The official NMA board
General Category => New Model Army => Topic started by: Guillaume on September 21, 2013, 10:40:59 AM
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For those who have received the cd...what do you think of the new album?
I've got it today in my box, i've just listened the album's first half for the moment (up to "Knievel" included) and i really like it.
A bit different sounding indeed, i really like the big, "pulsative" drum sound, very nice production, moody, atmospheric, a bit tribal, melancholic and melodic...
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First full listen, very impressive. The promised multi layered drum work stands out well. Agree with Barty, knievel is a beautiful piece of music. Qasrel Nil Bridge stood out for me to. March in September with the base on a proper player also very pleasing.
Those who want the heavy guitar sound maybe a little disappointed, but for me, I listen to all the albums on a regular basis, so this sound as a variant is good alternative.
I think this will be NMAs chill out album.
Was that Ceri doing a lot of the backing vocals on the songs. ?
:)
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Got 'Lean back and fall' on at the moment. That's going to grow on me too! As a whole the album has an atmosphere like a Leone film. Knievel is superb. The whole thing is like an aural film.
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As a whole the album has an atmosphere like a Leone film. Knievel is superb. The whole thing is like an aural film.
I also thought about that!
The album has a movie feel, shot in Cinemascope!
A bit of "Navigating by the stars" feel at times but with percussive drumming all round.
Don't you think that "Seven times" is a kickass song with wonderful, simple, touching lyrics about our up and down journey through life? wow!
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Pull the sun is soooo beautiful
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I think this will be NMAs chill out album.
Too early too soon to rate it properly but maybe it will stand the test of time like one of NMA's best albums alongside the mythic, legendary "Thunder and consolation". ;)
What i can say is that the sound is richer, more dense than the sound of some of the last albums...more various in its textures and moods maybe?
Pull the sun is soooo beautiful
Isn't it?
I also like the obssessive, anxious groove of "I need more time"...up to exploding into desperate voices and guitars at the end of the track.
"Knievel" is beautiful indeed, but it should have lasted a bit longer maybe..
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Halfway through now and absolutely adore it :)
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Hi Guillame. Before the cd turned up I've been watching the youtube stuff of the three new songs that were on there. Ceri absolutely batters that song on bass. In my first post on my album arrived thread I said it shades it as the best song. It has some damn fine competition though!
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I listened to the cd once. Felt nothing. Not a song took me. I didn't dive into the atmosphere of all of them. I told to myself shit! what's happening ? so i wanted to listen to the cd twice. I felt exactly the same. But as i already wrote here or on FB i'm more into Metal and Rock music at the moment so i have difficulties to be in the music and the new songs that are for the most of them quiet calm. Justin was right this new cd is very different from the last one. But for TIAGD (and all the others before that one) at first listenning i liked a few songs, i felt something. But for the last cd, no. The only thing i remember is the drum (great work on that). But didn't remember hearing a lot of guitars by Marshall, but it's a different CD from the last one, so that's why there's not much guitars. It's not the right moment to me to listen to Between Dog and Wolf, i can't really enjoy it because i'm in another musical sphere ;) maybe even surely if i listen to later (next month or next year) i will enjoy more songs. But what I know is not my fav NMA album. :/ Honestly i feel Between Dog and Wolf like it was a new JS and friends cd.
I know it's a lot of work for a band to create something new, something different and it's also very hard. I respect that, but sorry for me it's not the best. What is the most important is the band like what they do after it's good to know what people think of the album but if some persons like it or not it's not important and that's life ! A CD can't please everybody ;) if you're in a band and you want to please everyone, you won't like what you will do in music. So i repeat myself but if NMA like Between Dog And Wolf is the most important thing ! :)
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Hello Stephanie That's good and honest of you to say what you feel. A forum is made better with a counter view. I am sure others will also be disappointed from the lack of power guitar etc.
As far as I am concerned, its an album now in the set of NMA albums. Across that spectrum, you do have several different sounds reflective of the period they were made, and the changing of the line up co-writing. This one as I said earlier is perhaps their chill out album. Across the range of albums, you can find heavier guitar music if you want it, and some very fine ballads if you want that instead, or a raw more aggressive sound from the early albums.
I have always got the impression that Justin writes music more or less as he likes, rather than aiming for what he thinks people may want. If people like it great, if you don't, then don't buy it.
As you said, give it time. I have always found with albums that I now love, they have needed to be listened to several times before I get them.
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I've just listened to the album on the whole (finally ;D) and i understand the "Justin Sullivan and friends" feeling Stéphanie talked about but for me it's not really a problem because i think that Justin Sullivan's solo stuff ("Navigating by the stars") is his best accomplishment ever, ex aequo with "Thunder and consolation" ;)
"Between dog and wolf" is a bit of a strange album, experimental a bit like the very divise "Strange Brotherhood" was in 1998.
It's not perfect, it's maybe slightly too long and a bit wandering in places but i still respect the band to trying something a bit different from their usual rock, raw and more immediate sound (i mean..."Qasr El Nil Bridge", what a unique, unusual sound for a NMA track ;)), even if it has still the band's stamp (echoes or "Carnival", "Strange brotherhood" and "Eight", here and there)...sometimes i felt about "world music" too, Peter Gabriel, the album takes the risk to be atmospheric and less "in your face", somewhat more abstract, almost soundtrack like.
More later... ( "Ghosts" is an intriguing closing song, i like the lyrics, again)
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Not sure ???
Sounds Very drum machine and chanting!
Meditative 😲
But like most of the albums I have
Been unsure of , when I hear it live
I will be blown away again
Looking forward to that 👍
Amazing artwork on cover and sleeve
As usual
👏
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It's way too early for a proper review but anyway...
I listened to it about 5 or 6 times since Thursday and I like most of it, that's for sure.
Lean back and Fall is a bit boring, the rest is really intense.
Personal favorites are Horsemen, 7 Times, I Need More Time (I thinks that's the Peter Gabriel reference?!), Stormclouds (WOW!!!), Knievel, BDAW.
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By the way.., I know it's not a fu--ing drum machine
Sorry Mr Dean !!!
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Blown away! What an album!
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OK, just finished my third listen and I feel ready to post my thoughts...
Well, it's not an 'immediate' album. It mostly doesn't have the big choruses or fist-pumping tunes that will get people climbing on each others shoulders during the November dates, at least not on first listen. This is not an album that will give up all of its treasures on the first listen. If you're going to try and introduce a newbie to the wonderful world of NMA, this is probably not the album to do it.
But I bloody love it. Seriously and completely. Deffo in my top three NMA albums ever. One track that sticks in my mind is 'I Need More Time'... that sums up my life right now.
'Qasrel Nil Bridge' and 'Did You Make It Safe' are probably my favourites right now, but that may change as I listen to it more and more over the weekend...
Stephanie, I totally respect what you said about your feelings about BDAW. This is not a band who make the same album over and over again. If this one didn't tickle your fancy, I hope the next one will. For the record, I wasn't all that keen about 'The Love Of Hopeless Causes', which seems to be a huge favourite amongst NMA fans! ;)
To sum it up... IMO, it's 63 minutes of utter excellence that I will listen to over and over again between now and the November dates...
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Here's one I did earlier:
Right, here’s the procedure: The new NMA album has arrived, albeit only as a download so far which means that I have no lyric sheet or anything. I have burnt the songs onto a CD and I’m going to listen to it and review each song in real time. As long as the song plays I’m allowed to review it. So this is pretty much a first impressions exercise and subject to later change (especially after the live gigs!).
Horsemen: Tribal rhythm and some slide guitar to start, lyric snippet “On the far right they’re saddling up the horsemen” might be a reference to Nigel Farrage’s UKIP which would make this a political song; quite monotonous until the guitar sets in, NMA are a rock band, after all, quite sophisticated composition with some good backing vocals
March in September: Great start with some swirling organ sound, Michael on drums does the business as well, Ceri plays a great bass line which makes the memory of Nelson redundant; “So you tried to make family but nothing was given” unclear so far, probably one of Justin’s story songs about a person only he knows; great guitar solo (probably by Marshall) at the end and woo-oo-oo backing vox; texture of the song also enhanced by a violin (probably played by Ceri)
Seven Times: “Seven times sun, seven times rain”, might be a love song “It’s been too long since I walked with you”; another song dominated by the drumbeat, sounds quite commercial (a bit like Autumn), a very tasteful and not at all rocking guitar solo; I think this is the song during which Ceri plays the bodhran live
Did You Make it Safe?: Another one in the list of songs about people leaving their country (comp. Refugee and Another Imperial Day, not G&G because the leaving is not voluntary); interesting brass sound (Dean’s keyboards?) halfway through, “Did you make it safe to the promised place?” , overall a drum and keyboard song
I Need More Time: Another tribal drumbeat; Justin employs his Leonard Cohen voice (comp. Whites of Their Eyes and Someone Like Jesus); slow and brooding, “I need more time to make good on the promises”; again sophisticated backing vocals which makes it sound over-produced; some interesting use of the piano, though; last part speeding up like Red Earth but with much less guitar; the character in the song pleading with someone (“I need more time” ad infinitum)
Pull the Sun: Bass driven to start with, interesting rhythm guitar, bubbling drumbeat, lyrics obscure, bass still dominant which is not a bad thing but overall the weakest song so far, goes on for a bit too long
Lean Back and Fall: More of a traditional rock song albeit slow; chorus girls (sorry, boys) go wailingly “I’m falling again”; a typical NMA song
Knievel: Shows that Justin is a secret biker, it is about Evil Knievel, the recently deceased motorcyclist and stuntman; live sound and acoustic guitar at the beginning; “I was driving from the day I was born … I was always going too fast… Do they come to see a man fall or to to see him fly?”; crooned by Justin “Frank Sinatra” Sullivan
Stormclouds: The first real rocker, great guitar riff and organ accompaniment, “Desire is the point of everything… Here come the stormclouds”, has the potential to become a real anthem (like Island or Get Me Out and so many others), speeds up at the end to a great crescendo
Between Dog and Wolf: the title track, named after a medieval French expression for dusk when you don’t know if the animal approaching is one or the other; eerie keyboard and percussion at the beginning; Justin crooning again (in general, the vocals are high up in the mix on the album); comes into its known with the fast and driving chorus, another one which should be great in a live setting; percussion solo (maybe played by Ceri) at the end
Qasr El Nil Bridge: A song about a geographical landmark like La Push and Marrakesh; Arab voices to start with, building up slowly until the drums set in; good story song, quite commercial, some Arabian sounding string instrument is discernible in the mix but ultimately driven by the drumbeat, again quite sophisticated backing vocals; final part of quite a long song (7 minutes!)includes some killer improvisation and speeds up considerably to a climax, another highlight of the album
Tomorrow Came: a straightforward rock track of the faster variety, good stuff, Marshall’s guitar upfront in the mix; more of these, please!
Summer Moors: slow and bluesy, dominated by acoustic and slide guitar, another sad love song like Dawn and Turn Away “You were so much in love with her … you were just another setting sun”), excellent stuff
Ghosts: drums and handclasps to start, lyrics seem to be about the end of a relationship (like Long Goodbye), “The ghosts [of a former relationship – my interpretation] are part of us”, of the slower variety
So there you have it, 14 songs in 65 minutes and well worth the wait of 4 years since Today Is A Good Day. The album will take time to grow on me unlike TIAGD , High and Carnival which pretty much caught my ear straight away. Methinks, Justin and the boys wanted to challenge the fans with this one and they have certainly achieved it (if indeed this was their aim). The proof of the pudding lies in its eating so roll on the live gigs!
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Hmmm very different. Very different indeed.
The first three tracks having been previewed live on the mini tour in May (or previously) I have 'got' and love, specially Horsemen and also Seven Times.
This though will not be every NMA fan's thing and I admire Stephanie for being candid in her views. It feels a bit like a concept album to me but I gave it a first spin on a papery Bush CD player in our kitchen after it dropped through the letter box late morning today and have just played the first three tracks on my Kenwood stack system next door which has VERY bassy speakers and the production and drums sound f***ing amazing. Can see what JS means about it being sonically the best thing the band has ever produced.
I also recall JS saying once that cars were made for listening to music in while driving and I intend to get this on full vol on the commute in on Monday a.m. for a fully immersive and uninterrupted and extremely LOUD listening experience. Look forward to that. My car speakers won't like the drums (and this is the second set as I blew the first due to my love of loud music in the motor..)
On an interruptedbythekidsfirstlisten, Knievel was a real stand out. Storm Clouds wasn't as good as a review I had read lead me to believe it would be. And I Need More Time to not only decipher but differentiate the rest.
Horsemen feels like a Carnival type of Red Earth style track so familiar territory. The rest is very new ground for the band I think.
Not sure how it will work out on the road for the tour dates over the next couple of months but it will be interesting to see how the band achieve that.
I think the band needed to try something different this time after their 'rock band in a room' phase and it is clear that they have done that very thing with BDAW. Of the latter NMA albums, I loved Eight and Carnival instantly, High very quickly, TIAGD about as quickly. But this thing of some considerable labour of love by the sounds is gonna take time and attention to love in the same way that I have loved all NMA albums before it. If it's gonna be the NMA chill out album to end all NMA chill out albums then so be it. I have always loved Justin's ballads right from the early days.
The long awaited new album experience was slightly spoiled by a page in the CD booklet being faulty, have heard someone else has the same issue. Apart from that Joolz's artwork is the usual high standard, and it was a nice touch by the band to sign a limited number of these for those of us who care about such things and in lovely gold pen too!
Not had the best of weeks professionally, so maybe that's coloured my judgment on a murky pre autumnal day and when I blast the car stereo on Monday all will be well with my NMA world.
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Have to say I'm with Stephanie on this one...
Production is fantastic, sounds are lovely but the album is boring. Doesn't flow, has no variation in intensity or tempo and very little dynamic. I can see the songs from it being okay 3/4 of the way through a live set, before the big build up at the end, but otherwise I think it's eminently forgettable.
Was hoping for something packed with songwriting, but that seems to have been forgotten about somewhere.
Sorry!
