Customer Reviews

Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

What a STUNNING album. Right from the very first song they GRAB you by the ears and rip your head around a full 360.

Starshine Moments

LIKE SUICIDE John deserves some serious accolades for his new role as The Baron of the Bionic Beatdown. His electrifying performance on this first song sets the tone for a truly electrifying record. He is so good on this track in fact that he seems to transcends drumming all together. There is so much palpable rage on this song that it sounds like he is not drumming so much as he is nailing someone's sorry butt to the wall. BRILLIANT. The first time I heard this song the hair on the back of my neck stood up and stayed up for the rest of the record.

BREAKDOWN. The lyrics are so intensely personal that by the end of the song I felt like an inadvertent peeping tom. There is a voyeuristic undercurrent on this and so many of the other songs that the sense of guilt for somehow snooping in someone's personal life was thankfully counter balanced by the staggering melodies and sumptuous harmonies in the music that supports so many secrets

FALLEN. This song is 100% AURAL pleasure. Dale Stewart should be nominated for an AVN Award for his outrageously devilish bassline on this song. Talk about a dirty lick. WOW!!! I am blown away and addicted. The bassline and the drums on this song are so HOT that it borders on porn...FUN porn...like Lollipop Girls in Hard Candy the infamous 3D porn with John Holmes from the 70's. Phunky, Chunky, stick-to-your-ribs delishus. If you need music to lurk to put the bass line from this song on a continuous loop and have at it. Fallen is especially effective in headphones when Johns drum beats move from here to there. If you listen to this song on an ipod you will not be able to walk straight.

NO JESUS CHRIST is another stand out moment for Dale. There is an epic 70's era Black Sabbath flavor to this song. The bassline is like liquid grit...so liquid that the strings seem to literally drip. Howard Benson's intergalactic presence is most apparent on this song because prior to becoming one of music's greatest producers he was an aerospace engineer. This song soars. The lyrics and Shaun's fierce vocals in conjunction with Johns persistent beat give this song it's flame so all together what you have here is earth, wind and fire. I can't wait to hear this song performed live because this song was made to be played in an arena.

I LOVE but was confused by SIX GUN QUOTA because it was originally supposed to be called Six Shot Quota. Not sure why they replaced the shot with a gun...not meaning to pun. Fasten your seat belt....This is another song with a flight pattern that drives the music forward

Shaun's voice on WALK AWAY FROM THE SUN is heaven on earth. There is an ethereal quality to the high notes that would make even the Seraphim envious. This is my favorite song on the whole record. The music is really exquisite. There is an subtle Latin texture to it so when listen with my eyes closed I can envision caballeros on horseback galloping through the surf. That is the magic of this song there is a breathtaking sense of freedom in it.

Da Vinci was once asked how he sculpted so beautifully. His response was that "I see angels in the marble and I carve until I set them free". Da Vinci's spirit is alive and thriving on Seether's record. Shaun passionately carved to set his personal demons free and this is most apparent on the albums final track.

WASTE. In the credits it indicates that additional guitars were provided by Space...and I wondered if this was THEE Space who had a hit a few years ago with Female Of The Species. Alternate Universe Howard Benson is also "visible" here. Listening to Waste there is a sense of floating through the etherIt was this song that made me wonder if the catharsis was complete. I titled my review PRIMAL BIPOLAR LASAGNA because of the multiple layers of gut wrenching emotion on the record. My sense of this album and especially the lyrics is that Shaun really opened himself up on this record more than he ever has on previous efforts. If you REALLY listen to the lyrics you will hear a man openly grappling with all five stages of grief.

Rage, denial, bargaining, despair, acceptance...it is all here.

David Ho's art work featuring the ghost of Candace and her love/hate relationship with the human race is a perfect visual companion to the music. If you are unfamiliar with David's work I hope you will check him out at Davidho.com. He has another picture of Candace where she is standing laterally to the wind which is blowing crows out of her hair. It is called Candace Unleashes Her Personal Demons. And so to has Seether.

Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces is an astonishingly intelligent album, an extraordinary journey and surely one of the best records of the year.

