From: anna amnesia, somnax@hotmail.com Subject: Another bloody fan review for AENT Date: 2/9/2002 8:16:15 AM To: seance@lists.no-fi.com My first album was A-ha's Hunting High and Low. After a couple of years I was a Brit freak with New Order being the fave. Then I went through David Bowie phase in high school until I discovered the Church. Even the worst church song is better than a lot of other bands' best songs. So with that in mind, I hope I don't have to dodge any objects. I went to Best Buy in two counties with no luck then my friend purchased a copy from Borders for me. I've listened about five times now. My first impression was a disappointment. I keep wishing for songs in the tradition of Constant In Opal, Shadow Cabinet or Myrrh. I wasn't prepared for something so sombre and slow. I mean you expect that from Tindersticks and Red House Painters and maybe half of an album from the church. I can always count on excellent guitar work and clever lyrics from Steve. Well, no one else does guitar more beautifully than Peter and Marty but i was embarrassed by the glory seeking hard rock guitar riff in one of the songs (Reprieve?). And the usual mind blowing lyrics from Steve was at best displayed in Numbers, After Everything and Radiance. Either he's running out of ways to make simple things complex or he's giving away to his sentimentality. But I can't understand how Dabble is still fresh and interesting and AENT comes out like this. Album as a whole succeeds thematically although Numbers doesn't fit. Even the sleeve fits the mood very well but i don't like the photos at all from a photo artist's view. It's so painfully sad I feel that Steve is saying goodbye forever. All this regret and broken hearts. For almost five decades, Steve's been searching, only to realize it was in front of him and it slipped away. Even his voice sounds like he's dying, gasping for one last breath in a dark lounge singing for a movie. I liked Numbers from the first listen. I loved After Everything from the tour and on my first cd listen, it had lost its edge. Someone's been polishing too long but it's still one of my fave song on the album. The simple guitar progression in the chorus begs for depths from other elements but it's left hollow. Awful Ache - Comforting, too pretty and gives into grandiose. Song for the asking - Don't like the opening lines and melody and thumbs down for backing vocal arrangements. Chromium - Marty's voice works pretty well here and everything else as well. Radiance- One of the better songs. Reprieve - I must say as of now, this is my least favorite track and actually one of the worst by church standards. The opening is in similar vein with Song for the Asking and Seen it Coming ( so by the time I get to #9, I feel agitated by redundancy.) The lyrics shame SK and the song doesn't know if it wants to be a rock song or a ballad. Usually the church is great at creating paradox but they fail miserably here. Night Friends - More piano please; fits well. I like the chorus even though it's an easy way out ascending, descending formula. Probably the most surreal track. Seen It Coming - Way too commercial for my liking. This is a simple easy pop song with lyrics everyone can understand. Invisible - This is just too sad and barren. Works as a closure. Each song has its merits but I miss the sarcasm, gods, myths, and polarities. There's no stand out track. Even Tim's drumming sounds watered down;it's pretty minimal for a very complex drummer. Who knows how time can change my views. I didn't like Priest=Aura when it came out and it took nine years to become my favorite. But I'm an adult now and my tastes are well... I used to buy two cds every week. These days I'll be lucky if i find one one cd in a month. For what each song is worth, the production is well done. I'm not pleased with the result of over three years in the making but I am grateful that they are still making music. _________________________________________________________________ Join the world,s largest e-mail service with MSN Hotmail. http://www.hotmail.com