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Listening the first time. Im triying to hold my first thoughts. In a view days I will post a second review.
Sounds like, NMA has not yet refilled their repertoire of instruments and drums und bass have to unwind this problem an fill the songs ... ;D A lack of guitars and where is the snare-drum? Until "Pull the sun". The first association on Knievel" ist the album "Eight". Too early to explain why. I looking forward the expierience, how they will arrange this songs live in concert.
Experimental. Atmospheric, This is what they said/announced. 8) But at the moment I'm assuming, up to Knievel, the songs become more familiar with that, what NMA did at the Albums of the last decade.
But the first listen is not enough to say worthful words about this album. Anyway I did.
About me: I'm from Franconia as a part of Bavaria/Germany. I'm living near to Nuremberg. And so I have visited all gigs of NMA around this region since the early Nineties. I assume, the next concert in Nuremberg at October 18th will be Number ten. 8)
Excuse me, I'm not very good in english language. I would give me a great pleasure, if someone will give me a feedback, wheter my post is difficult to understand or not. Did I express myself cumbersome?
P.S.: But why Im associating this album with "Eight"?
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I would say it takes any album at least a year to bed down enough for the listener to really review it....for me, songs take a long while to truly reveal themselves and their intricacies. That said, I can usually quickly identify songs I'll never like.
My very early thoughts on Between Dog and Wolf are that it's got huge potential to be my absolute favourite NMA album, which is no mean feat.
Early stand out tracks are:
March in September (very familiar thanks to the live performances but a classic song with a great melody)
Seven Times (as above - but the lyrics hit home for me even more)
I Need More Time
Pull the Sun
Knievel (potentially the best NMA song ever written)
Between Dog and Wolf
Summer Moors
Gonna play it again loads tomorrow and forever......at this early stage, I'm seriously impressed. Love the artwork and packaging too. Well done to all concerned!
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Listening the first time. Im triying to hold my first thoughts. In a view days I will post a second review.
Yeah right with this, will do the same myself after a few (or a lot) more listens
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Difficult one.
Certainly not a bad album at all, and 'sonically' it's excellent and the production is obviously top-notch. There are some very decent songs on the album, and there are probably four or five that stand out for me.
However, not sure there are any that are going to be crowd-favourites at gigs. Yes, there are some that are good live (March in September and Seven Times, obviously). The album is certainly different, which isn't a bad thing. I was hoping for a few 'States Radio' and 'Disappeared' songs amongst the mix - some belting rock tracks that are excellent live and shake things up a bit on the album.
Will probably be a 'grower' (rather than a... 'show-er'?) - and like I said, from my first handful of listens, there are certainly some good tracks. It feels that some of the songs are being held back a bit. Stormclouds is almost brilliant, but feels like it could have been taken up another gear with some unrestrained guitar from Marshall or some drumming from Michael like on Ocean Rising. Between Dog and Wolf is one of my immediate favourites on the album as well, but also feels like it needed to be 'let loose' a little.
Anyway, it's a very good album, but I'm being hyper-critical as I was hoping for something that would blow my socks off and leave me speechless. It isn't that.
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Excuse me, I'm not very good in english language. I would give me a great pleasure, if someone will give me a feedback, wheter my post is difficult to understand or not. Did I express myself cumbersome?
Crystal clear franconian. Not cumbersome at all. I wish my German was as good as your English!
And the album - Blimey it's only a bloomin' masterpiece!!!! It's no easy to compare it to previous albums, as I'm not now where I was then. But for where I am now, it sounds amazing. Less an album, more a perfectly laid out emotional and reflective journey...
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Just given it a second go... Awful. Tried and tried to like it but it sounds like the middle part of a NIN double album on Mogadon.
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I've listened to it a couple of times now and it's growing on me, it's not my favourite album but there are some good tracks on there. March in to September and Seven Times for me are the highlights but placing them so close together makes the rest of the album a bit of a difficult listen as it's a bit dark....shuffle helps though :)
I remember feeling like this about Carnival and 8ight though too when I wished the sound was more like T&C and Impurity and now with time they're like an old friend to me.
This album doesn't smash you in the face like TIAGD did,but the tracks are far more complex and gripping in a different way. I love the way each album has changed direction over the years as the band have grown and made their way through changes and challenges.
One things for certain, it'll divide the fan base on its merits :)
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It is 3 in the morning. I listen for the 5th time. There is genius here. Qasr El Nil Bridge. How can anyone write that song. And the passion. The goddamn passion. Vengeance is 33 years gone. No one releases music like this after all this time. Vital.
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This album has lured me out of my long-term lurkdom. I think it's fantastic. Someone on the German board said it sounds like a cross between Carnival and Navigating By The Stars and I can see why. Lots of highlights here. Qasr El Nil Bridge is quite possibly one of the most amazing songs the band has ever written. I can see how some people will struggle with the overall tribal, almost hypnotic vibe of many of the songs but I love it. Respect and thanks to the band for staying true to themselves and continuing to write music full of passion and thought. Shame I can't make any of the concerts. Maybe we'll get the promised Oz/NZ tour after all...
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"Seven times" is so addictive, very simple riff and melody, the drum sound adds greatly to the flavour... a cracking track, love the lyrics...this song is really what NMA is about for me overall, endlessly praising the beauty of life, even if our lives can be so harrowing at times.
Same for "March in September"...both of these songs are vintage NMA, the most typical stuff we are used with them on the album.
OK, just finished my third listen and I feel ready to post my thoughts...
Well, it's not an 'immediate' album. It mostly doesn't have the big choruses or fist-pumping tunes that will get people climbing on each others shoulders during the November dates, at least not on first listen. This is not an album that will give up all of its treasures on the first listen. If you're going to try and introduce a newbie to the wonderful world of NMA, this is probably not the album to do it.
I totally agree.
I think that it is the album that is going to divide the fan base, like "Strange Brotherhood" before it.
Albums like "Thunder and consolation", "The ghost of Cain", "High" and "Eight" were addictive right from the start (i tend to think that NMA are often at their best when they are at their most "simple"), albums like "Strange brotherhood", "Carnival" and "Between dog and wolf" are not as "easy".
That's strange, i think that the album doesn't completely flow, it "lacks" something for me but in the same time i think that most of the songs are fine songs, well written and well made:
the drum beat of "Horsemen" and the sound of this song overally haunting, "March in September" and "Seven Times" true NMA classics, i like the drama, movie cinemascope intensity of "Did you make it safe?", the anxious mood, despair and obssessive rythms of "I need more time", the raw feel of "Knievel", "Qasr el Nil Bridge" also an unusual and quite beautifully made song, a bit out of this world, etc ;)
Lean back and Fall is a bit boring
It doesn't really fits with the rest of the album, the sound and mood a bit different...it should have been more fit on "Lost songs" or "The love of hopeless songs".
I also think that "March in September" sounds different from the rest of the album.
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Have to say I'm with Stephanie on this one...
Production is fantastic, sounds are lovely but the album is boring. Doesn't flow, has no variation in intensity or tempo and very little dynamic. I can see the songs from it being okay 3/4 of the way through a live set, before the big build up at the end, but otherwise I think it's eminently forgettable.
Was hoping for something packed with songwriting, but that seems to have been forgotten about somewhere.
Sorry!
Totally respect your opinion but I think the album is wonderful, ok I have only listened about 5 times now and yes its different but I am glad its different, NMA have always diversified to some extent and are a better band for it. Maybe it will grow in time for you Jack??
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I've listened to it 5 or 6 times now and it's growing and growing into an absolute treasure......I love the fact that the band keeps moving forward and doing what they want to do, rather than simply setting out to create something they know their fans will love. It's good to see NMA continue to live outside their comfort zone.
It's shaping up to be a masterpiece.
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Listened to it over and over, and must say I love it. A great cd to listen to with headphones on and whisky in hand. It is different but then again that's not a bad thing. Some of the criticisms seem harsh to the point of 'toys out of pram' if you don't like it, fine, but I find it hard to see the point of questioning the song writing etc.
I never play Carnival, but that's just my taste, doesn't mean its crap.
The band are obviously proud of it, positive reviews across the board, shed load of gigs arriving, magazine on the shelves. Not many bands with this history can say all that, and produce an album of this diversity. Not many bands get reviewed in Classic Rock and Rock Sounds at the same time, (apart from AlterBridge!), so top effort for the publicity machine as well.
Many of these tracks could work as the Justin / Dean acoustic sets? Well done all involved, and yes, one of my booklet pages is torn but hey ho, still amazing artwork and a great package. Right, back to it again..
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Listened to it over and over, and must say I love it. A great cd to listen to with headphones on and whisky in hand.
I listened to it with headphones on yesterday and today I've listened to it loud through my B&W's with a REL Sub banging out the drums and Ceri's Bass and it's a totally different listen ! The drum lines are becoming almost intoxicating !
This CD is growing on me rapidly!
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fantastic.
favourite track so far "Pull The Sun".
be interesting to see how the dyed in the wool punks take to it, especially live. This IS a punk record.
Completely agree with the sentiment of "Tomorrow Came" too. Sums up perfectly what more and more are beginning to feel.
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Having just finished listening to the album for the first time, I can't help feeling quite a bit disappointed. It feels like I was waiting for something to start, for any kind of connection to the music I was listening to, but unfortunately nothing happened. This doesn't mean that the album is bad, just that it lacks something exciting to pull me in.
I do like the drumming. Some passages reminded me of Red Earth, but perhaps that's exactly where the feeling of "something is missing" comes from. That song built up a kind of dynamic that I instantly loved.
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Good album, I'll give it 6/10
best album since Love of Hopeless Causes??? debatable.
I really like the drums on the album
favourites so far are March in September, Seven Times, Lean Back and Fall and Tomorrow Came
I guess after hearing March in September and reading about the people involved in the production I was perhaps hoping for a few more rocking numbers.
It is definitely a grower and maybe when I hear the songs played live I will start liking a few more.
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On about 5th listen now and love it even more every single time, it is already comfortably ensconced in the top 3 and heading possibly for the very top!
What is interesting is the split out of this admittedly small number of reviews, it seems as my 3 fave albums before this are Strange Brotherhood, Carnival and High that it should be more up my street.
Always moving on and always challenging the listener, NMA have been doing this for over 30 years now, lets hope it continues for many more.
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Totally respect your opinion but I think the album is wonderful, ok I have only listened about 5 times now and yes its different but I am glad its different, NMA have always diversified to some extent and are a better band for it. Maybe it will grow in time for you Jack??
Don't get me wrong, I don't suddenly hate the band or anything like that - I just can't get my head (or heart, come to think about it) around this new album. I'm obviously in the minority here, but that's okay. I don't begrudge NMA making BDAW, as you have to make the music that's in your heart at the time, and be true to yourself rather than just knock out another album in the image of your best-selling previous ones.
I've tried it again today and am still very underwhelmed by it. I can't see it growing on me much as I can't think of a circumstance where I'd want to listen to it, so I probably won't play it very often at all.
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Totally respect your opinion but I think the album is wonderful, ok I have only listened about 5 times now and yes its different but I am glad its different, NMA have always diversified to some extent and are a better band for it. Maybe it will grow in time for you Jack??
Don't get me wrong, I don't suddenly hate the band or anything like that - I just can't get my head (or heart, come to think about it) around this new album. I'm obviously in the minority here, but that's okay. I don't begrudge NMA making BDAW, as you have to make the music that's in your heart at the time, and be true to yourself rather than just knock out another album in the image of your best-selling previous ones.
I've tried it again today and am still very underwhelmed by it. I can't see it growing on me much as I can't think of a circumstance where I'd want to listen to it, so I probably won't play it very often at all.
Strange isn't it? We all love the band yet we all have our own likes and tastes. I for one never got on too well with Carnival yet some have it as their fav? I have listened to BDAW through headphones and the album comes alive so that might be worth a try! Keep the faith!
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I've wait for this album long time - so much different from others LP - but sounds very good.
Between Dog and Wolf and Quasr El Nil Bridge are masterpiece songs. I hope NMA will play this songs in Warsaw Gig :) And dont play Horseman please...its worst song on this Album
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first time i played it I really enjoyed the first 3 songs then I kinda drifted away from listening if that makes sense.
I have listened to it a good few more times and i found that if i played it in random order each time different tracks stood out. Also, at first i thought the Knievel song had a very strange subject matter, but I am coming around to it as I now think the chorus is about more than just Knievel, I think this album is a grower due to most of them telling a very well described story and the more you listen to the songs the more you will understand the story. What makes this standout from any other NMA album is/are the backing vocals, thought i was listening to the Bee Gees at one point ;D This might not make sense but i think the understated guitar from Marshall shows he knows how & when to play.
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listened to BDAW a lot the past 2 days - now Carnival on typing my review
BDAW needs some time to grow and it`s worth - I love it more and more
Horsemen, March In September, Seven Times -easy to get in
Then it starts - the ghosts of the past - never do a song twice - and yes, it`s a new song, no cover - but beginning with the start of
Did You Make It Safe reminds me of?
As if some snips left writing an older song, can do it much better and now here is ...
I Need More Time - I`m a fan of Archway Towers - perfect
Pull The Sun - will it be played live moren often than Sooner Or Later? Hope so - And me, I`ve got a black place in my heart, my favourite chord, my favourite card that I draw every time on these occasions - goosebumps
Lean Back And Fall - `til now Peakariri Beach was the only song I can`t into, LBAF could be the next one
Knievel - the beginning (sound, not lyrics) reminds me of ?
Stormclouds
BDAW - fine, but this foggy Blue Beat feeling
Qasrle Nil Bridge - perfect
Tommorow Came - but this fuggy ghost of Fireworks
Summer Moors and Ghosts - ok, but NMA live?
I love the album and will listen it for the next days `til the tour starts and waiting for the live versions and very interested, how they will work and grow
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Can I just say that the comments I'm reading make me so bloody proud to be part of this forum?
I'm active on a lot of forums (mostly movie-related... I'm a huge film geek) and, quite often, if you say something that doesn't agree with someone elses view, you're likely to get a torrent of f-bombs and c-words and possibly dispariging comments about your mother...
