Customer Reviews

Healthy In Paranoid Times

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(10)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(14)

 

 

I discovered OLP on what, according to fans on this site at least, was one of their "worst" albums. I'm speaking, of course, of Gravity. Call it what you will, I loved every single song on that album. Yes, it was more commercially made and appealed to a wider base of people, but I really did enjoy it. I loved the hardness of the rock, the passionate and very mercurial voice of Raine, and the lyrics that invoked people like Jack Kerouac. It made me pick up their earlier albums and, with a couple of exceptions, I mostly loved them as well. I just wanted to let people know where my review comes from.

What I enjoyed about Gravity was the mix of the crunching guitars and the sing-along lyrics. In the same way, I loved songs like Superman's Dead from earlier albums. I was hoping Healthy in Paranoid Times would continue what I felt was their evolution. I do like this cd, but there are times where it doesn't excite me in the way earlier OLP did. For instance, Apology, with its sections of Raine just singing "Ah" up and down scales goes on too long. What I was hoping this cd would carry over at least from their prior one was the vehemence of tone.

This album could be angry. The lyrics definitely suggest it with songs like "Wipe that Smile From Your Face" or "Will The Future Blame Us." And there are times that the music hits that, but overall there is a poppy feeling that belies the tone of the lyrics. I still like the album. I don't think its their best and, like some reviewers have mentioned, I'm curious to see what the other 31 songs that were recorded sound like. It does seem like they are at a crossroads. But I think they have been ever since Gravity.

Bands tend to mellow out as they go along, but after Gravity I thought OLP was doing just the opposite. Healthy in Paranoid Times is, in my opinion, a step back. I know that I will probably get a ton of "unhelpful votes" by saying that. The music is well played, Raine's voice is still uniquely his and aurally interesting. There are some songs that have a strong passion in them, like "Don't Stop."

I think the most intriguing portion of this CD as a whole is the booklet insert. It helps put into focus what people spend their time, money and energy on in our society while pointing to causes that truly need our time, money and energy on. What is interesting, to me, was that they even point the fingers at themselves as a musical band. We do spend more time than we should on "celebrities" and I think the booklet itself has a ton of passion, while at the same time the wit that the band has shown throughout the years. However, what its lacking *overall* (i.e. an album as a whole) is the passion that earlier songs had. And for a subject as inflamed today, as debated and as needed to be discussed (and as hinted at in the booklet which is devoid of everything BUT the reminder), Healthy in Paranoid Times is surprisingly tame.

I've been a fan of these guys since my highschool days, started listening in 1996, saw them in concert with a little band called "Black Lab". I understand what this album is about, but I agree with some of the other reviews that Raine and the guys are catering to the high-schoolers angst of today. They shouldn't. They should get Arnold Lanni back and start creating albums like "clumsy, spiritual machines and happiness", those were truly creative albums that carried me through the years when everything else on the radio (then and now) sucks. Raine used to write about worlds and characters, and the fantastic photography and artwork on their album covers presented the visual picture of those worlds. They need to go back to that. Raine needs to start using his voice again and the band needs to start making it "artfully complex" again--I guess that's how I could say it. I still love listening to their old stuff and hearing the little things, noises, sound fx, ect that were interwoven into the songs. I always got a weird "twisted circus" sound from them. That's not a bad name for their next album. And bring OSCAR back!

I have been a huge OLP fan for a very long time. I have loved all their previous albums and still listen to them frequently. I ran out to buy Healthy in Paranoid Times and have listened to it about 5 times all the way through hoping it would improve or grow on me with each listen. There are a few decent songs, but overall I would be perfectly ok (actually happier) if I had never bought this album. I had also planned to go see them in concert in October, but can't imagine having to suffer through a lot of these songs live. :( Overall, I'm super disappointed.

In my opinion, the first track, "Angels/Losing/Sleep," is justification enough to buy this album (I don't know about it's status as a single, but I think it is far more sophisticated and a more accurate representation of the album than is "Where Are You").

Unlike other long time fans of the band who've posted reviews here, I didn't think Gravity was out of character for the band - if people were afraid of a "radio-friendly"/mainstream trend in OLP, then I think Clumsy posed a greater threat (but I don't put much weight into the "we must hate the mainstream" logic). I have a hard time comparing Gravity, Clumsy, HIPT, etc. because I think each album possesses unique strengths.

