Candleland

Ian McCulloch, ?????????? | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1989)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000008IAU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #26,352 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. The Flickering Wall

2. The White Hotel

3. Proud To Fall

4. The Cape

5. Candleland

6. Horse's Head

7. Faith And Healing

8. I Know You Well

9. In Bloom

10. Start Again

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solo, somber Mac, May 21, 2003

By 

Peter Charbonneau "Jackson Davis fanclub pres... (Boston, MA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Candleland (Audio CD)

Recorded after the death of two constants in his life, his father and Echo & the Bunnymen (thankfully, not a permanent breakup), Ian McCulloch's first solo offering, "Candleland" is a soul-searching album about loss, reflection and ultimately, hope.

Mac has always had a gift for writing some hard to decipher lyrics, but he's probably at his most direct on this album. He's always had a great ear for melody as well, and the 10 tracks on here ooze with atmosphere.

I think the standout numbers on here are "Proud to Fall" (the 1st single lifted), "Horse's Head", "White Hotel", the title track, featuring Elizabeth Fraser of the Cocteau Twins, and the minimalist closer, "Start Again", which in many ways sums up the entire album... hopeful, but not quite sure when or where that hope is coming from. "Start Again" was actually originally attempted as an Echo song that was more mid-tempo, but here it is stripped bare, sung over an acoustic guitar and some strings, and it works very well.

Those expecting Mac's famously over-the-wall vocals from earlier Echo albums won't find them here. His strong voice drips like honey in many spots, but it is much more restrained, given the subject matter.

This is a record to play when you have some quiet time to yourself. You can immerse yourself in it pretty easily. In my opinion, it doesn't equal the brilliance of Echo & the Bunnymen, but it is a very good album. The latest Echo album "Flowers" and his new solo effort, "Slideling", proves that Mac hasn't lost his touch.

"Candleland" moved me when I first bought it in 1990. It still has that effect today.

(as a side note to any Cure fans, Boris Williams guests on the drums on a few tracks as well.)

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Great Album", October 20, 2001

By 

Tim Galten (Oregon, US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Candleland (Audio CD)

Cool, deep, moody, eccentric, lovely, inspring...
This album helped me through some very dark periods.
A light at the end of the tunnel is -
Candleland.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars IT IS A MUST TO HAVE THIS, April 5, 2001

By 

Rubén Nava (México, Citry) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Candleland (Audio CD)

IAN MCCULLCH FIRST SOLO ALBUM FULL OF THE PROPERTIES OF HIS VOICE AND HARMONY GUEST STAR DOING CHOIRS FOR HIM IS ELIZABETH FRASER OF THE COCTEAU TWINS IT IS A LOVELY RECORD, THE CONTENTS OF THE LYRICS ARE REALLY INTERESTING.