Customer Reviews

Grey Oceans

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

 

 

Cocorosie have gone off and made a quieter, more introspective record. A solid one at that. While previous efforts have gone a bit awry with some of the sampling choices - much of this record works as a collective whole. Everything from Middle-Eastern-tinged "Smokey Taboo," to 1950's crooning "Lemonade" and the hip-hop-baroque-piano noodling of "The Moon Asked The Crow"- CocoRosie keep building on their ability to build a patchwork of styles and make it work.

Cocorosie is probably my favorite band right now. I found out they were playing a few hundred miles from where I lived so I hitchhiked down there and caught their performance. It was one of the best shows I've ever seen. Their style is uncategorizable, very personal and unique. I've listened to Grey Oceans a number of times now and it just keeps sounding better and better. Perhaps not quite the tour-de-force that was The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn, but awesome in its own way. Experimental, cutting edge, poetic, with a certain earnest charm that's all too rare in today's jaded musical climate. I tend to get choked up when I listen to these girls. I'm going to see them again next month and I'm sure I'll love it even more now that the songs on Grey Oceans have sunk in a little. I listen to good music all day long, I'm like a walkman junkie but they really stand out for me, the stuff they do just gets to me. Magic, mystery, tears, exquisite beauty and just plain fun! Thanks, guys!

I enjoyed this album. Cocorosie is an acquired taste and this latest album is a bit experimental, even for them. There were a couple songs that I would describe as hit or miss, but there were just as many musical passages that gave me a shiver of delight, and several tracks I liked instantly. Not as good as Noah's Ark, but definitely worth purchasing. The album is a very cool translucent blue, the sleeve art laughably horrible (on purpose, I hope)!

i've only listened once thru this so far (finding it harder & harder these days to sit thru a whole album...victim of shuffle mode, alas).
but am appreciating the density, the twists and turns, the 'magic'. feels like a step forward from maison and noah's ark, and may yet prove to be my favorite CR album to date (ghosthorse seems more like a departure, altho some of it is great).

am glad for this, i love the adventurous, unexpected part of cocorosie music (i liked 'god has a voice' as well, just for what it is).

need to listen again, but, if you're a fan, this is a great album. if you don't know their music, be prepared. it's worth taking the journey. c u there.

CocoRosie are probably the strangest thing I listen to. Many people find their music pretentious and over the top, and I definitely disagree. Many people compare them to Bjork, and accuse them of trying to be like her; I strongly disagree with that too.

I really want to say that I love their music, not because it's "weird", and not because it's obscure. I love a lot of "weird" music, and have often been accused of "trying to be weird, and/or different". Most people (those who only listen to "Top 40" music, or music that sounds like it could be in the Top 40) think that people like me listen to this music because we want to be weird, and that listening to this music helps us fulfill our "weird" persona. I have often been asked why I like such "weird" music. To be honest, I don't know how to answer that question! Maybe I just am "weird", and that's why I like it. I cannot stomach most of the absolute trash that is played on the radio. I don't hate this music just because it's popular (I'm a big fan of many commercially succesful artists), I hate it because it lacks character, sincerity, and most of it seems to be about "pumping the club" and drinking.

Back to the Bjork comparisons; the only similarities between Bjork and CocoRosie are that they are both female, and are both very strange. Sadly, I think people tend to label many unique, or "strange" female artists as "trying to be like Bjork", which only shows that they haven't really allowed themselves to actually LISTEN to the music (there is a big difference between hearing and listening). I am a huge fan of Bjork and CocoRosie. I have all of their albums, and know their music very very well. I actually prefer CocoRosie!

The reason I love CocoRosie's music is that it's passionate and emotionally charged, it is, I believe, the most unique music I listen to. I believe that it's very spiritual, sincere, and it really is very beautifully crafted. I always say that, with CocoRosie's music, the best thing to do is to forget about how "weird" the vocals are, and just listen to the instruments, the melodies, and the atmosphere that these sounds create.

"Grey Oceans" is the duo's fourth album, realeased in May 2010. While their previous album, "The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn" was very electronic, this one is mainly accoustic instrumentation, with bits of electronics sparkling through. The first thing I noticed is how soft and spiritual the mood of the album is. The instrumentation is clearly influenced by their travels around the World, and their interests in different cultures. Their "weirdness", which was definitely full-blown in previous releases, is a bit more toned-down on this ablum (altough it is still very strange).