Here, everyone respects everyone elses viewpoint and comes back with a calm, reasonable response. ;)
With that in mind, and despite your varying opinions, I hope you'll all still be coming to the November dates because even if you don't like a song in its recorded version, sometimes they truly come to life when put on a stage. Example... I wasn't all that keen on 'Mambo Queen...' when I heard it on the CD, but on the TIAGD tour, it blew me away.
Anyway, I raise an Internet glass, full of whatever your favourite tipple is, to all you fellow Forum-ites!
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I agree. Glad those who don't like it, or still feel unsure should feel free to say so.
All I would want to stress to them is give it time. I have played albums in the past, hated them, then tried them again in the future, and eventually you start to get it. Its the sign of a good album. Those are the types of albums you eventually rate as the best.
Charty pop music is designed to be catchy and simple, and you get that stuff straight away.
I don't think you can really review this album properly for a week or two after several listens
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Can I just say that the comments I'm reading make me so bloody proud to be part of this forum?
Anyway, I raise an Internet glass, full of whatever your favourite tipple is, to all you fellow Forum-ites!
Right back at ya !
One Tribe..........One Family
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I have read every comment and it's killing me. I have not got my copy yet!!!
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So it was here for me yesterday afternoon when I got back from Archery.
First listen through and although pretty good and still NMA not really that many grab you moments. To be honest going back in for a second listen there wasn’t a stand out track I was waiting for. Then off for a dog walk and I found myself humming and singing little snippets. I thought that was a good sign. Third time through while cooking dinner after which was still a bit underwhelmed but those snippets started getting bigger and more frequent during the evening. Conclusion at bedtime was that yeah it’s ok and tomorrow a proper blasting listen in the car down to Bexhill (which, handily enough, is about an hour’s drive).
There and back again is 2 listen thru’s at massive volume and another one now while writing this and it's a different beast. ******* hell but this is an epic album. The layers, textures and sounds swirling around in here are awesome. Great sweeping vistas that if filmed would be some classic “Filmed In Panavision” Western through to small-scale stories of the personal. And music wise? Pounding Rhythms, Psychedelic Wigouts, Metal Moments, Soundscapes and gentle chill-outs it’s all in there somewhere.
I’m no walking muso-encyclopedia, I don’t know enough references and I don’t know how you would describe this album but in no particular order the music I’ve heard echoes of in here be it sound or feel are: NMA, Florence & The Machine, The Doors, Gary Numan, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Pink Floyd, Fields Of The Nephilim, Ozric Tentacles, Pearl Jam, Sisters Of Mercy, Adam & The Ants, Metallica and something orchestral/symphonic I can’t quite put my finger on and it’s pissing me off that I can’t. And I can’t tell you something else it sounds like.
Lyrically and theme wise I think there are familiar things in here. Family life, moving-on, love, frustration, anger and fear of the future but they’re wider and older. Besides, there’s more to find in here than that. In terms of Albums: A mix of Carnival, Navigating By The Stars and Thunder & Consolation is, I think, the best that I can do. It is also ******* brilliant.
I so didn’t want to come here and sound all fawning and gushing but I really am loving this album. I’m not hearing a weak track and it is so well done. There’s definitely “pit songs” and there’s “Eyes Closed Lose” yourself songs. Brighton? Bring It On…Bring It On…. Bring It On….
x
p.s. Sorry if, again, I’ve indulged my tendency to dribble on when a few words will do.
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I've put far more than my two pennyworth in here already, but I keep finding different things here that I like. "Lean Back and Fall" has more passion and such a vocal intensity. Each time I listen, I hear something I didn't quite get last time. Dark Side of the Moon is supposed to be Wizard of Oz to music. This is a spaghetti western or No Country for Old Men or Alien. It creates a n atmosphere and sustains s it for the duration. I have been here since Vengeance. Only my opinion, but this is their best album.
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Can I just say that the comments I'm reading make me so bloody proud to be part of this forum?
I'm active on a lot of forums (mostly movie-related... I'm a huge film geek) and, quite often, if you say something that doesn't agree with someone elses view, you're likely to get a torrent of f-bombs and c-words and possibly dispariging comments about your mother...
Here, everyone respects everyone elses viewpoint and comes back with a calm, reasonable response. ;)
With that in mind, and despite your varying opinions, I hope you'll all still be coming to the November dates because even if you don't like a song in its recorded version, sometimes they truly come to life when put on a stage. Example... I wasn't all that keen on 'Mambo Queen...' when I heard it on the CD, but on the TIAGD tour, it blew me away.
Anyway, I raise an Internet glass, full of whatever your favourite tipple is, to all you fellow Forum-ites!
Wholeheartedly agree with you, Master Ray. Will see you In Buckley, Manchester and Bilston next month and Nottingham in December!
Okay, so this album hasn't done it for me so far, but NMA are still NMA and that's one thing that will never lose its' appeal for me.
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I also recall JS saying once that cars were made for listening to music in while driving
JS is right, I played again the album last night while driving in my car and it really "did" it for me.
The mood was perfect, it evokes lots of feelings...at its best the album is a great ride, quite hypnotic ( "I need more time", "Did you make it safe?", "Qasr Nil Bridge", "Pull the sun"), the "sound design" is really ace, very surrounding aural cinematic landscape, one of the best production for a NMA recording...there are 2 or 3 songs that are a bit less effective than others, but overall i think that it is a very good, solid album.
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For me, BDAW is an immense album, it is easily up there as one of my favourites.
At first I was very nervous about what it would be following the comments that it was going to be something different and not rock band in a room.
First listen and I had it on pretty loud in the car, both me and my girlfriend had immediate reservations about some of the tracks, I particularly struggled with the hammered dulcimer 'twangs' at the start of the track 'BDAW' as it reminded me of an old clock my Gran used to have! I then had the chance to listen to it twice through headphones on a return train journey that lasted an hour each way (handy) ;) Put simply, it blew me away. I have not been so excited by and instantly immersed in an album for a very long time. I heartily recommend playing it through headphones, the superb production and quality of musicianship shine out.
Listened to some of it again on the bus this morning, headphones in and volume cranked up, it gets better with every listen.
Superb work by all involved, something they are no doubt hugely proud of.
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Very different, but also what I expected........
Some of the songs have an air of "desert songs" about them, which is what the talented Mr sullivan had intended as a follow to Navigating By The stars. Not sure if they are the same ideas or not? Either way some really interesting stuff. I can see it being hard to translate into live versions on some tracks aswell. Not all, but some.
So far Kneivel, Stormclouds, Pull The Sun and Between Dog And Wolf itself stand out....... No doubt that'll change, though Kneivel has such pull I think it'll stay in my psyche like Marrakesh has from the first listen.....
Basically it is everything that was described, big, original, uncompromising, typical-atypical NEW MODEL ARMY......
it's why we love them isn't it?
More guitars and a an out n out blaster maybe would've got it over the 9 out 10 rating........ But I'm a Les Paul/amp on 11 through a 4 x 12" cabinet kinda guy...... ;D
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I do like the drumming. Some passages reminded me of Red Earth, but perhaps that's exactly where the feeling of "something is missing" comes from. That song built up a kind of dynamic that I instantly loved.
Think this is a similar sentiment to mine (if I'm reading it correctly). Some of the songs on BDAW could have shot straight into my all-time NMA Top 10 list (constantly changing list though it is) if they'd reached that climatic 'top-gear', but instead it does feel as though they are holding back a little. Lots of foreplay without the mind-blowing climax? :o
That said, did enjoy listening to it throughout the afternoon yesterday and definitely one to be listened to on headphones or in the car at an appreciable volume. The lyrics are typical Justin, and the actual music is technically very, very good. Looking forward to hearing some of the tracks (Stormclouds, Qasr El Nil Bridge, and BDAW in particular) at the live gigs. They might come into their own then.
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I absolutely LOVE it. I'm currently only on my third listen, but it has been totally immediate for me.
This album has reached in, grabbed my heart, and given it a good squeeze. I think it's absolutely epic, and I can't wait to get to know it more and more.
I can understand why some people don't like it - and in fact, the "difficult" albums that divide fans are often the ones I love the most. But, for me, this is right up there with their best.
It seems to distill so many things they've done in the past, combine them, and take it all up another level. Really adventurous, musically, with beautiful lyrics and cracking good tunes.
I'm excited about this one. I think there will be some cracking live tunes, too - I'd be surprised if Stormclouds isn't one of them. :)
Really interesting to read everyone else's opinions, too.
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I do like the drumming. Some passages reminded me of Red Earth, but perhaps that's exactly where the feeling of "something is missing" comes from. That song built up a kind of dynamic that I instantly loved.
Think this is a similar sentiment to mine (if I'm reading it correctly). Some of the songs on BDAW could have shot straight into my all-time NMA Top 10 list (constantly changing list though it is) if they'd reached that climatic 'top-gear', but instead it does feel as though they are holding back a little. Lots of foreplay without the mind-blowing climax? :o
"I need more time"??
This one has a brillant build up to an explosive climax, IMO...also the ending of "Qasr el Nil bridge" is unexpected.
It seems to distill so many things they've done in the past, combine them, and take it all up another level. Really adventurous, musically
true...in fact the adventurous side makes most of the sound of others albums "thin", small and minimalist somewhat...especially the 2/3 first NMA albums!
"Between dog and wolf" is a bit to "Today is a good day' and others last NMA albums what "Thunder and consolation" was against the early "punk" albums...it's richer in moods, textures, a more dense, wide sound.
I guess that next NMA album will be more minimalist, i don't know if the drum orientated soundtrack feel of the last album can work twice! ;)
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Totally agree about listening in the car at full volume.First listen was on a laptop(Not a good idea but I couldn't wait)reading the lyrics as it played.Nothing immediately blew me away,but I've learned that sometimes the songs that don't do it first time,end up being my favourites.Fast forward to today,driving.WOW.loved it.Still some tracks a bit iffy but only played it 3 times.Found myself missing the first 3 tracks to get at the REALLY new stuff.Really love Knievel,Qasr el nil bridge and Tomorrow came but for me the title track had me out in goosebumps.I'm sure after more listens the rest will fall into place.As the man says"I need more time" :)Time for another spin in the car ;D
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Totally agree about listening in the car at full volume.First listen was on a laptop(Not a good idea but I couldn't wait)reading the lyrics as it played.Nothing immediately blew me away,but I've learned that sometimes the songs that don't do it first time,end up being my favourites.Fast forward to today,driving.WOW.loved it.Still some tracks a bit iffy but only played it 3 times.Found myself missing the first 3 tracks to get at the REALLY new stuff.Really love Knievel,Qasr el nil bridge and Tomorrow came but for me the title track had me out in goosebumps.I'm sure after more listens the rest will fall into place.As the man says"I need more time" :)Time for another spin in the car ;D
right, well I did what I said and played it extremely loud on the way into work and extremely f***ing louder on the way home from work (part of the way with the windows down to treat the unbeknowing public!
Getting there, I think Storm Clouds and BDAW will translate well live as will, as I suspect Tomorrow Came and I Need More Time. It is a very well recorded album although despite the quite epic multi layered drum tracks, I was dying for Marshall to let rip the entire way through.
Live, when they play some of the aforementioned he can and will so it will be a different proposition I'm sure.
Brilliant lyrics as ever from JS but the production for me does hold back a bit. Some of the songs feel like a development of some of the directions Carnival and Eight hinted at. But what I always liked about songs like Flying Through the Smoke, Red Earth and Carlisle Road is the guitar did let rip in a nice controlled finale sort of way, lacking here by and large.
The drum production did cause a pleasing vibration of the door units and rear view mirror (never replaced properly after a chipped windscreen)!
So it's all good here, I am much happier NMA bunny than I was on Saturday and looking forward to two of the southern leg dates in just under two months time.
This does feel like a NBTS sequel, almost like a film score in parts. As Stoney said, we love the band cos they don't do things conventionally, never have and hopefully never will.
Can't wait to see how they arrange some of the quieter ones and await Knievel live (hankies and all by the sounds of this thread, what a sight that will make..) and would love to hear Summer Moors on the road with the acoustic guitar further up in the mix.
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******* hell but this is an epic album. The layers, textures and sounds swirling around in here are awesome. Great sweeping vistas that if filmed would be some classic “Filmed In Panavision” Western through to small-scale stories of the personal. And music wise? Pounding Rhythms, Psychedelic Wigouts, Metal Moments, Soundscapes and gentle chill-outs it’s all in there somewhere.
Yep that film theme - I keep thinking Pink Floyd The Wall but without the linked life history storyline. It's that epic/film script thang going on. There is mosh material in there. And the drums... the drums...
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As a very long-time fan (since '87) I always have to make a conscious effort to separate the different "periods" of the band so as not to poison my expectations of any new material. It’s hard to believe The Love of Hopeless Causes, Strange Brotherhood and even Thunder and Consolation all had to “grow” on me when I consider what timeless masterpieces they all are to me now. That is part of their charm though. NMA, in whatever form, is never predictable.
As for this new album, it is slowly growing on me. As always Justin's lyrics are top-notch (but is he capable of writing bad lyrics?). I do enjoy the atmosphere of the new drumming elements. Not many of the songs "grab" me much at first listen as far as strong melodies (which I gravitate towards) but there are very nice subtle elements that I enjoy. As an American who grew up in the '70s, seeing the title "Knievel" worried me a bit. I thought to myself "this CANNOT be about Evel Knievel...maybe it is some small English village I never heard of?" haha. However, the music is beautiful and the line "Did they come to see a man fall or to see him fly?" is probably one of the most profound things Justin has ever written. Of course this is about much more than the daredevil I grew up with as a hero. ;-)
The diversity of fans and their opinions never ceases to amaze me either. The ONE song that immediately grabbed me was "Lean Back and Fall" which seems to NOT be a fan favorite at all judging by several other posts I read. I just love his voice on this and it reminds me more of "old" NMA than any other song in recent years.
