Customer Reviews

Dorothy's Victory

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Bel Canto is one of those groups that once you've heard them, you're hooked,and you need a new fix, a new song. Once you've heard everything they've got, you still need more. Bel Canto is one of those unique bands that makes you want to break the law and ill-legally download, and with highway robbery of $64 USD, it would be no suprise to me, especially since there are no audio previews offered here. I've actually had this album for a while now, and popped it back in today and remembered why I love Bel Canto. I first heard them years ago, when the only song of theres to play on american radio(I belive), was "Rumor". What a great song, most notable for Anneli Dreckers begining solo,
"This is the morning
When our feelings rise together with the sun
There are the feelings that are yet to be awoken
How many wishes fade to nothing
Once they face reality?
How many wishes turn to grief?
How many wishes going on and on and on and on.".

I will comfirm the consensus, that yes this album is a five star album, but is it worth $64 USD? In all practical terms probably not, but artisticaly speaking, it's worth so much more. If you know you like Bel Canto, try and find it cheaper, or buy it here. It's worth it. If you've never heard Bel Canto, buy one of their more accesible(cheaper) albums, and see if you want to hear more. I would suggest "Rush", or "Magic Box".

Only to tell you that if the track listed here in Amazon is correct, then the Mexican Edition has two more tracks(!) : a live version of Spiderdust (superb) and Maaligaabidaa. A must have if you a re a dedicated fan. If the other Mexican editions have more surprises, I will definitely go to the nearest CD store to get them.

I bought this album in Trondheim last week and listened to it while riding on the train back to Oslo. This album is the best Bel Canto album I've listened to.

"Rush" was a good album, but only a couple of the songs really put the hook into me. Anneli's solo project "Tundra" was similar to "Rush" in the lack of catchy songs. It was a great album nonetheless.

But "Dorothy's Victory", despite having a bad title, is a fantastic album. Each and every song, as I listened to them in order, completely pulled me deeper and deeper into the album. It was such a great soundtrack for the my view outside of my train window.

I especially enjoy "Feels Like I'm Already Flying" for its unexpected melody twists and "Dissapear Club 5" for its interesting discription of breaking up.

I am quite shocked by the price Amazon is selling this album for. $45? I'm also still amazed that Bel Canto isn't selling as well as they should be. Everybody I've loaned Bel Canto to has really enjoyed the band.

If you can find this album at a cheaper price, or know somebody going to Norway, grab it!

I've enjoyed every single album of this group ever since I discovered it about 10 or 12 years ago! The only exception being "White-Out Conditions", which I feel is not nearly as good as their other records!

In this, their latest album, Bel Canto shows that they still have that magic that converted me and many others into their fan! I love the way in which their music has evolved through all these years!

I am shocked to see the price of this album here at Amazon! Although being an album imported from Norway it's no wonder why it is so expensive! I've just bought it (brand new) here in Mexico for about $15 dollars. I think that Amazon should try to import it from Mexico, thus making it more accessible to Amazon buyers!

Wow! This is incredible. I've never listened to this before, but my sweetheart lent me the album this weekend, and I just can't stop listening to it. I had to order my own copy. I felt lucky to get a used copy for $27, but I'd definitely pay the $64, if I had to. The mixture of styles and cultures makes it timeless and quite unique. I tire so much of run-of-the mill music, and this is really a breath of fresh air. Look at the reviews and you'll see that the vast majority feels the same way. My favorites are: Foolish Ship, Feels Like I'm Already Flying, You Rock My World Tonight, Corals, Jade and Pearls, Ladonia. Well, that's half the album, and I suppose I'd like to add Disappear Club 5, Night Lady, and Dorothy's Victory. Only a couple left to mention, which were also superb. If you buy this, chances are, you won't be at all disappointed.

