, all the clichés ring true because Chris Martin genuinely sounds like a man picking over the bones of his life, coming up with just as many reasons to be cheerful as seriously depressed. Not that Parachutes is a depressing album--there's too much conviction to the guitars and hope in Martin's words for that. Instead it's a beautifully tender balance that comes as close to perfection as anything that's come before it. --Dan Gennoe ... Read more

Reviews (542)

More than Radiohead-lite
"Parachutes" is a really astonishing debut album from the British band Coldplay. "Parachutes" is best described as a mood piece--mellow, melodic, acoustic guitar, mopey at times but ultimately convinced that "Everything's Not Lost."

Coldplay's sound is a mixture of shimmering guitars, keyboards, and Chris Martin's incredible voice. His voice is probably the cause of the many Thom Yorke, Fran Healy and Jeff Buckley comparisons--like those three singers, he makes very effective use of his falsetto. His voice just crackles with real emotion. They have a great tendency to pair rhythm acoustic and lead electric guitars, which produces a very specificly textured and meshed sound.

All the tracks on the album are worth a listen. Highlights include the sublime "Shiver" (truly swoon-worthy), "Yellow" (simply romantic), "Trouble," and the last track, "Everything's Not Lost."

Highly recommended to fans of Travis's "The Man Who" and Radiohead's "The Bends." Coldplay shares a general musical aesthetic with those two bands, but they also have their own sound and musical project. Listen to the sound clips, and you'll see how Coldplay is both familiar and unique. You won't be wasting your money if you pick this album up.

wow...a VERY impressive debut album
When I first heard Coldplay's "Yellow" on MTV2, I noticed a couple things. First, I thought the song was great, and according to the airplay the song received, so did a lot of people. Second, I thought that Coldplay seemed to be taking off where Radiohead left off before Thom Yorke went completely nuts- the Radiohead of '95. I was right about the first. Actually, I was also right about the second. Despite sounding similar to Radiohead in a few different aspects, Coldplay remains a highly original band. It may be true that Radiohead fans of old were looking for a replacement, and therefore turned to Coldplay, but regardless of comparisons, Parachutes remains an unbelievable showing of artistic ability for a debut album. "Shiver", the disc's second track (after the short but catchy "Don't Panic") is definitely one of the highlights on an album full of good, and sometimes great, songs. I am not a big fan of track 3, "Spies", but "Sparks" makes up for any bitter taste I get from skipping "Spies". "Sparks" showcases Coldplay's ability to take a simple acoustic pop song and make it an instant classic. Other highlights on the album include the previously mentioned "Yellow", "Shiver", "Trouble", and "High Speed". "High Speed" solidifies the back end of an already marvelous debut album with its subdued guitar textures and hook-laden vocal melodies. If you enjoyed "Yellow" you should certainly invest in this album. If you didn't really like "Yellow", you should still consider picking up a copy- it will surprise you more than you think. Finally, if you are the one person who absolutely hated "Yellow", and you despise British bands, and hate Radiohead, and like ... bands like Papa Roach and Linkin Park, you should at least burn a copy of this CD to add to your collection of ... music. Then maybe it will influence you to sacrificially burn your Crazy Town, Limp Bizkit, and Slipknot CD's (you can keep your System of a Down CD, because "Chop Suey" is interesting).

Excellent debut album.
The first time I heard the song "Yellow", I could've sworn it was the Dave Matthews Band. A few months later, I found out it wasn't DMB, but a band called "Coldplay". Meh..whatever, I thought. To be honest, I wasn't too fond of the song. Then, another few months later, I saw the video for "Trouble", and I thought both the song AND video were respective works of art. I went out and bought the CD, not really knowing what to expect, and was pleasantly surprised. Now, I'll go track by track to elaborate..

It opens up with "Don't Panic", which is short, but SWEET. A very gentle, beautiful uplifting song with a catchy chorus that assures us, "We live in a beautiful world." 9/10

The second track, "Shiver", is an AMAZING song. Definetly my favorite song on the album. This is a powerful song, with a can't miss chorus, and some awesome guitar work. 10/10

On "Spies", the tempo slows down a bit. This song may take a few listens to really get into, unlike the previous two, but it's another really beautiful song. 8/10

"Sparks" is another slower paced song, with a melancholy tone. 7/10

Then comes the song that put Coldplay on the map, "Yellow". I'm sure you've heard it before. The funny thing is, I didn't like the song before I bought this album, but now I love it. A classic love ballad. 10/10

Next up is "Trouble", the reason I bought this album. Definetly the best slower paced song on the album. Tremendous piano work too. 10/10

The title track, "Parachutes" follows. Blink and you'll miss it. A simple, 45 second accoustic song. But there's something about it that makes the band expanded upon it more, into a full song. Oh well. Can't go very high here, just due to the length. 4/10

"High Speed" is another one of the best songs of the album. I would say it's the most experimental sounding of any of them, but in a really cool way. 9/10

"We Never Change" is another slow, melancholy song like "Spies" and "Sparks". It's almost a little too slow for its own good, so I can't say it's one of my favorite songs on the album. 7/10

Finally, there's "Everything's Not Lost", an excellent ballad to close the album. As you can tell from the title, it's a really upbeat song, and really catchy as well. I think it could've been a pretty big radio hit, but it's too late for that. 10/10

Tons of great songs on here, and easliy worth the money. Although I must say, Coldplay totally outdid this effort with their most recent album, "A Rush of Blood to the Head". Still, "Parachutes" is highly recommended listening to anyone who enjoys well written music.

We live in a beautiful world
This album is absolutely awesome and suitable for diehard Coldplay fans and people who just like the songs alike. Chris' voice takes music to a new level, in the deepest dark depression and sheer radiant elation. My favourite song on the album is 'Don't Panic' but 'Spies' is great also. Oh, who am I kidding? All the songs are awesome!!!

You people can't be serious, right?
BRITISH POP IS GARBAGE, PEOPLE!!! How can you guys seriously listen to all that piano tinkling in the background? This is music for wimpy people! You guys probably couldn't handle artists like Metallica, Tool, or Pantera......hell, you guys probably couldn't handle Linkin Park! And to the fairies....uh......I mean fellas in this band, do us all a favor and go sing like the girls you are to your cult of worshipers, because the rest of us just aren't interested. DOWN WITH BRITISH POP!!! (and all pop, for that matter). ... Read more

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While Radiohead saw its stock rising in 1994, it wasn't until 1995's The Bends that it really became a blue chip band. And for good reason. The quintet honed its talent for bombastic Brit Rock, yet still preserved an edge of unpredictability. Even singles like the title track didn't give in to the kind of swooning guitar clichés usually embraced by commercial radio. If the CD proved anything, it was that Radiohead could find solid ground between pop experimentation and the tradition of born-in-the-bone, balls-out rock. --Nick Heil ... Read more

Reviews (432)

Good Music and the Misery of Radiohead
One of the better songs on this album is the very first one, "Planet Telex." It begins with a cold electronic wind sweeping in, then vibrating pianos that few bands would attempt. It turns out "Planet Telex" is dry, heavily layered, somewhat mysterious, very melodic, and overall, quite depressing, with lyrics like "everything is broken" at the chorus. Though "Planet Telex" may not dish out inspiration by the bucketload, it does make for thoughtful, reflective music, indispensible in my own cd collection. Welcome to the world of Radiohead, welcome to the "The Bends."

"The Bends" the song somewhat contradicts the icy opener, sounding nearly classic rock, less robotic, and giving these guys some needed humanity. The two released songs, "High and Dry" and the hopeless "Fake Plastic Trees" begin the cycle of hard and soft songs throughout the album. The high energy "Bones" gets things moving again in a HUGE way. If you haven't heard this massive Radiohead tune, don't let it pass you by. Listen for Thom Yorke hitting the high notes at the chorus and the grinding riff that completely rocks out. "Bones," along with "Planet Telex," are practically worth the price of the cd alone. But there's much more on "The Bends," of course. "My Iron Lung" floats by on a high pitched guitar lick that sounds half sick and anemic compared to the rip-roaring portion of the song that later kicks in. That's a definite technique with these guys on this album. In a different style than Nirvana, Radiohead love to begin quiet and lulling, only to tear things apart later on in the songs. You could call them an electronic Nirvana or aspiring Smashing Pumpkins, though many would call them much better than the Pumpkins.

The last four or five songs definitely bear mentioning, due to their subtle, melodious effects. "Bullet Proof" is a slow and nice sounding song with delicate, behind-the-scenes guitars. "Black Star" follows, fading in with guitars of the same variety, but picking up sonically in a big way; it turns out to be one of the highlights of the entire album. Luckily, Radiohead refuse to rest on their laurels as the album winds down. "Sulk" keeps up the work of the great chiming guitars, nearly like bells ringing to announce the near end of the record. "Street Spirit (Fade Out)" ends "The Bends" on a predictably sour, strange note, with those same tickling guitars.

