Customer Reviews

Inseparable

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

 

 

I must admit that when I purchased this CD I was not expecting a lot. I buy anything Phil records but have allowed his recent "True Believer" and "Keaggy" to slip to the back of my play stack. Each of these past CDs have their high points but lack some kind of continuity. I felt "True Believer" was overproduced and far too...well "poppy". (being the consumate Beatles fan, pop is something Phil can be very good at) I longed for a Keaggy vocal CD that was "unplugged"; as live as he is in concert.

Well, "Inseperable" is NOT that CD! But why do I love it? I listened to it 3 or 4 times through one night as I painted my studio, and each time I was drawn into it moodiness, its haunting melodies, and its often sparse instrumentation. There does not seem to be one instrument out of place. Each note has a reason for being there, with just the right amount of empty space. The vocals are not necessarily strong, but instead vulnerable; not out in front of the songs, but as part of the entire mix, expressing some of the most intense emotions a human can have.

Few of the songs fit a typical formulaic song mold, and because of this I believe Phil is allowed to do some of his finest creative work, not only with his vocals but with all the varieties of guitar styles used. And is that Phil playing a trumpet solo in "From the Beginning"?

As he approaches 50 (!) Phil continues to mature as a Christian and as a musician. I would recommend this CD to anyone looking for thought-provoking, soul-searching, beautiful music that will definitely bring you back for multiple listens.

With fifteen plus Keaggy CDs in my collection plus numerous records, Phil is the one artist I have probably followed the most over the last 20 years. Lyrically this was intriguing and encouraging but musically I am puzzled and ambivalent in my views. I'd certainly not recommend this to the many guitarists who may often hear about the delights and genius of Mr Keaggy - other albums like Crimson and Blue, Acoustic Sketches, Beyond Nature or his Glass Harp material have far greater impact. I'd not recommend this to non-Keaggy fans...

Ok, so a few songs on Inseparable have some great guitar and are worth listening, but the others are really just good for listening to while you're eating dinner or have company over. Don't get me wrong, they're OK songs, but the effort as a whole isn't nearly as good as Lights of Madrid or Crimson and Blue.

I don't know, maybe all this computer-ized stuff that Phil used on this CD isn't getting through my head. Songs like Real Life give me a headache after a while, with the computerized effects added to the guitar to make it..well...I don't know what Phil was trying to do. Straight guitar will be fine, Phil.

On a different view, though, the lyrics of Inseperable are very good, and Phil even covers a Paul McCartney song. All this digitized drums though don't really please my ear as Phil's other stuff with a band, like 220. Not a bad effort by Phil, but it's not great either. I'd say 3 stars would be about right.

I have very mixed emotions about this album. On the one hand, I love many of the ideas on this album; the lyrics of "Chalice", the rhythm of "Real Life", the blues in "From the Beginning". The drawback is that many of the ideas are not fully realized. Many of them, in fact, seemed to me to be pretty raw. Because of this, I have a hard time giving an unqualified recommendation. If you like to see the creative process in progress and are captivated by the ideas that go into a work before it is packaged and polished, you will enjoy this album a lot. If a lack of sparkle, a culling out of what doesn't quite work and a dearth of technical excellence drives you to distraction, then you should avoid this work. One final note: this is probably Phil's best work "theologically" in some ways. I found that the lyrics challenged me more than any of his other albums, continuing and deepening a trend found on Keaggy's self-titled release from a couple of years back.

INSEPARABLE is difficult to describe, but I'll try. First, it doesn't have a lot of guitar, at least by Keaggy album standards. What it does have is a lot of spacey synths, effects and drum machines. But, contrary to what you might expect, these are not used in a way that evokes '80s music. Rather, they give much this album kind of an alien sound, as if it was being beamed from a space capsule in orbit.

And often the vocals add to the strangeness. On several songs, there are no discernable vocal melodies -- just a bunch of notes, often with a lot of fast, random ups-and-downs (and not all notes being hit spot-on), as if Phil was making up the tunes as he went. On "Carry Me Back," he sounds like he's making up the words as well.

I have the 2-disc "limited" version, although as far as I know it had quite un-limited availability long after the 1-disc "official" version came out. The 2-disc version was originally advertised as having 6 more tracks than the single disc would, but in fact ended up with only 4. And the choice of what was included on the 1-disc version struck me as a bit counter-intuitive, with obvious "bonus tracks" being included and more essential-sounding songs being left off. Go figure!

Anyway, this is only for Keaggy fans who enjoy his vocal albums and his unpredictability.

