Customer Reviews

Meanwhile

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've read a lot of reviews for this LP/Album. I'm going to explain this in a two part manner.

One: Yes, this is a departure from their 1st and 2nd LP releases. Non-Electronic drums, and real percussion is present more on this LP than the last two, BUT in my opinion, it's very unique, has a smooth and slick production, and it stands on it's own quite relevantly. For this period of time, the prominent instrumentation is more progressive and substantial.

Two: The vocals and backing vocals are a bit different, BUT in my opinion (again), it's brilliant - especially in the instrumentation. And on top of everything I have read, this band seems to be compared to Depeche Mode quite frequently. If you thoroughly listen to each album in it's entirety, and remain objective (or subjective, whichever it is), then you will soon realize they stand on their own two feet (or 6, since they are a trio...lol). There may be some very dense similarities at times, but it's not heard often in their material. Side Note: If I were to perform any comparisons at all, then the only group/band that comes to mind (and still a very small amount) is Cause & Effect.

Overall, this album deserves a 4.5 star review, but I'll give it 4 since there is not a half star option on Amazon.com. I recommend this LP AFTER you have heard their first two LP's.

I became hooked on "synthpop" during the middle-late '70s. I have continued to listen to similar forms of music since then, deveiating into contemporary "techno pop" or "electronica". I sense the references of Camouflage to Depeche Mode and Erasure. I find that they coincidently occupy the same space; they present "sound shapes" that are incredibly similar. Perhaps there is in fact a genre here in the form of music they compose? Can we admit that at least?

At the very least Camouflage is a curious band. There's no getting around the obvious comparison, snyth-pop in the vein of Depeche Mode, no doubt. That said, "Camo" has tapped into some great tunes over the years and somehow they keep reinventing themselves. Reinvention seems to be the theme of Meanwhile. While the band has majored in synth-pop they have minored in experimentation and Meanwhile seems to be their greatest example of both experimentation and reinvention. Not every tune on Meanwhile is worthwhile but the good ones are very good and take Camouflage into territory I wish they'd journey into more often. I can see how a non-fan would call this a "throw away" album as some of the tracks lack any sense of direction. However, fans of Marcus Meyn's smooth vocals will find a few stand-out tracks like "Seize Your Day," "Heaven (I Want You)" and "This Day" unusually listenable if not downright great. Great in a different way from any other Camouflage songs during their 20-plus year history. Sort of acoustic but not really--sort of synth-pop, but not really--but good, definitely.

Any fans of Camouflage,Depeche Mode,or PBS Get this synth classic NOW!!!!!!!!!

There is something interesting about this band when you listen to their first three albums. You will notice they evolve musically. Voices and Images was all club techno. Methods of Silence was a mix of that signature sounds and some more artistic influences. This album is essentially the natural progression forward.

Almost gone are the original sounds and tones the band was known for. When I first heard this album I really missed that and wondered what the heck I was listening to. Then after hearing the album a few more times I started to realize exactly what I had here. It was raw and yet polished and tight at the same time. The music is more minimalist with less noise filling up the background. Marcus seemed more reflective in his singing as well as the vocals being a lot more cleaned up this time.

Songs like Bitter Sweet still have a LOT of that classic Camouflage sound in it, while songs like Seize Your Day, Heaven, and This Day have a fresh and almost inspiring feel. Then you have some wild experimental stuff like Mellotron and What For.

This album is for the truly die-hard fan of Camouflage because casual fans might only like the Depeche Mode sounding stuff and not be able to get into this new area. It's not a club album. It's more in between alternative and slightly avantgarde. If you just like good music that's progressive and artistic then you can't go wrong with this one.

Frankly I am a little sick and tired of everyone saying that Camouflage sound like Depeche Mode. Although it's certainly not a huge stretch since they are both synth bands, it's like saying that mustard and mayonnaise taste the same because they are both condiments. Why is it that any decent synth band that comes along is destined to be labled as a "DM wannabe" or a similar sounding band? Is anybody really listening to these bands?
There is no album in the DM catalog that is similar to any Camouflage cd, especially not "Meanwhile". If you want a more plausible comparison, try Duran Duran, circa 1990's or Howard Jones.

I have listened to most of Camouflage's cd's and have found them to be semi-enjoyable, though a little odd at times. Despite liking their earlier cd's( "Voices and Images", ) more than this one, there are a few songs on "Meanwhile" that I consider to be their very best("Handsome", "Bittersweet", "These eyes"). But this is also the album that is chock full of instruments that give it a more pop-rock sound, rather than synth. I'd be hard pressed to find ANY tamborines, accordians, or saxaophones dominating a DM song, even on their newer material. But it is not the instrumental differences that irk me really. It's the songs themselves. They are very badly written and usually sung off key. Some of them are just downright ridiculous. The lead singer's voice is no longer the mysterious german voice from the previous albums. Instead we get a crooning voice that sounds like Richard Marx with a bad cold. The chorus on "Where the happy live" is terribly annoying and sounds like something you'd hear being sung in a mental institution( "..Tell me where where where where where the Hap-py live"). Then there are the songs where they try to sound dark like on "Mother", and they really put together a very nice sounding dark synth song until it's time to hear the lyrics, which are unsettlingly satanic in a way that not even goths could appreciate( Incest ). And to make things worse, the next song is called "Dad", only this time the subject matter in the lyrics is more poingiant, about a young man trying to conceal and deal with the physical abuse inflicted by his father. Really not badly written at all, but the song itself is upbeat with drums and saxaphones as though it were a happy rock song, and the lyrics are sung without any touch of emotion at all. I found this song to be a very shallow take on such a serious subject matter. It almost seems like those two songs were purposely added in a vain attempt to give the album more substance and depth. "Waiting" and "Heaven I want you" are listenable though overly repetetive, and everything else is utterly boring and silly pop fluff with terrible vocals and nonsensical lyrics. And forget about the instrumentals. They bring new meaning to the word 'filler'. Those who are saying that this sounds like DM are either giving this album waaayyy too much credit and/or haven't listened to much DM. This cd does have a few catchy synth-pop tunes but they are too sparse to save this cd from being a bad album. A much better substitute for this cd would be Duran Duran's wedding album, or "Voices and Images" if you want Camouflage. Depeche Mode at their silliest still sounds much better than this.

Yes, this was a departure from previous Camouflage albums. Although maybe not as far a stretch as you may imagine.

What you get here is the same a more danceable, faster, rawer sounding album. The synths aren't gone they are just blended with other instruments, but I love this album because the songs are faster and more melodic.

I would have given it 5 stars if they would have taken out the instrumental tracks, if they had just taken the best ten songs on the album it would have been a much stronger album overall.

This is a great synth release. The music is very accessible, yet unique, given Camouflage's beautiful style and signature. This band is an example of state of the art synth music. They are like Depeche, but with more heart and soul.

I am a big camouflage fan. I love "voices and images" and "methods of silence".
I was expecting something similar and got something else.
I couldnt believe that they changed their talent and style to this.
Bad lyrics and music. The only good song worth listening is the first song. What ever happend to the dark synth sounds that made Camouflage stand out like the Depeche Mode????? Big disappointment.

I've always believed that Camouflage's best work is doubtlessly Bodega Bohemia. However, I think that Meanwhile has great songs such as Seize your day, Heaven (I want you)or Accordion, that deserve to be in your collection and perhaps should be included in their best's. The album as I said has great moments but the whole project has nothing to do with other Band's CD's. My favourite song in this album is Handsome in which both lyrics and music seem to be comparable to their best song Suspicious Love from Bodega Bohemia.