Admittedly, I will always miss those "lead" bass lines from the early albums and of course Rob's very unique drumming, but I always have those albums to listen to and as a songwriter myself, I understand the need to grow and change over time. So, kudos to the guys for never repeating themselves and for creating yet another unique and interesting chapter to add to their great musical legacy.
As others have said, I need about 100 more listens to form a true opinion, so I'll likely post again after this music has a chance to sink in a bit more.
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The first listen was alone and uninterrupted, I got lost in it and loved it. It needs that I think. That's a general opinion. There are some classics on there, there are some fantastic lyrics and stories too. I can understand why for a lot of people that this album is going to be a slow burning 'grower' I suppose where your starting point in music is important and what you are 'into' For me it's perfect, thoughtful, melodic and haunting.
It is going to be interesting to hear some of these song live on the tour and how they work and that's the key point, it's interesting, it's changing and evolving. That's what makes this band stand out.
It's far too early for a definite breakdown and opinion of each song for me, time will tell. But I am being carried along by it, taking the journey and enjoying each step. That is what makes music, especially NMA fun.
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Balanced review KN/
I have to say the hook to Storm Clouds has gone in and can't get it out of my head already - the sign that Justin and NMA's magic is starting to happen - yet again as always
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This is a very clever album which has many "hooks" in it waiting to get into your head after several listens. Didn't really notice much the first few times, but -Did you Make it Safe, there is some very mellow horn work during the breaks. This evening, and when in the shower, I just cannot get it out of my head.
People who were a little displeased the first listen, there is so much you will not notice on a first listen. When listening the first time, you are kind of waiting for a song to finish as you are keen to hear the next track also for the first time. with this album, it is very much a case of --I need more time--
I think every track here is a grower. There certainly do not appear to be any skippers - tracks you will end up skipping to get to the next one. The quality is there throughout.
Don't want to pick my stand out five yet, I think it have changed by next week.
If you approach this album with the wrong attitude, you could end up thinking it was boring. But, judging it on its own terms, its one of the most interesting and challenging album of the 12 studio set.
Well done to the band. If I had to sum this album up with one word,,, quality.
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.... just within my FIRST listen and I've got friggin' goosebumps all over the place, holy shit. What intensity, what a swirl of darkness that just pulls you in, unbelievable! Rarely been captivated by any new album in such a way... these swirling background sounds that come in and out all over the place... the space... tribal drums.... the recurring beats... I find exactly this fact that the songs DON'T build up... that is *the* magic of what I've heard... it's a whole dimension afloat somewhere in these endless sound spaces... although pure NMA, still so different... leaning back again now 8)
LOVE IT! Hats off to creating this piece of pure brilliance!
I'll have a more balanced... maybe not...view upon 100th spin in a few days :D
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So I've waited for listen number five to say anything...
The first time I was thrown to be honest- where were the guitar powered anthems? The driving power of TIAGD?
The second time I found myself designating favourites.
After the third time I found myself comiserating about needing more time under my breath.
At this point I see the brilliance.
We all have our favourite album or cluster of albums. Some more powerful than others- but BDAW is nothing but powerful. Dark and brooding. Anxious- more Vengance and Ghost of Cain than I thought at first but technically far ahead.
It may not have been what I was expecting, but at this point in my life the moods that this album suits are falling over me more and more frequently...
Good work once again Fellahs- hope to see you again soon in Hamilton
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After listening quite a few times now my top tracks keep changing, I love the production and drum sounds and really looking forward to hearing the tracks live. I for one love the way the bands sound keeps changing.
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"March in September" and "Seven times" are among the highlights on the album but their sound is different from the rest of the album i think...at first when you listen to them you think that "Between dog and wolf" is going to be mostly a catchy choruses, anthemic album and then just after with the next track "Did you make it safe?" the band sets the real tone of the album.
BDAW - fine, but this foggy Blue Beat feeling
Tommorow Came - but this fuggy ghost of Fireworks
Indeed.
At first listen i was a bit struggling with BDAW because of the "déjà vu" sounding of "Blue Beat" but in fact it's a good, well written effective title track, i liked the keyboard and the "Where the breath...where the blood" part of the song.
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Just listening to it for the first time now.
Loving it.
March in September
Knievel
Between Dog & Wolf
Qasr El Nil Bridge
...are the tracks that have stood out so far.
Saying that I'm just about to listen to the last three tracks now :)
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For me the album reminds me of when Metallica released St Anger. You really want to like it and play it several times trying to convince yourself that your missing something but eventually reality sets in and you know its just not going to be for you.
Agree with many of the other posts that it is best played with earphones on.
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I love it, love it, love it.
And that is quite remarkable, as usually every single album, including T & C, had to grow on me. This one instantly sticks, somewhere deep. It has such a variability. There is layer over layer over layer over layer over ..... and when I listen very carefully, there is this faint bell just somewhere in the distance, calling on me to come closer.
I feel that the songs are not immidiate, not jumping on me, but welcoming for an experience, for discovery.
Gosh, sounds like a love letter. Possibly, it is :)
Maybe I have to add, that I listened with headphones so far too. Looking forward to car experience just now.
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To me NMA is a dead band since 2005. The act of death was signed with Carnival the worst album they've ever made. Since then, about 3 or 2 songs on their next albums were good enough but the rest was very far from what this band use to produce.
Listened to the last one several times on deezer. Made me think a lot to Carnival. Sure still there is some little sparks of what moved me so much times ago. But I think this is the first time I won't even go to buy it. It is really far from this band I used to cherish and go to see on stage so many times. It makes me just sad, but the passion is dead.
Sorry to disturb the fan's craze... I'm goin' away.
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For me the album reminds me of when Metallica released St Anger. You really want to like it and play it several times trying to convince yourself that your missing something but eventually reality sets in and you know its just not going to be for you.
Exactly - you've put it in a nutshell.
And I'm playing it again and again in the hope of it grabbing me somehow, but nothing's happening yet. That "To the sunlight...... To the water" BV makes me cringe when I hear it.
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I'm goin' away.
Thank **** for that !! I'm all for expressing an alternative view, but that was just rude.
Why do these people not get it. NMA is not a retro tribute act to itself. It is a continually evolving band. different line ups, different periods producing different sounds.
NMA is not Rod Stuart. Its not going to sound the same decade after decade.
If some people only like the 1980s sound, then they should stick to them albums. Just play them albums. And yes, they are great, I play them often !!!! No one has to buy new material. NMA are not going to sound 1980s anymore. Its been done.
To truly like NMA you do need to have a very varied taste in music, and allow yourself the freedom to enjoy new sounds -- and not shut yourself in a "rock sound" box.
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NMA is not Rod Stuart.
Thank F00k for that !!!
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To me NMA is a dead band since 2005. The act of death was signed with Carnival the worst album they've ever made. Since then, about 3 or 2 songs on their next albums were good enough but the rest was very far from what this band use to produce.
Listened to the last one several times on deezer. Made me think a lot to Carnival. Sure still there is some little sparks of what moved me so much times ago. But I think this is the first time I won't even go to buy it. It is really far from this band I used to cherish and go to see on stage so many times. It makes me just sad, but the passion is dead.
Sorry to disturb the fan's craze... I'm goin' away.
Ladies and gentlemen, please don't feed the troll...
::)
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I had put in A review on the Album Arrived section. so for a quick review after one full listing.
Yes the heavy bottom( Drums ) in particular do remind me of Carnival. The Artwork reminds me of the artwork from Lost Songs. It is a joy to listen to and right now March in September is my favorite song. I just keep hitting the repeat button when I listen to that song it was a wonder that I actually got thru the whole album but I did. ;) Now going thru my 2nd full listen so as I get into each song I will have a better feel of the album as a whole but that song March in September hit me right away. ;D ;D That song Kicks Ass and I would love to see them perform that Live.
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What the hell is wrong with carnival - some belters on there - red earth is amazing, bluebeat, carlisle road and fireworks night would be great on any NMA album imo - and this album will be up there as well.
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I LOOOOOOVE the new album!!
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Took dogs for long walk in woods 'n cross fields, to have a listen to the new album, order from amazon must say instant mp3 download you get free when you buy hard copy cd very slick idea.
Took High and TIAGD on exact same walk so setting a tradition for self really, remember songs like into the wind, piece is only, dawn, Autumn, high totally blew me away thought last two albums both master pieces.
Found myself searching and searching on first few listens of this new material, instantly liked March and seven times but the rest?, on reading posts here more than couple echo my thoughts of waited and waited for it to kind of start, and it kinda didn't, won't dismiss just yet though it needs right mood I think.
That said am looking forward to hearing these songs mixed in live hopefully with loads of the other new stuff.
Also the artwork all round this album is absolutely stunning - captures mood of album superbly very impressed - may do have to nick some of these colours for new home décor.
All the best.
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What the hell is wrong with carnival
Exactly! I love that album. Although I have loved NMA since 1985 they are one of the few old bands that I never feel nostalgic about and many of my now favourite tracks are on the last 4 albums. States Radio, Peace is only, Red Earth, Carlisle Road, Sky in your eyes, All consuming fire, Dawn and now Qasr el Nil bridge, Did you make it safe etc. are some of my all time favourite songs.
But each to their own. Bands change, people change. It happens.
And just to get back on topic; I could lose myself in the new album. In its own way, it is their most intense album so I'm a little surprised that some people find it mellow. It really benefits from being played loud though.
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Seriously impressive record. 7x is my favourite... and look #3 on the amazon indie chart: http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/bestsellers/music/690894/ref=pd_zg_hrsr_m_h__1_3_last
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Have to say, March in September is my least favorite track. Its just too simple...
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At present the title track is my favourite. Can't wait to see it live. Sends goosebumps up and down my spine....
I'm still in the process of taking it all in. So I wont write my thoughts in detail for a while.
One of my favourite NMA moments is the unhinged tribal mayhem of 'One of the chosen'. So it is no exaggeration to say that this album is really doing it for me. More later...
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Haven't gotten mine yet, and started to worry when I read some of the lack luster reviews, but then read that one of the complaints was that it was too much like NBTS, which has washed away all my fears. Really looking forward to this. Will probably be the first person in Nashville to get to hear it.
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i found that it needed to be listened to quite a number of times, i think it just needed to be absorbed fully.
the only songs that don't reallt do it for me are "i need more time" "lean back & fall" "stormclouds" " & "tomorrow came"
Summer Moors just keeps getting better with each listen, this has to be up there with their best ballads
Qasrel Nil Bridge just brilliant
Seven Times & Horsemen deep moody vibes but still manage to stand out as the anthem tracks for me
Pull the Sun & BDAW took awhile to seep into the old viens, but again the more i listen the more i like
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What the hell is wrong with carnival
Exactly! I love that album. Although I have loved NMA since 1985 they are one of the few old bands that I never feel nostalgic about and many of my now favourite tracks are on the last 4 albums. States Radio, Peace is only, Red Earth, Carlisle Road, Sky in your eyes, All consuming fire, Dawn and now Qasr el Nil bridge, Did you make it safe etc. are some of my all time favourite songs.
But each to their own. Bands change, people change. It happens.
And just to get back on topic; I could lose myself in the new album. In its own way, it is their most intense album so I'm a little surprised that some people find it mellow. It really benefits from being played loud though.
I agree with you - BDAW grabbed my attention from the outset, and has held it ever since that first listen. In fact, I couldn't sleep last night for the songs going through my mind.
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the only songs that don't reallt do it for me are "i need more time" "lean back & fall" "stormclouds" " & "tomorrow came"
I agree about "Lean back & fall", "stormclouds" and "tomorrow came" but "I need more time" is one of the best tracks on the album IMO...i'd say that 70% of the album is very good ah ah!
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I can remember the 1st time I listened to LOHC didn't like it at all and took me a long time to appreciate it and now it is up there with other NMA albums and includes one of my all time favourite songs These Words. I really like this new album and can't wait for Manchester to see what songs they play live. I agree with what Shush said think how boring it would be if they continually churned out albums that sounded the same. I think that is a problem with a lot of bands these days and what elevates NMA above them.
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I'm goin' away.
Thank **** for that !! I'm all for expressing an alternative view, but that was just rude.
Why do these people not get it. NMA is not a retro tribute act to itself. It is a continually evolving band. different line ups, different periods producing different sounds.
NMA is not Rod Stuart. Its not going to sound the same decade after decade.
If some people only like the 1980s sound, then they should stick to them albums. Just play them albums. And yes, they are great, I play them often !!!! No one has to buy new material. NMA are not going to sound 1980s anymore. Its been done.
To truly like NMA you do need to have a very varied taste in music, and allow yourself the freedom to enjoy new sounds -- and not shut yourself in a "rock sound" box.
The point is not the style they're into now but the quality of recent songs. I have no problem with an evolving sound as long as the songs are good. But aside of few exceptions, they're not. And frankly, the style has not changed that much through the years ; it is still mainly something dark perhaps even darker than ever. But this is less and less intense. The beauty of truth has disappeared. The beauty of emotions, the beauty of subjectivity, the beauty of revolt, the beauty of despair, the beauty of melancholy, the powerfulness of melody, harmony and rhythm, so simple and so complex at the same time.
This has been lost since 2005. By the way this include in NMA masterpieces not only the 80's one but all the 90's and early 2000 albums including Eight, Lost Songs and JS solo albums. Since Carnival only All consuming fire, Sky In Your Eyes, Into the Wind, Rumour and Rapture, One Bullet, Fireworks Night, States Radio, Arm Yourselves and Run, North Star barely get the level of the old ones. On the last one Lean Back and Fall, Qasr El Nil Bridge and Tomorrow Came are not bad but this is even far from the songs I have mentioned above.
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Hmmm, thought you were goin, away ?
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Listened to the album about 4 or 5 times now and there are lots of different sounds and influences coming to me now. Do really like it and there are several songs that are really great.
March In September and Seven Times are my stand out favourites. Between Dog & Wolf and Tomorrow Came are doing it for me as well.