As for HIPT, I think the album does a great job of showcasing Raine's unique vocals. Songs like "Will the Future Blame Us," also contain very powerful lyrics (which I suspect are politically-motivated - from Raine and Chantal's work with War Child). I, too, wonder about the songs that were left off the album and after listening to it a few more times, I think I'll watch the DVD and see if I can better understand the band's logic.

My advice to skeptics: Give the album another listen - I wasn't terribly impressed the first time through, but I think the second time around I just "got it."

As An English Our Lady Peace fan I do not get to see the band often, I rely on the power of their music to cross the pond and reach out to me, make me tap my feet, make me sing along to the catchy cryptic lyrics like previous Our Lady Peace albums have done. Although many weren't, I was completely satisfied.

Healthy In Paranoid Times has at least 5 songs that would make excellent singles: Where Are You, The World On A String, Don't Stop, Angels/Losing/Sleep and Will The Future Blame Us? and although a very good album would have 12 singles, the other 7 songs all serve a very different purpose; the power of thought provocation. It would be too much to explain all the possible theories about each track however:

Picture, has some powerful, thoughtful lines dealing with the loss of someone either through death or relationship breakdown.

Wipe That Smile Off Your Face has a catchy drumbeat with a slow guitar over the top. "I'm Not Afraid, I'm Gunna Make You Pay" reaveals the angry nature of the song which carries a theme of revenge. It makes you wonder what Raine is singing about.

Al Genina (Leave The Light On) mentions Raine's visits with his wife Chantal to war torn countries, it communicates the gulf of lifestyles and the type of lives people in 3rd world countries. "Life is different here, its not camoflauged with Gold" highlights Raines accusations that the 3rd World doesn't get enough attention, and joins hand in hand with the CD's booklet which indicates what has happend in the world since they started recording. Although sung in a mellow tone, Raines voice has the ability to communicate with a wider audience; something that OLP have been trying to do since Gravity in 2002.

Overall the album is more of a facinating peice of music than something that you can rock out too. Our Lady Peace are not stuck at crossroads as some may assume, they are still making powerful music, probing at different ways to climb the ladder of success ultimately having their music universally recognised. This album certainly takes them a up a few further rungs on that ladder.

The best part of this cd is that none of the songs suck. I will say there are more good songs than really really great songs. There are a few great songs on here, for example wipe that smile off your face, may be my favorite. The cd does have a more upbeat mood to it than traditional OLP, yet a couple songs, sound like vintage OLP. Overall, this cd is pretty solid, but I will say, you have to have an ear for OLP to fully appreciate their music, and this cd. An average listener may not be impressed, but a fan of OLP, will be very excited.

Our Lady Peace is undoubtedly an amazing rock band that continues to pump out quality music in an age where that is unfortunately a dieing commodity. Healthy In Paranoid Times seems to be politically motivated to some extent, however this doesn't spoil the record. Many bands take the oppurtunity to voice their political opinions through their music but, unfortunately the music suffers. Most people like to try and relate to the music that they listen to. Often time, if you can establish a connection with the music, it means that much more to you. On Healthy, OLP deal with alot of dark issues. The current state of the world being a major concern. The music itself sounds more fresh than ever. There are nice atmospheric touches throughout the record as well as some noteworthy and pleasing guitar work from Steve Mazur. The vocalist, Raine Maida, has been criticized in the past for his peculiar vocal stylings, most notably his falsettos. However, on Healthy, Maida's vocals are easy on the ears and to be honest, quite pleasing. His vocal range is really rather impressive, especially if you have seen OLP live. His voice is a refreshing change of pace from mostly anything that modern rock has to offer. Hardcore OLP fans missed Raine's falsettos on their previous release, Gravity and will surely be pleased to hear them again on Healthy In Paranoid Times. Many reviewers that have complained about Maida's vocal stylings in the past have basically just trashed OLP altogether. If you aren't a fan of his vocal stylings it's more reasonable to politely critique something rather than shove your opinion down someones throat. In the past I would have agreed that OLP are indeed an "acquired taste", however, this album, while not being ordinary, is very listener-friendly. Maida's sentiments on Healthy are very straight-forward, but they are highly charged. The lead single, "Where Are You", (although a good track with a powerful message) is not a good representation of what Healthy has to offer. This CD has no songs that you would skip, OLP was able to maintain high quality throughout the whole record. Unfortunately, here in the United States, OLP has always been underrated and larely unrecognized, almost criminally. However they should get some recognition for releasing a record as powerful as HIPT. However, when they don't one can only come to the conclusion that the music industry is largely biased and is actually being governed by an audience who solely enjoys a catchy beat. This is a 5 star review, but nowhere in it did I state that OLP rocks and is the best band ever. This is a genuine reflection on what I hear and see. This is an album worthy of consideration and for any OLP fan, a must have.