THE BAND: Shaun Morgan (vocals, guitars), Dale Stewart (bass), John Humphrey (drums & percussion). Origin - South Africa.

THE DISC: (2007) 12 tracks clocking in at approximately 50 minutes. Included with the disc is a 10-page booklet containing song titles/credits, song lyrics, a dedication to Morgan's brother Eugene Welgemoed (R.I.P.), artwork by famed Chinese-American artist David G. Ho, and thank you's. Music by Seether, all lyrics by Morgan. This is the band's 3rd studio album. Label: Wind-up Records.

COMMENTS: Seether continues their breed of angry post grunge songs (with an affinity for the F-bomb - which sometimes works, but usually doesn't). "Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces" is a solid album, but there's nothing out of the ordinary here. To me, Seether is still in the same class with Breaking Benjamin, Staind, Three Days Grace, Crossfade, Cold, etc... the band continues to write quality songs that deliver with conviction. There are some issues here that perhaps affected the songs/album - Morgan dealing with his brother's suicide, his own drug addiction, and numerous production delays. Also, gone is guitarist Pat Callahan - in these 2nd tier rock bands, 2 guitars are usually better than 1. "Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces" is a solid album, filled with stinging guitar riffs and some decent hooks scattered through out. I find myself listening to the entire disc without hitting the `skip' button. While there's no mainstream rock powerhouse hit like Disclaimer's "Fine Again", or a pound your fist get-up-and-yell track like "Gasoline", or a top-notch smoky ballad like "Broken", "Finding Beauty" still manages to please - reaching #9 on Billboard's Top 200 albums in 2007. 11 of the 12 songs fit into the 3-5 minute range, with only "No Jesus Christ" breaking the mold at over 7 minutes long. Two singles did emerge - the most well known track on the album "Fake It", and the mainstream mid tempo "Rise Above This" (about one brother missing the other). Other highlights include the heavy opener "Like Suicide", the crunchy rhythm guitars in "Fallen" (sounds like it could be a Godsmack tune), the slower acoustic "Walk Away From The Sun" that gradually picks up speed, and the beautiful final cut "Waste". Several reviewers here on Amazon (as well as other sources) have said how different they feel this album is when compared to "Disclaimer" (2002) and "Karma And Effect" (2005). I guess I'm not on the same bus - I think this sounds a lot like previous Seether albums... maybe too much so. "Finding Beauty" is trademark Seether - melodic with crunchy guitars, good familiar vocals, and lots of attitude. "Finding Beauty" will not hit you as hard as "Disclaimer", but it's still a solid release (4 stars).

This is the third release from one of my favorite bands Seether. The band has changed a lot from Karma (Pat Callahan, Shaun Morgans Rehab) and it's mostly for the good. This is one of their stronger release, it sound quite like their first release.

Here's a break down of the songs

Like Suicide 10/10 - This song is exactly what I think of when I think of Seether, great guitar riffs and a catchy chorus.

Fake It 9/10 - Very catch but doesn't sound like the classic Seether. After hearing the song 20 times it tends to get a bit Repetitive.

Breakdown 10/10 - Very sad song (The sun is gone, and the flowers rot). The first time i heard this song I thought I was listening to Breaking Benjamin. But this song has all the elements of an Amazing Seether song (great lyrics, great guitar riffs)

FMLYHM 10/10 - Reminds me of my last girlfriend. I like songs I can relate to. Has a very catch chorus and is very interesting.

Fallen 7/10 - This is one of the weaker songs on the Cd. It has weak guitars (a lot of the parts don't even have guitar on them) just a very forgettable song.

Rise Above This 5/10 - My least favorite song on the CD. This song was written about Eugene Welgemoed before his death. It's (this is going to sound bad) Optimistic. It just don't fit on this CD. The guitars are weak and the lyrics don't sound like Seether.

No Jesus Christ 10/10 - A much needed heavy point on the CD. One of the best songs on this Cd. The guitars are very unique, amazingly catchy riff. The premise behind the song just makes it stand out on here.

