Customer Reviews

On the Leyline

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

 

 

This is a peculiar recording for OCS. It does not seem to truly kick into gear until the third cut. Prior to that it does not much sound like OCS. The first two tracks seem like an effort at creating a single or two. Unlike prior efforts, they add a second guitarist. It just seems unecessary in a studio context. It seems to cramp the sound, making for a much more dense record than OCS typically puts out. I always enjoyed their sense of space within their sound. Steve Cradock is one of Britain's finest guitarists, other than in a live context, do you really need a second guitarist? Still, it is still a fine recording. One worth obtaining.

Firstly, I would like to say that I am a huge Ocean Colour Scene fan, and they are one of my all time favourite bands. But I'm afraid here is where I draw the line. This album is uninspired and quite boring. There are no songs on here which would have been a single off any previous OCS album except maybe their self titled debut. The lead single I Told You So is the only one which provides any sort of break to this, but to be honest it is almost as far from The Circle as a Girls Aloud single.

It is still Ocean Colour Scene and so is a relaxing listen, but there is nothing on here to inspire any emotional impact or musical excitement.

If you are interested in Ocean Colour Scene, you may want this to complete a collection, but otherwise look to any of their previous albums and not here.

The CD cover was samshed up, but that could have happenend in transit, the cd itseldf sounds great and I would buy from this seller again.

Better than North Atlantic Drift? I think not. That album, in my opinion, is the best thing they've done - even better than Moseley and Marchin'. Those three rank as the top OCS albums, and this one is right on the heels of the lesser two. It starts off a tad weak. The opening track, I Told You So, is catchy but not up to par with lead-off songs on their strongest efforts. The second song - On the Leyline, Waiting - sounds like the Smithereens, not a good thing for a band of this caliber. The Weller song is okay, as is Man in the Middle. The album doesn't really start to gain momentum until the 5th song, but from there on out it's excellent. A different arrangement of the tracks would be even more satisfying. All in all, it's good to hear the boys back and they sound good. I have high hopes for this line-up in the years to come.

This is a very good album of pop-rock songs. Ocean Colour Scene has grown. Steve Cradock (I insist) is one of the best british guitarists right now. "Go To Sea" is among the highlights of this record and it reminds us all that rock and roll music and guitar playing are one for the other.

The influences and the style are clear. Calling them retro is meaningless at a time when bands like The Kings of Leon, Jet or The Strokes enjoy some success with a sound that's far from being new. The important thing is to deliver good songs, and Ocean Colour Scene knows how to make them. Maybe this is an advantage of being the non-favourites of the critics and count with their own record label, so they have all the freedom to play what they (and us) like.

"You'll Never Find Me" (a song that reminds me of "I'll Follow The Sun" from THE BEATLES FOR SALE) or "Don't Get Me", which features Simon Fowler's harmonica and the sing-along catchy melodie are going to be part of the classics by the band that delivered us "This Day Should Last Forever", "Foxy's Folk Faced" or "The Day We Caught The Train".

"Lonliest Girl In The Whole Wide World" could've been written as a B-Side for the MOSELEY SHOALS singles, just like "Huckleberry Grove" was. Another favourite is "These Days I'm Tired". An acoustic song with touches of the early 70's progressive songs with a melancholic sound.

The bassist Dan Sealey and the other guitarist, Andy Bennett finally receive their opportunity for being part of the recording of this whole new studio album. Sealey also makes his debut as a songwriter with "Man In The Middle" and the result is a good guitar-based song. Maybe the new blood of Ocean Colour Scene will lead the band to a new big time.

So I can say that ON THE LEYLINE surpassed my own expectations. It's a better album than AN HYPERACTIVE WORKOUT... or NORTH ATLANTIC DRIFT. It was ten years ago when MARCHIN' ALREADY went on to knock down Oasis from the # 1 in the charts; and this is what I see, a band marchin' already good again!...a quality album, buy it!

While a wait for this "new" album was somewhat a pain, it's nice to see OCS blend the sound they're known for with something a bit more "radio happy" than the folkie phase they dipped into after Damon Minchella left the band. Now five members strong, the sound is definitely fuller, althouhg, not as mature given the years the band has been together. I definitely like the sound, while I'm still making my way through the tracks (showed up on my door this morning from the UK). Now, only if this and their other albums received some substantial airplay over here in the US.

The single, "I Told You So" definitely has a hook, but many of the other tracks on the CD are just as good or better. If you HAVEN'T heard of OCS and are looking for something a bit different than the typical claptrap on the US airwaves, given these fellas a try.