Though "The Bends" is music for the masses, Thom Yorke's high-pitched voice may not please everybody. Indisputably, however, the music is ultra-catchy and enjoyable, if not hugely downtrodden in parts, especially lyrically. Overall, this is just a well put together album which rocks when it needs to, slows down at precisely the right moments, and places the background and foreground distortion in all the apt places. It's only a little puzzling why Radiohead didn't release some of the more dynamic tunes on this record. This is both easy listening - due to all the hooks in every song - and difficult, due to the depressing aura that infiltrates everywhere. Either way, Radiohead put a lot of effort into this record, finding a way to hold listeners rapt all the way through.

my baby's got the bends
If you're chronically depressed and would like to stay that way, this could be the album for you. For whatever reason, the mood is extremely sullen this time around, and there is not an uplifting song anywhere. But it doesn't matter, because all of the songs are consistently good! That seems to be rare these days, where you buy an album and it turns out that the three hit singles were all it had going for it. Believe the hype: Radiohead probably is the best thing to happen to rock music in the '90s.

"High and Dry" and "Fake Plastic Trees" are slow-moving and depressed, but the mope-rock shtick never gets mushy, and there are some songs that rely on sudden dynamics changes to keep the energy going ("Just," "Bones"). Singer Thom Yorke has become one of my favorite male vocalists, the way he can sound desperate and pleading, then incredibly angry, and his voice stays so beautiful. The rest of the band is rather understated, but they're great, not to mention gritty and experimental. They've got a really amazing grip on dynamics, their sophisticated chord progressions make the catchy tunes durable, and their artistic integrity is almost unsurpassed. No snotty superstar whining about these guys!

In my eyes, Radiohead and their two best albums, The Bends and OK Computer, are a very good reason to hold out any hope for rock music in the coming few years.

Modern Rock Masterpiece!
Radiohead truly prove themselves to be masters of their craft and thoroughly proficient musicians with this release. They do an extremely effective job of creating a sort of mental/emotionally melancholy mood that lasts throughout the album. The highly effective tone of this album is especially personified by the songs 'Fake Plastic Trees' and 'Street Spirit'. These songs have a very melancholy feel to them, yet the album does not feel heavy at all in its texture. Radiohead somehow manages to make truly melancholy songs that feel really light. Basically, listening to this album is a highly impressive intense cerebral experience. The band keeps things thoughtful, creative, and fresh all throughout. One technique that they use to do this is to basically incorporate several stark changes into several songs all while keeping the overall feel of the song consistent. I was turned onto this album around six months ago and I've really grown to respect and appreciate Radiohead as a group since then. I've heard all of their albums after this one and this one is definitely the least experimental, but that also makes it the most accessible to those who are new to the group. This album and "O.K. Computer" are both amazing modern rock masterpieces, but I feel that "O.K. Computer" is slightly greater, even though this is the album that I listen to most often. They are both two of the greatest and most intricate rock albums to be released in the past fifteen years. This is truly thoughtful and intelligent music here that works well as a whole and complete concept from beginning to end, and I encourage you all to take a listen.

Just Beautiful!
I know it's a shame that I just bought this album almost a decade after it came out, but fortunately I did buy it. I can't really say that I am a true Radiohead fan since I don't have all their albums and am fairly ignorant when it comes to their songs, but The Bends is truly a beautiful piece of work. I rarely listen to CDs from beginning to end, but this one is a rare exception. I can actually listen to the whole CD and not be bored with certain songs.The album is filled with absolutely fantastic music and very profound messages.
I must say that I am having a difficult time believing that many people state that O.K. computer is better than The Bends. Maybe I am wrong. Maybe O.K. computer is better, but it will require me to listen to that album for long periods of time before it can, in my humble opinion, equal the beauty and complexity of The Bends.

Radiohead's Best ???
Well... if you haven't heard Ok Computer (shame on you), this would easily be considered their best. But then, ok, so "Ok" probably is their best work, but The Bends is an amazing work on its own. If you like any of Radohead's other albums you will like this one. Undoubtably. No question. Just an amazing album. Nuff Said. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In the three years between this album and its epic-scaled predecessor, The Last Broadcast, Manchester trio Doves were obviously doing something more artistically rewarding than mere touring. It's not that their sense of ambitious scale has waned. It's that it has been refocused inward here toward personal matters and the state of their Northern UK homeland. The title track and thumping, soul-inflected single "Black and White Town" state as much early on. But much more than Doves' subject matter has evolved as well. The album's sonically intriguing mix of influences fuse singer Jimi Goodwin's unabashed hook jones with bottom-heavy club rhythms and the restless, expansive instincts of multi-instrumentalist twins Andy and Jez Williams. Then, all is channeled through the fuzzy aura of too many youthful 3am's at Manchester's famed Hacienda nightspot.

The gorgeous moodiness of "Snowden" and string-drenched, mouth-harp seasoned "The Storm" show how far the band has evolved from its early Sub Sub incarnation/Manchester heritage, even as the bigger-than-life "Walk in Fire" shows just how deep those roots go. It's a magnificent record, one whose sense of scale belies its innate efficiency, and arguably Doves' most wholly satisfying to date. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Amazon.com

There's nothing particularly original about Kasabian. The hirsute Leicester band swaggers like the Stone Roses, plays dance-rock like Primal Scream, and mouths off like Oasis. Singer Tom Meighan even once famously derided Strokes singer Julian Casablancas in an interview with the NME as a "posh f---ing skier." But these are also the things that make Kasabian's debut so endearing. It's an album that spills over with personality and confidence, delivering massive club anthems in the form of songs like "Processed Beats," "Cutt Off" and "L.S.F. (Lost Souls Forever)," where the band finds just the right balance between primitive riffs and space-age grooves. -- Aidin Vaziri ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Haven't quite purchased the CD yet, but....
I just wanted to let one of the reviewers know that the song, "Club Foot", was used in the trailer for "Serenity". I hope I could be of some help. I need to buy the CD now - I'm going to the concert on June 15th....

solid solid album, i want to hear more
It's funny how the amazon review states that "There's nothing original about Kasabian," and then finishes the review to say that the band finds "just the right balance between primitive riffs and space-age grooves."

Has any other band really done that? If so, please let me know!

The album is great... it reminds me of the Verve, but with more of an edge, and some DRIVING bass lines that really make you want to move.

A great combination of some cool electronic effects, some solid musicianship, some bangin rock out grooves, and easy to listen to yet powerful vocals.

Check it out!

Kasabia
Well the cd is awesome. My friend found it in STRANGEEEEEE MAINEEEEE, a store on Congress St. in Portland , ME.
And so it goes like this. He puts the cd in the cd player, theres no case to this cd by the way(yeah i know,strange maine guy),
and BAM!, its like damn!, we know this SONG! BUT from where?
SO, does anyone know what movie, commercial, show, that the song "club foot" was featured in?
PLEASE post after you see this if you know.




"club foot" is in....................vhat?

word

~Nate and Ruis

Pretty good, not great
It seems like I've heard a lot of this before. And the sounds get a little tedious within the disc itself. But it is about average overall, and given a lot of pure dreck out there, it's alright.

It might help, of course, that I'm not well versed in the sources copied/inspired/stolen from, so is a bit fresher than it might otherwise be.

Club Foot is good, as is Test Transmission. Most of the others have some catchy hooks will playing, but nothing very memorable afterward IMO.

And since the disc is now, fair use, on my ipod, it must not be that hard to get it there. Spend 5 minutes here and elsewhere and solutions present themselves pretty quickly.

WARNING: NOT PLAYABLE ON MP3s COPYWRITED
I liked the song club foot so I bought the CD.HUGE MISTAKE.The CD has some sort of copywrite protection such that it cannot be played on IPOD or other MP3 players (I use an iRiver and it didn't work).It is really annoying-you cannot make any copies even for legitimate reasons like keeping a copy in your car (and just trying to play the CD with a computer is a pain in the butt).I think Kasabian sucks for copping out and letting RCA dictate how I should use a CD that I own.It is like GM selling you a car and telling you that you cannot drive it in Canada!?! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This big rock candy mountain of an album justifies some if by no means all of the poses and pretentious statements made by Manchester's natural-born rock & roll deities. A dramatic attempt to rekindle the flames of the original British Invasion, Morning Glory rolls 30 years of Britpop tradition into one irresistible (if achingly self-conscious) whole. "Wonderwall" can be read as a Beatles tribute, "Don't Look Back in Anger" feels like a Mott The Hoople anthem and "She's Electric" and "Morning Glory" are chewy pop confections.--Jeff Bateman ... Read more

Reviews (321)

Rock n Roll for the 90's
I don't buy into the hype and put on labels that are so common in today's music. I had heard about this upcoming band back in 94 and was a bit intrigued. When Morning Story came out and Wonderwall was the big single, I started to like what I hear, but Champagne Supernova was the clincher for me.

Spearheaded by Noel and Liam Gallager, Oasis has been hailed as the new Beatles etc etc. That I certainly don't buy, but they are certainly influenced by the Beatles, The Who and The Rolling Stones. Morning Glory is simply a great melodic Rock N Roll album, and one of the best albums of the 90's. After enduring the depressing era of grunge and cheezy pop songs, Oasis is a real breath of fresh air.

The guitars are forceful and loud yet retaining melodic hooks, Liam's vocals have the right mix of attitude and sincerity. Alan White is a terrific drummer. Paul McGuigan & Paul Arthurs fill out the band nicely, albeit they're no longer in Oasis now.

