Customer Reviews

The Madding Crowd

5 star:		(115)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(8)

 

 

I was absoloutly in love with absoloutly when I first heard it so I had to go out and by the Madding Crowd. Just to tell you, if you think that song is catchy, just wait till you hear the rest of the album. All their songs are more up tempo and the words are understandable so you can sing along with each and every one of them. My personal favorite song on the cd is "If I am." All in all though, every song is good in it's own special way, and if you are into these kind of pop rock bands such as Third Eye Blind, Matchbox 20, or Vertical Horizon pick this one up for your collection. And, just on a side note, if you like all these bands mentioned AND Nine Days, check out a band called Super Deluxe right here on Amazon. Listen to the song bits they provide, trust me, they're good.

This CD is perfect for all you Third Eye Blind, Vertical Horizon, and Matchbox20 fans. Oh, and you Dawson Creek Fans. Anyway, if you're thinking about getting this CD because you like Absolutely (Story of a Girl), the rest of the CD is great too! You can't go wrong with this.

Ok, ok, ok. Yes, I know. I was also annoyed by their "Absolutely" song ("This is the story of a girl, who cried a river and drowned the whole world..." Remember that? Yeah, me too). I will admit, I was reluctant to pursue a further interest in this band because this song was deterring me from doing so. It was annoying and I didn't like it. But I knew that there was something in the way it was made that made the song likable. It was the song you hate to love, but just can't quite love to hate.

So I downloaded "If I Am". A change of opinion was in order.

The following claim may be a little drastic, given that they are a pop-rock band, and are therefore limited to rock clichés and primordial musicianship (which is a pretty harsh statement to begin with). I wish to say that they are very varied. "So Far Away" will no doubt remind you of bands like Eve6 and Weezer, "If I Am" may prompt a Toad the Wet Sprocket feel, and "257 Weeks" will be the closest these guys will go to sounding like Ben Folds Five. Then there are songs like "Bob Dylan", which provide for a wealth of possibilities. The lyrical variety is amazing, giving the listener the impression that they have a different singer for each song (which, given the circumstances, is very possible).

They have their slow, soul-searching, moody songs. "Bitter" and "Wanna Be" will no doubt be songs that you will listen to while you're sad... only to make you much sadder than you already are. "Back to Me" and "End Up Alone" will make you feel low, used, and beaten, while that Bob Dylan song will make you want to kiss someone. And then there's "257 Weeks", which is just... something else. It's empowering to a certain degree (and that's a strong claim to make for a pop-rock band). I am afraid, however, that these claims of mine can be a bit biased because I find them very similar to Athenaeum (and we all know how much I love Athenaeum). So you don't have to take my word for it. Nevertheless, give 'em a listen. If you don't like one song, don't be quick to judge. The variety runs through the entire album, and a piano in one song can be a screaming guitar in another. It all comes down to the fact that, unlike bands like Dezeray's Hammer and Course of Nature (whose songs may sound all very similar), no two songs are alike. Open ears and open minds. Go for it.

Recommendations: "So Far Away", "If I Am", "Bob Dylan", "Bitter", "Wanna Be", "Back to Me"

This band is amazing. Like everybody else, the first song I ever heard was Absolutely (story of a girl), and I bought the CD because that song was great. But the rest of the CD is even better. "If I Am," "Sometimes," "Crazy," and all the other songs on the CD are gorgeous. They shouldn't be compared to other five person bands like Matchbox 20 or Vertical Horizon because they blow the hell out of those bands. Nine Days are five truly gifted musicians who deserve to go platinum one million times over. Everyone should by this CD because I guarantee there is not one track on it that will disappoint you. Nine Days is a breath of fresh air in the music world and should not be missed. Buy this CD!

This is a fantastic debut from what I consider to be the best band around. I bought "The Madding Crowd" about four months ago and it hasn't left my CD player since. My favourite song just has to be the amazing "If I Am". I would have bought the CD for that alone, but luckily the other tracks on this album are almost as great:

So Far Away - Slower verses with a more up-tempo chorus

Absolutely (Story of A Girl) - This is just an incredibley catchy song which still hasn't lost its appeal for me.

If I Am - The best track on the album and probably my favourite song of all time. Everything about it - vocals, lyrics, and instrumentals - are just awesome.

End up Alone - Very catchy and lyrics that keep playing through your head.

Sometimes - A slower ballad with great vocals.

Bob Dylan - One of the songs that doesn't really make sense when you listen closely, "Bob Dylan" is a tribute to some one Nine Days count as having influenced them greatly. A lot of people name this song as their least favourite song from the album, but I love it.

257 Weeks - An up-tempo, very catchy song that stays in your head all day.

Bitter - A slower, mellow, haunting song with beautiful lyrics.

Back to Me - Takes some getting used to. I had to listen to it about six times before deciding I liked it.

