Customer Reviews

Furious Angels

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Let's face it, we're currently in an age when pop music is progressively getting worse and new ideas are fast running out...

Ever since the Rob Dougan track 'Clubbed to Death (Kurayamino Variation)' was featured on the original Matrix soundtrack, I've been waiting for the day when I could hear more of his work. Plain and simple, it's been worth it. Dougan spent eight years, maybe even more, working on this album. On 'Furious Angels', Rob Dougan is the composer, the solo vocalist, and the entire orchestra all in one. This man is INCREDIBLY talented. I can't believe the instrumental string parts were all entirely written by him. And at the same time his obvious influence from Electronic music allows him to be modern-sounding enough to capture the attention of today's audience. One thing I really enjoy about his music is that he doesn't allow the percussion to become repetitive or to distract the listener from the actual music.

The best thing about Dougan's music is probably his voice. Some reviewers have commented that his vocals don't fit the instrumentals, but I strongly disagree. I think his voice is what makes his songs so strong, dark, and emotional. Perhaps there is no better example than on 'Left Me for Dead', a song that seems to be about a hit-and-run accident. Dougan beautifully captures the pain and anguish that such a situation could cause. On 'There's Only Me', he howls out in vain on a song that could be themed around loneliness and isolation.

Another reviewer didn't like how track 13 is silent, and claims it's a copy of John Cage's famous 4'33". I don't consider this CD to be a copy of anything, really. If you look at the structure of the album as a whole, it's almost as if Dougan is inviting you in on a private concert. There's the Prelude at the very beginning, the actual meat of the performance in the middle, the silence towards the end where the applause would take place, the Coda to wrap up the show, and then the encore track 'Clubbed to Death 2' to win the audience over.

Best track on the album is easily 'Clubbed To Death (Kurayamino Variation)', the record that broke Rob Dougan into the public's consciousness. I don't even have to explain why this song is so good. It's an awesome attempt at taking two styles of music that you would NEVER expect to work together (the strings of Classical and the beats of Hip Hop), and putting them together well enough to create something totally fresh. The result is nothing short of a masterpiece. I also enjoy the title track 'Furious Angels', 'Nothing At All', and 'Speed Me Towards Death' very much. All in all, every song on the CD doesn't disappoint. The album is very well balanced and each track beautifully flows into the next.

>>> A perfect 5 stars. An epic masterpiece. This album is flawless. Gorgeous art direction and album design as well.

* BEST ELECTRONIC ALBUM OF 2003. Yes, I know the year isn't over yet but I dare you to find me a replacement.

- the enlightened one

If you enjoyed 'Furious Angels', I would strongly suggest such albums as Robert Miles' 'Dreamland' and Chicane's 'Behind the Sun'. They both seem to capture the same artful taste as heard in Rob Dougan's music.

Australian-born Rob Dougan injects some much-needed originality into the 2003 music scene. His debut album, "Furious Angels," is filled with haunting music and intelligent lyrics, all backed with full orchestra, that show of his talents as both a singer and a songwriter. His smoky, Leonard Cohen-esque voice blends in with his music and adds to the emotion on such songs as "Furious Angels," "Left Me For Dead," "One And The Same," and "I'm Not Driving Anymore." His instrumental songs are equally praiseworthy, including the tracks "Will You Follow Me?" and "Clubbed To Death," to name a few. Their mix of traditional orchestra and electronics give them a cinematic feel.

The second disc contains instrumental versions of many of the songs, as well as the videos for "Furious Angels" and "Clubbed To Death." A fantastic album. One of the standouts of 2003.

I have but one thing to say, really: FURIOUS ANGELS IS INCREDIBLE! I, however, completely agree with almost every review written here. It takes more than one listen to let the brilliance of this album fully reveal itself in all its glory but once it does sink in you'll find yourself unable to take it out of your stereo! I honestly didn't like it at first, and my initial thoughts were: this guy cannot sing ... WHAT IS HE THINKING?! But after playing it through a couple times, I couldn't imagine this music without his voice accompanying it. The soft electronic beats are set to emotive orchestrations, so when you add his raspy Bob Dylan-esque vocals with his bittersweet lyrics, the end result is a raw intensity that'll leave you speechless. And that is why I don't enjoy the instrumental versions quite as much as the originals because the melodies are missing something vital: HIS VOICE!

"Nothing At All" is probably one of the most heart-wrenchingly gorgeous songs ever, and an equally beautiful tune is "One And The Same (Coda)". He at times sounds like David Gray on this particular piece, which can be found on any of the imports I especially recommend getting for that and another bonus track, "Speed Me Towards Death." Another favorite of mine is the fiercly dynamic "Left Me For Dead" where I hear a slight resemblance to David Bowie...

I am so, SO glad I found a used copy of 'Furious Angels' for an irresistible price since I almost made the terrible mistake of not buying this because of the poor samples provided here, which only serve as an injustice to this album!

I don't know much about Rob Dougan's musical past but if this is any indication of the undeniable talents this artist possesses, I see nothing but a bright future ahead of him and can only hope he gets the kind of recognition he rightfully deserves.

