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Post by rohrrohrzucker on Aug 22, 2009 7:27:31 GMT -5
got the album yesterday from amazon, really fantastic overall imo and living up to my high expectations...... only the end (praying ground, wise blood, by my side) is 'just' good for me and those songs pale a little in comparison to the rest... edit: ...oh i love "unbalanced pieces", i also expected more (quantity-wise), but the song is simply fantastic that way imo, so it's alright with me.... btw: you have some great patton right here, hehe: www.youtube.com/watch?v=o51_NLi7RZgcan't wait for the soulsavers show in Berlin! btw, is highway kind streamed somewhere? i really want to listen to it
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Post by RominiBikini on Aug 22, 2009 7:31:52 GMT -5
some misunderstanding....
nice.
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Post by Zantar on Aug 22, 2009 8:47:59 GMT -5
some misunderstanding.... nice. epic song
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Post by kingdomsofrain on Aug 22, 2009 10:07:58 GMT -5
I like the track a lot but i find the guitar workout a little OTT it kind of drowns out the tune at times.
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Post by Stephanie on Aug 22, 2009 12:00:27 GMT -5
I love "Unbalanced Pieces," and it's given me a jones to immerse myself more in the world of Patton, but I agree that so many of these awesome collaborators seem to have been pushed to the background of the tracks they helped create. Of course I can understand why the SS wanted Mark's voice front and center, but that doesn't mean we also couldn't have heard a little more from Gibby et al. ("Death Bells" is the one I'm disappointed in for a similar reason - HUGE Surfers fan here who listens to that track and thinks, "Where's Gibby??")
BUT... at the end of the day I have to say this album stands quite well on its own merits and I'm not really sure that a clearer collaboration from Pierce, Patton, Haynes, etc., would have made for a better or more coherent album.
I still find the way they used Red Ghost here a bit odd... not only is she more front and center than her more well-known peers, but on the track she does with Lanegan we don't get to hear their voices together, which I think would have had an amazing effect. I think I can understand why "By My Side" is the closing track--it has that sweet "morning after" feel that leaves the listener with a bit more uplift and optimism than had the closing track been a bit heavier.
Of course I've bashed out ad nauseum why I don't like her cover of "Praying Ground," but for only 1 track to be one that moves me to the skip button is pretty damned good. I thought the previous Soulsavers album was great but there are a handful of tracks on there I consistently skip, including that warbly Neil Young cover. The meeting of Lanegan and Oldham has definitely worked much better this time around than on the previous Soulsavers venture. Would have been interesting if they had collaborated on an original track together as well. I'm still waiting for that as even though the two have aesthetic differences in their music, I think there is very much a shared sensibility there, especially emotionally and spiritually.
I am grateful for Mark and the Soulsavers having found one another because I love how the Soulsavers/Mark material draws upon and brings out Mark's spiritual side and depth as an introspective songwriter--which I think is more to the fore on Broken than It's Not How Far... The songs on this one are much more substantial lyrically and this record feels more like an entire vision than the previous one, which used lyrics/vocals in a much more typical way for electronic-based artists (a few lines repeated in slightly different ways in a rhythmic, trancelike manner).
So I think this album is more solid overall than It's Not How Far You Fall... though it's my opinion that there's nothing on here as sexy as "Paper Money" or as spiritually profound and uplifting as "Revival."
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Post by wheels132 on Aug 22, 2009 14:31:09 GMT -5
some misunderstanding.... nice. epic song Wholeheartedly agree. Does anyone else also get a massive set of chills near the end of Shadows Fall? I'm referring to the amped up orchestration bit after Mark sings the third chorus. Incredible stuff.
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Post by goonerandy on Aug 22, 2009 18:55:28 GMT -5
I am new around these parts, so be gentle with me. I have got to say that I am not to keen on Broken if I am being honest (in comparison), and I don't think it is a patch on the last Soulsavers offering. Lanegan is near perfect with vocal delivery as normal, but in his list of work I think this would be nearer the bottom than the top. Just my opinion obviously.