Standout songs include Hello, Roll With It, Wonderwall, Cast No Shadow, Morning Glory and Champagne Supernova. Put aside the mindless hype, and if you're looking for Rock music with a real sense of melody and respect for the classics then Oasis is among the best of today.

The Definitve 90's Release
When the dust finally settles, and we're all able to objectively look back at the 90's, I believe that "(What's the Story) Morning Glory" will emerge as the decade's best known and, arguably, greatest CD. Why? Because songs like "Wonderwall", "Don't Look Back in Anger", "Cast No Shadow" and "Champagne Supernova" are among the best-written and most memorable tunes of the '90's. And perhaps more importantly, with this album, Oasis nearly single-handedly saved the dying genre of classic rock-n-roll. Oh sure, they had a little help from their friends (oops...enemies) Blur, but Oasis, at least here in the United States, emerged as the World's Greatest Rock-n- Roll Band.

In 1995, US airwaves were suffocating from lethal doses of Grunge, tuneless Alternative and Gangsta Rap. Then, late in the year, something wonderful happened-- another British Invasion!! Suddenly, airwaves rang with the friendly British accents of Oasis, Blur, Cast and Pulp who, unlike their Grunge/Alternative counterparts, could actually sing and play their instruments well. More importantly, these guys wrote killer songs with unforgetable hooks. In an eerie coincidence, at the very same time, yet another wave of Beatlemania swept America in wake of the Anthology TV series and the single "Free as a Bird". Seemingly every Fall issue of every music magazine featured the Fab Four on its cover. Inevitably, those same magazines all ran the obligatory story touting Oasis, Blur, etc. as heir-aparents to the Beatles throne. Of course, no one dethroned the Beatles, but what did happen was that "Morning Glory" dominated US radio like no album had in recent years. You couldn't go anywhere in Fall 1995 without hearing Liam's wonderfully nasal drone on mega hits "Wonderwall" and "Champagne Supernova".

Oasis' songs are straight out of the classic British Rock mold. While Liam and Noel always cite the Beatles as influence numero uno, one can easily hear echoes of Mott the Hoople, the Stones and T-Rex. Oasis isn't afraid to make their influences obvious. "Wonderwall", the album's most grandiose and arguably best song, is the title of George Harrison's first solo album. The haunting "Don't Look Back in Anger" opens with a piano bit which is eerily reminiscent of John Lennon's "Imagine". The intro of the bouncy "She's Electric" unashamedly quotes the Lovin' Spoonful's "Do You Believe in Magic". (The catchiest song on the CD, "She's Electric" should've been released as a single.) While many have criticized Oasis for borrowing from classic songs, I believe they, more than any other band, understand the importance of preserving the artform of pure rock-n-roll. Oasis is not attempting to break new ground. They are merely carrying on in the tradition of their rockin' forefathers. On "Morning Glory" Oasis nailed it perfectly. The songs are a tuneful marriage of styles both old and new-- a style which emerges, ironically, as Oasis' own. I doubt that Oasis will ever top "Morning Glory". That's not a putdown, it's merely confirmation of this album's greatness. Very few bands have ever released a bonafide classic which will live on eternally. When all is said and done, "Morning Glory" will earn its proper resting place among the likes of "Revolver", "Pet Sounds", "Who's Next", "What's Goin' On", "Parklife" and a select few others residing in the rarified air of Rock's Kingdom.

Hopeless
It is hopeless to keep searching for a good song by Oasis. I have to announce that I'm tired of listening to the same bad-fake-beatlelike-sound. I do not recommend this cd to anyone. Looking for good rock of the 90's, listen to Pearl Jam, Alice, Pilots and Peppers. More soft stuff listen to REM and Hottie

One of the best albums ever.
All you need to do is listen to this album and realise how great it is.
Its sheer brilliance, it also shows that rock can have proper tune while making a loud noise also.
While Oasis for a while lost it a bit with their two following albums, many songs off Heathen Chemistry (their 5th album) prove that they have still got what it takes, and without question Oasis WILL return to form and blow away all this rubbish music thats cluttering up the place.

Tasty Britpop
Despite Oasis' big claim to be a much better band than The Beatles (lead singer Liam Gallagher even went as far to verbally attack George Harrison in an interview), as well as proclaiming to be the best band in the world, they have made some excellent, tasty music that's hard not to love. If you can ignore most of the embarrassing (and often laugh-out-loud hilarious) behavior attached to the band's mystique, you may just enjoy their music, too.

_(What's The Story) Morning Glory?_ is a non-stop train of tasty, ear-pleasing rock candy, with that, add in a little bit of swaggering attitude, and you have Oasis' niche. Songwriter (and sometimes, singer) Noel Gallagher has an excellent ear for melody.. even if most of his musings seem to be, more or less, stolen from The Beatles and their British Invasion contemporaries. If you're a music lover who is lamenting the lack of Britpop/British Invasion spin-offs in the popular music pantheon these days, or if you just want some loud, good-old fashioned rock n' roll, look into this album, and some of Oasis' other offerings. That's basically it for this review. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

You'll be happy you bought this one
I listened to this cd about 6-7 times, then I realized that this is easily one of the Phonics' best albums to date. Man, these tracks just grow on you, getting better and better eveytime you hear em. The tracks are all pretty high-octane, with Kelly Jones' awesome vocals adding the signature Phonics sound. Songs like Devil, and Superman, Dakota, and especially hard-rockin Deadhead being the best, I think. This cd very worthwhile indeed. If you like The Verve, Oasis or Radiohead, you should go for it.

Nice strong album
A new album from Stereophonics and it's proving to be a good one. Songs like "Dakota" are upbeat and lifting, but other than that, there are lots more good songs. Superman, the 2nd hit is totally different, gentle rock at the beginning then very rocky as the song builds up. The chorus (mellow with a strong beat)is very different to the verse - kinda bluesy and he sings in a very high voice. The song adopts a more powerful almost angry atmosphere. Doorman isn't a personal favourite. Kinda noisy, but alright for listening to in the car. The lyrics - "Well suck my banana suck it with cream" is quite poor for a Stereophonics song. Brother is sung in a lazy mellow style, but the chorus is deep and sounds hurtful. Devil is quite a slow lazy-ish kind of song, but with rather bizzare lyrics - "So be my devil angel, be my shooting star." Rewind is more friendly with a 'spacey' feel to it. It sounds a bit like a U2 song. Pedalpusher reminds me of an Oasis song, also bluesy. If you like Oasis you'll love this song. Girl is a busy rocky song, with a lot of guitar action, and faced paced singing. Lolita goes back to being slow, but not in an angry way but a floaty sort of feeling. The guitar riff in the chorus is great. Deadhead quite fast with an angry-ish tone to it. The chorus alternates between major and minor chords often, which goes really well together. Feel ends the album with a sleepy fell to it, like most of the songs.

This album is quite different from the others. It has a lot less upbeat tunes, and way more soft mellow songs. Some of the song are hard-edged and angry. A good album to buy, just wish it had more fast tempo songs. But if you like slow songs and depend mainly on great guitar riffs, then buy this album.

Loud, sonic rock
I have never heard of Stereophonics until today.I bought the band's latest album after reading some decent things about it (what the heck right?).Well I was plesantly surprised, the ablum is a loud, crunchy success.Take everything you know about techno-Britpop and you basically have LANGUAGE, SEX, VIOLENCE, OTHER? Think Blur/Oasis/Radiohead (even some POP era U2), though a bit less refined. "Dakota" the album's single is a loud (this whole damn thing is loud) warpy-trippy Coldplay on steroids type number. For me, the best song though is "Pedalpusher" which should not be played while driving because it will make you speed."Girl" and "Lolita" are two other standout tracks.The only bad thing I can say about Stereophonics is that while this is a really good album, it's nothing I don't feel like I've already heard before.Buy it for "Dakota" and "Pedalpusher." If you don't like Britpop or Radiohead skip this one.

Improvement from YGGTTCB
I have been a fan of the Stereophonics since WGA. I was amazed when they took music further with Performance & Cocktails (probably my 2nd fave album by them, 1st being JEEP).

The highlight of this band is when they turn thier songs acoustic as KJ has a good vox for acoustic & harmonica & gets all the chords right (that's KJ at his best).

While the new effort is good, there is something about it which lacks & thus I cannot give it the 5 stars. If it were based on KJ's howling vocals that is definitely worth 5/5 as his is guitar licks. I guess the lyrics are dark for a band that is really "positive" right now.

Major Higlights include:
-Superman (If the record company gets their way, they will probably choose this as a next single, not an entirely bad choice but I feel they could do better)
-Dakota (Good way to grab attention, anyone heard "long way around" unlike the JEEP singles I'm a little skeptical about buying these singles as not sure what I will be in for).
-Rewind (The best track on the Album, hope this becomes a single as well with rare live acoustic performances & other worthy B-sides availble).
-Pedalpusher (This is really well done lads, I like the drum intro and the fact that it is not customarily long).
-Lolita (the line about coffee is good but "smoke cigarettes when we can coz we like to" what the hell is up with that, this lets the song down but Jones makes up for it with the catchy guitar tune that's dubbed into the song). I hope this becomes a single or an acoustic live becomes available on the singles.

