Customer Reviews

Crashing Dream

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

 

 

and not in a good way.
This 2nd and final studio lp (if you don't count the mini LP "Explosions in the Glass Palace") released in their lifetime is one of the gems of the mid 80's paisley sound. Whilst Green On Red were reverting to pub rockers, and the Dream Syndicate had gone all aor on us, it was left to the Rain Parade to carry the psych pop banner. And how they delivered.
Filled with pop gems and plenty of hooks it's amazing that it didn't launch them into the stratosphere of super-stardom, then again this was the synth dominated mid 80's and Island had all but given up promoting them.
Here comes the bad part. firstly, the cd is very hissy in quiet parts, surely it wasn't mastered from a cassette? Island must still have the masters right? and cherry red used them right? (see my review of 'beyond the sunset' for a clue)? and their are no bonus tracks :(
Apparently, nobody at Cherry Red, (Lemon is a subsiduary of theirs), contacted the band prior to releasing this, so Malcolm Dome who writes the very poor sleeve notes (was a writer for Sounds and Kerrang back in the day) gets away with blue murder. There are a some bad spelling mistakes including john thoman being listed as John Thomas (ouch), proofreading anybody.
Still the music is great, if not the shoddy packaging.

I agree, this is their finest moment, a lovely collection of songs, where they've managed to escape the psychedelic trap about to form with their debut. It's been so long since I've heard it, but still I remember most songs - I often play Mystic green in my mind.
Why it isn't released as a CD is nothing but a shame, making it look like a sidekick to the debut, which is inferior in every way. But for goodness sake, buy the debut on CD, you'll get their superb EP Explosions.. as bonus. Broken horse = yes!

Release this wonderful album on CD!

'Crashing Dream' seemed rather soft, gentle, grown up and middle of the road to my young ears back when I fished the LP out of a discount box in Liverpool back in the mid-eighties. I'd been put off buying the record because the band seemed to think the label had blanded them out...and if they thought that, well, so would I. Within a couple of years 'Crashing' was the Rain Parade album I went back to more and more often. The others are great. But particularly 'Emergency' is in thrall to Love and Syd. And the older I get, the more natural it seems to listen to Love or Syd instead. Whereas this last real outing for the band casts a particular magic - anxious but uplifting and slightly spooked psychedelia with very warm guitars which still leak a lot of acid over the darkly melodic songs. Which is an awful description of what's become a desert island disc. I stagger this far purely to mention also that the album does get a CD reissue this November on UK label Lemon (an offshoot of Cherry Red). So if you happen to be reading this after November 2009, with a little luck, the CD will be in the world for you to find.

I had never heard of Rain Parade until I picked up a used copy of Crashing Dream in a used record bin for three bucks. This album blew me away - I can't believe it hasn't been released on cd. For anyone into dreamy/shoegaze/classic alternative pop: Sundays, Jesus & Mary Chain, Chameleons, etc... you won't be disappointed with this album. I probably own about a thousand records, cd's, cassettes and this is definitely in the top five.

The first time I heard "Crashing Dream" it blew me away. After listening to it 2 million times it still blows me away. I am mystified by the fact that nobody seems to care about or remember this album. Chiming guitars, aching vocals, beautiful songs - by far the best thing Rain Parade did and IMHO the finest output of the "Paisley Underground" era. The highlight, for me, is "Depending on You" but this is definitely one of those albums that maintains its quality from start to finish. Not a dud in the bunch.

Lots of great memories for me listening again after so many years! It is such a shame this band was broken up due to creative differences. I think David could have done Mazzy Star AND TRP simultaneously. The Rain Parade, REM and U2 were the big bands of the 80's and I cant count the times I relaxed before going to sleep listening to all these albums while wearing headphones.

What is amazing is how fresh this album sounds today! Good work on the transfer. I am now a Dad and find the kids enjoying the songs almost as much as me. Now I wish I could go back and revisit the few times I got to see them live.