6 Gun Quota 9/10 - Catchy, classic Seether. The guitars aren't amazing but the lyrics counteract that.

Walk Away From The Sun 10/10 - This is my favorite song on the CD. This reminds me of Songs like Plastic Man, and Broken(without Amy Lee) it should have been at the end. Shaun makes this one of the most emotional songs he has ever written.

Eyes of the Devil 10/10 - Another classic Seether song. The perfect balance of lyrical amazement and catch guitar riffs. This song if perfect after Walk Away From The Sun, it continues on that emotional path.

Don't Believe 10/10 - This song could have been off of Disclaimer. Perfect mix of heavy, distorted guitars and catchy riffs.

Waste 9/10 - This song starts off and sounds like Pink Floyd. Has some of the best lyrics on the CD and amazing guitars. Great close to the CD.

so overall 109/120 = 9/10 = 4.5 rounded up to 5 Stars

The only real rock station left in DC (DC101) recently has been playing Seether's cover of George Michael/Wham's "Careless Whisper". When I first heard it, had no idea who the group was, but as a George Michael fan, knew I had to get it. One pm the dj spilled the beans & found out it was Seether, and that you have to get a recent copy of the cd if you want "Careless Whisper" -- apparently the original release does not include it. I got my copy of "Finding Beauty..." at my local Best Buy this pm, the plastic wrap has a maroon sticker with white text that reads, 'Includes the hidden track "Careless Whisper"'. So if you were thinking of buying this cd & want the GM cover, be sure to look for the maroon & white sticker, or you'll be ripped off!

The "hidden track" actually appears twice -- Trk 13 is "Careless Whisper Cut 1" (5:01), Trk 14 is "Careless Whisper Cut 2" (4:24). I can't detect much difference between the two, other than "Cut 1" sounds a little strange (like a broken cd) before the fade-out.... "Cut 2" seems to be the version they play on the radio.

Disclaimer, was not previously familiar with the band or their other records, though the name was familiar. As for the rest of the album, if you like good hard rock you should like this. (WinAmp lists genre as "Post-Grunge Alternative Rock", whatever that means....) In particular "Fake It" (also heard on radio, catchy), "FMLYHM", "No Jesus Christ" are all notable. The whole cd rocks. This is not a case where you feel like you got ripped off buying a cd for one track & then the rest sucks...

Recommended for all you hard-rockin' George Michael fans out there -- this is right up there with Limp Bizkit's "classic" remake of "Faith"....

THE BAND: Shaun Morgan (vocals, guitars), Dale Stewart (bass), John Humphrey (drums & percussion). Origin - South Africa.

THE DISC: (2007) 12 tracks clocking in at approximately 50 minutes. Included with the disc is a 10-page booklet containing song titles/credits, song lyrics, a dedication to Morgan's brother Eugene Welgemoed (R.I.P.), artwork by famed Chinese-American artist David G. Ho, and thank you's. Music by Seether, all lyrics by Morgan. This is the band's 3rd studio album. Label: Wind-up Records.

COMMENTS: Seether continues their breed of angry post grunge songs (with an affinity for the F-bomb - which sometimes works, but usually doesn't). "Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces" is a solid album, but there's nothing out of the ordinary here. To me, Seether is still in the same class with Breaking Benjamin, Staind, Three Days Grace, Crossfade, Cold, etc... the band continues to write quality songs that deliver with conviction. There are some issues here that perhaps affected the songs/album - Morgan dealing with his brother's suicide, his own drug addiction, and numerous production delays. Also, gone is guitarist Pat Callahan - in these 2nd tier rock bands, 2 guitars are usually better than 1. "Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces" is a solid album, filled with stinging guitar riffs and hooks. I find myself listening to the entire disc without hitting the `skip' button. While there's no mainstream rock powerhouse hit like Disclaimer's "Fine Again", or a pound your fist get-up-and-yell track like "Gasoline", or a top-notch smoky ballad like "Broken", "Finding Beauty" still manages to please - reaching #9 on Billboard's Top 200 albums in 2007. 11 of the 12 songs fit into the 3-5 minute range, with only "No Jesus Christ" breaking the mold at over 7 minutes long. Two singles did emerge - the most well known track on the album "Fake It", and the mainstream mid tempo "Rise Above This" (about one brother missing the other). Other highlights include the heavy opener "Like Suicide", the crunchy rhythm guitars in "Fallen" (sounds like it could be a Godsmack tune), the slower acoustic "Walk Away From The Sun" that gradually picks up speed, and the beautiful final cut "Waste". Several reviewers here on Amazon (as well as other sources) have said how different they feel this album is when compared to "Disclaimer" (2002) and "Karma And Effect" (2005). I guess I'm not on the same bus - I think this sounds a lot like previous Seether albums... maybe too much so. "Finding Beauty" is trademark Seether - great melodies, crunchy guitars, good familiar vocals, and lots of attitude. "Finding Beauty" will not hit you as hard as "Disclaimer", but it's still a solid release (4 stars).