These are just some thoughts but thank god it's not YGGTTCB part 2 or I would just give up, I am pleased they were able to reinvent themselves & employ a new drummer who is good. I just hope to see in the future some of that KJ lyrical talent.

Overall well done lads, 4/5. As artists I am sure you know that there is always room for improvement.

But they are doing great as a band, they should follow the AC/DC approach & not bother about a "Best Of" (thank god KJ keeps fighting the record company over that), for this group it will be hard but they wouldn't have to rely heavily on YGGTTCB (you can leave a lot out of there, in fact if you ever do have to cave in to a Best of only take "Nothing Precious at All" from that last horrendous album!

LANGUAGE,SEX,VIOLENCE,GARBAGE
Ouch.i just bought this yesterday.i really regret the 19 euros i paid for it.thankfully i also bought The Beautiful South's Miaow for 1.05 euros too..The latter was a lot better than this garbage.Theres only 2 decent songs in here.Dakota and Lolita.Guys it's time you split up.once you were a great alternative band.Now you're a waste of time and money. ... Read more

Album Details

Oasis Return with the First Single from their Long Awaited Album ‘don't Believe the Truth'. As Noel Gallahger Says, the Sound Approximates "The Soundtrack of Our Lives Doing the who on Skol in a Psychedelic City in the Sky (Or Something!)". 'lyla' is Backed by Two Non Album Tracks: 'eyeball Tickler' and 'won't Let You Down'. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Great song but haven't I heard this same bashing before!
The more I listen to this song the more I like it. The b-sides are excellent and remind me of Oasis 1994. I don't understand why people want to constantly bash Oasis for ripping off riffs from other bands. Led Zeppelin, arguably the greatest rock band of all time, constantly ripped off riffs from Robert Johnson, example "Whole Lotta Love." This practice has been going on for the last forty years. The bottom line is that this is a good song.

lyla lyla lyla
ok..... although the song "lyla" has the feeling of street fighting man.... it is quite good, one of my oasis fav by now.

and the true reason to buy this single are the b-sides, wich are very good

eyeball tickler is a simple but amazing rock songs

wont let you down, after a few listenings you will love it: simple and direct lyrics and good sound... love it

oasis never left us, so i cant say its their return.... but
GREAT SINGLE, this songs blew my out my mind

HEYYYY LYLA!!!
I'm loving it! What a great single. The b sides go extremely well with it.

Don't listen to apple pie and tea
I bought the single 2 days ago and its great! I already heard the whole album and I think it's their best since WTSMG. The boys never left us, they've always been where they are now.

MMMAD FER IT!!!

Their worst song ever! If not the worst song ever!
What ever happened to Oasis.
While some say they lost it, what did they lose?
Maybe they lost the songs that made Definitley Maybe and Whats the story morning glory so huge and, madethem such a huge band when they first came out.

Adn following that were three albums between 1997 and 2002.
Be Here Now, Standing On the Shoulder of giants and Heathen Chemistry (which featured some nice come backs) were slated as being huge dissapointments, while I'm sure many sensible people could quite clearly see they were brilliant in a musical sense and although the songs did'nt match up to "Wonderwall" "Don't Look Back In Anger" in the like, they were all great albums.
Although Heathen Chemistry was a bit bland and over produced at times. It consisted of some of the first Oasis classic songs in a long time "The Hindu Times" "Little By Little" and "Stop Crying Your Heart Out" and the should of been single "Born on a different cloud".

If you have'nt heard "Don't Beleive the truth" your lucky because its awful.
Never before have Oasis sounded so washed up and fake, sounding like an album thats meant to be thrown straight into the charts and thrown out again in a few weeks.

Oasis originally planning to record an album with "Death in vegas" producers. It was an album meant to be full of rockers with no ballads. The recording sessions did'nt work out though, and were scrapped - "god" only knows why! Probably cause it was sounding like "real" music. Instead they went ot LA to record a pop, beatles sounding fancy old and unmodern record with a sh*t album cover.

A huge dissapointment. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Before Radiohead became the biggest critics' darling since Pavement or Dr. Dre, they were just another pre-Oasis British band with some loose indie ties, trying to gain some cred. Loopy enough to name this moody, often battering debut album for a Jerky Boys routine, they were also a lot more interesting when they hadn't yet learned the word "soundscape." "Creep," the miserably majestic single they now claim nearly ruined them, may not even be the best thing here; try "Anyone Can Play Guitar," an epitaph for River Phoenix before the fact. --Rickey Wright ... Read more

Reviews (153)

A bit early for Radiohead?
Although this is one of my five favorite bands, I have to admit, this isn't a very good album. However, it shows that a band could make a more coherent direction. The Drill EP was awful, but this is like gold compared to it. However, it's no Bends, OK Computer, or Kid A. That doesn't mean that the album has nothing to offer.

For instance, "Anyone Can Play Guitar" is the album's best song. It's a punk-influenced, faster-paced tune you can get into.
"Creep" is a good song even though I feel that it started post-grunge. But if "You" were to be released, I'd say the same thing.

The lyrics on Pablo Honey aren't bad, either. It's quite encouraging in fact. Well, one may find a song about [masturbation] ("Thinking about You) offensive, but I don't mind.

The album seems to have potential but not really get its quality. However, when I said post-grunge, I wasn't talking about stuff like Creed or Godsmack, more the post-Nirvana stuff, even though they were still existant at the time. It's grunge, but for this band, their style is better when it's not grunge. However, the first two songs and "Anyone Can Play Guitar" are the standouts, but the other songs are between average and unbearable. It's just that they sound the same to me. "Ripcord" wasn't really bad, either. It's also a more anthemic song on the album.

If you're trying to collect every Radiohead album, maybe buy this, but if you aren't already a fan, don't bother.

An amazing debut full of emotion and honesty.
It's amazing to think how much Radiohead have progressed from "Pablo Honey" to "OK Computer." I can't see how people can slam this album. Just goes to show the true nature of all snobby ... intellectual music fans who praised "OK Computer." I think you could describe "Pablo Honey" as bittersweet. It's depressing but hopeful at the same time.

It starts out with the killer musically and lyrically opening track "You" followed up the famous "Creep" which was reuined by too much radio play and the world marking Radiohead as a one-hit wonder. I see how Radiohead could regret writing it but it's still an amazing song and speaks with real honesty. "How Do You?" is a fast paced post-punk rock song about a betrayal. The next two songs are my favorite on the album. "Stop Whispering" has a great catchy guitar riff with light drumming in the background that starts out slowly and rises along with Thom Yorke's vocals. It may not be fancy or really creative but it does something to me inside. "Thinking About You" is a beautiful light acoustic song. The lyrics are about questioning a relationship and weather to pursuit it or not. "Anyone Can Play Guitar" is one of Radiohead's most uplifting tunes. It has an under surface message that really you can do anything in life. It also brings up a funny image of Thom Yorke as Jim Morrison. "Ripcord" has an average silent than loud rock sound. "Vegetable" has a beautiful guitar chord going through while Thom Yorke silently sings. "Prove Yourself" has a great message and really spoke to me when I first heard it. "I Can't" is much like the other songs on the album. "Lurgee" and "Blow Out" put a nice touch to the ending of the album. My only thing I have to say is..what the heck is an edited version of Creep doing at the end as a hidden track? Oh well

I hate to sound cheesy but this is an album that has helped me through the hard times and it is as grand and sincere as "The Bends" and "OK Computer."

This sucks!
I hate this band. Everytime I hear something good about one of their albums and I go out and buy it I am let down. I bought this and it sucked! 'Creep' is the only halfway good song on the album. I am honestly getting suck of it now and I havent even heard it that much. Radiohead is a band that like the whole world likes or whatever so I am gonna eat sh** for writing this but Radiohead is just a bunch of noises put together through a computer. You people say they sound differnt well they make their music from computers so they sound just like every other crappy band out their. Radiohead says their not prog-rock, well then they are the next best thing. And who ever said that they had good guitar bands and that they are the best guitar band out right now is on crack they are not a guitar band and if they want to hear good guitar players they need to hear Joe Perry, Slash, and Zakk Wylde cause they are the best guitar players out right now!

the prelude to a long series of masterpieces
You know your album is sub-par when your strongest single is on the disc twice. But despite the fact that this cd is only so-so, I still love listening to it. This album represents what I wish I could see more bands achieve. How many times have you listened to an album and thought to yourself, "I can hear so much potential." Even though the album isn't as great as you would like it to be, you're still applauding the effort. Occasionally, as in the case with Radiohead, a band will seize that potential and go beyond all expectations. Radiohead started out as a pretty weak band but soon became my all-time favorite musicians. This album is an important precursor to the greatness they would achieve later and should not be passed up.

As a side note, the song they became famous with, 'Creep', soon became the band's least favorite song. Through the 'Bends' and 'Ok Computer' years, Radiohead would often refuse to play 'Creep' while on tour. Last year while touring for 'Hail to the Thief', the band unexpectedly performed 'Creep' for the Atlanta crowd. Thom Yorke seemed to enjoy playing the song that he despised so much and acted playful on stage even adjusting some of the lyrics, like "I wanna perfect soul" with, "so I can look good next to you," while showing off his best feminine pose. It seemed that they were comfortable enough with their post-Creep accomplishments that they felt it was OK to play that 'wretched song'.

