Customer Reviews

Empty

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Quite possibly the most underrated album of all times.
Though electronic rock has somewhat died out (Gravity Kills, Stabbing Westward, GLU), this album will always be in heavy rotation in my collection.

This is NOT Industrial, so don't expect it to be. It is pure electronic based rock. The mix is perfect. If you listen you can hear how intricately the electronic music is mixed in with the standard rock guitar music.

I can't say enough good things about this album. I HIGHLY recommend it. I have owned this album since 1995!

RIP David Reilly

i bought this cd way back when i was 15 and now i'm 25 - wow. i just listened to it again the other day for the first time in a while and i still must say, they were true innovators. i always remember thinking that his voice sounded like layne staley at first, but i got used to it and liked it. the sounds that were made on this album via synthesizers and drum machines were unique for its time. and it was one of those i would get trashed and listen to. sounds good with a buzz. good beats w/ crisp & crunchy guitar riffs. the thing about GLU that made them standout from the other techno-metal bands of time was the song-writing. each song feels inspired, has heart and means something. they don't sound like they were just trying to make a party-record or something. they proved their ingenuity with 'life in the so-called space age' and i'm just sad they are no longer around. i hear their solo efforts are decent though and look forward to checking them out. I was fortunate enough to catch their live show a couple times in charlotte, NC which was a cool b/c they played w/ a live drummer along w/the synthesizers and drum machines and of course the guitars were killer - thanks 4 the muzik

God Lives Underwater's first full-length Album, EMPTY, is a must have for anyone who likes original music. Unlike Nine Inch Nails, the band sees themselves as a hard rock band, as opposed to an electronic/industrial one. Either way, this album is ear candy. Some of the best songs on this album are Still, All Wrong, No More Love, Empty, 23, & Tortoise. This isn't your standardized, corporate-rock album; David Reilly and Jeff Turzo chose to record the entire album at home (Richard Patrick for FILTER chose that method of recording also). EMPTY is a lot harder than their sophomore LP, Life In The So-Called Space Age, I definetly recommend it for anyone into alternative forms of rock, and band like NIN, Skinny Puppy, Ministry, Filter, etc. But if you like more typical rock (Nickelback, etc) you probably won't like this album. So listen with an open mind and an open heart because this album may soon become one of you most prized posessions. Check out their site at enjoyglu.com

God Lives Underwater's music is a blend of alternative rock and industrial. Basically, it's keyboard synths in the backround with electric guitar riffs in the lead. The guitars in Empty add a balanced sound that is absent from their current release, Life In The So Called Space Age. Even though most of the songs are slow and depressing, there's something about Empty that keeps you listening. Those who like electro/industrial as well as those who like alternative rock will find something to appreciate here. If you like what you hear on Empty, check out God Lives Underwater's self entitled previous half-album as well.

God Lives Underwater is living proof that many of the most talented musicians in the music industry go unheard of for long periods of time before any mainstream following develops, sometimes these artists go their entire career without being fully discovered by the audience they deserve. Just goes to show how often people choose garbage over real music nowadays.

From the opening synthesized guitar line of "Still" all the way through to the very end of "Scared", "Empty" does not let up, combining alternative and heavy progressive rock with some of the weirdest, most trippy sound effects and progression from modern electronica/techno. The only way to really explain God Lives Underwater is just the fact that there is really no other band like them, their closest similarities being Stabbing Westward and Nine Inch Nails. However, the most impressive quality of this group is that it is composed only of two members, who ideally do a better job than the 5 man bands spitting pure waste onto records and calling it music these days.

Suiting both the electronica as well as the hard rock fan, most of the songs weigh more heavily towards one genre for the instrumental portion, but every track conveys painful, heartaching lyrics and contains catchy, energy-filled choruses. Songs such as "All Wrong" with its progressive blues-scale guitar line, "No More Love", "Fool", and the aggressive "Don't Know How To Be" rely more on nicely timed drumming and distorted electric guitars to keep the music flowing nicely, making this some of the best hard rock for awhile, while other tracks such as "Weaken", "Tortoise", and "Empty" base their sounds more on synthesizers and keyboard lines, showing off their techno influences.

