Customer Reviews

High Civilization

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The music of the Bee Gees has played a tremendous role in my life. From the day I heard 'New York Mining Disaster'in 1967, they have been and always will be my favorite band. High Civilization in my opinion, is the most perfect album they have done since the also overlooked Mr. Natural in 1974, thru the present. I listened to it every day for over a year. Every one of my friends and their kids who heard this CD bought it.
I was so amused when everybody said "That's the Bee Gees?!"
It opened some minds and ears for the first time to this marvelous group.
As for the best cuts, I say all of the above--pick any one and there will be no argument from me. I will say that 'Dimensions' is my all time favorite Maurice song. How sad it is that there will be no more new Bee Gees music. It makes me treasure their vast body of work even more.
While I'm on the subject, I think I'll give HC a listen now-- and I hope more Bee Gees fans will do the same.

Available now only as an IMPORT, this CD is one of the best examples of the Brothers Gibb at their hard-edged best. Fusing rock, funk and R&B, this album departs from the typical Gibb collection with heavy use of percussion and guitar. Co-produced with Femi Jiya (of Prince fame), the techno sound is crisp, clear and loud. The title track has heavy percussion, a rythmic beat, and is highlighted with the fusion of a 'live' audience. UK single, "Secret Love" contains a similiar beat to "Chain Reaction" and "When He's Gone" should have topped the USA charts with it's hard driving beat and inventive, tense guitar work (Alan Kendall). "Ghost Train" emits a ryhtmic locomotive beat with sound effects to delight even the most jaded. There are two power ballads, "The Only Love" (a UK single) and "Happy Ever After", an eery Andy Gibb vocal sound-alike by Barry Gibb. The remaining tracks are upbeat, positive funk. This was a departure for the Bee Gees and although America didn't take a good enough listen, the rest of the world did...and loved it!

This is really a very, very good album. It has a different kind of sound than their previous work, but it's good. Robin doesn't lead much and as always Maurice has a very controlled lead on "Dimensions." I don't really like "Dimensions", it's a little to long, sounding like it's going to stop any moment and suddenly kicking off again. My favorites are "High Civilization", "Secret Love", "Happy Ever After", "Ghost Train" and "The Only Love." "The Only Love" is very sad and Barry could almost bring a tear to one's eye. "When He's Gone", "Party With No Name", "Human Sacrifice", "True Confessions" and "Evolution" is the real one's that's new for the Bee Gees. They all have nice dance beats.

This album is really a great one to have in your collection.

The band "serious rock critics" love to hate, primarily for the fact that they dared to push more product than the Beatles, but also because they achieved that sucess in the field of pop and dance music. In a sense, they were among other things the Beatles of the Disco Generation. No startling new direction surfaces here, but High Civilization is a slab of refined, intelligent 90s pop with all the Bee Gees trademrks: great melodies, incisive hooks, falsetto harmonising and a spot-on pop sensibility. The title track and Secret Love vibrate impressively with their staggered choruses, while When He's Gone, adorned with an offbeat synth riff, surpasses them in its radio friendly multi-hooked appeal. The Only Love evokes flesh-creeping 60s nostalgia, a sad ballad resembling their classic Don't Forget To Remember. A very enjoyable album.

As always the Bee Gees put out another wonderful album. I never get tired of listening to these three brothers. Even more special since the passing of Maurice. There's no song of his thus far that I don't like "Dimensions" is very upbeat. Something I would love to dance and tap to. My favorite songs are "Secret Love" which became a hit. I really love "Happy Ever After" it's really catchy. "Ghost Train" I love it when they always add something extra to take it away from the rest of the song. It makes you think. If you like something different and you are a long time bee gee fan this is it. Wonderful songwriting, artistic, unique and different high techno sounds makes this album even better. They have me always. I'm hooked. There's not one song on this album that I don't like. Pure Gold. You should buy this album you won't be dissappointed. Happy listening.

Simply an amazing album. Song after song of beautiful, intense, and testy Bee Gees music. And i believe the tracks are longer than any other's. Every track is at least 5 minutes long except Secret Love, the single, and Party With No Name, only by 6 seconds. But who cares, they're well worth it. The cd starts off with title track High Civilisation, which is pretty much ok. I don't see why Secret Love was released as a single compared to other songs on this cd, although it is very catchy, and pretty simple if you ask me. When He's Gone is one of Robin's best ever ballads, equally as Happy Ever After is one of Barry's best. The next song, Party With No Name, grows on you as you listen to it, and is also very catchy and enjoyable. Ghost Train is also catchy, but I don't really understand what the song is trying to say. Dimensions is also one of Maurice's best ever ballads, because it is simply amazing. The Only Love is also pretty simple, but I'll still listen to it. Human Sacrifice is another excellent Barry Gibb song, and True Confessions is really fun to listen to. And an excellent way to finish off the album is Evolution. Although it's not my favorite album, along with Still Waters, it's the only cd I can keep listening to over and over again without skipping a single track. Hard based, truely decent rock/pop music at it's best. Get it.

The follow up to the smash, "One", and the preceding album to the brilliant, "Size Isn't Everything", "High Civilization" is one of the few Bee Gees albums lost to the public and, surprisingly, to most fans. I consider this album to be almost an experimental, "filler" album. Don't get me wrong, there are some fantastic tracks such as, "The Only Love", "Secret Love", "Ghost Train", "Happy Ever After", but there's an atmosphere of emptiness surrounding almost every song, making this album somewhat less appealing than previous efforts from the Bee Gees. Ironically enough, however, I feel that this album provides one of the finest moments in Bee Gee record history with, "The Only Love." Barry's passionate delivery is literally breathtaking, and his ability to captivate a listener with his voice is quite obvious throughout the track. "The Only Love" is literally worth the price of the album alone. I don't recommend "High Civilization" for anyone who is newly discovering the Bee Gees due to it's drastic difference from other Bee Gees albums, but this album is a must for any true, die-hard fan. Although "High Civilization" is not jam-packed with hit singles, any true listener can find the positive aspects throughout some of the songs on this CD.

The music of the Bee Gees has played a tremendous role in my life. From the day I heard 'New York Mining Disaster'in 1967, they have been and always will be my favorite band. High Civilization in my opinion, is the most perfect album they have done since the also overlooked Mr. Natural in 1974, thru the present. I listened to it every day for over a year. Every one of my friends and their kids who heard this CD bought it.
I was so amused when everybody said "That's the Bee Gees?!"
It opened some minds and ears for the first time to this marvelous group.
As for the best cuts, I say all of the above--pick any one and there will be no argument from me. I will say that 'Dimensions' is my all time favorite Maurice song. How sad it is that there will be no more new Bee Gees music. It makes me treasure their vast body of work even more.
While I'm on the subject, I think I'll give HC a listen now-- and I hope more Bee Gees fans will do the same.

When I buy a Bee Gees cd I buy it because I know what to expect, good writing, good singing and excellent production. I had only heard the 30 second samples but that was all I needed to hear to know that this would be a super cd.

I remember buying this when It first came out. All the songs are good, but Robin's songs really catch the heart. When He's Gone is one hell of a song! I saw Robin sing it on TV once and I cried!

I bought it again after 2 years of not having it and my passon for Robin is still there after 12 years...

Human sacrifice... Oh God.... That makes me think about being with a man that I care deeply about.... Even my brother Jerry liked this one!