17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Unsurpassable, July 11, 2000
This review is from: Heaven Or Las Vegas (Audio CD)
Ah... My entire life seemed to revolve around this album back in 1990/91. It was my first taste of the Cocteaus and remains my favourite album. It's only 37 minutes long but by the time track 10 fades out you'll swear you've been listening to it for hours, such is the emotional sweep that pervades it and carries the listener along. For me, the standout tracks were Cherry Coloured Funk, Fifty Fifty Clown, Pitch the baby, Heaven or Las Vegas and Road River & Rail. However, after playing those ones to death I 'rediscovered' the other five songs and played them to death too. Ten years later this album remains one of my top two albums of all time (the other being Hats by the Blue Nile). Heaven or Las Vegas was the Cocteau Twins at their finest, though their next album, Four Calendar Cafe, was also sublime, though it marked the beginning of the end. Check out the predecessor Blue Bell Knoll too: the Coc's first foray into keyboard/sequencer dominated sounds and away from the murky guitar and echoes of their past. And if you're REALLY lucky you'll track down the CD single of Iceblink Luck, the single from Heaven or Las Vegas, which features two unreleased tracks on the 'b' side, both of which are gorgeous (and it's quite beyond me why they were left off the album.) Heaven or Las Vegas? Well it sure ain't Las Vegas.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Absolutely one of the best albums I have ever heard, January 31, 2004
This review is from: Heaven Or Las Vegas (Audio CD)
I love this album! I can't express how it makes me feel when I hear it. It is mesmerizing. It floats. Her voice is absolutely incredible. The music is as colorful as the album's cover. The whole album just flows so well. It's too bad there isn't music like this anymore other than a few exceptions.
Highly recommended. No matter what kind of music you are into, it will be hard not to be captivated by this album. It is a classic!
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heaven Or Las Vegas ~ Cocteau Twins, March 13, 2002
This review is from: Heaven Or Las Vegas (Audio CD)
Heaven Or Las Vegas, the beautiful title of the Cocteau's sixth album is a departure from their earlier work. The sound is much brighter and more accessible, but that isn't a bad thing, indeed! Heaven Or Las Vegas is one of the best releases from the Cocteau Twins, and also one of their best selling albums. Elizabeth Fraser's voice has matured somewhat and she sings more in her lower register. She still has the most distinct voice I have ever heard, in combination with the trademark murmuring lyrics. They are much better listenable then on the previous albums, and the Cocteau's would go on with Four-Calendar Café, were the lyrics are almost easy to decipher. Ok, back to the album, here are the songs:
1. Cherry-Coloured Funk opens the album with the great strength of the Cocteau Twins; shimmering guitars and Liz' heavenly vocals carry the song.
2. Pitch The Baby (funny title) reveals a new sound for the band. Liz almost raps the lyrics, and in the chorus you can clearly hear that she sings "I only want to love you". A very impressive vocal performance again.
3. Iceblink Luck was released as a single and for good reasons. The songs sticks in your head with a unforgettable melody. Liz' lower voice dominates and the lyrics are very good listenable.
4. Fifty-Fifty Clown has a strong bassline that opens the song and fades away at the end. It's quit a relaxing song, but not one of my favourites of the album, but still good. You can clearly hear Elizabeth Fraser sing: "Oceans of emotion".
5. One of the best songs on Heaven Or Las Vegas is absolutely the titletrack. A very impressive vocal performance from Liz who sings three dubbed vocal lines! Also a song that sticks in your head if you heard it once. When I heard it for the first time, I inmediately wanted to hear more from this album, gladly I purchased it!
6. I Wear Your Ring is another vocal highlight of this album and has a such a original melody, that you wonder how they come up with it.
7. Fotzepolitic is a fast guitar driven song, an ok song. I want to mention that the Cocteau Twins have perfectioned the sound of their drum machine incredible; listen to their first three albums and then to this one, what a difference it makes.
8. Wolf In The Breast is very easy listening, with some acoustic guitar work. Liz' warm voice wraps around you and doesn't let go.
9. Road, River And Rail takes you on a yourney near the end of this album and this is really one of the best songs the Cocteau Twins have ever released. When I listen to this song, I see myself in a train, speeding trough a spellbinding landscape with a sundown. Pure ethereal bliss!
10. Frou-Frou Foxes In Midsummer Fires, the epic title of the last song on Heaven Or Las Vegas begins very gently with Liz' whispered vocals and some keyboards. The song seems to drag on a bit, but then the chorus kicks in and you are sucked into a thunderstom of vocals and guitars. Then the song chills down, again with the whispered vocals, but now with the drum machine. Then again, the richly composed song bursts into another thunderstorm, wich fades slowly away. The Cocteau Twins again end a album with a bang and what a ending! In my opinion, this is one of the best, if not the best song they have ever released in their career!
This is a essential recording allready in my collection, and together with Milk & Kisses their best album. I urge you to buy it soon!
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