The only tracks where the band slows down from their aggressive, energy-filled performance are in "23", a captivating song about loneliness and searching for answers in life, making it one of the best songs on the album. "Scared" is the most mellow song on the record, and unfortunately also the weakest, but it still maintains quality by throwing in the adversity of acoustic guitars.

Standout tracks are "All Wrong", with its catchy guitar line, "No More Love" as it blends guitar with keyboard into a virtual frenzy, "23" showing the groups soft side, "Weaken" giving bright techno influence, and "Empty" with its chorus.

This album definitely got more mainstream attention than their later release, "Life In The So-Called Space Age" (also a great album) due to the catchy choruses and guitars, both of which were lost on the very non-radio friendly "Spage Age" record.

Fans of electronic music and rock alike can rejoice with this band. "Empty" and the self titled EP both have the same feel to them, but the newer "Life In The So-Called Space Age" takes the music to a different angle. I would only recommend "Space Age" to the fan of Radiohead and like-minded music, but "Empty" has a friendly catchiness that most fans of hard music can appreciate.

This album seems to be a great continuation of the rockin' unique style forged out on the first EP. Anyone who has ever felt pain in their heart can identify with the lyrics and electronic-rock melodies. Even the slow songs such as "23" slowly begin catch and replay in your mind, over and over. This CD blends elements of rock and electronics with intersting, not boring, effects. If you are even a mild alternative-rock fan I'd give this CD a spin.

If you're adding to your GLU collection I'd recommend getting this CD and the EP both. There's only one carry over song, "No More Love," and they seem to be the two matching puzzle pieces in GLU's debut.

I LOVE this album. It rocks hard, yet has this openness to it. Plenty of 3 part harmonies and warm guitars, agreeably heavy beats. There's nothing not to like.

As much as I hate "this meets that" comparisons, imagine Music for the Masses-era Depeche mode meets The Real Thing era Faith No More.

God Lives Underwater broke through with their hit "No More Love" from their self-titled ep, but now we have the first full-length, EMPTY. From beginning to end, there are plenty of great moments during the album. And while this broke them into the mainstream, they didn't sell out at all. EMPTY is full of great music, and one pop into your steroes and you'll hear it.

"All Wrong" is probably the best known song, since it received heavy radio play, and with good reason. With it's raunchy guitars and pulsing beats, lines like "here i am/my anger and me" comes across full steam. It's a sweeping song, and one of the best tracks on the album. "Still" also rocks with its prime guitars, lifting the album off to a great start. "Fool" has such a angst-y feel to it, with David Reilly's vocals coming off suggesting adrenaline.

Elsewhere, there's some real depth to songs like the absolutely thrilling "No More Love" which has a great beat and airy guitars with pulsing keys. "23" is the strongest tune suggesting sad emotion with such grace it will pull you to shed a tear. The title track is also full of emotion, and is a terrific track with buzzing thick guitar noise and keyboards sprinkled in for good measure. It even has a gripping chorus. "Scared" comes across ending the album on a note of question, dreamy vocals, acoustic guitars, and a noisy moment blasting through the quiet. Even the hypnotic "Tortoise" pulls through the stops.

EMPTY is a great blend alternative rock and techno creating a hybrid that works. Many bands have tried to create an album with a hybrid of techno and alternative rock. Some have not been successful, but others have triumphed. God Lives Underwater is one of those groups. EMPTY is an album full of hope, angst, and music you can definitely find lots of appeal within.

Incredible album. It has a major industrial sound which was considered to be the next grunge rock-type phenomenon in the mid 90's. Unfortunately, industrial rock never took off and these guys were left out in the cold underground. This album is fairly slow and atmospheric at times but sonically, it has smoething most industrial bands, including nine inch nails, don't have: Melody and Rhythm. I recomend this album highly.

This is still my favorite band! Their EP and this album, Empty, have some of the most innovative syles. These guys can rock any other industrial band into oblivion!!! (except NIN of cource!) These guys are an insperation on my music and continue to amaze me with new stuff on Life in the So Called Space Age... They are an incredible group of talented musicians and this CD is definitly worth buying!