Crazy - another slower song, mellow song with a great tune.

Revolve - The fastest song on the album with a great guitar sound and a harder-rock tone.

Wanna Be - A slow, dreamy song with good lyrics.

Overall: Nine Days are as good as, if not better than, Vertical Horizon, and I wasn't sure that was possible. Every track on this album is totally individual and different and I love every song. Fans of Matchbox 20, Third Eye Blind and the aforementioned Vertical Horizon should love this. I hope that this isn't the last we'll see of Nine Days. These guys are way too talented to be one hit wonders. If any album deserves five stars, it's this one.

Coming from the clutter and commercial wasteland of Long Island, it's a miracle Nine Days wasn't a trendy rapcore band or a boring teen pop group.

No, Nine Days is a solid, straight-shooting rock n' roll band, which is something we've been desperately lacking in recent years.

From the bleak opening acoustic chords of "So Far Away" to the gentle closing melody of "Wanna Be", Nine Days' "The Madding Crowd" kicks modern rock music (i.e. Limp Bizkit) in the pants and never lets up.

"So Far Away" is Nirvana lite--quiet verses, loud choruses, but without the headbanging. An awesome song.

"Absolutely" is the album's huge radio hit, and unfortunately the only song Nine Days is likely to be remembered for. The lyrics outline a simple story about how much a guy loves his girlfriend (there's something new) and the melody hooks just about anyone in.

"If I Am" is the song that the Beatles would play if they were still around today. It puts a modern twist on the tried and true Beatles formula: beautiful melodies, catchy tunes, thoughtful lyrics. Except with a breathtaking instrumental break that will bring you close to tears.

"End Up Alone" is a possible second radio hit. The bouncing beat is infectuous and the lyrics are silly but fun. I've had the chorus stuck in my head for weeks now.

"Sometimes" is like the Wallflowers meets Bon Jovi meets U2, except it's much more heartfelt than anything the Wallflowers or Bon Jovi could ever dream of playing. A beautiful song.

"Bob Dylan" is a quirky, rocking track that doesn't make much sense but is fun as hell to listen to. Like the Barenaked Ladies, but slightly harder.

"257 Weeks" has an opening piano riff that sounds like a Broadway showtune. This song is anything but, however. Pop hooks and rockin' choruses abound here.

"Bitter" is easily a masterpiece. The longest song on the album at 6:20, it is also the most beautiful. Every guitar note here is played with an unbelievable tenderness. The string accompaniments in the last three minutes make this song feel huge, like a tender version of STP's "Plush".

"Back to Me" is an upbeat Caribbean-influenced rocker that proves irresistable after about the third listen.

"Crazy" is a great folk-rock hybrid that I hope to hear on radio in the near future. Its simple honesty and raw simplicity are very attractive.

"Revolve" is the hardest, fastest track on The Madding Crowd and the only one that features the kind of kickass crunching guitars that made bands like Bush, Nirvana, and 3 Doors Down famous. The bass lines on this track are incredible, too. Definitely my favorite song on the album.

"Wanna Be" is the quintessential album closer: peaceful, tender, heartfelt. Not as emotional as "Sometimes" or "Bitter", this song makes up for that with John Hampson's voice, which is at its best here. Just listen to the chorus and you'll know what I mean.

In conclusion, buy this album. Besides U2's "All That You Can't Leave Behind" and the Stone Temple Pilots' "No. 4", (which was actually from 1999), I can't think of another rock album from the year 2000 that is as simple, pure, revolutionary (yes, revolutionary), or just flat out AWESOME as Nine Days' "The Madding Crowd". A must have for any rock fan.

I never expect much form a band like this, whose hit single "Absolutly" had all of the makings of a one hit wonder. I was however suprised by this release, in which all of the songs are very infectious. An excellent buy

I just... can't think of a better word for it. This is the only thing that separated me from the apes of my time... well, I guess that's a bit harsh. But it DID prevent me from becoming a pop-damaged child like so many others in the year 2000.

While my friends and literally everyone else who existed in my world were listening to... *shudder* BOY BANDS and plastic teen pop icons, I took a... "different" path. Goo Goo Dolls, Vertical Horizon, Third Eye Blind, Dexter Freebish... and these guys.

I bought my first CD at age 12. This would be it.

To this day, I still think this album is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I bought it on a whim, and NOTHING on it could make me regret my decision. Almost. Okay, actually, I skip through MOST OF one song on here, but that's mainly because I haven't got the patience to sit through the first however many minutes. But other than that...

Track One: So Far Away (10/10)
I don't know HOW many bands have a song titled "So Far Away", but I'm going to wager that this is one of the better ones. Like most good album openers, it's a rocker, and the sound is cold, but full. Both vocalists perform on this song.