Before Radiohead were interesting...
...they sounded like every other guitar rock band on the planet, and if there's anything Radiohead usually aren't, it's generic.

Alas, Radiohead's debut has not aged well at all in any way. Momentary flashes of the group's later brilliance pop up occasionally (most notably in the horrendously-overplayed (yet still high quality) "Creep" and the wonderful "Anyone Can Play Guitar"), but for the most part, it's a group trying to find its voice and failing miserably, as most of this album will be forgotten as soon as you're done listening to it.

Some would say that this album was ahead of its time when it came out. No it wasn't. Radiohead sounded like every other post-grunge outfit on the radio at that time. It can't really be "ahead of its time" if its sound can be classified by the time period it was released in.

Some would also say that you shouldn't come down so harshly on this album for being such an early release by the band, and this may be true. However, just going by the differences between Pablo Honey and The Bends (their second album), the jump in quality between the two is staggering. Even the difference in quality between Pablo Honey and the My Iron Lung EP (released the year after Pablo Honey) is pretty noticeable.

Overall, what we're left with are the very sketchy beginnings of one of the greatest bands in rock and roll. Some of you Radiohead fans might be tempted to buy it just to make your collection complete. Don't. You'll probably only listen to this album once and put it away on a shelf somewhere. Your money would be much better spent elsewhere. Also, those of you thinking about buying Pablo Honey as an intro to the group should think again. The Bends makes a much better introduction to the group's sound. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A wonderful treat for Coldplay fans......
.....who are waiting for their 3rd album. I stumbled across this last night at the store, and it has Coldplay's early work. The first track, 'Brothers and Sisters,' is wonderful, and so is 'Only Superstition,' but I loved 'Easy to Please.' It's a dreamy Parachutes-like song. The piano is such a beautiful addition to the song. It makes you leave whatever troubles you and go into Coldplay's world, led by Chris' soft trance-like voice. The song, and the other two songs, are gems. A must for any true Coldplay fan.

Coldplay's First Release Ever
In 1998, Coldplay was toiling away in London pubs when they got noticed by someone from Fierce Panda Records, which offered the band a one single release contract. In March 1999 the label released this 3 track single, which immediately attracked great buzz, leading to a bidding war among bigger labels and some months later the band signed a "major label" deal with Capitol.

"Brothers & Sisters" (3 tracks; 11 min.) is a fascinating look into early-Coldplay. The title track is quite good, and the band later re-recorded the track as a B side for the "Trouble" single in 2000. "Easy to Please" is a dreamy track, with Chris Martin crooning away over sparse instruments. "Only Superstition" finds the band rocking harder, a nice track.

In all, a very welcome re-release of Coldplay's earliest recording. Definitely highly recommended for those of you who (like me) are charmed by the "Parachutes" sound. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1998

A ghost, a band, a troubadour. Easily the strangest co-op project ever, and easily one of the finest and most evocative albums of the year. British socialist and folkie Billy Bragg was given unprecedented access to Woody Guthrie's unrecorded lyrics. Teaming up with alt-country band Wilco and quoting from more than 50 years of country, folk, and rock music, Billy and company bring Guthrie's politics, poetry, and morality to the end of the century and prove he's as necessary now as ever. --Tod Nelson ... Read more

Reviews (119)

I'd buy 10 cds to find this one.
I'd buy 10 cds to find this one! Billy Bragg and Wilco have created the feeling that Woody Guthrie is alive and well and enjoying a little rock and roll. Their use of Woody's lyrics with original music is still true to an evolving Woody if there could be one. The music grabs you emotionally, hard and holds you through each cut. It's riveting. The range is amazing from Woody in love with living cuts such as "Walt Whitman's Niece" to serious political tunes like "Eisler on the Go" that focus on the witch hunts of the '40s and '50s in a very human way. And then there's what could have been a children's song--"Hoodoo Voodoo." Who else but Billy Bragg with help from Nora Guthrie could have done this? The album is a real album. It's all there. You can feel Guthrie writing 1000 songs in twenty years and then spending the next twenty years trapped in a deteriorating body in a state hospital. Sadness but not desperation, Guthrie never gives! up. Bragg extends Woody's contribution by pulling music from the lyrics, many of them written after Woody realized he faced a horrifying disease. Whatever else you do, listen to Mermaid Avenue and love it!

Do you know how hard it is to JUST ADD LYRICS to music?
Especially if those lyrics are over 50 years old, practically poetry, and created by a master songwriter? Or put another way, imagine someone handing you the lyrics to a tune from "Nebraska" and saying, "OK, now just sing it real good." JESIS, I don't think so. And if that doesn't put this stellar effort by Bragg and Wilco into perspective, what more can I tell ya? [Eh, keep yer shorts on, there'll be another 3rd Blind Biscuit Korn Hole album out 'terrectly.] So i'm amazed they pulled it off? And with such interesting results -- there really is something here for all kinds of tastes: from the breadth of musical influences displayed [a bit of Dylan, Lennon, Garcia, the Band, it could on and on] to the lyrical content [from the personal to the political].

Essential? You'd have to agree.

Remember; this is not Woody's music.
This cd at least makes me wonder how Woody would've done it. I think the vocals would be edgier, and clearer,easier to understand and remember, even after one listening, as I can when listening to actual Guthrie recordings. Perhaps some of the sappier melodies here might have been a little harder, a little more manly, for lack of a better term. As for the choice of Bragg; I'd sooner have some digitalizing freak collect all of the appropriate Woody syllables, and put them back together into the 'new' material. Second choice, Dylan. Third choice, somebody who's not Billy Bragg.

4.5 Stars.... Masterful Mix of Guthrie Lyrics and New Music
Nora Guthrie, Woody's daughter, thought it might be fun to have new music set to Woody's "lost songs" (lyrics to which Woody had music set in his head, but he never published the music). Billy Bragg and Wilco may make a curious, or at least not a very obvious, choice for the task, but boy, are they up for it!

"Mermaid Avenue" (15 tracks, 49 min.) is a true collaboration between the artists. Some songs find Wilco's Jeff Tweedy at lead vocal, Bragg on others. Music on some tracks is written by Bragg, others by Tweedy/Bennett, yet others by Bragg/Wilco. While I'm a huge Wilco fan, I must admit that the Bragg-written songs are more coherent within the Guthrie legacy. Check out for example the sparse "Eisler On the Go", and "Another Man's Done Done" (with Tweedy on lead vocal). The best is "Way Over Yonder in the Minor Key" (with Natalie Merchant on back vocals). Natalie also sings lead on "Birds and Ships". (So you really shouldn't be surprised by Natalie's fab collection of folk tunes "The House Carpenter's Daugther", issued independently last year).

In all, this is a terrific collection, which deservedly received a second volume as well. Recommended for fans of Billy Bragg, Wilco, Woddy Guthrie, and of course Bob Dylan.

I'll try to be brief, for a change
. . . If you are a Wilco fan and you don't have this album (and Vol. II), you should feel very silly, and buy this right now. It is absolutely sublime. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Last Broadcast sees Doves frontman Jimi Goodwin and multi-instrumentalist brothers Andy and Jez Williams soaring to new if perhaps grandiose heights. The thundering opening beat and spiraling guitars of "Words" are reminiscent of Ride at their bombastic peak, and "There Goes the Fear" has relentlessly reverberating Latin rhythms, New Order-influenced guitars, and sweeping vocals that are nothing less than breathtaking. Quiet reprieve comes with "M62," a delicate haunting reworking of King Crimson's "Moonchild," bizarrely recorded under the M62 flyover in Manchester, and its desolate atmospherics are juxtaposed against the remainder of the album. With the thrusting onslaught of "Pounding," the obligatory earthy rock of "N.Y.," and the joyous pastoral acoustic-led splendor of "Caught by the River," the Doves have crafted a liberating sophomore album that happily combines the uplifting anthemic essence of dance with good old rock & roll.--Christopher Barret ... Read more

Reviews (106)

Takes them to the next level
Doves are a unique band. Coming from a background in dance music (as the band Sub Sub), they applied their sensibilities in that genre to create a wholly original sound as a rock and roll band. They're compared to bands like Radiohead and Coldplay much too often, and Last Broadcast is proof of why.

Doves know how to make moody, ambient music. But what they've become masters at is taking their soundscapes and turning them into warm, full rock songs. Their debut, Lost Souls, was the beginning of Doves honing their sound. Here, on Last Broadcast, the band is tighter and more focused. A killer intro preps you for something astonishing, and when "Words" blasts in, it delivers. A clever riff enhanced by lush, rich production and a disctinct tone of optimism, "Words" leaves most gloomy Britpop bands in the dust (Travis and Starsailor, pack your things).

Following the reggae-tinged "There Goes the Fear," the haunting King Crimson rework "M62 Song" drifts in as if from an ancient AM radio. Beautiful in every way, it echoes the work of Nick Drake and other long gone troubadours without feeling out of place within The Last Broadcast's greater framework.