I should have reviewed this last year when I bought it, but I've only done maybe 3 reviews ever...maybe I don't like sitting here trying to convince others why they should believe me and spend [the money] to find out if they agree. I don't feel this country (America) will ever be ready for truly great "Gothic" POP music, or however Bel Canto's music should be typecast. Some artists are brave enough to care little if they can't fit into a tidy genre category. This CD is looking like it may be better than the newest Delerium CD "Chimera." (Jun 03) Looks like Delerium may be hitting a mainstream "new age" and top 40 type audience these days (OUCH) I accept that they must write a few "trendy" songs to be financially successful enough to keep writing the perfect gems that will never touch the airwaves. This may also be true of Bel Canto with "Dorothy's Victory." From what I understand they have been quite successful as Norway's best band and have done well elsewhere in Europe. (where minds tend to be more open) Every track on "Dorothy's Victory" is special in it's own way. "Birds of Paradise" is also unbelievably perfect and consistent, though much more electronic and a little bit "Dark." (that's a compliment) "Shimmering, warm & bright" and "Magic Box" are also worth any sticker price. Bel Canto are NOTHING like ABBA, so don't be misled. They happen to also be from Norway but any comparison should stop there. Is "A-HA" any thing like Abba? Not! This CD is great music, beyond the tired arrogant ears of a typical DJ or critic in America perhaps. Sadly this may not ever be released in the USA. Second to "Birds of Paradise," this may be their finest hour, so far. I didn't expect to love it as much as the older CD's, but I do, if not moreso. If you wish to listen to imaginative music/poetry without an urge to label it, you may Love this. These songs grow on you and I have not tired of them...its that good. I've played this more than any CD I own over the past several months since its release. Yes, there are some catchy "pop" tunes here and there, but even they grew on me after a few listens. AND I have NEVER heard a song as VISUAL (strikingly so) and haunting as "Disappear Club 5." I will never get this song's imagery, melody and lyrics out of my mind! I promise, if you don't have this in your collection, you don't know what your missing. It's a TOTAL Victory! Most definitely my top pick for best CD release since Delerium released "Poem." That was over a few years ago. I would agree that Cocteau Twins & 4AD fans would perhaps be happiest with Bel Canto's style and vocals. Anneli Drecker is quite obviously an opera trained vocalist. This is a masterpiece, good job!!!

I'm a long time Bel Canto listener and I have to say that this is the BEST Bel Canto album! Really! I dislike the CD Images/Rush CD but this one is 5 stars music!
All the songs are great! The song Disappear Club 5 that appears also in the CD Retrospect is amazing! My favorites are the title track - very smooth - Foolish Ship and Night Lady. I also like the track Im Best'n Beihs that goes on and on... soft and strong. The last song, Ladonia invites you to listen to the album again... Every song have the same quality of Unicorn (one of my favorite Bel Canto songs)! The CD is very well produced! It sticks in your ear and don't want to leave... Believe me! Enjoy...

Blend Abba-like melodies, Hooverphonic-style electronica, a dash of 4AD sensibility, a smidgen of Bjork and you have Norway's Bel Canto. The lead singer, Anneli Drecker, has a gorgeous voice, the equal of Elizabeth Fraser, and when multi-tracked, conjures up a glacial beauty. Her compatriot, multi-instrumentalist Nils Johansen, has a penchant for mixing pure popcraft with electronic and ambient textures. The results are mixed. For one, Drecker's lyrical skills don't quite match the grandeur of her voice; this is most noticeable in the radio-friendly songs. "Feels Like I'm Already Flying," and "You Rock My World Tonight" are bits of fluff that could be sung by anyone, anywhere; and the backing tracks are firmly targeted on the top 40. The best of these pop songs are the collaborations with Rokysopp, such as "Foolish Ship" and "Night Lady," which have enough unusual twists built into their structure to avoid blandness. The album gets much better as the mainstream tendencies fall away, revealing more distinctive-and Bel Canto-like-material. "Tree" is partially sung in French, and has the same feel as Massive Attack's collaborations with Fraser. "Happy Times Fly Fast!" places Drecker's trademark folktale retellings (this one a Japanese tale) into slick, techno dreampop. "Im Best an Beihs" is a wordless Artic hymn wedded to an Aphex Twin inspired ambient piece, while the closing "Ladonia" starts off with medieval-trance sounds before becoming a modern Hooked-On-Classics piece (complete with discobeats) and Drecker's operatic warbling in German.