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Post by kingdomsofrain on Aug 23, 2009 10:29:06 GMT -5
I am new around these parts, so be gentle with me. I have got to say that I am not to keen on Broken if I am being honest (in comparison), and I don't think it is a patch on the last Soulsavers offering. Lanegan is near perfect with vocal delivery as normal, but in his list of work I think this would be nearer the bottom than the top. Just my opinion obviously. Opinions are officially 'okay' again so don't worry. My opinion is that the first soulsavers isn't a patch on this one so its all good
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Post by keeponrolling on Aug 27, 2009 15:58:39 GMT -5
Haven´t heard the whole album yet, but what really stands out so far is Some Misunderstanding! Superbly done - didn´t think anyone would dare to cover this Gene Clark classic... Check out the original on "No Other", Gene Clark´s 1974 country/psych (!) masterpiece!!
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Post by keeponrolling on Sept 3, 2009 4:38:20 GMT -5
OK, I´ve listened several times to the album now. In my ears there´s 7 great tracks: Death Bells Unbalanced Pieces Some Misunderstanding Shadows Fall Pharaohs Chariot Rolling Sky I like the "heavy" Mark!!
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Post by panouououls on Sept 3, 2009 6:53:56 GMT -5
OK, I´ve listened several times to the album now. In my ears there´s 7 great tracks: Death Bells Unbalanced Pieces Some Misunderstanding Shadows Fall Pharaohs Chariot Rolling Sky I like the "heavy" Mark!! Totaly agree!!
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Post by gr0undzer0 on Sept 3, 2009 7:10:28 GMT -5
I am new around these parts, so be gentle with me. I have got to say that I am not to keen on Broken if I am being honest (in comparison), and I don't think it is a patch on the last Soulsavers offering. Lanegan is near perfect with vocal delivery as normal, but in his list of work I think this would be nearer the bottom than the top. Just my opinion obviously. what were you hoping for? what makes it just ok? personally I was hoping for more of the electro hip hoppish element, I do like it quite a bit but yeah I guess I am with you......I was hoping for more of the death bells/unbalanced pieces type of song, quirky and different. But thats just me I suppose
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Post by invisibles on Sept 3, 2009 9:30:56 GMT -5
I am new around these parts, so be gentle with me. I have got to say that I am not to keen on Broken if I am being honest (in comparison), and I don't think it is a patch on the last Soulsavers offering. Lanegan is near perfect with vocal delivery as normal, but in his list of work I think this would be nearer the bottom than the top. Just my opinion obviously. what were you hoping for? what makes it just ok? personally I was hoping for more of the electro hip hoppish element, I do like it quite a bit but yeah I guess I am with you......I was hoping for more of the death bells/unbalanced pieces type of song, quirky and different. But thats just me I suppose well, i can only speak for myself, and these are just my personal opinions... (which, having just finished typing, do ramble on for a bit) my favourites on the last album were the likes of Paper Money - where you've got this weird groove-led verse and a nice beat, but still steeped in old instrumentation with a twist (the very odd organ riff, the looped-but-vintage-sounding drums, etc). this new album feels (to me) like soulsavers leaning a little more straightforward sounds. drum track, guitars, bass, vocals. it's far from being straightforward rock/soul, but it's got more of a straightforward feel at times.. obviously with some cool production touches etc. it seems like Rich has consciously made the decision not to be just an electro artist, or just a rock artist.. he clearly loves a wide range of music, and i really like hearing that musical freedom. as Rich said himself, the guitars are more at the fore here because of the nature of their live shows - but i think that (personally) part of what i liked last time around was that the guitars weren't at the fore, because we hear ML, primarily, with guitars on every record he's ever on (from 'Trees, Lanegan, Lanegan Band, QoTSA, etc). so on the first album together, it was the 'less guitary' tracks (but still with guitar) like kingdoms of rain and paper money that hit me a bit more. after way more than a decade of listening to Mark Lanegan, i felt 'wow, this is something new again' (just like when I heard the opening drumloop on Bubblegum or hearing the weird groove on In The Fade, or the empty strangeness of All Misery/Flowers for the first time. anyway, i dont want it to sound like i dont like the album, because i really do. there are plenty of non-traditional tracks.. and i like the weird (am i overusing that word?), almost trip-hoppy approach on Rolling Sky, and i adore the beautiful simplicity and elegance of You Will Miss Me... in honesty, some of the stuff like Death Bells doesn't grab me as much, but im willing to give it time. it might be because im old and dont listen to as much stuff with loud guitars as i used to. it definitely worked well in a boozy, loud, live setting. anyway, i think it's a good continuation of the collaboration. id be interested to see where they would go with it from this point. there's plenty of variety on Broken - not many albums go from cinematic instrumentals to piano/string doom ballads to hard rock to triphop...