"Trinity's Crying" and "Smokey Taboo" start the album off with an accoustic, spiritual vibe. "Hopscotch" gives us the craziness we are used to. It's rather silly and fun, but so beautiful at the same time (a strange combination). "Undertaker" goes back to the accoustic, spiritual feeling of the first two tracks. The sisters then each take turns on singing their own ballads, starting with Bianca's "Grey Oceans" which is just Bianca's vocals and piano. Sierra's turn comes next with "R.I.P. Burn Face" which is made up of Sierra's vocals, sparkly electronics, and hip-hop beats. This is, easily, one of the most beauitful lullabies CocoRosie have made.

"The Moon asked the Crow" starts off with piano, and then hip-hop beats and Bianca's rapping are thrown in. I have to say that this combination of piano and beats is just genius! A fun, quirky, up-beat, and of course, beautiful track! "Lemonade" is the albums single. Dark, sad, and so emotional, it shows how good these girls are. The music video is really beautiful; worth checking out on Youtube. "Gallows" is sung by Sierra, and is made up of what sounds like a harp, and electronic sparkles, with sounds of bats and night-time creatures. A beautiful, spooky song that makes me think of a walk through a graveyard in the middle of the night. The mood goes up with "Fairy Paradise", which is, surprisingly, very dancey! Fans of hard techno or trance music will be inpressed! The last track "Here I Come" has an odd, almost jazzy feel, and ends the album very well.

"Grey Oceans" shows that CocoRosie are real musicians. It is defintely their most mature, versatile, and maybe even their most beautiful (altough that would be hard to pick) album so far. It's album cover (which, by the way, is incredibly ugly) doesn't do it the justice it deserves.

Another beautiful album from an amazing pair of talented artists...

This album is more smooth and sophisticated than previous CocoRosie albums. It's a little quieter, but it has an vast amount of emotional force. The lyrics, as always, are strange and delicately beautiful.

...I wish people would stop comparing all strange female vocalists to Bjork. It would be nice if they could lay off Emiliana Torrini about that, too.

I love CocoRosie because their dreamlike sounds, like gently falling piano notes or the chirping of birds, meld seamlessly with haunting operatic vocals, and contrast arrestingly with slightly raspy, nasal, and hard-hitting vocals. For one. Ultimately I love them for the same reason that I like any other artist - not because I think they are "artsy", but simply because I like them.

Variedad de estilos, en general música alternativa, pero con mucho Trip Hop, fusión, un poco de jazz. Lo mejor que he escuchado en el 2010 (en mi iTunes tengo 17 mil temas).
Los mejores, Hopscotch (reminiscencias a música de los 30, con electrónica), con excelente melodía y ritmo.
Trinity's Crying, un aire a post-rock.
Smokey Taboo, Trip-Hop con aires célticos.
Undertaker, Trip-Hop con aires asiáticos, tipo Nitin Sawhney.
The Moon Asked The Crow, Trip Hop, con piano clásico de introducción. Buena melodía e interpretación.
Lemonade, Trip Hop puro y duro.
Gallows, ruido de pájaros, etérea.
Here I Come, alternativa, piano, voces un tanto asiáticas, voz masculina invitada.

I love love love this album! I liked their ideas of experimental electronics on their first album, La maison de mon rêve . The second album, Noah's Ark and third album, The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn were a little more polished and now the level of their music keeps evolving with this current album, Grey Oceans. The best way to describe it to others is eerie lullabies. The melodies remind me of lullabies, but sometimes Bianca's voice is just so creepy but yet child-like and beautiful. Sierra's opera trained vocals give the music and even balance. I've seen them twice in Chicago and can't wait until they come around again. I will also anticipate any future albums.

Yah, I'm not a music wierdo. I can listen to top40 radio and love some of it. cocorosie is out there and I would imagine most of their fans are people who's only identity comes from the crazy music they listen to. That being said... I fricken love cocorosie! This album is a great addition to my collection. Some of their albums I have to skip songs on cause they're just to out there, but this album I can listen to start to finish. Word up homie!!!

I like it, but I prefer their older albums. It took a few listens, but it grew on me. As the other reviewer stated, some of the songs are hit or miss. I am happy they are still making albums and hope they continue to do so.