From: DAVID DIPIETRO, dipietrd@ci.farmers-branch.tx.us
Subject: AENT (highlights for me so far)
Date: 2/19/2002 1:12:21 PM
To: seance@lists.no-fi.com


(This is like my third time to try sending
this, but our system has apparently been 
down. My apologies to those who may have
received it more than once).

Numbers--I've never been disappointed with the
opening cut on any Church album and this tune
certainly continues the fine tradition. Got goose-
bumps upon hearing the chorus initially and absolutely 
loved the line, "one law for the officers/ one for the
gentlemen"---words that many of us here in Texas have
undoubtedly witnessed in action too many times. Could
work great as a show-opener, I think.

After Everything--Simply put, IMHO one of the most 
beautiful songs both lyrically and musically that the 
Church have put their name to in the past 10 years.
Very few, if any songs have ever brought a tear to 
my eye on first listen, but this one had me by the 
gonads. I must have listened to this tune at least 50
times on headphones while on vacaton in Rio recently 
and it quickly became the soundtrack to my trip(s). 
A cache of newfound riches on each listen that never
becomes tiresome.

Reprieve--What starts off as a seemingly 'traditional' 
Church track quickly becomes anything but. About a minute-
twenty or so into the tune, the guitars dive down into some
minor-key ebows that for a few seconds sounded like they
were dropping into "Workshop of the Telescopes" off the
first BOC album. The crescendo that ensues should bring a 
quick smile to the faces of Hawkwind fans amongst us and
for me this remains one of the albums' heaviest-hitting moments.
Moments which I might add seem conducive to jamming and
fit to be expanded upon and improvised live, which I 
rather hope and expect they might be.

Night Friends--I didn't care much for this tune at first and (gasp)
almost found myself wanting to skip over it on second and third
listens. Let me caution anyone against this rashly premature 
decision on my part say, "give it time." I actually couldn't get
to sleep the other evening because the chorus of this lovely
tune had entrenched itself so firmly in my head. Powerful, 
poignant, catchy: the Church in microcosm.

Chromium--This MWP opus the latest ditty off the new album to 
work its way into my noggin. I caught myself the other day with 
the song cranked up, humming along with it in the shower, only 
to finally turn off the water and realize I didn't even have the
stereo on to begin with! The melodies and guitar work on this
song had apparently taken me away into a Byrdsian la-la land
(or maybe it was the Northern Lights).

Invisible--To me, this song would not have seemed terribly out 
of place as a bonus cut on the Refo:mation cd, it's that good.
Extremely experimental, I especially dug the percussion line
that sounded like it was scratched out on the bass strings
as Tims 'stereotronics' (which here almost sound like a subway)
take full-flight. A great tune to close out the album and as another 
Seancer previously noted, possibly a metaphor for the entire
SK lyrical universe. Definitely one for the headphones.


David in Dallas