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Post by eyedclaar on Sept 3, 2009 11:08:31 GMT -5
Well, I still haven't even received my copy from Amazon and I submitted the order almost two months ago. They say it might ship any day now though. I may have to hurt someone soon...
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Post by kyselina on Sept 3, 2009 13:33:30 GMT -5
Well, I still haven't even received my copy from Amazon and I submitted the order almost two months ago. They say it might ship any day now though. I may have to hurt someone soon... Same for me. But I anticipated the delay, and also bought the digital version from Amazon, especially since I had some credit for MP3s. No way was I going to wait for the CD.
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Post by eyedclaar on Sept 3, 2009 15:13:12 GMT -5
Well, I still haven't even received my copy from Amazon and I submitted the order almost two months ago. They say it might ship any day now though. I may have to hurt someone soon... Same for me. But I anticipated the delay, and also bought the digital version from Amazon, especially since I had some credit for MP3s. No way was I going to wait for the CD. I should have anticipated the delay, but I didn't and now I blame Amazon for what I'm about to do. I'll be the guy in the clock tower with the sniper rifle... be sure to wave if you see me.
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Post by Stephanie on Sept 3, 2009 22:10:25 GMT -5
Been listening to Broken a lot lately and I've noticed it only took a few listens before I started skipping around a lot. I find that there's something non-intuitive about the sequencing of the album for me. It's as if half the tracks fit one kind of vibe, and one half, another. I notice when I'm in a certain mood, I'll listen to "Death Bells," "Unbalanced Pieces," "Shadows Fall," "Pharaoh's Chariot," and "Rolling Sky," whereas when I'm in another I'll go for "Seventh Proof," "You Will Miss Me When I Burn," "Some Misunderstanding," "All the Way Down," and "Can't Catch the Train."
I almost always skip past "You Will Miss Me When I Burn," as amazing a song and cover as it is, simply due to where it falls on the record. If it was closer to the end I probably wouldn't skip it, but coming down off of the groove of "Unbalanced Pieces" right into the sparse melancholy of that track is just too jarring for my usual mood. I think it's a brilliant segue in many ways but on the average day it's just too abrupt a shift in mood for me to follow.
I always skip right past "Praying Ground." I'm curious if there's anyone here who's enough of a whiz with audio stuff that they could replace Red Ghost's vocal with Mark's from the original track? I don't know how the timing/rhythm compares. Because the song fits well into the album, I just can't listen to Red Ghost sing it. And I'm not trying to be a hater, I love her vocal on "Rolling Sky" and think "By My Side" is a beautiful song (though I honestly usually skip it because it really doesn't fit in to the way I listen to the album unless I listen to it all the way through, at which point it works well with the emotional arc of the album), I just don't like her version of that song.
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Post by rohrrohrzucker on Sept 4, 2009 8:38:18 GMT -5
listened to it a lot lately.....didn't skip around at all (i'm not a 'skipper' guy anyway) ...only two songs that i only find 'ok' is still praying ground and shadows fall... and i think shados fall is a bit too long....the ending of the song is nice, i just think the gospel-like mood of the verses is a bit to much there...
and well, i like the patton thing (not so upfront, but perfect result) i also wonder where the heck they hid gibby haynes contribution....?
still missing highway kind, i would really like to hear it and am also curious how that would have worked as the album closer
well, tonigth they will be in berlin, whooooheeew!
