Customer Reviews

Bleed Your Cedar

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Well, all negativity from the others aside, I hated this album at first too. Too slow, too mellow, too offkey.... but then, oh, then.... I listened to it as I was falling asleep! In the dark, with your eyes closed, new realms are opened up to you! There's an amazing art behind the simplicity and the smoky vocals. This is NOT music to groove to or dance to or to jump around too.... it's romantic, curling up in a warm bed JAZZY music. It creates at atmosphere without being blunt about it, which is why many people miss the point I think - not being smacked in the face with the purpose... Despite being so calming and tranquil, it won't put you to sleep if you don't want it to. It's interesting enough musically to keep me entranced. Darkly erotic vibes throughout, and very thoughtful! ENJOY IT!

Who knows how you found this page and disc-- but if you are here -- buy it. This CD is both haunting and invigorating -- there is a dream-like feel to the tunes here that will keep you coming back for more. It is rare to find pop songs of this depth and feel-- yes -- pop, as in catchy but not like the Go-go's. Catchy as in you'll find yourself humming "fountains on fire" at work the next day like it's the jingle to some surreal ad for tabasco. I keep hoping for a new release from this group -- this is a must for anyone struggling to break free from our Celine-obsessed world.

As previous reviews show, this music isn't for everybody. But for those who appreciate its sinuous & slow erotic charge, it'll take you to mysterious places. Unlike the boringly blatant & plastic sexuality of a lot of contemporary hits, this is the real thing: the lush flow is in the mind as much as in the body, creating a fever dream that never ends while the music is playing & Jennifer Charles' rich, low, satiny voice is soothing, caressing, aching in the dark, calling to you ... "But it doesn't matter anyway, I'm on the wrong side of the water, oh won't you listen to the lady in the lake?" In a way, it isn't so much about sex as it is about the mood, the countless little details merging together, the emotional undercurrents ... both alluring & a little ominous ... there's really nothing else quite like it. Most highly recommended!

This CD is in my "heavy rotation". It's especially great to listen to in headphones, at night, with no lights on. The sound harks back to Galaxy 500 with a harder edge. The lyrics are creative, twisted, and sensual. In "Lady In the Lake" you think you're listening to a story about lovers at a lake -- but as the song goes on you get more and more info. about what's really going on and then the line in the chorus "I'm on the wrong side of the water" starts to really makes sense.

Also, unless I'm mistaken, the lyrics in one song sometimes clarify lyrics in another song ! An album integrated lyrically without being some sort of rock opera. This is one of the few CDs of the past several years that's really caught my attention. I never know for sure why I like certain CDs and not others -- but this one I love.

I just got this cd not too long ago. I love it! The songs are so mellow and haunting, and totally beautiful. My favorite is the song mermaid. If ya need to relax- this is the cd to get, so light up some incense and hum away with it's lyrics.

Whoa, can I have a J please? As in Jealousy! That's what it sounds like D cluck cluck cluck has a severe case of. Take some xanax and call me in the morning. Sounds like you're trying to promote your own band and your trying to do it at the expense of Elysian Fields. Hoping to attract the EF audience? Anyway, this forum isn't for jealous rants and slagging, it's for thought-out reviews by hopefully someone who has something constructive and intelligent to say. Anyway, I first had their latest cd "queen of the meadow", and loved it to death. Great songs, mood, depth. The lyrics are incredibly poetic. The work of Lautremont comes to mind. Quality of the voice, music, words evoking surrealism- Blake, Ernst.. So I searched for anything else they put out and have been devouring it all. "Bleed your Cedar" is a beautiful cd. It seems a little bit more innocent than their latest one, but it is every bit as good. Especially love the song 'fountains on fire' where the piano is like a storm building, and Jennifer's voice soars, especially on these high notes. There is a great slide guitar solo on one of the songs too. This band is very deep, so don't let that persons sour grapes spoil it for you. If you like beautiful melodies, stellar musiacianship, poetic lyrics, ala Nick Cave, then, you'll probably like this stuff. It's not kiddie stuff!

If you enjoy the sweet mellowness of Loreena McKennitt, Sarah McLachlan and the like, then buy this CD immediately! The opening song "Lady In The Lake" will grab you and suck you into a world you never thought you'd find in reality. The lead singer's voice is both haunting and beautiful. A great disc to have for relaxation purposes. But it NOW! ~SerialZero

Lead singer for Elysian Fields Jennifer Charles becomes part and parcel of the hypnotic music. This is Alternative at it's best! I especially loved "Jack In The Box"...scarey tale with a beat. The sublime "Lady In The Lake" and the poignant "Parachute" are also especially beautiful. I can't wail till their next release!

I was in Bangkok for 3 weeks and this CD was how i started everyday. It was the soundtrack to a holiday in the Big Weird. If a movie is ever made out of Christopher G. Moore's novel "the Big Weird" this is the soundtrack. Is that book available here?

Yo! It's me again to say that Elysian Fields is STILL great, but I'm mostly writing this review to apologize for spelling "BUY" wrong, and to include my E-Mail address, which I neglected to do last time. My overall favorite tracks off the record, however, have to be Sugarplum Arches and Lady In The Lake. Take care, all! ~SerialZero