Some songs miss ("Satellites" is too long and meandering), but the last four songs are as good as it gets, particularly "Pounding," a pulsing, driving anthem sure to be playing on a movie soundtrack sometime in the near future. Where Lost Sould petered out as an album, Last Broadcast ends with "The Sulphur Man" and "Caught by the River," both powerful, atmospheric arrangements that leave you wanting more.

Fortunately, for some customers, there is more. Some editions of Last Broadcast contain a bonus disc with four extra songs. Seek it out. While the four extra songs are fittingly not included on the album, they are fun on their own, particularly "Hit the Ground Running," which is a Doves rehash of "Werewolves of London." Already big in England, Doves deserve a larger following here in the US. The Last Broadcast could be, and should be, their big breakthrough.

An individually brilliant album for the Doves
The Doves sophmore release, The Last Broadcast, bucks the traditional sophmore slump and takes it's place as a stunning version of Brit-pop. While not as dramatic, moody and brooding as the debut album, The Last Broadcast is definitely the Doves' chance to shine as songwriters and as musicians.

In comparison to their earlier release, Lost Souls, The Last Broadcast is definitely a happier and more accessible album. What the album lacks in dark honesty, it makes over tenfold in perfect songwriting.It almost reeks with pop motifs and has definite brit pop sound. A song like "N.Y." feels like a Blur song with Oasis pop, and "Satellites" is just riddled with gospel-influences, which instantly reminds me of Sting's last album. Those are just a few examples, at least. This doesn't detract from any of the songs (all of these influences are good), but it's not as groundbreaking or mood-setting as the debut. A song like "Pounding," which is my favorite track, has fairly basic guitar playing and musicality, yet has all the perfect hooks to draw the listener closer into the music.

While I am a devouted fan to their debut, The Last Broadcast is an ideal follow up and a perfect way for the Doves to become one of the focal points of the new brit-pop movement. Their songwriting and lyricism is still up to par, and any appreciator of just good rock and roll would immensely enjoy this CD.

what you stole my queen margaret stamp!!!!
this four is based entirelly on a few of the songs(words,satellites,pounding,last broadcast). this is probably because i am normally a fan of death, black, and doom metal (with a bit of rock thrown in because its good and to avoid being totally hated by scum who think they're better than me because they like things that lots of other people like as well). there are however a few CDs such as this which i like for no apparent reason that i or anyone else could ever explain. i don't know why i like it but if I do there is no good reason for anyone else in the world to not like it.

A Major Album
This is the second record by the much loved Doves. They are the greatest thing to come out of Manchester. Their first record Lost Souls was brilliant but often uneven. This time they went into the studio with the idea "Every song's got to be a killer." They were tired of being labelled as a dark and depressive band. They wanted to do music that was positive and upbeat, since now being miserable such a cop out. There's a new enthusiasm and confidence on the new record. The Last Broadcast is mostly self-produced. After the strange "Intro" the album moves into "Words" and that's where The Big Music starts. Even though it uses a U2 guitar riff, it goes on to something else. This is wake up and face the day music. This record makes you think about you life and hardly any music does that anymore.

Songs like "There Goes The Fear" and "M62 song" show their more folk side with a knowledge of prog rock. The first song sounds like coming off drugs and trying to enjoy life with them. Doves are great at creating distinct sounds that come to mean something over time and repeated listens. Mostly recorded in Manchester and Bath, "M62 Song" was recorded under a flyover and sounds like some of the weird songs Vincent Gallo did for Warp Records. Just as things get spaced out and mellow, Doves get loud and big again on "N.Y." that sounds like driving in the country music. Doves define their true sound here early on. It is a real mix of modern and the past, and there's no looking back now. The American release also comes with a bonus disc of four songs that includes a funny take on a Warren Zevon song.

The Second part of the album starts for me with "Satellites" that is a heartfelt ballad that is like a round. "Friday's Dust" is an even more impressive ballad. This is widescreen music for people who can look past the obvious. "Pounding" reinforces one of the main themes of the album: "Seize the time because it won't last forever...." This is done with a lot of building power. The title track is lighthearted ditty that becomes psychedelic at times. "The Sulphur Man" begins as a sort of religious song that could be played in a church. It is about this mysterious figure than seems as hard to put your finger on as this album is. This record is a great journey. It is a little deeper than something like Oasis. A song like the final track "Caught By The River" is like a little story about life itself. You are reminded that a lot has happened on this CD. Doves are finally a rock band that balances emotion and intelligence in a way that most of Britpop bands never could.

(www.freewilliamsburg.com)

Very good, but not as much as their debut
As much as their debut album was one of those rare jewels with practically no weak songs, this work by the Manchester band was not as solid all through it. However, it must be said it has several brilliant moments that make you think that their outstanding debut was beyond beginner's luck.

The album's three best moments are, literally, at the beginning (following the intro, with "Words" their more Coldplay-like track), midway through the album (with the beautiful "Satellites", followed by the tripping "Friday's Dust") and wrapping it all up, with "Caught by the river". Looking forward to their upcoming album, which they are recording at the time of this writing. For now, I leave them with four stars and recommend their "Lost Souls" and its counterpart B-sides album "Lost Sides" before this one. ... Read more

Album Description

Showtime’s critically acclaimed and highly rated original program Queer As Folk is back!The 4th season soundtrack is in stores June 22th and features 14 of the most memorable songs from this season. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

A nice change of pace...
It is no doubt that the current season of "Queer as Folk" has been targeting a much deeper degree of topics than the previous three seasons. So, even though it did come as a surprise, it is no doubt why the new Season Four soundtrack stands out on its own from the rest of the collection. This time around, there isn't the steady flow of dance music laced together in what has become an almost tedious fashion. Upon listening to the cd the first time, I was let down at this realization. I wasn't really sure what to think. However, it all quickly grew on me and I can now say that it comes as a nice change to a show that has grown and changed with us all over the years. The tracks are much darker... like the taste of what we were given on the second cd of the season three soundtrack. However, they still resonate better than the last. Not exactly "happy" music... much of the complaint ridden selections cover such experiences as lost love, death, and the other darker tones of this season's subject matter. Listen to it without the expetation of another club-dance collection and it is easily appreciated in its true form.
I have heard a lot of bad reviews for the cd. Mainly in the matter of people being disappointed that it does not fall into the same category as the last three soundtracks. To stay the same is boring. We need change! And, that is exactly what this cd does this time around...

2 stars because its a Queer as Folk CD
OK I admit I have got into a bit of a rut with the Q as F CDs and I have previously bought them and loved them for the dance tracks. I was disappointed with CD 2 from season 3 as it was not great dance music, most of it old and already in my collection. It was therefore with some trepidation I bought CD 4. Unfortunately for me season 4 continues the downward spiral of season 3 CD 2. I bought it on the strength of season 1, 2 and 3 (CD 1) and really wish I had had the opportunity to listen to it before purchase. Any crticism is a personal thing and not all will agree but I stand by comments I have made to friends such as it makes me want to cut my throat, its a bad T-rex cover etc.
I agree with the reviews that say the music in Q as F is an essential part in telling the story however people have bought the previous CDs on the strength of the club tracks and trying to get that Babylon / Woody's feeling. I feel cheated as this CD is such a complete change in direction and its not even good alternative music. Much of it is old and depressing, at least with seasons 1-3 when I listened I was always 'uplifted' as its 'happy' music.
This review is an edit of my original as I have re-listened to the CD since then trying to find something about it I like. Though I appreciate some of the tracks more now I still feel like I am listening to a Leonard Cohen CD.
For the sake of set completion I am glad I have season 4 but all in all it is very very very different from previous seasons and for those that just 'lurved' the soundtracks to season 1-3 you will probably be as disappointed as those of us who have given this 1 or 2 stars

QAF:S4 A Change in Direction and BPMs
I purchased Queer As Folk: Season Four spur of the moment thinking it would be a great summer Hi-NRG disc for listening in my car. After my initial disappointment, where I thought briefly of writing a "don't bother" type of review, I decided to really take a listen. After further consideration, I believe it makes for good listening, but not if your in the mood for a continuous bump and grind upbeat dance mix. There is nothing bad on this CD and it does have a number of dance-oriented selections, but some cuts are more worthwhile than others including Cue the Pulse to Begin by Burnside Project, Train by Goldfrapp, Understanding the New Violence by The Uncut which has an early 80's dance/new wave retro sound, the hilarious showbizzy/loungy If I Were a Man by Andrea Menard and the melodic Wonderful Life by Black, the main title cut from his 1987 release. Listening to the lyrics of Wonderful Life one can understand why it was chosen by the producers of the series. I hope our lives are more multi-dimensional than just going to the local cha-cha palace on Saturday night and the culture that surrounds it. The QAF:S4 soundtrack, while not a classic, proves that a change in direction can be a good thing. I applaud the producers of the series and the CD for taking chances and risking alienating fans which they have done here obviously. After all, the same thing over and over again is boring and not very creative.

COMING OF AGE
I believe this new CD is great! I know it's not anything like the other 3 seasons, but neither is the TV show. It's their "coming of age" and this new CD is exactly that. There is less dance club and more realistic (if that is the right word) music. It is more meaningful. There are, of course, still some club mixes and an awesome broadway-type tune on the CD. I think, if you love the show, you will love the CD.