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Post by solitude on Sept 5, 2009 13:44:04 GMT -5
Well, I still haven't even received my copy from Amazon and I submitted the order almost two months ago. They say it might ship any day now though. I may have to hurt someone soon... WTF? I just checked and mine will be shipped the end of the month! Which means I will see them live before I hear them, unless someone hooks me up the weekend before my show.. . . . .? ;D
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Post by thatdamnracket on Sept 5, 2009 16:11:23 GMT -5
For those of us in the states who do not have a copy yet, I received confirmation that they will have actual Broken CDs for sale at the shows. I am going tomorrow night in Portland and will let everyone know if they are also selling the Live cd.
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Post by Fields at Midnight on Sept 6, 2009 16:59:53 GMT -5
I'm enjoying it. Praying Ground is good. Unbalanced Pieces is the highlight, Some Misunderstanding is great too.
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Post by goonerandy on Sept 7, 2009 3:15:42 GMT -5
I am new around these parts, so be gentle with me. I have got to say that I am not to keen on Broken if I am being honest (in comparison), and I don't think it is a patch on the last Soulsavers offering. Lanegan is near perfect with vocal delivery as normal, but in his list of work I think this would be nearer the bottom than the top. Just my opinion obviously. what were you hoping for? what makes it just ok? personally I was hoping for more of the electro hip hoppish element, I do like it quite a bit but yeah I guess I am with you......I was hoping for more of the death bells/unbalanced pieces type of song, quirky and different. But thats just me I suppose I wasn't sure what to expect to be honest. I have listened to it a bit more now and it has grown on me, although I am now certain it is not as good as "Its not how far...". A good album all the same though. I prefer Lanegan when he is completely going for it (Song for the Dead/Skeletal History/Idle Hands) or complelety scaled down (Lexington Slow Down/Resurection Song/100 Days. And this album seems to be a bit in the middle to me. I don't think that many of the songs compliment his voice (to its potential) and that is a shame. Like I said, decent album but nowhere near his best work.
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araby
Initiate
Posts: 198
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Post by araby on Sept 7, 2009 6:02:25 GMT -5
I honestly don't think there is a single bad track or lacklustre performance on this album, it really is that good. For me 'Broken' even surpasses the wonderful 'It's Not How Far...', which I do tend to skip a few tracks on depending on my mood. There's something very stirring & affecting in the vocals & orchestration, particularly in 'Shadow's Fall', 'Can't Catch the Train' & 'Pharoah's Chariot' IMO. I also love the mood set by the two instumentals, just dripping with melancholy. I have to agree that I'm a little surprised at the running order. I think 'Highway Kind' could have been included as the album closer, without losing any of the other tracks, with just a few adjustments but I guess it's all down to personal preference. It's an amazing album either way, & I hope ML & Soulsavers continue to work together for the foreseeable future.
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Post by wheels132 on Sept 7, 2009 13:10:11 GMT -5
I honestly don't think there is a single bad track or lacklustre performance on this album, it really is that good. For me 'Broken' even surpasses the wonderful 'It's Not How Far...', which I do tend to skip a few tracks on depending on my mood. There's something very stirring & affecting in the vocals & orchestration, particularly in 'Shadow's Fall', 'Can't Catch the Train' & 'Pharoah's Chariot' IMO. I also love the mood set by the two instumentals, just dripping with melancholy. I have to agree that I'm a little surprised at the running order. I think 'Highway Kind' could have been included as the album closer, without losing any of the other tracks, with just a few adjustments but I guess it's all down to personal preference. It's an amazing album either way, & I hope ML & Soulsavers continue to work together for the foreseeable future. I think I agree with every word of your post. The orchestration particularly on Shadows Fall and Can't Catch That Train are bone chilling. I still have to say that Some Misunderstanding and All The Way Down are my favorites though; I can't get enough of them. I also think that Highway Kind is the best closer, but By My Side has grown on me tremendously. Welcome to the board!
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Post by wellwater on Sept 8, 2009 6:19:34 GMT -5
Music aside, the info on the CD case seems to be lacking any quality control. Is it the case with everyone's disk where: 1. Some Misunderstanding is spelt Some Misunderstaing 2. Beggars Banquet is spelt Beggars Banquiet 3. Lanegan is credited with singing on track 14... yet there is no track 14. 4. dare I mention Pharaohs should have been spelt with an apostrophe ('s) Maybe they sent all the reject disks to Australia.
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