"Between dog and wolf": your reviews!

[paul74]

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.

[monerl]

I LOOOOOOVE the new album!!

[aimless]

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.

 

[Johnz]

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.

[Otter]

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

[Rasi]

Have to say, March in September is my least favorite track. Its just too simple...

[Guy]

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...

[szmurf]

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.

[Toronto Popular Front]

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

[sozbot]

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.

[Guillaume]

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!

[Dipple]

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.

[A-lex]

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.

[Shush]

Hmmm, thought you were goin, away ?

[DannySan]

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.