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The point is not the style they're into now but the quality of recent songs. I have no problem with an evolving sound as long as the songs are good. But aside of few exceptions, they're not. And frankly, the style has not changed that much through the years ; it is still mainly something dark perhaps even darker than ever. But this is less and less intense. The beauty of truth has disappeared. The beauty of emotions, the beauty of subjectivity, the beauty of revolt, the beauty of despair, the beauty of melancholy, the powerfulness of melody, harmony and rhythm, so simple and so complex at the same time.
This has been lost since 2005. By the way this include in NMA masterpieces not only the 80's one but all the 90's and early 2000 albums including Eight, Lost Songs and JS solo albums. Since Carnival only All consuming fire, Sky In Your Eyes, Into the Wind, Rumour and Rapture, One Bullet, Fireworks Night, States Radio, Arm Yourselves and Run, North Star barely get the level of the old ones. On the last one Lean Back and Fall, Qasr El Nil Bridge and Tomorrow Came are not bad but this is even far from the songs I have mentioned above.
I'm just discovering the new album in its entirety.
ok it's the time of maturity.
ok it's rather different on the form... but not really on the content, and I can feel Justin's style in this album.
this seems to me very important.
@A-lex : I don't agree with you. 2005 ? and why not earlier ? ;) (kidding) ;)
it's your point of view and I respect it.
For 30 years, the world has changed, people have changed, and.... NMA has changed too.
I can find again in BDAW what I've still loved in NMA music: energy, poetry, unique feeling, unique way of seeing the life... even if it's less rock&roll than previous albums.
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This album could have been aptly named 'Echoes' if the name wasn't already taken by Pink Floyd. All through the album there are reminders of past works from the band, for all a lot of the album is very different from previous works, for me it feels very familiar. From the first listen it was like sitting having a chat to an old friend you hadn't seen for ages, you have both changed but still feel familiar with each other.
There are more obvious connections, as previously mentioned the title track instantly reminded me of Bluebeat and not just because of the Xylophone, though I'm sure that is a part of it. Red Earth is an influence throughout, a lot of this album seems to be born out of that song, drums drums and more drums.
High is in there too, the tribal feel of 'One of the Chosen' and the gentle 'Sky in your Eyes' can both be felt in different songs.
There are lots more, some of which I haven't quite put my finger on yet, such is the scope and subtlety of this very very clever album.
All through BDAW there is that raw power that NMA put into their music, but this time it is not quite unleashed, just simmering under the surface. The storytelling has reached a new level on this album, almost poetic, very thought provoking, a great listen on the headphones in a darkened room enjoying the images conjured up.
I'm no musician, but I feel the cleverest part of this album musically is Marshall's guitar work, yes it has been sacrificed in places to make way for the drums, but it comes in and out of the songs seamlessly sounding just right and it can't have been easy to achieve this.
A lot more backing vocals on this album, something that doesn't seem to have gone down well with everyone, personally I like it.
This is without doubt the cleverest album NMA have ever produced, is it the best? I don't know yet, it might well be, but it's too soon to tell. It certainly isn't an album for everyone, a few people don't like it and to be honest I can understand why, but for me it is a masterpiece to match anything they have made before.
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"And me i have got a black place in my heart my favourite chord, my favourite card, that i draw everytime at these occasions" goosebumps everytime I listen to this song
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Produktinformation
Amazon Germany:
Audio CD (20. September 2013)
Anzahl Disks/Tonträger: 1
Label: Edel Records (Edel)
ASIN: B00DUPQA1A
Weitere verfügbare Ausgaben: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3-Download
Durchschnittliche Kundenbewertung: 4.8 von 5 Sternen Alle Rezensionen anzeigen (13 Kundenrezensionen)
Amazon Bestseller-Rang: Nr. 78 in Musik (Siehe Top 100 in Musik)
Nr. 3 in Musik > Alternative > Alternative Rock
Nr. 22 in Musik > Rock
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I'm no musician, but I feel the cleverest part of this album musically is Marshall's guitar work, yes it has been sacrificed in places to make way for the drums, but it comes in and out of the songs seamlessly sounding just right and it can't have been easy to achieve this.
His work on the album is rather understated/restrained, more subtle i think, i love his guitar bit at the end of "March in September" for example, it enhances the beauty of this song, same for the "spanish" (?) guitar on the chorus of "Qasr El Nil Bridge' and the bit before the "Where the breath...where the blood..." part of "Between dog and wolf". ;)
I also want to add that Ceri is also doing a more than apt work on this album, think of the thrilling part at the end of "I need more time"!...or cool bass lines on "March in September", "Seven Times" and "Pull the sun"...Ceri's work is never intrusive and fits well the songs.
Produktinformation
Amazon Germany:
Audio CD (20. September 2013)
Anzahl Disks/Tonträger: 1
Label: Edel Records (Edel)
ASIN: B00DUPQA1A
Weitere verfügbare Ausgaben: Audio CD | Vinyl | MP3-Download
Durchschnittliche Kundenbewertung: 4.8 von 5 Sternen Alle Rezensionen anzeigen (13 Kundenrezensionen)
Amazon Bestseller-Rang: Nr. 78 in Musik (Siehe Top 100 in Musik)
Nr. 3 in Musik > Alternative > Alternative Rock
Nr. 22 in Musik > Rock
Not bad at all ranking it seems! 8)
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Absolutely love it!
Was expecting that this one would split the crowd but to me it just gets better with every listen (and it definitely helps with a bit of volume). Don't get me wrong, I think that its possibly a couple of songs too long (not sure which as yet) and interestingly, I'm not massively convinced by Seven Times. But yeah, as I said, love it.
The fact that the Army are constantly changing and challenging us is one of the reasons why I still love them and haven't consigned them to the 'meh' file (as I have with a few other past favorites). I can get the NBTS and Carnival comparisons totally. Interestingly (again) I didn't really get Carnival for several years, but then my better half started blasting it out in the van, and it suddenly clicked....
As a sailor though, this one (I think) will be taking it's place next to NBTS as a must have when I'm away! :)
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Finally got it today and I think it's ******* brilliant! The only problem is I can only see them play the songs in Amsterdam. All that bloody waiting!
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Previously, I made a comment about 'don't feed the troll' or something and I'm feeling a bit awkward about that... after re-reading A-Lex's post, I realised I missed something... ' it started with the two words 'TO ME...'
A-Lex did, actually, make a valid point, albeit one made in a bit of a derogatory way... if he's fallen out of love with NMA since 2005, then we should respect that. I'm sure that there are a hell of a lot of people who were into the guys in the late 80's but have never bought an album or seen a show since then.
NMA are a constantly evolving band and any kind of evolution will leave some people behind.
All I can say is that A-lex, if you're still reading, I hope you check out the band on their forthcoming tour. I still think your message was a bit insensitive, but the boys are always worth checking out live! Who knows, some of these tracks might grow on you!!!
:D
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When they did 7 times, horsemen and March in to September at the preston gig earlier this year, i instantly felt like I knew them, even though it was the first time I'd heard them. So yes....... do check out a live performance.
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Hmmm, thought you were goin, away ?
And people wonder why there are so many people that departed this board and moved over to Facebook instead...
I don't think his original comments were at all rude - it's simply his opinion of this album and their recent output. Nothing wrong with that.
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I do hope we're all playing nicely here?
Hello boys and girls - I've been away for a little while again - Got home to a red card that tell's me I've got a new slab of vinyl waiting at the post office - I'm looking forward to it - There were too many messages here to read all seven pages but I read a good handful and quite honestly I felt re assured by the less than raving reviews. It is good to see a forum that isn't filled with platitudes...now let's just hope they do some Rod Stewart on the new tour - ???
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Hmmm, thought you were goin, away ?
And people wonder why there are so many people that departed this board and moved over to Facebook instead...
I don't think his original comments were at all rude - it's simply his opinion of this album and their recent output. Nothing wrong with that.
OK, fair point. All opinions are valid, and I have said as such recently . A-lex, if I have been too harsh in responses to your posts, I apologise. Although I disagree with what you have said, I think it is brave of you to say it here.
Also to be fair, when Carnival is referred to as the bands act of death, but imply its not as bad as the new one, its bound to get a response.
A-lex, the passion is not dead -in my opinion-. I hope you still continue to enjoy the back catalogue if not the recent material :)
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On heavy rotation since Saturday in my car cd player and on my headphones, i think that the album's first half from "Horsemen" to "Pull the sun" included is really strong stuff on all levels...
"And me i have got a black place in my heart my favourite chord, my favourite card, that i draw everytime at these occasions" goosebumps everytime I listen to this song
It's a great song, sad and haunting.
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This album could have been aptly named 'Echoes' if the name wasn't already taken by Pink Floyd. All through the album there are reminders of past works from the band, for all a lot of the album is very different from previous works, for me it feels very familiar. From the first listen it was like sitting having a chat to an old friend you hadn't seen for ages, you have both changed but still feel familiar with each other.
There are more obvious connections, as previously mentioned the title track instantly reminded me of Bluebeat and not just because of the Xylophone, though I'm sure that is a part of it. Red Earth is an influence throughout, a lot of this album seems to be born out of that song, drums drums and more drums.
High is in there too, the tribal feel of 'One of the Chosen' and the gentle 'Sky in your Eyes' can both be felt in different songs.
There are lots more, some of which I haven't quite put my finger on yet, such is the scope and subtlety of this very very clever album.
All through BDAW there is that raw power that NMA put into their music, but this time it is not quite unleashed, just simmering under the surface. The storytelling has reached a new level on this album, almost poetic, very thought provoking, a great listen on the headphones in a darkened room enjoying the images conjured up.
I'm no musician, but I feel the cleverest part of this album musically is Marshall's guitar work, yes it has been sacrificed in places to make way for the drums, but it comes in and out of the songs seamlessly sounding just right and it can't have been easy to achieve this.
A lot more backing vocals on this album, something that doesn't seem to have gone down well with everyone, personally I like it.
This is without doubt the cleverest album NMA have ever produced, is it the best? I don't know yet, it might well be, but it's too soon to tell. It certainly isn't an album for everyone, a few people don't like it and to be honest I can understand why, but for me it is a masterpiece to match anything they have made before.
Great summary. I like the "echoes" analogy. There are so many nods to old songs. More than on any other album. Yet the result is something exciting and new. Elements of Bluebeat, Lullaby, Flying through the smoke, LS43, Red earth and One of the chosen are all in there somewhere.
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Not sure what to make of it yet. I tend to prefer the 'rock band in a room approach' to music.
Love the opening 3 tracks. Not so sure about some of the others.
I think it needs to be listened to late at night, by an open fire, drinking a decent whisky :)
I always reckon that the only test of an album is whether I'm still listening to it a year or so down the line.
Some albums I've played to death initially and then never listened to again. Others have taken a long time to get into. Hopefully BDAW is one of the latter.
Looking forward to the tour
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People seem to be as thrown by this album- I'd say keep listening to it and leave your expectations behind.
Folks were thrown off by T&C as well...
I thought TIAGD was brilliant-pure rock fury. This is a different animal and has a power all it's own.
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@Master ray and @Shush
I admit my post was a bit rude and provocative for being posted on a NMA fans forum. Bitterness I guess. Or perhaps kinda of unconscious desire to be convinced I was wrong! I will probably finally buy the last one at least as a toast to the past. Last gig I saw was for the 30th anniversary when they played the old and beautiful songs. I'll see if I manage to go to the Paris gigs in December. It's hard to let down a band like that... :-\
NB : anyway I have no FB account.
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@Master ray and @Shush
NB : anyway I have no FB account.
;D, Good, stay here.
At least you are passionate about what you like. While we may disagree on the quality of NMA 2005 +, I agree with you on the quality of all the bands work of the past.
Do go the show in Paris, maybe it will rekindle you enthusiasm for the later material. Have you heard any of the live versions?, maybe you would prefer them. The songs maybe quiet on the album, but not so easy to keep them that way when playing live with Marshall on his guitar.
Who knows, maybe this album and tour may end up with another live album :)
A-lex, here are links to three live songs from the album in case you have not seen them already.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TryVpR3AGzs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UsNMN312FqU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRZSs0iNgF8
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@Master ray and @Shush
I admit my post was a bit rude and provocative for being posted on a NMA fans forum. Bitterness I guess. Or perhaps kinda of unconscious desire to be convinced I was wrong! I will probably finally buy the last one at least as a toast to the past. Last gig I saw was for the 30th anniversary when they played the old and beautiful songs. I'll see if I manage to go to the Paris gigs in December. It's hard to let down a band like that... :-\
NB : anyway I have no FB account.
Again, apologies. It wasn't a nice thing of me to say. I do get a bit wound up about things if I've had a few beers... :-[
A very gracious response on your part... and I still hope you check the band out on their forthcoming tour. Even if you're still not keen on the new stuff, I'm sure there will be plenty of older classics plus a couple of surprises!
All the best.
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I'm struggling with it. I wouldn't say I dislike it but I'm not loving it either. I struggled with No Rest For The Wicked (or at least when I heard the new tracks on a Janice Long session, before the album came out) I also struggled with Strange Brotherhood, it took me years to get get into that one. I love it now though and do find myself wondering why I had a problem with it. The new one though... :-\ Nothing really stands out to me (at the moment). Hoping a few more listens does the trick.
I do kinda feel like the child in The Emperor's New Clothes... :o
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Some interesting comments on here. I suppose you are always going to get a difference of opinion and people that don't particularly like the new album, i don't mind that at all as everyone is entitled to their opinion.
I can't give a professional review and comment on the musical talent and the feelings of the band at the time, nor can i analyse the drums and the bass and god know what else because i am not a musician nor a music critic.
All i know is that New Model Army have been in my life now since i was 11 and i could quite easily listen to any song they have ever produced and be happy. This band has been there for me when times were good, and bad. I have to say it would not really matter to me what direction the band went in or what music they produced, my heart is with NMA and always will be.
Keep up the good work!!!
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I'm struggling with it. I wouldn't say I dislike it but I'm not loving it either. I struggled with No Rest For The Wicked (or at least when I heard the new tracks on a Janice Long session, before the album came out) I also struggled with Strange Brotherhood, it took me years to get get into that one. I love it now though and do find myself wondering why I had a problem with it. The new one though... :-\ Nothing really stands out to me (at the moment). Hoping a few more listens does the trick.
