Customer Reviews

Deep Dark Ocean

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

 

 

These "Oysters" have always been on the raw side - an English band playing folkish rock with an urban, punk-influenced edge. "Deep Dark Ocean" therefore comes as something of a surprise. The word "mellow" even comes to mind, as the band winds back the roughness and comes out with some more accessible, melodic material.

It's not that they've gone soft - there's still plenty of anger in their lyrics, and the bass, drums and guitar still growl and rumble as before. But the fiddle, melodeon and an occasional bit of cello rise to the surface on tracks like "Native Son", and the positively sunny "Sail On By". There's even a gospel/country feel to "Not Like Jordan", though the effect is probably for irony as much as anything.

Other songs either have nautical themes or a shanty jaunt to them, giving a salty tang to the whole album. At times it even had me reminiscing about middle-era Steeleye Span. Of course John! Jones' voice is a mile from Maddy Prior's. And the Oysters maintain that determined north English toughness. But when in "No Reason to Cry" they sing "we make a mess of tenderness", why am I not totally convinced?

Peter Grant co-presents "Mostly Folk" on 7THE FM in Hobart, Tasmania

Even after listening to this album for many months, I'm not quite sure of it. I've been a fan of the Oyster Band since before the beginning of time (which, according to the band these days, is their album _Step Outside_). Their previous album, _Shouting End of Life_, was their most raucous yet, and it was truly a masterpiece.

Here, they've retrenched. The music is quieter, the lyrics are much more personal and much less political. As much as I adore the band, it didn't have the punch, for me, of their previous two albums. If you've never heard them, I would start with either the previously-mentioned _Shouting..._ or its predecessor, _Holy Bandits_ (in my opinion, their best to date). If you already enjoy the band, of course, this is a must-have.

Each Oysterband CD has its own flavor; this one is beautiful, melodic, and simply enjoyable. As usual, the guitar work is outstanding, the drumming brilliant, the vocals melodic and harmonious, and the songs all alligned along the seafaring theme.

For more raucous Oysterband, check out "The Shouting Side of Life".

This is the album one is most likely to find in American music stores. While it may not be the one I would have chosen for introducing Oysterband to people, it's still a great album, with a "water" or "ocean" theme running through the songs. My favorites on this album are "Sail On By," "Native Son," "The Story," and the rollicking, good-natured, "Be My Luck."

I purchased "Deep Dark Ocean" after listening to the Real Audio tracks at Amazon.com...I must say I was very impressed. After receiving my CD in the mail and spending more time listening to the songs, I am overwhelmed by the shear talent these musicians possess. Their music stirs your emotions, and moves your spirit. This CD was well worth the money spent...BTW, I just got the "Trawler" CD in the mail and it's every bit as good as "Deep Dark Ocean".

Could it be that a tremendously successful folk-rock band is trying to take the mainstream charts by storm? Could it be that after so many years the Oysters were aiming for something completely new? Well, neither of it seems entirely wrong or right. Yes, TSEOL is more typical for their sound and "Trawler" (a Greatest Hits compilation) and "Alive and Shouting" (a Live album containing everything except songs from DDO) might be better buys if you were out to get to know the band, but DDO certainly is a great album in its own right. Songs like "Sail on by" or "Not like Jordan" might just as well be on future greatest hits albums. And there is more to come: a new accoustic live album has just been released.

This is the worse Oyster band album I've ever heard.
Save your money. There are an infinite other folk-based rock bands that sound better and are much more satisfying musically.