Lazer Guided Melodies

Spiritualized

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 29, 1996)
• Original Release Date: 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arista
• ASIN: B000003RSB
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #24,089 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #36 in	Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Shoegazing
  #38 in	Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Ambient Pop
  #57 in	Music > Alternative Rock > Alternative Styles > Rock > Space Rock

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Long before they were floating in space, Jason Pierce and friends were exploring the far reaches of the pop universe on Lazer Guided Melodies. Essentially four suites, it was an album on which nothing was as it seemed; all was processed and tinkered with, while horns and brass offered glory and fulfillment to the keyboards, guitars, and vocals. It was, really, the new space rock, drugged to oblivion and gazing at the planets, the modern psychedlia. Best heard on headphones, isolated in a darkened room, this was the sound of shapes to come. Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Geatest album ever made, June 3, 2000

By A Customer

The only Spiritualized album to live up to the name of the band. Which isn't to say that Jason's subsequent outings have not been good, but relative to this one they don't even get four stars from me. Lazer Guided Melodies is a sound unto itself, the pinacle of a genre whose antecedents are fictions you can only posit. To me Pure Phase and especially Ladies and Gentlemen are rooted too much in this world and are mastered by their influences more than they master them; they are overproduced and try to trick out emotions in the listener the way movies sometimes use soundtracks to do their work for them. LGM, on the other hand, is a masterpiece of economy and expression. All the sounds are perfectly placed in space, where silence and simplicity are as crucial as the more complex instrumentation. It is authentically emotional, making the listener a voyeur of sorts listening in on the thoughts and feelings of a man trying to articulate, with true-to-life imprecision, his thoughts and feelings to himself. The music is the emotion the lyrics attempt to describe. Beautiful. A must own.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My favorite album of all time, April 26, 2002

By	stephen james (Charlotte, N.C.) - See all my reviews

I agree with the last reviewer, this is indeed the greatest album ever made. After hundreds of listenings, it sounds as beautiful and fresh as the first time. Jason Pierce has created a major masterpiece here, and his influences are heard-Spacemen 3, Pink Floyd, Velvet Underground, Brian Wilson, etc.- but this album is truly original. He never drifts into excess, unlike many of his heroes. The songs are beautiful, etheral and lush and the tunes are very musical and memorable. Being something of an audiophile, I can tell you the recording is as close to perfect as any I've ever heard. The album is electronic but also very organic. The gorgeous strings and horns are integrated perfectly, not sounding like an afterthought or posturing.All of Spiritualized's albums are great, but this one is the pinnacle. I doubt Jason can ever top this. It's tough to follow up your masterpiece, particularly since it was his debut. If you remember Jason from his Spacemen 3 days, and you weren't too enthralled with Spacemen 3, don't worry. Spacemen 3 only hinted at the talent that Spiritualized exhibit. Do your self a huge favor. Buy the CD today. If you are a fan of "art rock", "prog" or "space rock" or just good music, you won't be dissapointed.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not enough stars to do this album justice, December 1, 2000

By	churchfan (Kansas City, MO USA) - See all my reviews

Lazer Guided Melodies is one of the few albums I can think of that just redefined all expectations for good music. While many people were aware of Jason Pierce's contributions to Spacemen 3, I don't know that many of us were prepared for the epic soundscape that became this album. It is grouped nicely into four suites (the original US CD printing - now out of print - had each track separate) that have an amazing flow. While the song structure really isn't tremendously complex, it's the sounds that are produced that are so amazing. Loops, riffs, patterns, and rhythms (or lack thereof) all combine to make something that can really send you on an aural trip. My personal favourites are 'If I Were With Her Now' (I'd give anything to hear this one live with its hammered dulcimer bit), Take Your Time, and 200 Bars (both with its stumbling from bar-to-bar imagery and because the song is exactly 200 musical bars long - intriguing!). Some people may prefer other Spiritualized albums over this one - and that's fine - but for me this one is to be treasured. A damn fine album!!