This CD is awesome, all of the songs are great, and I can listen to it all the way through.

Good Hard Rock music is hard to find today. Seether, along with some other few bands around, is one of the still living representatives of that genre. Unavoidably, this new release ends up being compared to previous albums and even some artists in some professional and customer reviews.

I try not the judge the band, their past or where they will be going to in the future. I also don't compare them with other artists, because comparing apples with oranges just don't work. In fact, I don't give a damn about these things and I focus on appreciating the album for what it is.

So by judging only the recording itself, I can tell that hard rock fans will find great piece of music here, the kind of one that is becoming more rare everyday. Fine guitar and bass play, nice drum beatings and powerful vocals. My personal highlights are for "Fake It", "FMLYHM", "Rise Above This" and "No Jesus Christ".

For anyone who just looks to find cool rock music in this era dominated by country and R&B releases, this will be an interesting choice.

I have precious little to add in terms of where I think this band is headed musically. This is a truly diverse album in that not every song can be fitted into the formulaic molds left by Disclaimer and Karma & Effect. Whether this is a good thing, of course, remains very much up for debate, and the best I can offer is a song by song review:



1. Like Suicide (9/10) - I had been anticipating this track for some time, given the studio outtakes that have been floating around online. It's a decent enough track, one of the few in which Shaun's guitar riffs almost manage to make up for Pat's departure from the band. The addition of some nice vocal harmonies was a treat for me, but again, this is the kind of addition that is up for debate. A good opening track, in any case.

2. Fake It (10/10) - A great song, released months ago so as to give us all high hopes for this album. I particularly enjoy the drumming, which includes a beat pattern suspisciously similar to Green Day's "Holiday". It grinds away in its own right and is so catchy that this album could forseeably ride it's coattails for a good while.

3. Breakdown (6/10) - A radio-friendly addition, with lyrics that very much attest to this fact. This is the kind of track that, while topically maintaining some of Seether's earlier elements, is pushing in an entirely new direction. In my mind, however, this is not a direction I should like to hear - it being covered by a host of other bands. Still, not particularly bad.

4. FMLYHM (8/10) - More Green Day influences in the opening bit before Shaun pipes up. A lot of reviewers seem to object to the apparently overdone lyrics, but I'll admit I enjoy the way he spits them out, especially in the chorus. This is a funny song...lighter than previous Seether, yet angry like previous Seether, and musically reminiscent of something caught between Korn, Three Days Grace, and Nickelback.

5. Fallen (7/10) - Here more than at any other point in this album, I'm wishing Pat was still there to really make the heavier guitar riffs come to life; Shaun gives a worthy effort, but there's still something missing. Definitely moving closer towards Nickelback with this track. I do enjoy the solo, however.

6. Rise Above This (3/10) - I really have nothing to say about this track. Nothing special, nothing even remotely resembling what I like about Seether. Again, change is clearly inevitable, but this is not the type of change I believe a band of Seether's unique talent needs to be making.