What happened here?
I purchased the Season 4 soundtrack with anticipation of greatness and what I found was certainly a let down. This is the worst of all the soundtracks; I was expecting so much more. When they started this new season with this great new opening and the Cue to Begin song I thought wow. The music that is in the show is so much better than what they placed on the soundtrack. The mix that was chosen for Cue to Begin was a sad one and a major let down. The mix that is actually on the show is so much better and I guess that I was expecting to hear something similar. I would not suggest purchasing this seasons sountrack and hopefully they will hear our pleas for better music in the future. The first three seasons are worth the purchase. ... Read more

Amazon.com

With the swaggering chords of the opening "Rock'N'Roll Star," Oasis announced that big, brash Brit rock was here to stay--at least for a few years. They wore their rock & roll with an angry young sneer, a Mancunian petulance wedded to a vision of cathartic release. Their supersonic two-guitar attack took them "Up in the Sky," where they would "Live Forever" or burn out in a blaze of alcoholic glory. Noel Gallagher's songs weren't subtle--or shy of overt plagiarism--but, spat out in the Lennonesque snarl of little brother Liam, they took on a venomous power that had millions of young Brits taking them at their own arrogant word. In the U.S., meanwhile, the response was more Maybe than Definitely.--Barney Hoskyns ... Read more

Reviews (144)

The First and the Greatest
Okay this CD is back when Oasis was just one of those dumb bands struggling to keep up. But it's the best Oasis CD ever (not mentioning (What's the Story) Morning Glory)!
1. ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR-An awesome song with great vocals and great guitar.
2. SHAKERMAKER-An extremely rhythmic song. But my only complaint is that Liam (the lead vocalist) keeps repeating the words "Shake along with me" over & over
3. LIVE FOREVER-My 1st favorite with hand drumming and lyrics both soft and rocky at the same time.
4. UP IN THE SKY-A good song nothing really like it. But Liam get's a little high pitched with his singing.
5. COLUMBIA-It's guitar get's pretty loud at times but with a chorus worth remembering.
6. SUPERSONIC-My 2nd favorite song on the album. It has cool guitar work. And is just an awesome song.
7. BRING IT ON DOWN-See "Columbia"
8. CIGARETTES & ALCOHOL-A classic "Definitely Maybe" song with a resemblence to "Columbia" and "Supersonic".
9. DIGSY'S DINER-See "Columbia" and "Bring It On Down".
10. SLIDE AWAY-A great song that basically repeats "Let me be the one who shines with you" and "Why don't you slide away".
11. MARRIED WITH CHILDREN-A melancholy divorce song with awesome acoustic. (A great way to finish off a pop/rock album).

A too often underrated debut
In the States, most people know Oasis for "Wonderwall" and "Champagne Supernova" and other gems off their second album. Their debut album, DEFINITELY MAYBE, is arguably the better one, a wonderful combination of youthful attitude and catchy melodies.

DEFINITELY MAYBE displays all the promise that Oasis had when they were just starting (a promise that has since been betrayed by their mediocre most recent work). The ingredients: loud and aggressive guitar work from Noel, some timeless melodies, and the trademark sneer and arrogance in Liam's singing. Liam's voice seems even brasher in this album than it did in the follow-up, and it works darn well. The songs just exude confidence.

The best tracks are probably "Live Forever," "Supersonic," and "Slide Away." "Live Forever" is probably a better single than "Wonderwall"--great tune, great work by Liam. The melody is pure exuberance and arrogance, especially on the memorable chorus. "Supersonic" has a monster guitar riff, and it's one of the best pure rock songs they've ever done. "Slide Away" is a monster of a love song--loud, brash, but with lyrics and a melody that pull on your heart: "Now that you're mine / We'll find a way of chasing the sun / Let me be the one who shines with you / In the morning when we don't know what to do." The last track, "Married With Children," is quite soft and gentle. It says quite a lot that Oasis managed to pull off two such different songs ("Supersonic" and "Married With Children") on one album. There are a couple throwaway tracks ("Digsy's Diner" comes to mind), but overall the album is just as good as WHAT'S THE STORY (MORNING GLORY)?

This album is highly recommended to anyone who liked "Wonderwall" and the other singles off the second album. Both albums have their weak spots, but the strong songs compensate very well. Also recommended to Oasis fans: Travis's THE MAN WHO (similar melodically, but much quieter.)

Auspicious outrageousness and Oasis at their rawest!
Hands down the greatest debut album released by any artist, ever. Musically, this is Oasis at their rawest, hungriest, rather than sophisticated and musically advanced. The tracklist reads more like a greatest hits lineup as almost every track is memorable and unique. 'Rock 'n' Roll Star' is a fantastic beginning, and tells people to reach for their dreams. 'Shakermaker' is a Coca-Cola ripoff, but a damn good song. 'Live Forever' put Oasis on the map and remains one of their finest songs. "Up In the Sky" is the one song that's different than any others on the album , and it's a good one too. 'Columbia' is one of my personal favorites, simple lyrics and great execution musically. 'Supersonic' is one of the most popular Oasis songs till this very moment and their first single ever, solid drum intro until Noel tickles the Gibson. 'Bring It On Down' rocks harder than any song on the album, and Noel busts out the Gibson again for an amazing guitar solo in the final frame. 'Cigarettes and Alcohol' is about rock star excess, and still one of their best songs lyrically. 'Digsy's Diner' is the first in a line of bouncy late album tracks (She's Electric, Be Here Now) and it has very nice Liam vocals. Speaking of nice Liam vocals, 'Slide Away' is ten times better, and still one of the most heartfelt Oasis song, "Let me be the one/That shines with you/In the morning/When we don't know what to do" Noel pens and Liam pleads. Album ender 'Married With Children' is a mellow number, and it discusses discrepancies between lovers.

Overall, a fantastic album, and there is nothing like Oasis when they were young, very hungry, and also very talented. Not to say they're not talented now, but the raw energy that comes from reckless youth is induplicable (is that a real word? it is now!), and their music is far more mature and couth now so there is no use comparing apples and oranges. "Definitely Maybe" has definitely stood the test of time, and continues to do so. Oasis is hated, and highly underrated in the States but our English speaking buddies across the Atlantic know what's up, and they know and believe Oasis is a great band. "Definitely Maybe" is very highly recommended.

The Best Ever
Almost made a two word review: "Slide Away" The best vocals ever

other great tracks:
-Rock n' Roll Star
-Live Forever
-Columbia
-Supersonic
-Bring it on Down
-Cigarettes and Alcohol
-Maried With Children

Only complaint: They didn't include "Cloudburst"

Totally Mad Fer It
With this album Oasis made British rock n roll cool again. After the demise of fellow Mancs, The Stone Roses, the British rock scene grew stale. Definitely Maybe reignited it with cocksure arrogance accompanied with a pop friendly beat and rip roaring anthems. The working class had a band to answer "student" groups like Radiohead. Living in the "black economy", Oasis gave the rest of the world a glimpse into their lives much like Gangsta Rap gave white America a glimpse of inner city life. Songs like "Bring it on Down", "Supersonic", and "Cigarettes and Alcohol" spoke of a drug fueled existence. While "Rock N Roll Star" showed their self assured attitude. "Live Forever" is the stand out track and sums up the whole Brit Pop period so much so it was chosen as the title for a movie on the period. Noel Gallagher writes the songs but vocalist Liam Gallagher takes it and makes it his own, he could be the Ronald Reagan of 90's music scene. One of the best rock albums of all time I highly recommend it for any serious music fan. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Perhaps you weren't convinced of the Verve's staying power until recently. Before the release of Urban Hymns, skeptics wondered if they could ever match the explosive power of their earlier dedications. In 1995, most critics dismissed their offerings of the time as vapid, romantic excursions. To their credit, the Verve have sustained their shadow rock legitimacy while introducing string arrangements, piano fills, and slide guitar. Nowhere are these stirring traits more obvious than in the epic single "Bitter Sweet Symphony." Laying it on thick throughout the rest of the album with painfully engaging ballads, the Verve have crafted their most accomplished album to date, proving the longevity of their cultural resonance. --Lucas Hilbert ... Read more

Reviews (218)

When The Drugs Don't Work Try This Album
This is undoubtedly one of the best albums of the 90's. It contains two megahits - Bitter Sweet Symphony and The Drugs Don't Work. The latter I consider to be one of the best love songs ever recorded. Few other songs also rate very high - Sonet, Lucky Man, Space and Time and Velvet Morning.

The album is very consistent with an excellent sound, brilliant lead vocal by Richard Ashcroft and gentle and often psychedelic guitar by Nick McCabe. Ashcroft, an author of most of the songs, is at its peak as a songwriter. His songs at Urban Hymns are better than on the two previous Verve albums. He can write the most passionate and tender lyrics and then deliver them in his original way.

The Verve only recorded three albums, each of them better than the previous one. Urban Hymns is the last one after which the band broke up. If you like Urban Hymns then I recommend to go back and listen to the previous one called A Northern Soul (the song History itself is worth the money). Ashcroft's solo album from 2000 - Alone With Everybody is a good work too.

