Customer Reviews

Last Night

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

 

 

I must admit that after the pop-collage technique of the first few albums (which nested so well with the rest of the 4AD roster), I was not expecting HNIA to become a soul/R&B band. I was used to the music taking wierd twists (and in fact this and SDMBWCTE are just extended examples of that), but this move was unprecedented in the HNIA canon. It alienated a lot of...fans?

When listened to on its own merits, Last Night is damn good. The title track measures favorably against similar work by Erykah Badu or Angie Stone -- though it's a more restrained groove. Lovetta Pippin's vocals are in fine form, especially considering this is purportedly a "rehearsal" record for the tour they were about to embark on. And Defever's Neil Young-esque guitar line from "I Have Special Powers" manages to be both wiry and laid back simultaneously.

If there is any single overarching characteristic to the album, it's the presence of interesting, soulful polyrhythms. The songs are exquisitely detailed. Last Night is unfairly criticized for frustrating fan expectations, when in fact it's one of the best albums of its style that came out in the 90s.

'His Name Is Alive' continue to facinate me with their honest and beautiful songwriting - there is no pretense here, and each song is sung from the heart. This is a soulful R&B album that is modern, and somehow timeless, at the same instant - the songs are beautiful and the production is a little more loose than on their previous album "Someday". This is one that will be played over and over!

LAST NIGHT, the latest album by His Name Is Alive, the project of Livonia, MI musician Warn Defever, continues in the R&B style of early efforts, while mixing in a lot of 70's jazz influences. Hastily recorded over a couple of weeks in the summer of 2001, it features a much freer sound than previous HNIA albums.

I found the album quite disappointing. While some feel that Defever's foray into an R&B-inflected sound is alienating, I enjoyed the change of pace on 2000's WHEN THE STARS REFUSE TO SHINE and 2001's SOMEDAY MY BLUES WILL COVER THE EARTH. The vocals by Lovetta Pippen are skillfully done, with a sultry tone that had never been heard before in HNIA's music. But for me, LAST NIGHT fails not because of its style, but simply because there is little sign of creative control by Warn. While earlier HNIA albums were written entirely by Defever, with him holding a high degree of control over the performances of his musicians, on this album Warn lets his band cut loose and do whatever they want. As a result, I feel like I'm listening to something very low in quality, insteading of the crazy genius that was a hallmark of earlier HNIA efforts. Unsurprisingly, the best songs are those in which the music is provided by mostly just Warn, such as "Maybe" and "Train". Furthermore, the artwork of the album, by acclaimed British design firm v23, is lackluster and predictable. In order to make the album congruent with other recent 4AD releases, v23 chose to package it in a digipack with dull and occasionally obnoxious artwork.

With such poor sound and artwork, I cannot help but feel that LAST NIGHT is a failure of an album that should be avoided by all except collectors of His Name Is Alive's releases.

Today's HNIA is like a different band, a different Warren, tho I don't ever want it to be the same, but seems like the essence and the pure energy of the band/music has drifted elsewhere... I miss Karen as well. Tho I think the magic of HNIA has gone, but I still can never ever get enough of the first 4 cds... especially Home Is In Your Head.

Reviewing music is somewhat pointless. People just like what they like. Songs are an expression of where the artist is at that time of their life. However, when you arrange an album, you're making an offer to the buying public. That's why I can't forgive Warn Defever. He's often been a musician of poor choices. I'll come around to Warn's poor choice on "Last Night" soon.
"Last Night" is Warn Defever and vocalist Lovetta Pippen providing a dreamy slant on blues, soul, light jazz, rock. I was fairly excited about getting this album because my source for music reviews, New Musical Express, gave it an 8 out of 10. NME hasn't always been kind to His Name is Alive, so I figured this one must really be good.
The first half of the album is quite wonderful. The songs are fairly tuneful. The instrumental arrangements are unique and enveloping. Pippen's voice is soulful and multi-textured. The descent starts on track #8 "Do You Want to Come to My Party". Defever has Pippen repeat this title over about 8 times. This is classic, stupid Defever. It's just...why? Why have her sing that over and over? What are we as listeners supposed to get out of that? However, this is a minor gripe compared to what follows. "Someday My Prince Will Come" is entirely unlistenable. It's annoying. It's hideously jazzy, and it's......11 minutes. If your friends are around while this track is playing, they'd look at you like you've got horrible taste in music. I strive to buy albums that I can enjoy from start to finish. I'll always remember "Last Night" as an album that I'll have to advance forward. The album finishes much the way it starts with enchanting blues, rock, but I can not forgive Defever for his 11 minute blemish just a little past center. The song virtually ruins an otherwise great album. I don't even consider this my opinion. Take a listen. It's a fact, and it's a shame.

Any album Warn Defever puts out as a HNIA album is going to be good. But relative to past HNIA albums, this one is a bit uninspired. I guess I'm not liking the current path HNIA is taking. Not that I don't like change; the change from their early goth sound to the sound of E.S.P. and Ft.Lake was a giant leap forward. I guess it comes down to the simple fact that I liked Karen better than Lovetta as a singer; Lovetta has a beautiful voice, but it's almost as if she's one step away from MTV.