I do kinda feel like the child in The Emperor's New Clothes... :o
it took me a good good few listens for it to get it's hooks into me, now I love it, i have the fortune to work from home so i got 2 or 3 listens in the morning then the afternoon, i think the initial problem is that there is no BIG sing along anthem type song on there during the first listens, but like that car advert states "power from a different place" - once you get that it clicks and you find it's full of big powerful songs
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Still listening to the album in the car (40 minutes each way to the office), and on my MP3 player a fair bit, including today on the train today, arguably the best place to listen to music on headphones and let yourself drift away...
Anyway, my initial opinions on the album haven't changed. It's still a very good album, with some excellent songs. BUT...it still isn't blowing my socks off.
Now I've listened through it plenty of times here are my thoughts on the individual songs:
Horsemen - love the drums, but the song doesn't get going. It's like a long intro. It threatens to kick-off at one stage, but then retreats back into its shell.
March in September - feels like a song I've known for ages after hearing it a handful of times at gigs over the last year. Love the bass on this one, and it's a great catchy tune that works live as well.
Seven Times - another one that feels familiar from being played at gigs before the album was released. This is definitely one of the songs on the album that feels right to me.
Did You Make it Safe? - great drums on this one, and overall a very good track. Still feel it could have been taken up a notch to make it a great song.
I Need More Time - The start of this song reminds me a lot of Red Earth and Another Imperial Day, bubbling under with a menace, and like them it builds to an ending..., but it's not powerful enough for me. Maybe live it will deliver and blow my socks off.
Pull the Sun - I like this one. Works well, and reckon it will be one that becomes a firm favourite without appearing to be anything 'special'. A strong track.
Lean Back and Fall - probably the weakest track for me on the album. It's OK, but doesn't really do it for me. There are a few on TIAGD that are the same for me.
Knievel - Seems to be a favourite for many, but it's just OK for me. Reminds me of my feelings towards 'High' - a track that others seem to love, but one that often signals an opportunity to go to the bar and get the drinks at a gig.
Stormclouds- the 'rockiest' track on the album. Could have been the 'States Radio' of this album (love that track and couldn't wait to hear it live when I first heard it on TIAGD - when I did, I was blown away). However, it doesn't quite make it into that category as it fails to reach the same heights. If only it had been given a 'storming' last minute or 30 seconds like we get with Ocean Rising. We might get that at the gigs though, so looking forward to it.
Between Dog and Wolf - Ridiculously catchy, and one I can't help sing throughout the day. Bluebeat on steroids for me :)
Qasr El Nil Bridge - the surprise package of the album, and probably the track that will cement itself as my favourite. The most 'epic' song on the album, and it wouldn't surprise me if this is the track that the band are the most proud of on the album. Definitely, looking foward to experiencing this one live as well.
Tomorrow Came - another good song, with some excellent parts, but another one that feels like it could have been let-loose a bit more and would have then delivered more for me.
Summer Moors - one to drift away to. A solid track, particularly good when on the train today, lost in my own thoughts and the lyrics.
Ghosts - not sure about this one to be honest. Close to being very good, but only manages good I think. I think it's another that simmers, but could have done with turning up a touch to boil over.
Overall, it's a solid 8.5/10, but I hoping for an 11/10 ;)
Really looking forward to hearing it live.
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Just listening to it on Spotify.
Yepp I agree with the people who are a bit discombobulated by it. I understand change and bands wanting to break out of their mode for a while. But I had a headache from a long day at work and the bloody 20 drummers is not doing it for me at all. (Was the producer a drummer...just asking? ;) )
Those who said it was a cross between Carnival (certainly their worst in my opinion) and NBTS (which was good) are spot on.
Apart from the songs already heard live I can't pick out any "holy shit" moments for me.....my first listen to the last two albums nearly every track was a holy shit moment!
Still its NMA one of my favourites so I'll download it (PAID for!!!!!!) and listen in the car tomorrow, some of the tracks on NBTS took more than one play to get into.
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Ok so, enough time in and now we’ve lived with it for a short while. Last post was instant hit but this is hopefully a bit more considered but ask me in a year or so. As some of you know I can get a bit wordy for my own good……………………. Be warned.
Horsemen – Pretty portentous and a statement of what’s coming up. Makes me think of a Bernard Cornwell book in the chapter before some big **** off battle. You know what’s coming down on us all but there’s nothing you can do about it. House Of Lannister is about to chuck all it’s big guns at ya’( for those who read GRRM or watch the telly show). Ain’t just drums – check the alarm clock?, in some places guitar and even more thru’ the whole thing those gospel voices. Check that wandering guitar/keys line as the bridge thing kicks in before the last verse.
March In September – Thankless task having family/tribe but if we don’t what we got at the end of it all? You gave them your own blood…. Haven’t I? Probably what would have been in the old days a single. Accessible. Maybe the most rock band in a room song on the album. Shades of dance music, pop and indie in here. Understand why this was the first official thing let out into the world.
Seven Times – We are what the gods have made us…Is that summing up where we have got to after all this time? Cain and Abel? Think they’ve been around before. Feels like this is almost a “school report” on where we got to. Incessant, repetitive and insistent. Guitar right up there much more than the recent live version might suggest.
Did You Make It Safe – Not quite got a handle yet. Is this about giving and giving, hoping to make things right but not being able to so the only option left is to leave? Drums, drums, drums…. And those repeated backing vocals……….
I Need More Time – Too Many Games of Too Many Kinds – Yeah then you get to the point where statistically there is less left than has gone before. And we said/did/promised stuff when we were younger. Tick Tock Tick Tock… Perfect and I really do need more time. What do those backing vocals say – Is it “Fire In The Hole”? That word incessant again, seems slow but this one ain’t. Then the swirly desperate ending with yes whisper it…. More guitars.
Pull The Sun – Love those backing vocals. This is full of stuff cleverly put together. Can’t hear it all at first but listen (check the echoed voice lines hidden deep down in here). Guitar for that lead in into the chorus thing. Yearning, regret and I don’t know what else. Atmospheric bass heavy start, German oompah band sound buried right down in the back at the very start?. Maybe more “ballady” than anything else than anything so far. Some lovely chiming stuff in here.
Lean Back & Fall – Starts with the word Impossible: really is it? And if it is should that stop us trying? Black face, Black card yeah we all got them. Dunno about this one contradictory because on one hand it’s saying why bother it’s a waste of time but then again is it? Feels like admiration for even trying to be better. Maybe it’s trust – puts me in mind of those management exercises when you have to fall back and people catch you- if only in the real world. Love.
Knieval – What it says on the tin. An interpretation of his life. Straightforward story song. Think this probably just fitted the “tone” of the album. Maybe put in there as a “breather”. Gorgeous.
Stormclouds – Now we’re talking. Got that “speed” feeling. There’s a line of shadows…. Could be good could be bad who the **** cares it’s there to be found out. Bring it on! And that ending? Lets go nuts! Quite probably my favourite on the whole album and I hope this fucker flies live.
Between Dog & Wolf – This is the dance song. Can’t help it this just makes me throw the arms and swing the hips like a nutter. Everything is how it feels – killer line. Take What You Want – again killer line cos’ we all do and there is ALWAYS that weird half light half dark time when things could go either way. Who knows where stuff ends up being? Me? I get that whole neither one or the other but something in between. And this bugger just cracks it.
Whatsit Bridge – intro is a film scene , then it sets up the story. To the chorus and a beautiful weaving and swaying in time to the song. Pace of the story picking up. Lovely lyrics about god and seeming to say yeah but that’s nothing to do with this. Listening and breathing and learning to read the wind – Classic JS so simple but universal yet something you’d never articulate yourself: true. Talk about swaying with the music- ******* awesome.
Tomorrow Never Comes – Feels like the 3rd part of 225 and Snellsmore Wood. Gone from We never asked for any of this to I won’t sit by and do nothing... to now ….it didn’t happen and we’re old so now our kids look at us wondering wtf happened. We’re already becoming what has already been – back to R&R for me. Pray god they’ll forgive us.
Summer Moods – So sad, but understanding at the same time. So much in love with her but it drew you away because for whatever reason it’s gone. Recognise that. Lost to the world? Aren’t we all at times? This one feels like catching up 25 years later with someone from T&C. Maybe someone left came back, left again, came back, left…. But this time ain’t coming back. Dunno but I feel something deep and real.
Ghosts – Ghost Train part 2! Only now we’re not on the ride, we got off but so did those ghosts and they’ve stayed with us. Very haunting and a bookend to complement Horsemen from the start. End of this particular journey. So much left for the giving…… yeah I’m not dead just yet. Def sounds similar to Horsemen but a lot more reflective.
Overall? ******* love this. So much that echoes back from whats gone before but updated and told anew. Instantly NMA but so much new. Original post said I heard T&C – that confused me when I read it back but I think there is some revisiting of those people and updating the story 25 years later and in here somewhere is where those stories might have ended up. **** knows if that’s right But this ain’t no part 2. So much more than that. Someone above namechecked Echoes and I used that word in my first post. It fits. There are echoes of the last 35 years or whatever it is now. There’s echoes of all sorts of stuff in here. More than I know how to describe. Such early days yet tho’. Bet there is stuff I don’t like on here but I’m not there yet. Def not a “Water” on here. Sure this is all bollox but makes sense to me. Course I might drink and smoke too much…………………..
Whatever, thanks guys – one almighty awesome album.
Anna
X
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I am there with it now and agree very much with the comments about how much it plays to some of the directions Carnival started to go in. I like that it's dark. I like that there are some real 'growers' on there, hooks into your brain. I Need More Time is going through my head as I type.
BDAW does have a touch of Bluebeat to it for sure. There is a lot of the Red Earths about Horsemen and others. The drums are almost too much in places but I love the disconcerting feel of the layered drum patterns, it's the bit that feels like the live shows for me. Summer Moors is a Green and Grey for the 20 teens. But without the rousing anthemic chorus. JS, like all of us, is mellowing with age. lol
I am starting to think that, like Strange Brotherhood, which I think took many of us a long time to love, this album is going to take time and effort in order to reveal it's full riches (sorry if I nicked that lock stock and two smoking off a comment someone posted earlier, but if they did say it, I agree with them).
I do love Horsemen and I think Seven Times is one of the finest singles NMA have ever produced that may not end up being a single given they don't seem to bother with them anymore.
So - lovin it! Not as instant as a MacDonalds, this is a feast of treasures to be savoured at leisure for a long time. Long may I not tire of it! It'll be a bloody long wait for the next album...
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NMA is not Rod Stuart.
Thank F00k for that !!!
Now - That's not nice. What if Rod reads this board? Anyway, it just landed on my door and I'm listening now.
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Hi Folks,
I've not posted much on here but have always been an avid reader. :)
My copy came yesterday and got a good airing last night whilst the family were out, I think it's a very good album which does get better with each play, as usual the artwork is top notch!
Fave tracks so far are Knievel(my overall favourite), Lean Back And Fall and the title track.
Looking forward to playing this much more over the coming weeks.
Just one other thing I shamefully admit to not seeing the band since 1991 :'( mainly due to following another band), hope to put that right this tour.
I went to all the Chippenham Goldiggers gigs and also remember a stunning gig at Brixton in 89.
Fave album - gotta be The Ghost of Cain(so far).
8)
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Hi Gizzard, welcome to the forum ;)
Fave album - gotta be The Ghost of Cain(so far).
8)
Same for me, just after the eternal "Thunder and consolation"...
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Hi Gizzard, welcome to the forum ;)
Fave album - gotta be The Ghost of Cain(so far).
8)
Same for me, just after the eternal "Thunder and consolation"...
Thank you kind sir. ;)
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Hi Folks,
I've not posted much on here but have always been an avid reader. :)
My copy came yesterday and got a good airing last night whilst the family were out, I think it's a very good album which does get better with each play, as usual the artwork is top notch!
Fave tracks so far are Knievel(my overall favourite), Lean Back And Fall and the title track.
Looking forward to playing this much more over the coming weeks.
Just one other thing I shamefully admit to not seeing the band since 1991 :'( mainly due to following another band), hope to put that right this tour.
I went to all the Chippenham Goldiggers gigs and also remember a stunning gig at Brixton in 89.
Fave album - gotta be The Ghost of Cain(so far).
8)
Nice to see you on here Simon......
;)
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well I managed a partial first listen last night.
A quick word about the packaging and case first - superb art, really high quality too, IMO the best on an NMA album, and far superior to what is generally available. I bought the new Placebo album at the same time and before you even get to think aboyut the music, the NMA product is miles superior. I know it's the music that counts, but even so
So what about the music? As I say, it's been a limited listen so far but it seems to me that there is a lot of space in the production - may not be a technical term but I find that the tracks I've listened to seem to evoke wide open skies with a twist of melancholy about them - carrying on the feeling that tracks like Carlisle Road and God Save Me have (both of these are amongts my faves) . With that in mind, perhaps it's no surprise that I liked Summer Moors best and March to September.
I'm looking forward to a few more listens ...
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It's growing on me. Not as instant as previous albums, but I'm hopeful...
And a big up to Amazon for their Autorip facility. I'm still waiting for the actual CD to arrive, but was able to download the mp3s as soon as I placed my order so I can listen to a burned version while I'm waiting.
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Absolutely loving this album. Given some of the comments on here, I'm trying to find reasons not to like it so much ;) but it ranks up there with the best they've ever done for me. Well done, NMA.
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I love it. It’s a new piece of work and ‘different’, yes, but then it was always billed as being something other than ‘rockband in a room’. I really don’t think it’s that different from everything before though. It has something of the feel of a full band version of Navigating by the Stars meeting the emotions of parts of Thunder and Consolation and Eight, but darker in places, and wrung through a prism of age and experience, and set as if to a film score. Will be interesting to see how the tracks evolve after being played live, and also how we feel about them after we have got ‘used’ to them. But for now I am just happy to keep on soaking it all up...
