Amor Vincit Omnia [IMPORT]

Pure Reason Revolution

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 10, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• ASIN: B001MYZ2R4
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #107,695 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Pure Reason Revolution. Moving on!, March 16, 2009

By	Per Lundberg "Perperov" (TYRESÖ, Sthlm Sweden) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Sure, this isn't More Of The Same. It's not "The Dark Third" part 2. If you like (genre) labeling, it's more "electronica" and less "progressive" this time around.

"Amor Vincit Omnia" is full of PRR's talent, but not of Ye Olde Success Re-hashed. I love TDT, even though it at times sounded like something from Pink Floyd et al. And that's fine with me, as I like that kind of music. Perhaps "Golden Clothes" on TDT comes closest to what they sound like nowadays on AVO. To me, tracks like "Les Malheurs", "Victorious Cupid", "Apogee", "Deus Ex Machina", and "AVO" are full of PRR's quality music - even though it arrives in a different suit this time.

There are many musicians and groups who keep to formula playing, clinging to expectations and wishes from their fans and record companies, re-making their own music. Playing safe. And there's nothing wrong with that in a way, I guess.

From that perspective, this is a pretty brave record. They're moving on, refusing to be pigeon holed and categorized. It's not a flawless record, though, as some songs perhaps meander too long before hitting their musical stride - but that's just my opinion. PRR try to evolve, and on this record they have moved in a direction pretty far away from the one they took with TDT. And there's nothing wrong with that either, in my mind's eye. As with music (and movies) in general, it's all a matter of personal taste and expectations in the end.

I was happily surprised by AVO, and I'm very curious to hear what Pure Reason Revolution will try to achieve on their third offering. I hope they keep on evolving and surprising us...

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A powerful, but independent, step forward from The Dark Third, April 28, 2009

By	Samuel Holley (Peoria, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Let's be honest from the start: not all fans of The Dark Third will dig Amor Vincit Omnia. But let's also be clear: this album is just as technically masterful and unpredictable as its predecessor. Personally, I prefer it.

A lot of progressive bands get too cozy within their style and with time, their records stop surprising you. By refusing to restrict themselves to the stylistic guidelines of The Dark Third, Pure Reason Revolution have kept their music fresh and inventive. And there's plenty to love here - if you liked The Dark Third, and you don't hate electronica (because in effect, this album is prog rock + electronica, a new style driven by the same musical philosophy), you're going to enjoy this. Whether you think it's their best yet isn't as certain, but it's definitely worth a listen.

4.0 out of 5 stars Very Strong Second Attempt, July 1, 2009

By	J. Petruska - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Pure Reason Revolution surprised progressive music fans everywhere with their debut release 'The Dark Third' proving, along with bands like The Pineapple Thief, Porcupine Tree and Oceansize, that the progressive mindframe of music-writing is just as alive as it was in the glory days of the 70s. It seems that PRR's second album 'Amor Vincit Omnia' may have delievered an even bigger surprise than their first though! This time around they rely more on synthesizer and various electronic elements than guitar, drums and the like. They also have parted with the spacey style of music they once made, replacing it with a more dance-oriented feel.

I myself am a fan of well made electronic music, so this album proved to be a refreshing treat to my ears. There was always an electronic element to PRR's music, and looking back, The Dark Third hinted that the group's next album could have gone with a more psychedelic route, or (the less expected) an electronic route. Amor Vincit Omnia, however different it may be from its predecessor, still bears the trademark PRR sound with beautiful vocal harmonies and catchy melodies! Stand out tracks include the lead track "Les Malheurs," which serves as a taste of what the album has to offer. "Apogee" presents a delightfully catchy synth as well as more beautiful harmonies. And the particular favorite of mine, "AVO" presents singing that is strongly reminiscent of the "bright ambassadors" repeated vocal idea. However, tracks like "The Gloaming" and "Disconnect" seem to drag a little more and (especially "The Gloaming") would have done better as shorter songs.

The only complaint I have with the album is in agreement with another reviewer in that I think Chloe could have been a little more prevalent on the album. She still has a strong presence, just not as much as before; very minor issue. So another very good release from PRR, only time can tell what they have in store for us next (my money's on folk)!