7. No Jesus Christ (6/10) - I'm not sure quite what to make of this song. At 7:04, it's definitely the most spacious thing Seether has done to this point. Musically, there is almost nothing innovative, however, and it sounds to me like the band is equally confused as to where this song is suppose to take us. Still, heavy enough to warrant mention, just very odd.

8. 6 Gun Quota (3/10) - See Rise Above This.

9. Walk Away From The Sun (3/10) - A sound so strikingly similar to Nickelback, it makes me nostalgic for heavier days gone by. I do not mean to suggest that I think Nickelback is a bad band, quite the opposite - they have found their niche in the rock world. The tragedy is that Seether is now attempting to share that niche.

10. Eyes Of The Devil (7/10) - A slightly higher score for this track simply because it's not happy music. Even the solo conveys this sense of desperation. Quite enjoyable.

11. Don't Believe (6/10) - This song kind of reminds me of "Diseased" with it's atmospheric verses mixed with heavier choruses. Select Tool influences are certainly detectable. I enjoy this track, but again, I do believe it could prosper from a second guitarist to both heavy things up and to move it along a bit more...this seems a bit sluggish for some reason.

12. Waste (9/10) - I think this was an excellent track to close the album with. Quite a jump from the sounds of Disclaimer or Karma & Effect, but in this case, I quite enjoy the departure. I have to laugh during the verses because I'm quite sure I hear Garth Brooks poking his head up at times. Great chorus, full of emotion and good use of backing vocals. Nice and dark, also.

I hated this album at first it sounded nothing like there previous works but I gave it another chance because of Like Suicide and Fake It both really catchy songs. I'm glad I did because this cd is really good from start to finish. This reminds me of In Utero because everyone hated that record when it came out and as time went on it became a classic and the same goes for FBINS. Its a solid album its not my favorite it may be the bands favorite Seether record but my favorite will always be Disclaimer (1). This is just Seether experimenting just like Linkin Park with minutes to midnight its only one cd they can always come back on the next one if your just getting into Seether start with this one and work your way down. The best tracks Like Suicide, 6 Gun Quota, Breakdown, & FMLYHM.

Why is this album not as satisfying as Seether's past albums? Why does it sound recycled, like just about anything else you'll hear on radio these days? Is it due to drug problems that eventually led to a stint in rehab last summer for frontman Shaun Morgan? Is it the firing of second guitarist Pat Callahan, who gaves 2005's "Karma & Effect" some much needed dimension? Is it the fact that producer Howard Benson, who produced crossover hits for the likes of Hoobastank and Papa Roach, had a hand in the production?

Whatever it is, one thing is for sure: "Finding Beauty In Negative Spaces" just isn't up to par. Even the strongest songs sound like b-sides to previous albums, and aside from an exception or two, the new territory they tread here doesn't pan out well at all. The thing that set Seether aside from most of their contemporaries was always frontman Shaun Morgan's honest delivery. Even if they weren't always creating the freshest music or if Morgan wasn't spewing the most original lyrics, you could almost always feel the passion in his voice. Listen to songs from past albums like "The Gift," "Driven Under" and the original version of "Broken" to hear what I mean. Unfortunately, the passionate, honest side of him is hardly shown on this album, except when he states that he can "fake it with the best of them" on the first single, "Fake It." Afterall, this album is, if nothing else, Seether going through the motions.

One song that does stand out, however, is "No Jesus Christ." A seven-plus minute long slowburner that seeths like older Seether and yet, sounds nothing like anything they have done in the past. Unfortunately this song is slapped right in the middle of the album, sandwiched in between embarassing arena-rock like "Rise Above This" and the generic, repetitive fodder of "Fake It." A few gems sprinkled in between -- "Like Suicide" and "Eyes Of The Devil" -- have a familiar feel to them and hold up just fine next to older material. The main problem, though, still remains that there aren't enough moments like this to qualify this as a great album, like the others. It's good enough, I suppose. Afterall, every band is entitled to one mediocre affair, and Seether have survived enough hardships to justify this one. If you don't mind hearing a great band water down their sound, you might just like this better than their other albums, but for everyone else, you'll have trouble finding beauty in this space.