Actually, skip the analysis bit :- I don’t do this ‘JS is God’ idolatry stuff, I don’t like every song they have done, e.g. I wasn’t a great fan of all of Carnival, but right now when I hear Dog and Wolf I think it’s brilliant, I love it, I want to keep playing it, and maybe in a few years' time folks will be talking about it like they talk about T&C now. Worth waiting for. Thank you. :)
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BRILLIANT
AMAZING
MESMERISING !!!!!!!
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Listened to it in full today.
My verdict?
....Bloody awesome!
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But I had a headache from a long day at work and the bloody 20 drummers is not doing it for me at all. (Was the producer a drummer...just asking? ;) )
the mixer is into his drums too:
https://www.platinumsamples.com/JoeBarresi.php
on that note, not sure if my hearing is going but I find it hard to listen all the way through to this album on full blast (on mp3 player). Definitely works better at an evening living room level. (reaches for pipe and slippers)
Worth every penny though, an intelligently crafted album intelligently mixed.
tracks 5-10 is my favourite section. Stormclouds a bit out of place here but that's okay, harks back to the last album a little.
Did You Make It Safe is probably where the PJ Harvey comparison comes from (Let England Shake period) with the call/response vocals.
With I Need More Time the album really gets going - with the backwards-type backing vocals is also very Peter Gabriel on the Passion album, before blazing into a Who finish. Very good song, but favourite is still Pull The Sun this is a fantastic song.
Lean Back and Fall taps into that Neil Young vibe, but rather listen to this than any Neil Young (sorry don't like his voice) and it has a bit of that 'NMA bass' going on as the song progresses. Really like the heavy laidback attitude to this one.
Knieval works well, sounds like the meter rule book got ripped up for this one! Like many tracks this one initially sounds conventional yet also something mysterious about it that you only uncover with each listen.
Just exploring BDAW took a few days this but it's a really strong one, very well layered and mixed.
So far still sounding like a fantastic effort, and not really studied the lyric booklet yet! Certainly one of their most unique yet - they should be given this artistic freedom more often!
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I am gonna write this in polish (sorry )
Wreszcie jakis album mnie rozpierdolil na kawalki...
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Well, it's made it past ten plays, so I'd have to give it a thumbs-up.
Really engaging production, tracklist has a cohesion and intent to it that I'd rate alongside Cain, Brotherhood and Eight for that sort of thing. Individually I could have done without the music college riff of Stormclouds but the rest of that song (and the album) is thoughtfully arranged and measured out, to my ears.
It's a good record, interesting in and of itself as opposed to being something from a band I happen to like.
More of a grower than a shower but their best work often is, and that fits in with many of this years better albums from the likes of Boards of Canada, Oneohtrix Point Never, OMD, Little Boots, Vile Electrodes, NIN, Autechre, Bowie, Bonobo, etc.
2013 is not the year of the instant gratifier. And when the rawk stylings of everyone from Newsted to Black ruddy Sabbath this year are lacking in any creativity beyond how far you can hard-limit in mastering, I'm glad to see NMA move well beyond that. I'll be listening to it in a year and enjoying it more than I do now.
CD packaging's the shit as well, really nicely done. Shame they couldn't get an LP into my local HMV mind you.
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Just having my first listen now while feeding the baby (gotta keep the volume down >:()...I can see this album being played in the car travelling along deserted motorways in the middle of Spain. Reminds me so far of Ocean rising with its cascades and epic land/soundscape.
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you're in for a treat then, NMA live is currently the best it's ever been IMHO
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you're in for a treat then, NMA live is currently the best it's ever been IMHO
Completely agree with that. I do hope they consider doing a live album from the quality of the gigs in last year or so, or the Ceri period if you like. Also with the what I rest assured will be equally fine stuff from the coming tour.
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you're in for a treat then, NMA live is currently the best it's ever been IMHO
Completely agree with that. I do hope they consider doing a live album from the quality of the gigs in last year or so, or the Ceri period if you like. Also with the what I rest assured will be equally fine stuff from the coming tour.
Quote from the magazine [JS] "We know that a few months into the tour we'll be able to record a live album with completely differently developed versions of the songs"......sounds very promising...
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Knievel.... Bumps of a goose!!!
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I didn't think they could follow Today is a good Day.
And when they did I didn't think I'd write about it seriously here...
There's been a good few words of praise and encouragement for the new Bass Guitar Man - you deserve every good word mentioned Ceri - I'm sure I'm not alone in having a disheartening feeling when Nelson split - mighty big boots to fill - well done for wearing your own my friend - Seamless work - really impressive. Thank you for all you've brought into the band. I really appreciate it.
This thread is already full of my thoughts on the LP - cinematic soundscape of a passion delivered with the skill that previously we only expect from a punk peter gabriel...so let me skip any review...I'll be standing in the mosh pit like a totem pole this time around friends - don't let me ruin your night.
What a record!
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Been a while since I have posted, and I never rush to a conclusion on a new NMA album, because I have to listen many times before I hear them, if that makes sense.
Having had it on continual rotation since it (and the awesome t-shirt) arrived on release day, I now feel I can make my initial assessment.
Firstly, from the promotional snippets the band are using, I am delighted to see them get some music media/critical recognition. It is long overdue, and if this is the album that generates the praise they deserve as artists and musicians, then I am thankfull for it.
But this is not the best album of their career.
Nor does it evoke Pink Floyd, Nick Cave, or any other such comparison being floated and quoted.
Nor is it a particularly new, or different sound for them in my opinion.
For me, it is a return to, and furtherance of, a sound and emotional palette first flirted with on Strange Brotherhood, and then established with 'Eight'.
The production is lush, but maybe a little too luxurious at times, and I think it diminishes the power and directness of Justin's delivery. I like being able to hear the spittle in his s's, even in quieter moments, but its not here.
There is also a distinct absence of build, or crescendo to the songs. The 'NMA money shot' as I like to call it. Compare Horsemen to Red Earth, for example. The moment in Red Earth where the guitars pounce and the anger soars is just magnificent. Horsemen canters on its drums but never reaches the gallop it needs to finish the race.
The only time they try a finalé is on Stormclouds, but its just a jarring tacked on 10 second thrashout. There is no catharsis for the listener.
As to subject matter, when I listen to Justin's lyrics, they always seem authentic. I have no idea if he is a keen sailor, or has visited North American Indian reserves, or Nepalese mountain Temples, or faced off against police in protest lines, but his lyrics make me believe he has with the veracity of the emotions he evokes.
But here we have a song, written in the first person, By Evel Knievel. Its actually one of my favourite songs on the album, but its an uneasy feeling listening to this band eulogise a guy who spent most of his life as an alcoholic misogynist hiding behind a clean-cut all-American persona, until he beat a journalist half to death with a baseball bat for exposing the facade. I mean sure, he was fearless and uncompromising and all that, but the guy was also an asshole.
I think its the first time I can remember where I have heard an NMA song that felt like it wasnt written from the heart, but rather as a literary exercise.
Elsewhere, little is standing out, or really speaking to me. The title track is strong, and I can see it as one of the only songs presented that could possibly translate to a live setting without radical reworking.
And yet, even though the individual songs leave me underwhelmed, I cant stop listening to it ;D I have yet to work out if its because it is a whole greater than the sum of its parts, or if I am subconciously aware of a greatness that I am looking to unlock with perseverance. Time will tell.
8/10 for me. A good interesting album, but from NMA, 'good' after High and TIAGD feels very underwhelming.
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The only time they try a finalé is on Stormclouds
...and I Need More Time :)
I would also defend Knievel (the song not the person) by saying I don't think its a eulogy, more an imagination of the man's thoughts. JS says in the mag that people mentioned Knievel wasn't a particularly nice chap but why should that prevent him from creating a song about him....a very fair point I'd say.
Some very interesting points there though mate - thanks for sharing them.
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...and I Need More Time :)
I would also defend Knievel (the song not the person) by saying I don't think its a eulogy, more an imagination of the man's thoughts. JS says in the mag that people mentioned Knievel wasn't a particularly nice chap but why should that prevent him from creating a song about him....a very fair point I'd say.
Some very interesting points there though mate - thanks for sharing them.
I need more time kinda does, but again, its not what I call a 'real' NMA big finish. Its sort of artsy dischord and just shouting the title in repetition.
As to Knievel, I take the point, but it also strengthens my assertion that its not a song written about something close to Justin's heart, and that comes through in delivery and the experience for the listener.
Over the years, when 'Abandoned tracks' and 'Lost Songs' were released, I was astonished by how complete, and realized, and strong every track on those compendia were/are.
The feel of BDAW for me, is kinda what I expected to experience from those releases. There is a feel of filler, of going through the motions here and there, and I wonder if the tumult and disasters surrounding the creative process contributed to that.
Like I say, despite my criticisms and reservations, I cant say I dont like it, but High and TIAGD were both such intense experiences for me, that merely 'liking' the new album feels a little hollow.
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Fair points mate.....but Ceri's bass work at the end of I Need More Time (almost played as a lead) really augments the finish for me. I'm lucky in that I genuinely love the album and would put it up there with their greatest work....yes, there are 2 songs I'm not as keen on (Horsemen and Stormclouds) but it's an absolute classic for me.
I love the fact the band never stands still or takes the easy option. I can't wait to experience some of the songs live - it'll be interesting seeing how they translate. I actually prefer the live versions of March in Sept and Seven Times so I should be in for a treat.
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Six totally immersive plays. The goose bumps are now appearing for every track.
TIAGD smashed like a bottle across the face first listen. This is more like an intravenous injection. Once the infection, the inoculation, the intoxication hits everything is right. And inevitable.
There's a moment everyone goes through every day when the subconscious starts dancing with the conscious before eventually consuming it. That's Between Dog and Wolf.
Absolutely astounding accomplishment to capture that on vinyl.
MarkP.
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I love the fact the band never stands still or takes the easy option
Totally agree with you there. They have a unique and unmistakeable sound, but never a 'formula', so while the signature and brush strokes are recogniseable, the work on the canvas is always different.
And to be fair, 1 week in is still not even breaking in the album - it took me nearly 2 years before Carnival 'clicked' as an album for me, and now I love it 8)
I have to live with BDAW, see it performed on stage, and let it absorb. You cant force it, I have just been very lucky with the last 2 albums attuning to my frequency from the off, but luck is always a finite commodity :)
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There is also a distinct absence of build, or crescendo to the songs. The 'NMA money shot' as I like to call it.
There is no catharsis for the listener.
Maybe, but that's also one of the "innovative" bits of this new album i think, to not deliver the usual crescendo we expect usually from the band (aside from the crescendo ending of "I need more time" for example)...think about past songs like "Modern times", there was no real crescendo or obvious chorus in this song, a bit like in this last album...they wanted IMO to try to build the songs a bit differently, relying more on moods, atmosphere than classic explosive payoffs, it's probably a more subtle, low key approach to the sound.
I think its the first time I can remember where I have heard an NMA song that felt like it wasnt written from the heart, but rather as a literary exercise.
I don't know...many (all?) NMA songs are little stories, from Justin's experiences or the experiences of other people (friends or people he didn't know like Knievel)
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I'm not sure a lack of focus, or structure, is the same as innovation.
At the moment, to me, it feels like there is too much reliance on the depth of the production, and the music it has been applied to come off as a little lazy
The new songs feel all middle.
So at the moment, to me it feels like a middling album.
I feel weird writing this because I realise that in the past, any time I have not had an immediate positive reaction to an NMA album/song, I have actively disliked it, and then over time, it has won me over.
With BDAW, it is the first time in 25 years that an NMA album has made me go 'meh, its ok', and that makes me sadder than if I hated it for some reason.
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I actually prefer the live versions of March in Sept and Seven Times so I should be in for a treat.
I like more "Seven times" on studio than live...the drum sound in particular.
To be honest, first time i've listened to the "March in September" single, i didn't like too much it's "pop" sound, different from its raw and great live sound that i liked at the Paris gig last year...now i think that it is one of the best songs on the album, quite infectious and it sounds great.
At the moment, to me, it feels like there is too much reliance on the depth of the production, and the music it has been applied to come off as a little lazy
A minor issue i have is that a few songs are a bit too long ( "Lean back and fall", the endings of "Between dog and wolf" and "Ghosts"), maybe there's too much reliance on the rich production but it same time it gives a "wandering" mood to the album, not uninteresting, a bit like the flow of "Navigating by the stars".
With BDAW, it is the first time in 25 years that an NMA album has made me go 'meh, its ok', and that makes me sadder than if I hated it for some reason.
Myself i was/am a bit "Meh, it's ok" with "Strange Brotherhood", "Carnival" and "Today is a good day"...with each passing years i've learnt to appreciate more their songwritings and tunes.
"Immediate" NMA stuff were for me the Sullivan/Heaton period (aside from "Strange Brotherhood"), "Eight" and "High".
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It would appear we both acknowledge certain observations regarding the music, but for you they are strengths,and for me, at this stage flaws.
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I'm curious to listen to the new songs live..."Seven times" and "March in September" are different sounding live...i'm mixed about "Strange Broterhood" and its sound but i quite liked its songs live.
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Agreed.
I have to live with BDAW, see it performed on stage, and let it absorb.
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Got the album today, and now playing it for the second time (first time in the car on the way home). This is the first NMA album I've bought since Strange Brotherhood (which I found to be a disappointment and only played a handful of times). It's certainly not really hit me yet, I'm thinking it sounds more like a side project than an NMA album. Having said that I think NMA have written songs like this for years, but always as an album track or a b-side, never a whole albums worth (bearing in mind I've not even heard any of the albums since Strange Brotherhood). I'll give it a few more plays, hopefully it'll be a grower. Certainly the production's good, but then so's the production on a lot of bland dross, I'd rather have good songs and poorer sound.
By the way, I played Strange Brotherhood again a few months back and it was a lot better than I remembered.
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I'll give it a few more plays, hopefully it'll be a grower.
It definitely is worth sticking with it. Almost every album I've ever heard by any artist just sounds OK on the first few plays...I can guarantee this is a grower...songs that passed me by now grip me. It's well worth investing the time mate....and also buying Eight, Carnival, High & Today is a Good Day too. ;) ;) ;D
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Certainly the production's good, but then so's the production on a lot of bland dross, I'd rather have good songs and poorer sound.