If you are like me you won't really like this album the first time through; but you will be thinking about it long after its over. You will put it in the cd player again to give it another listen and this is how Rob Dougan gets you. I have gone through 3 copies of this cd. Finally with the purchase of the iPod, I won't have to buy another one. The music is so beautiful and strong all the way through from start to finish. It takes you up and takes you down, it brings out so many different emotions its almost unexplainable. Furious Angels is probably my favorite album that I have ever purchased. I bought it in Kuwait on my way into Iraq when the war was kicking off over there. The calming effect of Dougan's music got me through so many tense nights when I didn't know if I would wake up the next morning. They say music tames the savage beast, it also calms the nerves of the ones affected by the beast.....
All the time the reviewers tell you the favorite songs, I have none really, I cherish them all the same. I can't tell you in words how well the album flows from track 1 to track 15. It is the kind of album you just don't skip ahead on, you listen to the whole thing like a story being told.
I don't know if this review will help anyone, but I just want to say how the music makes me feel inside. Rob Dougan offers you an escape from reality, if only for a little while.....

Update 8 years later: I can't believe I wrote this. It was my first time being drunk, and I was listening to this album and had the sudden urge to share it with the whole world. It really is a good album, and I definitely meant the spirit of what I was saying here, but this review was just... drivel.

I'm keeping it up as a harsh lesson to myself about what I'm like when I drink.

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There has been nothing like Rob Dougan's "Furious Angels" since it was first released almost five years ago, and that is not a good thing. This music is nothing short of simultaneously breath taking and relaxing, which will ensure peaceful slumbers as easily as it will soothe your road rage. It constantly demands that you alternate your sympathies with the artist between unabiding passion and tears of joy. Between Dougan's expert compositions and the heart and soul demonstrated by the fine chorus and orchestra employed to undertone his messages, this album can be summed up in a single word: Ethereal.

Not since Wagner has a composer demonstrated the capacity to inspire men of powerful character, but Dougan's music could very well inspire charity in the hearts of cowards as easily as the strongest among us. It is emotional, it is moving, and it has a very human message that we should all take time to listen for. "Furious Angels" is exactly what music once aspired to be.

At its core, this music is as human as noise will ever get in the capacity that it is conflicted. It is broodingly hopeful, lovingly insane, and maturely random. I very strongly recommend this album, and I very strongly recommend that you take time to listen to every song back to back immediately after purchase. You will be hard pressed to find a more entertaining and moving two hours of your life, although I admit that you may be successful in doing so.

It is completely devoid of outdated political messages, pop culture references, and other such tactless subjects. It should be remembered as a masterpiece from our generation, wherein the traditions of organic music first merged with the future of synthetic beauty. This music is an excellent testament toward how mankind progressed in our era, and yet it is timeless. To conclude my praise, I will reiterate that it would not be a stretch to say that above all else, Rob Dougan's music is unique, and virtually unduplicated. "Furious Angels" is a refreshing fountain of spirit for the emotional intellectual.

Anyone who didn't buy this is a fool! This is a great and wonderful record. The music fills the room, and the videos are magnificent! This man deserves to, in the future, be remembered as the great composer of the 21st century. Just Listen!!!!!!

I first became aware of the music of Rob Dougan (as so many others) through the use of his work in the Matrix films. I bought the whole album just to have that individual work, but I quickly realized that the whole album was so much more than what I anticipated. Dougan seamlessly mixes classical orchestration with modern electronic rhythms and instrumentation to produce a hybrid that no other artist I've heard has successfully matched.

Rob Dougan's music runs the full gamut of emotions, from the elation of "Will You Follow Me" to the vindictiveness of "Left Me for Dead" and the quiet resignation of "Nothing at All"--and everything in between. His raspy voice may at first seem grating--if you find this to be the case, the instrumental versions on the bonus disc are for you--but the more I listened to the album, the emptier the instrumental tracks seemed without his presence.

A little trivia for the Matrix-minded: Rob Dougan also wrote "Chateau", the music that plays while Neo is fighting the vampires in the Merovingian's palace. Also, the instrumental version of "I'm not driving any more" is the music that loops on the menu of the Matrix Reloaded DVD.

The Matrix soundtrack introduced to Rob Dougan. I was drawn to the instrumentals rather than the songs with lyrics. Buy it for the instrumentals.

I don't have to say much but I heard this CD and I knew that it had to be mine or my collection would not be complete. I love Rob Dougan's original sound. I've honestly never heard anything like this before.

This album is golden.

I love this album. I bought it on impulse after getting the music from the Movie Matrix.. then I looked up the artists from that album, and ordered a couple of albums from those artists. This was one. I had never heard of Rob Dougan before the movie Matrix.

This has since become one of my favorite albums. one that I haven't gotten tired of yet (and I've had it for a couple of years). I love the combination of the orchestra, and his voice (which is stylistic, not "beautiful".. but it fits well). There are 2 albums, one with him singing, and one with just the instrumentals. Both are good.

There is one theme running through the voice album.. basically the theme is "love scorned". The songs describe the ups and downs, the anger/longing/hurt in this situation. After I heard this the first time, I thought, "Whoa, Dude, whatever she did to you, it must have been bad.. but, you really need to get over this!" However, if Rob is drawing from his real life, perhaps the experience was meant to be so he could create this album.

There is only one song that I skip over.. and that is the drinking song. and there are a couple of pauses/blank spots that I would rather not be there. but.. that is about the only negative thing I can say about the 2 albums.

It is also a great album to listen to when walking/running. great beat, but with enough variances to keep it interesting.

I keep looking for a new album from Rob Dougan.. but none so far. Perhaps he made a better choice in the love department, this time around. ;)

bottom line, I definitely recommend this album.