Catastrophe Keeps Us Together

Rainer Maria | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 4, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Grunion Records
• ASIN: B000EQ46MI
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,155 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Catastrophe

2. Life of Leisure

3. Burn

4. Bottle

5. Terrified

6. Cities Above

7. Already Lost

8. Clear and True

9. I'll Make You Mine

10. Southpaw

11. I'll Keep It with Mine

Editorial Reviews

Catastrophe Keeps Us Together is Rainer Maria’s fifth studio album and first proper release since 2003. The record brims with tightly structured songs, deep atmosphere and contagious melodies. Equal parts restraint, taste and power, this album shows Rainer Maria maturing and challenging themselves as they focus their expression without losing the signature edge that has gained them legions of adoring fans over the years.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Albums released thusfar in 2006.., May 7, 2006

By 

Meet Ze Leslie - See all my reviews

This review is from: Catastrophe Keeps Us Together (Audio CD)

"Catastrophe Keeps Us Together" was actually the first Rainer Maria album that I purchased. After hearing "Catastrophe", I immediately went out & bought the CD. Caithlin De Marrais has one of the most haunting and elegant voices that I've heard in a long time. The music and lyrics of this CD are so well written, that it's definitely one of the best cds so far of 2006.

I rated ths songs on this album on a scale of 1 to 5.

Catastrophe - 5/5 (A solid song to start the album with.)
Life of Leisure - 5/5
Burn - 3/5
Bottle - 4/5
Terrified - 5/5 (Excellent Song!)
Cities Above (Mainly Instrumental)
Already Lost - 5/5
Clear and True - 4/5
I'll make you Mine - 5/5 (My personal favorite.)
Southpaw - 5/5 (Another favorite of mine.)
I'll Keep it With Mine - 2/5 (Bob Dylan Cover, not perfect, yet..they still did a decent job with it.)

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rainer Maria does not disappointment after a long wait, April 10, 2006

By 

Peckett (Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Catastrophe Keeps Us Together (Audio CD)

For those who found Rainer Maria's last full length release to be "too poppy", Catastrophe Keeps Us Together should be well received. The latest release from the trio delves into a more conceptual piece with the "Cities Above" interlude serving as a motif throughout the album as well as a haunting Dylan tribute with "I'll Keep It With Mine". While the opening tracks "Catastrophe" and "Life of Leisure" keep the upbeat sound of Long Knives Drawn, it's toned down enough to suit the sensitive lyrics of the tracks. Without reverting back to the sometimes brash experimental sound of their past nor keeping with a pop format, Catastrophe Keeps Us Together appears as a fully evolved artwork for Rainer Maria.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Powerful and plaintive, May 3, 2006

By 

jandazzatron (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Catastrophe Keeps Us Together (Audio CD)

A near perfect album that strikes a remarkable balance between the powerful and plaintive. With such brilliance of writing this band would make Rilke proud to be their namesake; my only complaint is that there are no lyrics in the liner notes (I mean, come on, they named themselves after one of the greatest poets of the 20th century)! Since you can't read the poetry, shut out the world and listen carefully to every word sung on this CD. These are songs of such profound sincerity they will weaken the heart with recognition.

Stand out tracks: "Bottle" and "Terrified"; the only song that didn't really do it for me was the Bob Dylan cover, "I'll Keep it with Mine," but nobody is perfect.

As for "David N. Shichman 'Dj Sheik-mon'" I defy you to call the vocals "bland." Listen closely to her delivery; every syllable she utters is wrought with authenticity. She will make you feel just as deeply as if you were the very one who broke her heart.