Typical, just typical! No I'm not cross. This album is typical Phil Keaggy there just aren't enough boxes to put him in so lets not try. What style is his music? Keaggy style! I have just about all of his CD's and not one of them in the last 20 years or so is the same. I have the club version of Inseperable (double CD) and for most part listen to CD 2. Stand out tracks? Headlines ("and the words of the good book read just like headlines") is so true to today and includes an all too brief run of notes that just blast past like an electric guitar crossed with a low level jet. Paka, cute and like a track that could have been on "Way back home". Real Life, backwards (I think accoustic) guitar at it's safest with the reminder to me that the dream like promises in the Bible are Real Life things to come "hundreds and thousands all dressed in white" wow. The CD 2 version of The Seeing Eye is better in my opinion with the guitar part melting devastatingly into the track. At first I mainly listened to the instrumental version of Inseperable but I kept listening to CD 1 and now see the Vocal Inseperable as Christ missing the Church and longing for the day when we will be united, inseperable with Him.
I put four stars only because there are a few tracks which just pass me by but like I say keep listening and one day the song that may not seem special will be right for a moment when you may need it.
Get Inseperable but get the 2CD version if you can (but be careful taking it out or the case, you know what double CD cases can be like).

I am a long time Phil Keaggy fan. I very much look forward to any new release from him. This one was especially anticipated because it was a vocal album, after many instrumental albums. (Don't get me wrong, his guitar is without peer, but he does also have a very expressive voice). After listening about 10 times through, I have to say that there is no song, or group of songs that really jump out at me. Most of the songs are fine, and I have no problems with any of the album, I guess that after releasing such excellent albums as "Phil Keaggy" and "Way Back Home", he raised the bar so high, that it is difficult to keep meeting his own high standards. A very pleasant listen, Phil's voice and guitar still sound wonderful, but not quite up to the level of his other five star releases. Who knows though? Maybe with another 10 listens, I'll be really hooked.

In one of his most recent music compilations, Phil Keaggy demonstrates his fantastic guitar work. This disc is highly recommended. It's a shame that he is virtually unknown outside of contemporary christian music. Keaggy is eccletic and innovative and utilizes various styles of music and melds them into a style that uniquely his.

Most reviews I've heard from fans regarding this cd have not been favorable. I bought it anyway because though I became a Christian over 2 eyars ago it was more than a year before I heard of Phil Keaggy. I already awned Beyond Nature and Phil Keaggy, both VERY different albums. So i didn't know what to expect. What "Inseparable" is, is a mostly solo, sometimes experimental, group of beatiful, complex tunes with excellent, personal lyrics. Yes, there is often a great deal of guitar processing. Phil makes very good use of the Roland GR series guitar synth by the sound of it, as well as Parker Fly guitars. I don't consider this to be "computerized" in the "industrial" sense; it's no different than distortion and wah-pedals in essense, except more complicated. Phil lays back on the flashy guitar stuff for the most part, although there are moments of sheer brilliance. the focus is on diversity and atmosphere, which is at once expansive and intimate. "Chalice" and "Litany to the Spirit" are both melencholy, hopeful tunes that are absolutely BEAUTIFUL; there are many other moments like these two songs on the album such as "Blessed Are" musical adaptation of the Beatitudes of Matthew 5. There are a few really enjoyable, 80's sounding numbers on here too. Being a child of the 80's, I love the drum sounds and the echoey mood of songs like "Motor Of Love", "Real Life", "Carry Me Back", and "Headlines part II." "Real Life" is probably the best song on the whole cd; as with most all the lyrics, Phil joy and happiness through Christ shine through joyfully. The rest of the cd is excellent as well. The guitar tones are consistently brilliant. A worthwhile purchase from a guy who continually strives for better! Amen, and God bless.

Not long ago I purchased Inseperable. My first impression of it was not as good as I would have liked. Since I'm a big Keaggy fan, play some of his stuff and and have many of his cd's I almost expected more. Yet after listings to it a couple of times it grew on me more. Not only did I apreciate his guitar playing more but also the lyrics. Especially the lyrics. Being a Christian the lyrics are what made me buy this cd.
Before I bought this cd I came and read some of the reviews on the iteam first. The review by Harms was especially helpful. He said he had many Keaggy cd's and was disturbed at the lyrics of this cd. Well no offence Mr. Harms but Phill Keaggy is a Christian and the Christians objective in life is to praise and obey our Saviour Jesus Christ, so you shouldn't be surprised if a Chrisitan artist does his natural duty. I believe Keaggy sucssedes in this regard. So in general (even though it is not Keaggy's best instrumental cd) it averages as one of his best ever. I recommend this cd to everyone.
P.S. Phil's best INSTRUMENTAL cd is Acoustic Sketches.