Customer Reviews

Dream Days at the Hotel Existence

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

 

 

There isn't a single useful review here, so I decided to write one. Here it goes.

Powderfinger changes with each album they release. Internationalist was a fairly weak effort with songs that never really reach their full potential, each of which (with the exception of Passenger) could be and should be better. Odyssey #5 is significantly better, with some catchy songs and some real standout tracks. Vulture Street kicked it into high gear with some serious rock tracks, all of which are memorable in their own right. Dream Days then goes in a completely different direction, combining some of the heavier elements from Vulture Street with the pop genius of Odyssey.

Dream Days keeps you on your toes, which is what I really like about it. So few bands these days produce albums in which each song sounds as if they had thought and effort put in to their production, but with Powderfinger it's clear you're getting what the band wanted you to hear on each track. Luckily Dream Days continues this trend from their previous few efforts. Here is a breakdown of each song:

Head Up In The Clouds (7.5/10) - The first time I listened to this song, I was a little turned off and immediately worried that the album was going to fall flat from over experimentation. Instead, the second and third listen proved to be more worthwhile, and I began hearing things in the music I didn't hear correctly the first time, such as the soaring final segment, which bring the song into a new category. Still one of the weaker songs on the album but certainly worth further listens.
I Don't Remember (9.5/10) - This is Powderfinger's pop genius I spoke of earlier. Simply catchy and overall a very strong song.
Lost and Running (9.5/10) - For some reason I am reminded of Don't panic from Vulture Street when I hear this song. As another reviewer pointed out, this song deserves several listens before the full impact is hit. It's a very mellow and clean song, and catchy as hell the more you hear it. It gets into your head and doesn't really let go for a while.
Wishing on the Same Moon (8/10) - One of the few mediocre songs on the album, it does sound like a throwback to Odyssey #5. However, a sweet song with nice lyrics.
Who Really Cares (10/10) - Between it's Pink Floyd opening and its grinding blues guitar, this song is definitely the best on the album (despite what other reviewers would have you believe, it's not true that any band could pull this off). It's incredibly well done, and sounds significantly different from the rest of the library, as well as the rest of the album. Every time I hear this song, I have to sing along.
Nobody Sees (9/10) - A very strong and powerful ballad.
Surviving (8.5/10) - This song never really got going for me the first time I listened to it, but upon subsequent listens I started to hear its appeal. The voices blending together during the chorus really make this song, and although it sounds like it came from Vulture Street's B-Sides, it still proves itself a worthy member of the album.
Long Way To Go (9/10) - A very catchy acoustic riff provides this song with all the ammo it needs. The chorus is also ridiculously catchy.
Black Tears (7/10) - I feel this is the weakest song on the album, too short and never really gets going.
Ballad of a Dead Man (8.5/10) - "Typical" Powderfinger, interesting and artful next-to-last song on the album. It's not really possible to describe the song, it just needs to be heard.
Drifting Further Away (9/10) - Great song to finish the album. Powerful lyrics that make you want to start the album over again as soon as the last notes play through the speakers.

Powderfinger truly does a remarkable job making an album that, while requiring a few listens to fully appreciate, grows on you and provides enough variation and melodic inspiration to be truly great.

I completely enjoyed this CD, you can listen to the whole cd. I was sick of the music playing on US radio stations (always same songs, same artists) and I was bored of my cd collection already. I went searching for something to listen to and found powderfinger, what good timing, with Dream Day being released, I also purchased Vulture St. and also loved it,(more rock).

**I think they are my new favorite!!

Powderfinger's latest is another worthy addition to their high quality catalogue. To compare to previous albums, it's tighter and more polished than the first three albums (of course), weightier but softer than the rock of Vulture Street and perhaps closer in sound to the elegant Odyssey #5 with the strings and melodies stripped away.

My favourite PF album is Internationalist. While the follow ups, Odyssey #5 and Vulture Street may be more sophisticated and professional, they don't have the variety and charm of Internationalist. Dream Days is likewise. PF know how to deliver high class product and it's again evident here.

