Carnival

New Model Army | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 6, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Attack Attack
• ASIN: B0009VX5QQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #218,087 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2 Thumbs up!, September 8, 2005

By 

M (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carnival (Audio CD)

This is a review of Carnival, the latest album from New Model Army, by a hardcore fan.

Full bias will be exercised.

I have to tell you that the snippets on various sites really don't do the songs any justice. Not at all. They start and stop and awkward times. They'd be better off simply having the first 30 seconds of each track. After hearing the clips, I was bit skeptical, but Carnival really grows on you like a virus.

The first few listens I didn't quite "get/feel" some of the ideas etc. It really shows you how far ahead, musically, New Model Army is. It also shows you that I haven't listened to much New Model Army lately.

By "listens" 3 and 4, new things start to stand out and grab me, that didn't before. Then, I'm thinking, maybe I should listen to it, again. It's not what I was expecting after hearing a few songs from the last tour, but by the time I get past the fourth "listen", I can feel the effects from front to back.

To start things off, Carnival is the 9th album, and it sounds like it, in a good way. The songs are fresh and adventurous like Thunder And Consolation, but a bit more advanced and complex. Possibly the middle ground of Thunder And Consolation and Strange Brotherhood with Eight keeping a solid presence.

It has a real "band" sound to it. Having a producer (a professional, outside ear) really "paid off", sonically and artistically. These songs sound like they are being played live.

The only negative thing I could even say about the album is that the song order is a bit awkward, in the beginning.

While very drum oriented, all instruments of the band have a solid presence. Drums, percussion, keyboards, bass, guitars, more guitars, vocals, back up vocals, all come and go, and take their turn in the "spotlight". According to the Red Eye press release, they doubled up on the guitars and you can tell! Plus, there's lots of "headphone candy".

In a nutshell, this album sounds like a culmination, and a perfection of the sound, of all of the Attack Attack releases. Echoes of Strange Brotherhood, Eight, Lost Songs, Navigating By The Stars and Tales Of The Road are everywhere.

The majority of the album was written by Justin and Michael, which means that, between this and Eight, we have some insight into the mind of Michael Dean. The album ranges from "pure Army" tracks, to some new ideas and approaches, to straight jammin', rockin' guitars.

This is how you re-invent your sound without really changing anything.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Prayer Flags Flying in the Wind, September 7, 2005

By 

charlieheston (Portland, Or United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Carnival (Audio CD)

Ahh, yes.

After a space of 5 long years since their last studio album, Justin Sullivan and Co are back with Carnival, an energetic and interesting new record, which for my tastes trumps the underwhelming Eight.

Beginning with three quick and punchy songs, I knew immediately that something of the NMA spirit and rhythm had returned. This really feels like the NMA of old more than any album since The Love of Hopeless Causes in 1993. The spirit of Robert Heaton (RIP) is present on many of these galloping tracks.

Overall the album has a great pace and turns quite emotional by the last few tracks. There is nature, politics, love and loss; the usual NMA themes. I would compare the sound as being a good cross between Love of Hopeless Causes and Eight, with Far Better production and energy than Eight, and little glimpses here and there of Ghost of Cain era NMA.

Thank God, I was worried.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hauntingly Good, October 15, 2005

By 

Ishtiaq A. Khan "Tuareg" (MN, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carnival (Audio CD)

1st listen: Hmmmmmmm.........ok

2nd listen: "New" New Model Army, however, some songs sound familiar, masked with influence that dates back to the earlier NMA days. The album, "Vengeance" in particular, stands out.

3rd listen: Alright! This album is definitely different....in a good way! Very catchy tunes....haunting even....just listen to "Carlisle Road". The song, "Another Imperial Day", is an instant hit. Superb song, superb lyrics!

I'm a devoted fan of NMA. Picked up my first NMA album 19 years ago from a bootlegger in the Middle East! Since then, I've purchased every album they've ever released (licensed copies of course!). These guys are my heroes.

Right then! BUY THIS ALBUM!! NMA are back and they are better than ever! Superb album!! Can't stress that enough.

Kind regards,
Isaac