Customer Reviews

Almost Human

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Voltaire's second album contains gothic yet amusing themes. This album has more upbeat songs than the first one. The songs are easy to get into and contain a wild collection of themes. Some of them are quite serious and moving, while some of them are meant to be funny.

After being a firm advocate of THE DEVIL'S BRIS as having great lyrics, atmosphere, and conceptual meaning -- I somehow left out the possibility that he would return to do ANOTHER! This is definately a must-buy for anyone out there who is a VOLTAIRE fan, or even if you are just looking for something different. This isn't your typical whiny goth music, I should know b/c I cannot stand most goth music -- but there's something unique about Voltaire that makes me listen to his album(s) over and over! Just be careful the first time you listen to it, I was playing in my car driving down Interstate 10 when "God Thinks" came on and I was laughing so hard I almost side-swiped a minivan! =) =)

Excellent Work, V!

After I heard the first album 2 years ago I thought it impossible that a second album would grab me and keep my attention the way 'The Devil's Bris' had. I am happy to say, I was wrong.

'Almost Human' is a delightfully dark yet comical look at life. It puts a fresh spin on things, from the loss of love in 'Feathery Wings' to religion in 'God Thinks' to necrophelia in 'Dead Girls.' With lines like, 'Far be it for I/To leave all this beauty behind/I will stay to watch you wither away/And with any luck/You may be hit by a truck'(The Last Word), you realize that this is no ordinary album. The music is an eclectic combination of spirited guitar, romantic cello, eerie violin, and thundering drums. I especially liked the use of harmonic vocals on this album. It gave a fuller, more finished sound that I thought was lacking on 'The Devil's Bris'.

If you are tired of the usual stylings of another Christian Death cover band, give Voltaire a try. His twisted humor and view of the world set to original music will keep you laughing and thinking as you hit PLAY again and again.

The reason why I bought this cd was to prepare for Voltaire in concert about a month after I purchased the cd. And the only way I was able to trust it enough was through other customer reviews. Let me just say that it is fantastic if you like satirical lyrics and ballad like tunes, especially if you like the use of classical instruments. I feel as if I've been cast into some medieval concert hall. Great fun, especially if you are a fan of dark humor.

I'm glad to see I'm not the only goth out there with a sense of humor. All of this man's albums range from silly to sincere with wit and well orchestrated melodies. Songs like God Thinks and Feathery Wings show a more provocative side of Voltaire, while tunes like Headless Waltz prove that he is still hilarious and fun to dance to. This is my favorite of his three and a half albums (Banned On Vulcan maxi-EP also available) and I'm lucky enough to boast a signed copy.

Picture (if you will) your standard Fine Art Museum dropped in the middle of a typical large center of population. There is an art exhibit that includes many works by John Singer Sargent and you weave your way through the crowd of art stiffs and critics to view the amazing painter's work. You pause to look upon the famous piece titled, "Repose." Then you have your mind suddenly overtaken by "Dead Girls" by Voltaire and you almost have a giggle fit amongst the art critics because you can't shake the fact that "Repose" suddenly appears to be about necrophilia. That happened to me, and I warn you that this CD is so good that it will stick with you and maybe happen to YOU too! There are a lot of things you might listen to over the years, but this will be the CD you come back to every time. Excellent work!

Again, tongue in cheek, Voltaire makes another great CD here. Good club music, high energy darkly humourous songs. I love this CD, and I think that everyone else should too.

Great Baroque and Roll music

Hmmm...pop music?...gothic-ethnicity? What is this anyway? I don't know what to call it, and I don't like labeling, so I'll just call this excellent! Again, Voltaire delivers quality lyrics that cover more than the "dark side" this time.

It's impressive when a second effort equals the first, and is much different in lyrical content and arrangements. I thought Devil's Bris was a one-time wonder, and I was very wrong! I look forward from hearing more from Voltaire. This is a must for any fan of the first!

...how Voltaire manages to capture your attention on this CD. Most of it is probably not for happy shiny people, but then I've never exactly been nominated for any Susie Sunshine awards. These songs hang around in your head and they won't go away. Voltaire is a versatile musician, able to flow from one style to another with ease. Of his three CDs that I have, this is my favorite. Buy it. If you think and you have a dark sense of humor, you will love it...

Voltaire has described this one as "what new age would sound like if electricity was never discovered." That pretty well covers it. The basic sound from Devil's Bris, only with slightly modern, more inventive rythms. The first few songs, especially, really showcase Voltaire's abilities as a vocalist, which don't seem to get the attention that they deserve. The subject matter tends to differ from the songs on the first album, but there's never any doubt that they're by the same guy. Some highlights include "Dunce," "The Headless Waltz," and "Almost Human," (and, as an added bonus, babies seem to love "El Barquito.") I'm not sure that I'd consider this quite the masterpiece that Devil's Bris was (there are a couple of points at which a couple of songs are a bit uneven, but never badly so.), but it's certainly a worthy follow-up,(sophomore slumps be damned) and shows beyond all doubt that Voltaire isn't simply a fluke or a gimmick - he should be able to crank out great records for years to come. This should definitely help him cast off the shackles of being labelled "The Goth Weird Al" and get him appreciated as an artist in his own right. I was able to buy a copy at Dragoncon a month ago, and it hasn't been out of my cd player since. It gets better with each listen!