Head Up In The Clouds borders on bland as the opener. Listening to it you just want it to go somewhere, rise above just a stock standard song. It doesn't. Traditionally the opener on PF albums aren't strong - with the exception of Rockin' Rocks.
I Don't Remember has more classic PF sound. A catchier song and the second single.
Lost And Running gets going in the third act. First listen doesn't offer much and one could be excused for thinking it a bit boring. After a listen or two though the melody hits you and when the rousing final verse and chorus kick in it makes it worth the wait. Perhaps shouldn't have been the first single due to its early inaccessibility.
Wishing On The Same Moon sounds like an Odyssey #5 lost track. The guitar is straight from Led Zeppelin's All My Love. A highlight from the album.
Who Really Cares is really familiar sounding sound - and that's not a compliment It's another standard track that any band could have done and is the albums weakest song.
Nobody Knows is best track here. It's the early standout. Unfortunately sounds like a Pink song of the same name.
Surviving is another standout. Like Lost and Running it builds to a final climax but is more intense.
Long Way To Go is good without being great. It's perhaps the least memorable song here perhaps on par with Head In The Clouds.
Black tears has a different producer and sound (feel and quality) to it. Relates to Ayers Rock/Uluru and is probably the most talked about song (in Australia) on the album. It returns PF to the more political themes of Internationalist. Good song. Maybe doesn't fit with the rest of the album but a nice inclusion.
Ballad of a Dead Man is PF in typical second last track epic mode. Another song that builds and this ending is also awesome. The song has brilliant parts but lacks as a whole. It's perhaps the only song that overstays its welcome. The climactic ending, while excellent, goes on for too long.
Drifting further away is classic final track. Slower, still epic. What you'd expect as the final track on a PF album. PF are very predictable in their track listings.

Give it time. It needs many listens. The songs will grow on you as you discover more about each one - there's a lot going on here. The downside being, because I had to listen to it so much it has gotten tired quicker than any of their other albums. After a few weeks of solid listening I find myself only going back to a couple of songs with any regularity - Nobody Knows, Lost and Running, I Don't Remember, Ballad and Surviving.

I was worried that Vulture Street, although good, was the beginning of Powderfinger's fall from their peak, Odyssey #5 (this is obviously just my opinion). Dream Days seems to be better than Vulture Street after a few listens. IMO its not better than Odyssey or Internationalist. But a very strong album indeed. Not a bad track on the album.

While Odyssey Number 5 and Vulture Street delivered on the promise of this band, this album marks the downward direction of their creative energy which is not to say it's a bad album. It's simply a reflection of the members maturing and, if I can say, losing some of their angst. At this point, they are probably the biggest band in Australia and with that standing they take on various ballads that have social conscious as well as self therapy (for Bernard Fanning anyway). That said, there are a number of good songs and if you are looking to build your Powderfinger collection, it's a must have. I would rank it their 3rd best album and, in a way, it makes Golden Rule---their next and last album, a bit obsolete.

I was taken with Bernard Fanning's voice. Particularly on "Tea & Symphony." So my wife bought me this PF CD for my birthday. Having listened to it 4 times now, I must say, it really grows on you. Again, it's his voice. The band has it's moments too but the melodies are quite nice and the songs are packed with emotions which is good for us helpless romantics. I haven't heard their earlier CD's. They seem a bit more hard rock when listening to short clips on Amazon. I especially give praise when the whole family likes it, including the kids! Fanning is an advocate for humanitarian causes and human rights. Another reason to support him and his music.

We listen to it often, she sings the words to I Don't Remember and Lost & Running. And she's only two!! Taken by itself, this album is great. Comparing it to previous works, I can see why critics aren't as enthused. But surely, a two year old can sense awesomeness, right?

What a fantastic album. Powderfinger delivers again with some fantastic rock songs.

Yes, this album is worthy and weighty and serious and yada yada. I just dont like it as much as their other stuff though, dont know why, just.. well, theres nothing wrong with it, but it doesnt make me want to check in at the Hotel Existence any time soon. Sorry lads.

It takes a little time to grow on you, but it's a good album overall. Definitely worth the purchase.