Customer Reviews

Blender

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

i love ALL of the Murmurs three albums, but this one seems to be the most popular.

THE SOUNDS:
the first self-titled album has a very acoustic, girly driven sound...
the second album, Pristine Smut, came back with a more rock kind of sound - with a twinge of country...
and the third album, Blender, is kind of a re-do of P.S., with a pop sound.

COMPARISON TO PRISTINE SMUT:
This album is nearly identical to their second effort, Pristine Smut. However, Sleepless Commotion, a beautiful song about the murder of the artist's mother, was removed on Blender. And some very pop-oriented songs that don't appear on Pristine Smut, were added to Blender... which, in my opinion are kind of silly. (a song called "La Di Da.) I prefer Pristine Smut to Blender, but unfortunately, it is out-of-print and hard to find. But if you can purchase it used, i HIGHLY reccommend it. If not, Blender is good too!

THE COVER ART:
wow. heather and leisha look breath-taking on this cover... which is ultimately the reason why it out-sold Pristine Smut. and it is packaged in an oh-so-fun pink, transparent jewel case.

The Murmurs are by far, one of my favorite bands, and have been for the pasrt 6 years. Unfortunately, they never put out a new album after this... but it is still super fun and remains part of my CD rotations.

Though Heather Grody and Leisha Hailey both have the chirpy, Go-Go's-style voices that could lead to too-sugary material and performances, Blender deftly avoids such directions by muscular instrumentation, terrific-sounding production, imaginative vocal arrangements, and first-class songwriting.

"La Di Da" is one of those songs that'll stick in your mouth for days. Lovely shimmerings of electric guitar with a buoyant lyric that doesn't lack for brains, and that irresistible chorus. The folk-pop gem "Genius" is elegant and assured, and "Misfit" cleverly employs an unusually long catchphrase for a hook and works marvellously. Even the uptempo song (often the weak point of girl-pop groups) "Smash" fits the Grody/Hailey vocal duo well, thanks to a rocky but not quite brash arrangement filled with sonic detail. Matthew Wilder and k.d. lang are both unusually apt producers for The Murmurs, and they both weave acoustic guitars, keyboards, vocals and the backbeat into the ultimate pop brew. I bought this CD as a Japanese import (bonus tracks) -- well worth the extra money. I'm eager to hear The Murmurs' next release.

I hesitated to get any Murmurs cds because they are all out of print currently and I hadn't heard them before. I lucked upon their album "Murmurs" in a used cd shop at a great price and listening to it completely sold me on paying perhaps an unreasonable price for "Blender" if I could find it. I figured if I was going to go all out, I might as well look for the JP edition with +3 tracks. I dished out $33.50 total w/shipping on ebay and was rewarded with a FANTASTIC album at what I can now consider an excellent price.

If you are trying to figure out what to go for, I can tell you that the standard edition of "Blender" has some wonderful music and should feel like a complete experience, you will love it. HOWEVER, if you can find this JP edition for what you consider to be a reasonable price tag, I recommend it instead because the bonus tracks are amazing. Here is a list since Amz doesn't have one:

01 through 11 = same as standard edition
12. Toy
13. Squeeze Box Days
14. Sleepless Commotion

Some side notes that may or may not be useful to you:
--"Pristine Smut": All songs on Pristine Smut can be found on the JP edition of Blender. I don't know how the sound compares.
--"Murmurs": A different experience. If "Blender" is the sassy one, "Murmurs" is the sweet one. If you like one, you'll like both, but they are not the same material sound, which is a good thing.
--"White Rabbit": I just ordered it for too much money because I believe it will be worth it. Why wouldn't it be? Who knows when there will be more... Everyone not listening to their out-of-print CDs should take them to used cd shops so I can win big. Please?

...a bit of a bummer since all but three of the tracks were on their previous cd Pristine Smut. SOMEONE has not grasped the concept of an ep. Suck as it may, the evil genie's plan to re-issue! re-package! succeeds thanks to the new tracks, especially la di da, which any fan of the plugged-in, poppier Murmurs is bound to fall for. They are still a good band, writing good stuff, so let's hope a hipper cover photo and a radio-friendly single bring in the profits the now-out-of-print Pristine Smut apparently failed to. Another bummer--one of the best tracks from PS, Sleepless Commotion, didn't make it into the Blender. Can't anything work out?

At least it is definitely fair to say if you liked the last one you'll like this one!

i bought this cd the week it came out. it's just as good as "pristine smut" but not as good as their first major label release, which is one of my favorite cd's of the 90's. shame on mca for pretty much just re-issuing the "pristine smut" album with a couple new songs. i guess mca couldn't wait for leisha & heather to write enough songs for a complete album. i'll still always love leisha & heather and i'm still waiting for that reply from the fan club!!!

It's impossible to listen to this CD and not become a Murmurs fan, if you aren't already. These songs get in your head and stay there. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Awesome CD, every song is an excellent show of quality and good writing

I love this CD it keeps ya goin all day with its spunky music and catchy tunes. i definitly recomend buying this CD ASAP!!!

Well, this one just tops it all off. The murmurs are a sensational band that brings girl rock to an all time high. These rocker chicks are smart, sexy and have a really awesome band. Leisha Hailey is out of this world. Vocals are perfect, instruments are fine tuned and every song sems to just flow. Its so awesome!

Just got the CD today. I am sure this one wont leave the disk player for a week. I have always loved the Murmers, and I did once have Pristine Smut, but alas it got "borrowed." SO....I though I would try out Blender since it had a lot of the same songs. I was not dissapointed. If you Have Pristine Smut, you might not want this CD (unless you have lots of cash to burn and just HAVE to have a few extra songs.) The two CDs seem interchangeable, and are both qutie good. But not a whole lot like their first album.