From Every Sphere [Import]

Ed Harcourt | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 16, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• ASIN: B00008VHBB
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,566,331 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Bitterweetheart

2. All Of Your Days Will Be Blessed

3. Ghostwriter

4. The Birds Will Sing For Us

5. Sister Renee

6. Undertaker Strut

7. Bleed A River Deep

8. Jetsetter

9. Watching The Sun Come Up

10. Fireflies Take Flight

11. Metaphorically Yours

12. From Every Sphere

13. The Ghosts Parade (Bonus Track)

14. Angels On Your Body (Bonus Track)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The biggest problem with being a prodigy is that, eventually, your talent stops being mentioned in relationship to your tender age, and your work is judged purely against that of your peers. Or, in the case of prolific young romantic like Ed Harcourt, that of the masters you seek to emulate. By the time he was 23, he’d already earned a prestigious Mercury Prize nomination for his major-label debut, Here Be Monsters, and a reputation for writing songs faster than Ryan Adams (over 300 and counting at the time). Released three years after this initial adulatory wave, From Every Sphere opens with a gorgeous slice of orchestral pop called "Bittersweet Heart." It would work well in a set by Rufus Wainwright or Badly Drawn Boy , but in melody and attitude it doesn’t add anything new to a sound Brian Wilson pioneered close to 40 years ago. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but hardly the stuff of musical revolutions. And that’s both the charm and limitation of From Every Sphere’s 12 songs: They’re all pretty good, but you could easily imagine them being done by someone else, whether it’s Turin Brakes, Eric Matthews, or High Llamas. From Every Sphere is tasteful and even rewarding at times; it just doesn’t expand much on Harcourt’s promise. --Keith Moerer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An artist who fully deserves high praise, July 8, 2003

By 

Laura M. Witkowski "emitecaps" (Charlotte, NC) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Every Sphere (Audio CD)

For his second release Ed Harcourt brings us yet another album full of beautifully written, fantastically involved songs that grow on the listener with every play of the disc. The arrangements and styling of each song are very carefully attended to, and the song order makes this a listening experience that the "random" button would only take away from. From wistful "Bittersweet Heart" to the atmospheric beauty of the title track, Ed Harcourt proves he is in a class by himself and comparable to songwriters like Tom Waits for his ability to go from haunting fantasy ("Ghostwriter" and "Undertaker Strut")to sincere emotion ("Metaphorically Yours") in his lyrics and compositions without breaking the continuity of the record, and without taking his subject matter to pretentious levels. We often throw the word "talent" around these days even when an entertainer doesn't actually merit it, but Ed Harcourt is truly talented and sincere about the music that he makes.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars hit and miss. 3.5*'s, February 9, 2006

By 

J. Holmes "blood+whiskey" (yokohama, japan) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Every Sphere (Audio CD)

take a little bit of Tom Waits' jazzy piano, throw in some Morrissey croons and a little Rufus Wainright drama and you've got a fine mix! if that sounds good to you...then you should certainly try and get your hands on any Ed Harcourt album. From Every Sphere is his second record and it stands up pretty well. the songs are very well-written and full of nice little hooks and some beautiful melodies. the instrumentation is varied and the players are above exceptional. Ed's first record Here Be Monsters seems to be a more balanced feel and therefore has a stronger hold on me. upon initial listen From Every Sphere did not have the same kind of impact; it starts off well and good with a handful of strong tracks...but by the time we get to "Sister Renee" it we hit a boring patch that doesn't get the magic back until 4 songs later. the album length of From Every Sphere does come across a bit heavy-handed and seems a little too long for it's own good. some of the songs could have been trimmed down in order for the album to be more easily digestable...but when he hits gold, Ed Harcourt's music shines brightly.

3.0 out of 5 stars Jeff Buckley on prozac, September 1, 2007

By 

Isaac Josephson (New York, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: From Every Sphere (Audio CD)

Wunderkind Ed Harcourt evolves his murky style into a collection of studiously ramshackle, chamber pop compositions. Taken individually, there are some gems - especially the expansive and moody title track and "All of Your Days Will Be Blessed," a succinct ditty that's equal parts cabaret and neo-psychedilia, fueled by a wonderful bash `n pop rhythm. As a whole, though, Harcourt's limited vocal range and canned arrangements make the CD sound more like Jeff Buckley on prozac than the second coming of Nick Drake he's supposed to be.