Hindsight

Anathema | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 19, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Snapper Music Group
• ASIN: B00197X140
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #110,177 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

titolo-hindsigh (digibook)artista-anathema etichetta-k-scope---brani1.fragile dreams 2.leave no trace 3.inner silence 4.one last goodbye 5.are you there? 6.angelica 7.a natural disaster 8.temporary peace 9.flying 10.unchained (tales of the unexpected) contenuto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This should be required listening for any music fan., September 27, 2008

By 

nurnberger (Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hindsight (Audio CD)

This album really should not be as good as it is. Basically it is womwhat of a greatest hits album, except that the songs were rerecorded and in some cases rearranged. Most bands who attempt this don't produce anything memorable. Anathema, on the other hand, are such immense songwriters but didn't necessarily always put their work in the best light. The original recording of Angelica for instance, was poorly recorded at a time when Cavanagh really had not found his singing voice yet (he made a drastic improvement between "Eternity" and "Alternative 4"), here this gorgeaous song is finally done justice. This album works because the songs are all extraordinarily strong. They are not simply good, many of them could be called great, and I would only say this about very few songs that I like. Anathema's songs have a classic, timeless beauty to them. By picking some of their strongest works and recording them in a way that makes them flow together seamlessly, Anathema have produced what could possibly be considered their best album. I would highly receommend this to anyone, and if I had to introduce this band to someone this would definitely be the best starting point (unless that person is a doom metal fan of course).

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Anathema, fully realized., September 17, 2009

By 

Joshua K. Meyers "Shugyosha" (Elkton, MD United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hindsight (Audio CD)

To many pre-existing fans of this band like myself, the announcement of an acoustic reworking of previous material may not cause them to run out and buy it immediately; after all, what we're all waiting for is the highly anticipated new album that's been six years in the making. So, in hindsight (pun intended), I can see I (and perhaps some others) was foolish enough to pass this record up until I decided to listen to it today. What a mistake to let this one go til now.

This isn't a simple re-recording of previous material, but rather a more focused, well produced, and better performed rendition of some of Anathema's best songs. You could say its a best-of collection (which is fine because this band doesn't have one and certainly deserves one), but its more than that - the maturity and growth in all aspects of their craft Anathema has seen up to this point are utilized to recreate these songs to incredible effect. In short (if I may be so bold), this is the way these songs should be interpreted, because as great as these songs were originally, they're even more moving and thought provoking this time around.

As for how it was advertised as an acoustic album, after listening to it I can say that its not quite. There's use of synthesizers, some vocal effects, and a bit of studio magic that help the songs blossom to their full potential. But perhaps the greatest aspect of this record is not just its consistency, fluidity, and improved production, but the way some of the arrangements have been tweaked and improved upon to help the songs flow, impact, and translate better. Add to this fact that all the vocalists have increased their talents since the original recordings, and you have perhaps a masterpiece of mature and emotional audio cinema, an honest and well wrought expression of the human condition. The songs "Angelica" and "A Natural Disaster" are worth it for the price alone, not to mention the rest of these cuts.

This is the best reinterpretation of previous material I've heard from a band since Pain of Salvation's live acoustic "12:5" record (which is standard listening, as well) and is a mandatory musical experience for any music fan, including (and perhaps especially) Anathema fans. Again, don't overlook this record - you'll be missing something truly special.

JKM 9/2009

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Something old, something new, July 10, 2009

By 

Justin Gaines (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Hindsight (Audio CD)

While there have been Anathema compilations in the past, they have been primarily focused on rarities or the band's earlier death metal material. There has never been a "best of" collection for this too often overlooked band, and Hindsight really doesn't qualify as one either. Instead, the band has rerecorded and rearranged several songs from their back catalog (one song from 1996's Eternity, two from 1998's Alternative 4, one from 1999's Judgement, two from 2001's A Fine Day to Exit, three from 2004's A Natural Disaster, plus the all new song "Unchained (Tales of the Unexpected)" in a laid back, semi-acoustic style.

It's a shame none of the mainstream rock critics who go into throes of rapture with each new Radiohead release will ever listen to Anathema, because much of Anathema's recent material, and especially the songs on Hindsight, would no doubt have the same effect. Already one of the most moving and intelligent bands around, Anathema's songs seem even more compelling in this "stripped down" format. I found myself listening closely and paying more attention to every nuance and lyric, appreciating these songs in a whole new light. Additionally, the altered direction of these songs gives the album a sense of cohesion that almost no compilation album is ever able to achieve. It works as a whole just as well as it does a collection of individual songs.

My only complaint, and it's a minor one, is that none of the band's earliest material is represented. Obviously the doomy, death metal of those earlier albums would be much harder to translate into Hindsight's tranquil, semi-acoustic style, but it would probably be extremely interesting to hear. Also, while Hindsight is powerful, it doesn't remotely rock. You really need to be in a relaxed, distraction free environment so these songs can really soak in.

Hindsight is a must-have collection for any Anathema fan, but should also appeal to fans of Katatonia, Porcupine Tree, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, and interesting and intelligent music in general.