All Time Favourite
There are no words to describe "Urban Hymns"--all I can say is that it's the soundtrack to my life. When I first heard "Bittersweet Symphony" nearly five years ago, I almost fainted in rejoice, trying to imagine how any band was capable of such artistic beauty and lyrical perfection. Soon enough, the song became ubiquitous on both radio and TV, and its soaring melody of strings and double-whack beats will always remind me of that glorious time in music and in my life.

Beyond "Bittersweet Symphony," Richard Ashcroft and company craft a perfect, wondrous pop album that clearly outshines anything done by either Blur or Oasis. The songs here are so diverse, so perfect, so melodic, so touching, that they are inescapable after several listens--whether it's the soft acoustics of "Sonnet," the gritty rock of "The Rolling People," or the wah-wah funk of "Weeping Willow," The Verve paint a loose musical portrait with their psychedelic guitars, funky keyboards, and jazzy rhythm section.

To top it all, Richard Ashcroft adds his brilliant, emotionally extravagant lyrics. These are not the empty, meaningless meadenerings of Oasis or the pretenious, distopian musings of latter-day Radiohead, these are the bittersweet stories of Richard Ashcroft's life, his past drug use, and his rediscovery of spirituality and the fragility of life. He sings in a voice that is saturated with emotion and echoing of truth--never before have I heard lyrics that reflect any better the feelings of their writer.

"Urban Hymns" is phenomenal, and its fittingly bittersweet. It's an album that plays more like a giant oil painting, swimming in its color, perfect in its imagery, and undying in its message.

The best in my collection.
I got this CD two weeks ago, and it hasn't come out of CD player since. After I first heard Bitter Sweet Symphony, I knew I had to get it... that song is great on so many levels.

1. Bitter Sweet Symphony (10/10)- The violin music in the beginning sets the tone for the entire piece, and I love it. This has no competition- it's my favorite song.

2. Sonnet (9/10) I think I might be a little prejudiced with this song, because you can see what comes before it... it's a sweet song, but it doesn't really compare...

3. The Rolling People (10/10) I love this song, as well. It shows a different side of The Verve, and it's great, too. This one isn't slow... good contrast.

4. The Drugs Don't Work (9/10)- Very soulful.

5. Catching the Butterfly (10/10) 'I'm gonna keep catching that butterfly in that dream of mine...' great melody, and I love the lyrics...

6. Neon Wilderness (7/10) This song sounds like it wasn't finished... my least favorite. I usually skip through this one.

7. Space and Time (10/10) I love the 'I just can't make it alone' part of this song... makes my want to sing... or perhaps jump up and dance. Either one.

8. Weeping Willow (10/10) You never hear the lyrics 'weeping willow' in this song until the very end, but when you do, they really mean something. Not quite sure WHAT, but something...

9. Lucky Man (10/10)- I love this one, as well.

10. One Day (10/10) The lyrics and the song are both so sweet in this song...

11. This Time (8/10)- I like this one, but not quite as much as the others.

12. Velvet Morning (10/10) I love when the music changes from soft and slow to loud and a bit wilder... It's like, 'dumdumdumdumdum- ANOTHER VELVET MORNING FOR ME.' Kinda takes you by surprise. :)

13. Come On (10/10)- Perfect ending... 'Come along with our sound'. Fabulous.

End rating (drum roll, please): 123 stars out of 130. That's a pretty good percentage. Get this CD... I loved it. And, once you hear Bitter Sweet Symphony, you're pretty much sold already...

Urban CRAP.
Boring typical british new romantic crap. To say this album can stand the test of time is a joke! There are plenty of copies in the second hand record shops already! Anybody into this trash should get a life.

This Will Stand the Test of Time
This is one of those timeless albums that you can listen to now (six years after its initial release) and still enjoy it. Each of the songs still sound as fresh as today as they did back in 1997. With this album, the Verve hit a homerun.

I remember I was browsing through a CD store when I first heard "Bittersweet Symphony." It immediately caught my attention, and I stood rooted on the spot just listening. Very few times has an album jolted me like that, but this was one of those times. I asked the clerk who this was and he said that it was from the new album by The Verve. After "Bittersweet" was over, he told me to hold on and listen to "Lucky Man." It was after that I was sold -- I had to buy the album.

On this album, you get 13 little masterpieces -- there's not a filler track in the bunch. Besides the excellent songwriting, the production is outstanding. I haven't heard such a good mix of strings since Tony Visconti's work with T. Rex -- just listen to "Lucky Man," "Bittersweet Symphony," or "Sonnet" for proof.

The only downside is that the group broke up after this -- their finest moment! Of all the dumb luck. While Richard Ashcroft has gone on to do a couple of solo albums, they don't seem to capitalize on what The Verve had done on this album. Yes, he's the voice, the did much of the writing, but as the old saying goes: the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

Best album of the 1990's? This one, no question about it. After the Britney's, the Justin's, and all the other drivel from that era fades, this will be one of the albums people look back upon fondly. Rating: A+ ... Read more

Amazon.com

Riding high on the phenomenal success of A Rush of Blood to the Head, Coldplay is in peak form on Coldplay Live 2003. This CD/DVD two-pack was filmed (on Super-16mm film) and recorded in Sydney's Horden Pavilion on July 21 and 22, 2003, during an exhaustive year-long world tour, and the medium-sized arena provides a fitting stage for the London-based rock quartet, not so grand as to overwhelm the music, but large enough to indicate their large and loyal following, which includes enthusiastic fans of either gender. Especially when played in DTS 5.1 surround, this 90-minute concert is richer, thicker, and (of course) louder than Coldplay's studio recordings, lending a wall-of-sound expansiveness to the band's signature sound, which draws from such diverse influences as Genesis, Pink Floyd, The Verve, U2, and their own unique sonic landscape. "Politik" gets the gig off to a rousing start, and other impressive!highlights include "Daylight," "Yellow," the as-yet-unreleased new song "Moses," and the popular hits "In My Place," "Clocks," and "The Scientist." And while the concert visuals are slick and professional (perhaps placing a bit too much emphasis on singer/frontman Chris Martin), this DVD and CD--the latter containing a truncated 70-minute version of the same performance--are best appreciated for their pristine audio quality. Culled from 400 hours of home video, the 40-minute "concert diary" represents a wasted opportunity, enjoyable for hardcore fans but offering no insight into the band or its individual members. Much better, then, to play the concert at healthy high volume, and appreciate Coldplay in the prime of their young career. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (67)

Coldplay on top
I am a HUGE Coldplay fan and found this DVD to be well worth the money. For those who were unfortunate to miss out on seeing them live (like me) this does make you feel like you are in the audience watching them. And even though most of the members stayed relatively stationary throughout the songs(except when Chris thrashes around on stage to 'yellow'- when perhaps he should have stayed seated), the energetic lighting and multiple camera angles, not to mention Chris's passionate vocals, keep the mood vibrant and energised. Visually the concert is very good, and the music is excellent with some of the songs sounding better than they did in the studio recordings.

The only thing that was dissapointing was the tour diary. I am a huge fan of coldplay's music, but also their personalities. From the small amount of footage i have seen of them in interviews they all seemed like really funny and charismatic guys- especially Chris. So when i found out that there would be a behind the scenes documentary included in the DVD i waited with baited breath, desperate to get greater insight into their individual personalities and the way that they live. However,this documentary fails to do that. One of the most frustrating things about the diary is probably the fact that there is a lot of footage of them on stage, and considering that we already have access to a full concert i found this to be unneccessary and the time should have been used to showcase who they were as people. Also watch out for Gwyneth Paltrows blink and you'll miss it appearance on the documetnary (she was on tour with them at the time)

pale
Coldplay, like most English bands, doesn't really deviate from the studio version when playing live. This makes for a predictably likable set. With only two CDs it's too early for Coldplay to release a live recording. In the documentary (included on the DVD) you get the feeling that Chris Martin doesn't think his band will last. The U2 influence is undeniable especially considering how far the band has come in America in such a short time. It's also a testament to how bad the music scene is today.

The bonus CD is tracks from the same concert as the DVD and offers noting new.

For completists only.

-DW

Decent, but not nearly as good as other concerts
I am very picky about the concert CDs I buy, and this was no exception. I was a bit disappointed after having downloaded a handful of prior Coldplay concerts (as well as attending one). The songs add a little variety to the recorded versions, but not really enough to justify buying this set. Other groups (Dave Matthews comes to mind) have set the bar very high on producing variations on the originals, and Coldplay tends to stick to the studio formulas pretty closely. If you can ever find a recording of their 2002 concert at The Forum in London, it is a fine example of what this album should have been. The band is capable of a lot more, I'm just not sure why the label decided to use these particular tracks.

Left me wanting more
As a recent convert to all things Coldplay, I was hoping for more insight into the band beyond what I've heard on the album. What I got was a great live performance, with a couple new songs -- but it did not rise above. Don't get me wrong - I love the album - but I expect to hear a different side of the band on a live album. And I want to hear MORE of them. 40 minutes of audio? C'mon people, throw us a bone? Love the music, just want more of it.

Awesome!!!
I am a new fan and just love this CD/DVD. Haven't had a chance to view the DVD yet, but I have been playing the CD in SUV every day. ... Read more