Standout Tracks:
Angels/Losing/Sleep
Will The Future Blame Us?
Wipe That Smile Off Your Face
Love And Trust
Apology
Al Genina(Leave The Light On)
Boy

Our Lady Peace: get Mike Turner back and return to the sound of Happiness... and Spiritual Machines.

I was the biggest Our Lady Peace fan ever for 7 years (technically 5 years if you count me disliking gravity). I grew up listening to them with Clumsy and I grew with them with every album. They were the soundtrack to my high school years. I had close to 10 t-shirts, all of their CDs, a couple of fan club CDs, an autographed picture, a press photo from naveed, a couple posters, numerous bootleg CDs and I even spent a lot of money on ebay getting recorded material on tape from canada.

Our Lady Peace has lost it. They were the only band that mattered when I was younger, and now they are drowning in their own crappiness. We waited for 3 years to see if this Steve Mazur cat could hold his own, and he cant. He's a derivative clone with stupid hair.

Raine, perhaps you're the one to blame for the downfall. Your quest for simpler songs is a success, they're just not very good. Gone are the exquisite turns of phrase and lyrics that made you think and question and look deeper. Now you just shove it down our throats and hope we like it. Gone is your incredible singing voice that defied reason.

Arnold Lanni was the rock that Our Lady Peace was built on. Some say his influence was too much, but he was with the band from 1993 up until 2000, how can you not have a huge influence when you're together for that long? He helped them move from their greatest selling CD to their greatest artistic statement (and one of the greatest musical statements I've ever heard), of course '99's happiness is not a fish that you can catch. He brought out the best, Bob Rock just brings out the rest. Of a tired 30-something band that is hanging onto a thread and has lost all their credibility except with fans who have gone along with the gag.

Our Lady Peace changed my life. For their first 4 CDs I'm forever grateful. I gave Gravity a shot, I gave this a shot, and I'm giving up. Rest in Peace.

Like previous reviewers I will preface this with a clarification. My rating and review is comparing OLP's newest release to their previous body of work, and not other artists.

I have been a fan of OLP since Starseed hit the radio waves on Detroit's alternative rock stations. I have purchased each album and gone to every show in my area (and some not in my area) and have never had anything bad to say about this band. I have thoroughly enjoyed every song this band has ever put onto an album or compilation (including everything on Gravity for those so-call "real" OLP fans...heck I even like the track they cut for the pro-wrestler).

This album is lacking whatever it is that has drawn me to OLP over the past 10 years or so. The tone, raw emotion, and drive all seem to be absent on this album. Bob Rock did a terrible job producing the album, but that didn't surprise me because he did an equally fabulous job of ruining Metallica with St. Anger (sarcasm). On most tracks the guitar work, percussion, and vocal harmonies are barely audible. Raine's vocals over power everything, and while I know the success of OLP is founded on Raine's falsetto, his vocals take too much away from everything else that has made OLP such a great band.

I understand that bands evolve and mature, but I don't think this is one of those moments. Everything on this album feels forced making me believe OLP is attempting to be something they are not (see U2, Coldplay, Radiohead, etc.). I will continue to listen to this album in hopes that it grows on me, but this album just isn't up to the standards OLP has set for themselves.

I am one of those people who did not enjoy powerchording dumb-rock of Gravity, so I am heartened to find that OLP has reembraced musical complexity and depth. I was captivated on first listen. Critics may say that "Healthy" isn't filled with many obvious singles, but it is a solid 45 minutes of beautiful music. The guitar lines are stunning, the drumming tight, and the vocals genuinely passionate. And while you will hear undercurrents U2 here (perhaps appropriate for the band's most political album to date), its melodic twists and peculiarities are very much OLP's own.

There are a few things to complain about on this album; the biggest one being the single "Where Are You", which sounds like a disastrous collision of Coldplay and Blink 182. Then there's the humourously biker-esque guitar solo in the middle of "Wipe That Smile Off Your Face". And Maida's attempts at lyrical simplification have occasionally crossed over into sappiness (see "Love and Trust"). These problems aren't fatal, though. I've only knocked off one star because of them.

"Happiness" and "Spiritual Machines" will probably remain my favourite OLP discs, but that's mostly my stylistic preference for a darker sound. "Healthy" isn't far behind.