Track Two: Absolutely (Story of a Girl) (10/10)
Yes, I'm sure you've all been annoyed by this song by now... but I haven't. It was my first favorite song, EVER, and to be totally honest, this is the main reason why I bought this album. Poppy (but not too much so), catchy... infectuously happy. Perfect radio song. I really wish they'd still air this.

Track Three: If I Am (10/10)
Lovely lovely song. Just... gorgeous. Soft, I guess... heartfelt. Sunshiney. Encouraging, dare I say. It just kinda... picks you up, when you're down and bluesy. Wonderfully uplifting lyrics. The whole feel is optimistic.

Track Four: End Up Alone (10/10)
Hahaha... what can I say? Quirky, cheerful... This one's a sing-along. The melody still has me tapping my foot, five years later. This song also features both vocalists.

Track Five: Sometimes (7/10)
The song itself deserves an 8/10 stars, but I end up skipping this one just for its placement on the CD. It's something of a downer, and I usually don't have patience for something this slow after "End Up Alone". It is a bit sad, but it's sweet.

Track Six: Bob Dylan (9/10)
I love this song. The melody, the lyrics... yes, even the subject material. It's just... a lighthearted little whatsit. Good song.

Track 7: 257 Weeks (10/10)
**LOVE IT.** This was my favorite song on the album for the first three years I owned it. I can't say it's impossible not to like it, but I'm listening to it right now, and I'm gonna have to say it'd be awfully hard not to. The lyrics aren't exactly happy, but dear donuts, that insanely spunky melody will be stuck in your head for YEARS.

Track Eight: Bitter (no rating)
If I could, I'd give this song a 0/10, but I really like ONE PART that runs late in the song, and then I can sit through it till the end. But come on... seriously. Bleh. The first three and a half minutes are just annoying.

Track Nine: Back to Me (9/10)
This was another one of my favorites when I first got the CD. I don't like it quite as much now, but I still think it's a REALLY good song. Somewhat plaintitive lyrics, but once again, the chipper melody makes up for it. Nine Days seems good at making songs like that.

Track Ten: Crazy (8/10)
I guess this song's okay... it's definitely not my favorite, though. Something about it strikes me as country-ish, and I do not like country. But it's not that bad a song.

Track Eleven: Revolve (*10/10*)
<3 Currently my favorite song on the album. I could certainly say less for the lyrics, but... just... the FULLNESS of the song.... I can't even explain it, it's just...

Brilliant.

I can't think of any other way to put it.

Track Twelve: Wanna Be (10/10)
The best sad, slow, super-sweet song on the album. As I have run out of "s" words, I shall end here.

...No, actually, I won't. The lyrics are lovely, and the song may kinda leave you... crying, you gotta admit, it is a good, quiet closer.

All in all, I'm gonna have to say this was the best album I've ever bought. I mean, sure, I have other favorite songs now... favorite bands... favorite albums.... But it's WHEN this band came to me, it's the FULLNESS of the sound...
I couldn't have possibly gotten a better start, musically. It's become a huge part of who I am.


...This was my everything.

This CD is the best I've ever heard, regardless of all those people who claim that Nine Days isn't breaking any new ground and the style of music has been overused. I mean, what to those people want to hear? Something that's never been done? There has to come some point when just about everything has "been done" and the uniqueness of an artist depends on the quality of their songs and not the uniqueness of the style of the songs. And I think we have come to that point. Although I admit that in some songs they do sound a bit like Third Eye Blind or the Goo Goo Dolls, but what's wrong with that? Still, Nine Days is totally different, I love every song on the CD whereas when I listen to Third Eye Blind or Goo Goo Dolls, I have to skip around to hear what I like.

Oh, and in answer to the review of "Britney from Swamphole Georgia" who claims "The lyrics sounded as if they were written by a bunch of 2 year olds!"- frankly Britney, your review sounds as if it were written by a two year old. Britney reasons "I'm sorry but how could a girl cry a river?" Well, Britney, in answer to your question- no, a girl can't REALLY cry a river. It's just supposed to give you a VISUAL PICTURE in your head. Don't worry if you can't understand that concept just quite yet, it will eventually come to you. I'm not suprised though, you state "I would rather listen to Mandy Moore than this cd!". Figures. This CD is NOT in any way teeny-bopperish!

But back to the review- THIS CD IS AWESOME! BUY IT!

I took my daughter to see Nine Days as opening band for Savage Garden. I propbably would not have bought the cd had it not been for seeing the band on stage. "Story of a Girl" is an OK song, but the rest of the stuff is much better, in my opinion. The songs are well written and the band has a pretty good depth of talent, along with a true passion, which comes through on the cd and really comes through on stage. If you are reading this, you already know that you kinda like their stuff. Do yourself a favor and grab the cd. It is not one that you will give away...