That's very true; a good song is a good song, but good production can only add the last couple of percent to the impact on the listener. 95% of what's in the charts is technically perfectly produced, however most albums that go down as seminal works aren't - The Clash, Nevermind, Rum Sodomy And The Lash, Appetite For Destruction, Led Zepplin, Pronounced "Leh-Nerd Skin-erd", and Antichrist Superstar to name but a few. You cannot add magic in the mix, that only comes with the writing.
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Six totally immersive plays. The goose bumps are now appearing for every track.
TIAGD smashed like a bottle across the face first listen. This is more like an intravenous injection. Once the infection, the inoculation, the intoxication hits everything is right. And inevitable.
There's a moment everyone goes through every day when the subconscious starts dancing with the conscious before eventually consuming it. That's Between Dog and Wolf.
Absolutely astounding accomplishment to capture that on vinyl.
MarkP.
Pretty much agree with everything you said there.
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95% of what's in the charts is technically perfectly produced
This is plain wrong. In fact the opposite is true. Google overproduction, loudness war and clipping...
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This is plain wrong. In fact the opposite is true. Google overproduction, loudness war and clipping...
No, it's not wrong; I'm familiar with all of the above and I agree with you that none of them are a good idea. The point I was making is that shiny production does not equal good songs or songwriting. I would refer you to Stav's book "Mixing With Your Mind" and his mantra "minimum voltage, maximum illusion".
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first time i played it I really enjoyed the first 3 songs then I kinda drifted away from listening if that makes sense.
I have listened to it a good few more times and i found that if i played it in random order each time different tracks stood out. Also, at first i thought the Knievel song had a very strange subject matter, but I am coming around to it as I now think the chorus is about more than just Knievel, I think this album is a grower due to most of them telling a very well described story and the more you listen to the songs the more you will understand the story. What makes this standout from any other NMA album is/are the backing vocals, thought i was listening to the Bee Gees at one point ;D This might not make sense but i think the understated guitar from Marshall shows he knows how & when to play.
I had exactly the same take on Kievel. I wasn't thrilled when I saw the title, and the verses are well written of course, but I agree that the chorus makes this song about something more. I like the angle they took with it.
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I am still listening to this album and nothing else. I must have listened to it about 12 or 15 times now and am still loving it.
Whilst I love the song Knievel I too find it an odd choice of subject matter and maybe a bit out of place on the album?
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Is it really about Evil Knievil though? I interpret it to be about the human psyche, about whether we want to see others succeed or fail in life. That's what I love about Justin's lyrics - they are always open to personal interpretation
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Is it really about Evil Knievil though? I interpret it to be about the human psyche, about whether we want to see others succeed or fail in life. That's what I love about Justin's lyrics - they are always open to personal interpretation
A bit of both, I reckon. Verses solely/mainly about Evel (very specific, such as reference to the 29 day coma and passion for bikes) chorus about EK on a base level but more widely about life.
According to the mag, Marshall's childhood obsession with EK and stopping off at EK's hometown during a US tour inspired JS to write the song. I'm glad he did.
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Is it really about Evil Knievil though? I interpret it to be about the human psyche, about whether we want to see others succeed or fail in life. That's what I love about Justin's lyrics - they are always open to personal interpretation
A bit of both, I reckon. Verses solely/mainly about Evel (very specific, such as reference to the 29 day coma and passion for bikes) chorus about EK on a base level but more widely about life.
According to the mag, Marshall's childhood obsession with EK and stopping off at EK's hometown during a US tour inspired JS to write the song. I'm glad he did.
Think I heard in an interview a reference to X.Factor regarding seeing people succeed or fail,so definitely not all about E.K.(love this song) :)
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Update (if anyone's remotely interested ;) )
The album started to click in a major way this evening, and strangely enough, it unlocked itself on the track that up till this evening was my absolute least favourite - 'I need more Time'. It suddenly dawned on me as I was listening to it that it takes a lot of its musical cues from 'Bela Lugosi's Dead' by Bauhaus. There is a dub vibe to the drums, and the sparse guitar work creating sonic effects as opposed to a tune really evoked Daniel Ash to my ears.
Suddenly, it made sense as a composition, and from there the rest of the album has flowered before me 8)
I know it will never find a place in my heart like TIAGD or High, but its certainly started to burrow under my skin like Carnival, and I mean that in a good way :)
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Update (if anyone's remotely interested ;) )
The album started to click in a major way this evening, and strangely enough, it unlocked itself on the track that up till this evening was my absolute least favourite - 'I need more Time'. It suddenly dawned on me as I was listening to it that it takes a lot of its musical cues from 'Bela Lugosi's Dead' by Bauhaus. There is a dub vibe to the drums, and the sparse guitar work creating sonic effects as opposed to a tune really evoked Daniel Ash to my ears.
Suddenly, it made sense as a composition, and from there the rest of the album has flowered before me 8)
I know it will never find a place in my heart like TIAGD or High, but its certainly started to burrow under my skin like Carnival, and I mean that in a good way :)
That's strange because I went through a similar thing last night with"I Need More Time" I was tiring of it and was at the point where I would skip that track but it came on and I let it play. I sat and listened to it a couple of times and found I started to get it more and appreciate it what a great track it is.
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"I need more time" (with its follow up "Pull the sun") is one of the best songs on the album i think, very obssessive track.
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Is it really about Evil Knievil though? I interpret it to be about the human psyche, about whether we want to see others succeed or fail in life. That's what I love about Justin's lyrics - they are always open to personal interpretation
A bit of both, I reckon. Verses solely/mainly about Evel (very specific, such as reference to the 29 day coma and passion for bikes) chorus about EK on a base level but more widely about life.
According to the mag, Marshall's childhood obsession with EK and stopping off at EK's hometown during a US tour inspired JS to write the song. I'm glad he did.
Think I heard in an interview a reference to X.Factor regarding seeing people succeed or fail,so definitely not all about E.K.(love this song) :)
During yesterday's tour start in Münster Justin introduced Knievel as a song about Marshall's childhood hero, Evel Knievel (as written in the mag) ;)
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I've read a lot of reviews here and found some similar thoughts troughout. positive and negative once. i don't know how often i listened to the album now and the feelings about it have changed since the first listening. but i was aware of that process. since carnival every new album was kind of a surprise, kind of a struggle because of my own expectations and songs i skipped at first became favourites.
this time i was overwhelmed by the first listening. i recommend the vinyl version of the album, i also got the cd, but on vinyl it's really better sound, imho! and i also had some comparisons in my head while listening and some expectations again, which one could call critisism, but overall now i just love it.
to sum it up i would say:
Between Rock and Space
..to the glory and the vanity of rock and roll...
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Is it really about Evil Knievil though? I interpret it to be about the human psyche, about whether we want to see others succeed or fail in life. That's what I love about Justin's lyrics - they are always open to personal interpretation
A bit of both, I reckon. Verses solely/mainly about Evel (very specific, such as reference to the 29 day coma and passion for bikes) chorus about EK on a base level but more widely about life.
According to the mag, Marshall's childhood obsession with EK and stopping off at EK's hometown during a US tour inspired JS to write the song. I'm glad he did.
Justin also mentioned that he had by chance, happened upon that tv documentary from a few years ago when Richard Hammond went to meet his childhood hero, Evel. Justin liked the fact that Richard, being a BBC person must therefore think he is very important (I wouldn't agree or disagree with that), but that when he met Evel, Evel didn't really give a s**t who Richard was, and wasn't very forthcoming about anything. I think the lines in the song about people coming with an easy smile, and "you only get from me what you pay for" may well refer to that !
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Finally received the 2 record set of Between Dog and Wolf this week!
First I have to sing praises for the artwork here as I think this is the best packaging I’ve seen on an LP for a long time! The way every song has its very own artwork on the inner sleaves and I love the bold cave painting style of the outer sleave so it’s an easy 5 stars for Joolz!
I am pleasantly surprised at how good the pressing is (very quiet) and how good this sounds compared to their other recent albums! They have left more dynamic range in the master that allows the music to “breath” more freely giving the album more texture.
Having got “into” New Model Army around Thunder and Consolation I’ve never really warmed to the harder rock sound of the more modern albums where as this new offering seems to fall between the two styles and I think works very well!
Time will tell of course but my initial thoughts are very positive and I would recommend Between Dog and Wolf to anybody that switched off to NMA around The Love of Hopeless Causes LP or after.
All in all a great new offering by NMA
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Playing the album again now, second play today...... Still a grower....... The restrained style of the songs, and almost clinical production is jarringly different to any other NMA album, Echoes of the last few years certainly. RED Earth, Ocean Rising and the Navigating By The Stars album in general........ It's a weird lack of riffs that I keep coming back to.
The first time I heard Seven Times I remember thinking it was odd seing Marshall play a single chord strike while Ceri went off free form soloing like crazy........ I think previous line ups would have had a more set bass line on it, meanwhile the bass is mising totally from Stormclouds it seems in favour of second drums....... Odd way of working, it works well enough, but a true inspired bass line would've lifted the song further, not "got in the way" to my ears..... Stuart's bass lines, or Moose's or Nelson's never detracted from Rob's and latterly Micheal's brutal pounding tribal drums as n when....
No question about the vocal performances, I think Justin's vocals are right up there with anything he's put down.
The true test, apart from live of course, will be how often we all listen to Between Dog And Wolf in 6 months......
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The first time I heard Seven Times I remember thinking it was odd seing Marshall play a single chord strike while Ceri went off free form soloing like crazy........
..are you sure it's not a guitar soloing? i'm not really sure after you mentioning it, but i said to myself: nice guitar solo there...
but i also had some feelings about missing some catchy basslines on the album, but now, afetr a while, all my thoughts are gone and i just hear some damn fine good music.
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totally and utterly in love with it,find it haunting and when i am out its still playing in my head,addicted to it to say the least :D :D :D :D :D :D :D
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The first time I heard Seven Times I remember thinking it was odd seing Marshall play a single chord strike while Ceri went off free form soloing like crazy........
..are you sure it's not a guitar soloing? i'm not really sure after you mentioning it, but i said to myself: nice guitar solo there...
but i also had some feelings about missing some catchy basslines on the album, but now, afetr a while, all my thoughts are gone and i just hear some damn fine good music.
Definately bass it kicks in around 1 minute 30 on the album, Marshall's style strumming the 2 chord pattern....... on this clip Ceri starts at 2minutes 10 seconds free forming away on the bass.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JRZSs0iNgF8
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:o
never heard such nice bass-feedbacks as on the album...
gotta re-listen the album now and again 8)
btw, it's a fuckin' good new model army album for me (now, after a little while)
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I wanted to get plenty of listens before I made a review and now after 2 weeks of listening I can say that this CD is EXCELLENT . ;D The One thing I can say with total truth and Honesty is that No one writes Lyrics Like Justin. This man is a Genius artist in the true sense. Reading the Lyrics in the cd Sleeve I am amazed how he can put words to music and it is so natural and he has been doing this for a very long time. That is very rare in Todays Vapid music scene where it seems shock value and the usual sound the same acts seem to be the rule at the moment. ::) :(
Now I am just waiting for hopefully some news about an American Tour. ;D 8)
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Listened to it for the 30th or 40th times yesterday night on my headphones...
strangely enough, i think that the albums plays very well if you play it while driving at night, or listening it at night on headphones...not so many NMA album work this way, maybe because BDAW is more moody, cinematic, "ambient" than most of others NMA albums.
A few songs i was a bit cold or indifferent like "Tomorrow came" or "Lean back and fall" have a bit grown on me, yesterday...and the highlights remain highlights: "Pull the sun", "I need more time", "March in September", "Seven times", "Did you make it safe?", "Knievel", "Between dog and wolf"...
definitively a good, very good album.
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I have listened to BDAW at least 25 times now and I have a different fav ever time I put the headphones on! Let me recommend if you haven't tracked it thru a good pair of headphones you need to do so ASAP. It is fantastic listening this way. Some of the deeper lyrics are almost haunting thru the headphones. It reminds me of the Peter Gabriel album So in some respects but the tick tock tick tock in I Need More Time is very Pink Floydish maybe the Final Cut which I just happen to regard as the best Floyd Album ever! I love the new album and can't wait till they come stateside.
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It reminds me of the Peter Gabriel album So
"Pull the sun" for example has some echoes of Peter Gabriel's sound, the drums, the etheral mood, the echoes on the voices, etc.
Such a great, beautiful song.
Pink Floyd...why not?...i remember a friend of mine thinking that the long, moody intro of "Green and grey" sounded like Pink Floyd.
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Full disclosure - I've been a fan of NMA for over 25 years - and I always have a little lag time between getting a new album and loving it. This one was a little longer. I wanted to wait until I had listened to the CD a lot before I wrote a review and I am glad I did because initially I really did not like it. I kept reading reviews that said it would grow on me...so I kept listening and it did. It is on pretty constant rotation these days and I am finally excited about it on a level that is very different than the other albums before. For me, there was always an instant, almost visceral appeal to Justin's lyrics and the music mostly came later. I think the problem I had with this one was that I didn't connect emotionally to the lyrics and since that had always been the case before, I wasn't sure where to put it.
As I kept listening to it though, I realized that I was falling in love with the music - and that the emotional connection I was looking for with this album was not lyrical and that's OK. (There's a first time for everything) It's in the lushness of the sound and the rhythm of the drums - which are FINALLY showcased amazingly well. The music makes me incredibly happy - and now that I finally realized that, I can't seem to turn it off. I'm a big fan of spooky, moody, driving music - and this album appeals to me on that level. So now I can join the voices saying that it will grow on you with absolute honesty. It will grow on you...particularly if you listen to it with headphones, 1000 times, at a very loud volume ;)
I cannot wait to hop the puddle and see it live. I'm going on my first vacation in a thousand years and it will be so amazing to see NMA in Ireland, especially with the new found love of Between Dog and Wolf. Cheers boys - looking forward to seeing you!