Customer Reviews

Mary Is Coming

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

 

 

Paul Waaktaar-Savoy, best known as the lead guitarist and major songwriter of the Norwegian group a-ha, has moved to New York to make a new album with his new group Savoy. Named after his wife Lauren Savoy, who is also a member of the band, Waaktaar-Savoy crafts an intelligent, raw, guitar-driven sound that at one minute seems far-removed from his a-ha days, but the next is totally in-sync. Compared to Morten Harket's angelic voice in a-ha, Waaktaar-Savoy's voice takes a little getting used to. But the moody lyrics and guitar sounds are on-par with the best of a-ha's previous work. "Velvet" was a number 1 hit in Norway. "Foolish" has a great bass part in the chorus. And the lively "Raise Your Sleepy Head" is definitely a highlight of the album. "Half an Hours Worth" sounds like it could have come right off of a late Beatles album. Throughout, the great work of drummer Frode Unnerland brings Savoy's music to the next level. Savoy is definitely a band that deserves a listen on American shores.

It is a massive shame the entirity of Savoy's output isn't available in the U.S. This was their first disc; as far as I can tell from owning two more of their (five?) cds, they've only gotten better as they go.

Pal Waaktaar-Savoy has been the primary songwriter for a-ha, and while I really believe each member of that band has his irreplacable contributions, it *is*, in my opinion, Waaktaar who first and primarily gave a-ha the brooding depth apparent to anyone who has bothered to listen to their work beyond the "Take On Me" phenomenon (though Magne is catching up to him). This album isn't "a-ha light"--it's a new project. I think a-ha has been unfortunately dismissed as an 80's wonder or a cheesy pop band, when they in fact possess extremely talented musicians, two very fine songwriters, and one of the most stunning voices in popular music. That one could not immediately make the a-ha connection upon listening to this record only shows the wealth of talent Waaktaar-Savoy has, and the distinct chemistry that makes a-ha. Though little like a-ha on the surface, Mary Is Coming has some things in common: variety, depth, and a total fluency with melody. This is a raw sort of album, guitar and drum centered (wonderful drumming by Frode Unneland, in fact). It's also quite dark, but not without bursts of humour and giddiness in a song or two, believe it or not. In this record you'll find dark grooves and catchy melodies, all with lyrics that, shock for a rock/pop record, aren't insultingly idiotic to listen attention to. Here, it's all original, smart, and evocative. Waaktaar deserves infinitely more credit as a songwriter than he's gotten, particularly in the U.S. This is a cohesive album, too--makes sense to listen to from the aggressive beginning to the instrumental hidden track at the end. A new, tight, good band from a remarkable songwriter.

A great album with great tunes. Too bad he wasn't marketed in the US as he was in the rest of the world! Great music. Get the album!

This was the first album Pål did, after A-ha split. One can't really expect that he was gonna go from one success story to another, just like that.

This album was just the start of something very different than A-ha and pål and his band has improved a lot since then.

The reason why A-ha split, was not because of Pål's arroganse. The 3 men was just tired of battling the recordcompany, tired of touring together for many years, and just wanted to take a pause.

The pause did not only do Pål good, but also the other two and in 1998 A-ha returned to the international spotlight.

Since then, they have released 2 studio albums and one live album + a concert DVD.

The latest, is that, Savoy has just released a new Savoy album, which is great ! ( unfortunetly it has'nt put on sale here, but I'm sure it will )

Magne Furuholmen has just released his solo album and is doing several excebitions with his art in Europe.

Soon a official A-ha book will be released and...........

after christmas, Pål, Morten and Mags will go into the studio together and put together their 10 A-ha album.

It is planned released in 2005 followed by a tour.

A-ha has just signed a new 3 album contract with Universal and maybe, just maybe they will tour the US again.

It would be very nice. Next year it will be A-ha's 20th anniversary for their big breakthrough.


So alot to look forward to, for Savoy fans and A-ha fans.

Check out their official site for purchase of the solo albums, that are not yet here on this site.

I like the music of a-ha better. Morten has a better voice, but I was impressed with Paul's voice. a-ha gives Paul's music a fuller more rounded sound. But this show's why Paul is the main songwriter for a-ha.

Hey there... as a big (read BIG!!) A-ha fan in me former life, I was very happy indeed when I heard 'velvet' (the Savoy version!) on the radio somewhere in DK during '96... not knowing who it was at first I still felt like I knew this music very, very well... the melody, chord progressions, the sentiment of the lyrics, the voice etc... (how often does that happen? 2-3 times in ur life?) Anyway, bar 'memorial beach' this album by Savoy is the nearest any of the A-ha lads have come to make a truly great album...
and this is pretty damn near... no, I mean this IS great!! It would have sounded totally different hadn't Kurt come along but who cares... everything would... wouldn't you? The songs 'daylight's...', 'velvet', 'foolish' and 'get up now' play like a greatest hits, the rest are pure mellow power pop/rock of the best kind.... great sound overall... 'organic' drumsound, vocals up front, good solid and very melodic guitar work! Anyone into The Posies, Aimee Mann, Jason Falkner, Travis, Jon Brion, Rhett Miller, Fiona Apple, Elliott Smith, Nirvana, The Sharp, Claus Hempler & Fielfraz etc..... will/should LOVE this album!!!! Trust me, I do! Good luck hunting! Urz Hen.

Savoy has retained the melodic sound and mood of a-ha's albums but Morten's voice is clealy missing. However, this music sounds very good and is quite moving. MARY IS COMING is somewhat of an enigma because I really do like it but I still miss Morten's contribution. Still I recommend this one.

At the risk of offending both Beatles purists and A-ha/Savoy/Harket fans, I have to admit that this album sounds like it picked up right where the Beatles left off in the late 60's/early 70's -- it feels like it could be the logical successor to Abbey Road. It was a guilty sort of conclusion I came to after many listenings, which only reinforced this feeling and is in no means an attempt to downplay the Beatles, whose later music still sounds fresh today. In fact, I feel even more so after hearing Savoy's last two albums Mountains of Time and Reasons to Stay Indoors. But where sheer music mastery meets creative artistry, their 1997 album Lackluster Me is second to none (not sold by Amazon as far as I can tell). Give the experimental crashing chord changes of the song Unsound a listen and you will be blown away. Why don't they write songs, let alone albums, like this any more?? Man in the Park (from Mountains of Time) comes close, but lacks the urgency and edginess of Unsound. A masterpiece. But get them all. Can't wait for their upcoming '04 release. Woo hoo!

This album is made as a record should be made. The songs was made in the studio and if they did not get it in two cuts they moved on. You can hear it. There is so much melodi on that album. Hear it!!! It is nothing like A-ha even thou it is the guitarist of a-ha's new band.