Customer Reviews

Magnetic North

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power.
- Alan Cohen

Aqualung is Back !
Either you are a diehard fan of Matt and his "sad/poignant lyricism" or a new listener it is nearly impossible to ignore his latest record.

"New Friend" and "Fingertip" echoes the Britt Invasion's grooved-goofiness of falling in love - these songs makes you want to dance, laugh, and hopefully think beyond its guilt-free appeal.

"Sundowning" is that classic Aqualung tale of lost love with a string of hope hidden in every verse. This is a haunting, straightforward song that might translate into words that familiar feeling so many times unspoken of. The music is beautiful and the harmonic choices are the highlights of the album.

I was surely surprised with "Hummingbird"- it resonance previous songs and yet have an adventurous quality to it that showcases Matt's growth as a musician and songwriter.

"Lost" and "Magnetic North" deserves a special mention. I personally admire Aqualung's ability to balance earnest poetry and realistic observations of the fragility of love - these songs are Masterpieces by any account. Aqualung "stays true" to his craft and to his fans; this two songs alone are worth buying the Album, listening again and again, and showing it to friends/lovers as a statement of what real music should sound like.

"Time Moves Slow" has a Bossa Nova facet that caught me off guard (I am Brazilian) - it made me think of "Samba de Uma Nota Só"; simple yet quite amusing. This song makes a great argument for refined and intimate music versus the grandiose noise most radios play these days.

Much has been said about "Remember Us" (thanks to Grey's Anatomy) and all I can say is that if you had the "privilege" of loving and have your heart broken you will appreciate this great reframe - melancholy aside.

Magnetic North sounds as a compilation of Matt's greatest songs and yet is a fresh and original product that stays true to honest and intelligent songwriting from beginning to end. Matt was truly adventurous and the result is a great album that won't disappoint Aqualung's followers and will hopefully gather the deserved attention and appreciation from new fans.

Time Moves Slow is my musical equivalent to falling in love: I haven't even listened to the other songs on this album, because for some reason, this song hit me: first I was charmed, then obsessed. All I do is think of this song and hear this song in my head all day and can't wait til the next time I can listen to it. I played it one evening as part of my ipod cooking playlist and woke with it playing in my head the next morning. This doesn't happen often, and when it does, it's awesome: falling in love with a particular arrangement of voice, words, and music. The voice is just rough enough around the edges to not be perfect and boring. The emotional energy comes indirectly and therefore more powerfully. The piano is a galloping series of chords that belie the Time Moving Slow theme. Don't know exactly what kind of archetypal energy this composition cracked into: the traveler in me, the eternal hapless seeker, I don't know. I love the idea of resting my bones and needing only the great unknown. It's sad and lonesome without being sad and lonely, maybe because of the hopeful upbeat. It's usually only one or two songs per band in a blue that I get this strong connection, so one song on an entire album merits the album, in my book. Nicely done, Aqualung.

I've been a huge fan of Matt Hales a/k/a Aqualung for many years, and I thought that he was poised for a major commercial breakthrough with the 2007 album "Memory Man", which sounded epic on many levels, and made me think this could be the next Coldplay-like breakthrough. Alas, for whatever reason it didn't happen. Not sure what that did to Matt Hales, but since then, things have not gone quite the way I expected.

First there was the curious 2008 "Words & Music" release, which brought some previously released songs in a new setting, along with 3 or 4 new songs, but which left me scratching my head. Then in early 2010 cames this release "Magnetic North", which I didn't even bother to review at the time, just to give you an idea of my disappointment. For whatever reason, I was strolling around Amazon and came upon this, so now I can simply tell you that "Magnetic North" is flat from start to finish, not a single memorable song on the entire album. What has happened to Matt Hales?

I have no idea where Aqualung will go from here, if anywhere (I'm not holding up much hopes). That said, the band toured the US quite heavily in the 2006-2007 years, including in the often-forgotten (by UK acts) Midwest here, and I saw them a couple of times. Since then, pretty much no opportunity to see them live, which I would love to, even though I was disappointed with this album. But really, if you like Aqualung, stick to the earlier albums, none more so than "Memory Man", which is a classic in my opinion.

I saw Matt Hales perform this album live in its entirety in London this week and it once again confirms: this is brilliant music, perhaps even his best album yet. His songs have great melodies and lyrics and stand out whether played solo on the piano or with a symphony orchestra. Skip the first two songs and from Sundowning onwards, all the songs are fantastic with great lyrics on love and the good and bad in relationships. Listen in particular to Sundowning, Remember us (with beautiful vocals by Sara Bareilles), Thin air and the title song. Already my best album of 2010.

I have been a HUGE fan of Aqualung for awhile now. This album is an utter CLASSIC! Matt has grown and so have his listeners. BTW this SOUNDS NOTHING like Coldplay or Radiohead....I don't get the comparisons. This is in a league of it's own. I must say that this album is inspiring and beautiful all the while being humble. This one will not disappoint at all.

Just saw Matt Hales in concert last night and have been listening to his latest CD since it was released. This guy is so talented its really beyond me that he is not more popluar. Great voice, sincere songs, and a charm that just oozes. Met him after the show and he could not have been more gracious. Great guy, great record!

If you're a fan of Aqualung and his other albums. This one is just as enjoyable. Especially after seeing him in concert last night, I'm even more in love with this album. <3 Definitely worth the money.