Mechanical Wonder

Ocean Colour Scene

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 1, 2001)
• Original Release Date: May 1, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ark 21
• ASIN: B00005BJJQ
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #333,964 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Though pop, rather than rock, came to dominate the landscape in the two years since Ocean Colour Scene's previous album, Mechanical Wonder is a stirring reaffirmation of the band's core strengths. Frontman Simon Fowler's wistful blue-eyed-soul vocals ensure that the album's mood of plaintive despair is honestly rather than hysterically expressed. But the group's expansive and crafted musicality provides the perfect counterbalance to the disappointments related in the title track and "Biggest Thing." The summery guitar chords and swaggering rhythm of "Up the Downside," the rich, dreamy string arrangement on "We Made It More," and the cucumber-cool blues swagger of "Give Me a Letter" are all examples of traditional rock that thrives on healthy vibrancy rather than cautious conservatism. --Gavin Martin

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mechanical Wonder, May 14, 2001

By	Iain Clarke (Leeds, England) - See all my reviews

After the slight disappointment of One From The Modern, OCS return to full form with an album that accurately reflects their blistering live shows. While maybe not of the same status as Mosley Shoals or Marchin Already, this record deserves a place in the serious music-lover's collection able to see past the blinkered 'why don't these people use a drum machine?' criticisms.

The band start with their customary killer opening three. Up On The Downside is an upbeat, funky summer track with good old fashioned dancing shoes on. This is followed quickly by the amazingly produced pastoral Who sound of In My Field. Sailing My Boat may not be over imaginitive lyrically, but it's joyous chorus can't fail to lift.

Things slow down a little with the tender and fragile Biggest Thing, and the accoustic ballad We Made It More, both benefitting from superb choruses, and the latter a great string arrangement from Rosie Wetters. Give Me A Letter is Memphis blues combined with grunge (accoustic Nirvana springs to mind here for some reason) featuring some sterling keyboard work from former Style Councilor Mick Talbot.

You Are Amazing is OK, but doesn't quite keep in with the rest. Although atmospehric, it's not quite up to standard. However If I Gave You My Heart is a fantastic love song, again benefitting from some great string arranging from Rosie. The psychadelic rush of Can't Get Back to the Basline sounds like a track that should have been on the 1992 album, and is better than a lot of the stuff there. This leaves us with the 'parting shot' song Something For Me. More formed than it's One From the Modern equivalent, it's still kind of off key with the rest, yet still satisfying.

Get yourself a Mechanical Wonder today. You know you want to!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First US release in 5 years doesn't disappoint, May 1, 2001

By	Eric "[e-mail]" (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

I'll admit I'm a huge OCS fan, so I am completely biased. Butit sure is nice not having to fork over money for an import. This album will be a great re-introduction of OCS to the states. In the 5 years since Moseley Shoals, OCS have mellowed considerably, but Mechanical Wonder still contains a few upbeat songs with driving guitar riffs to keep fans of Riverboat Song happy. It also has fully crystalized the Scene's folksier directions, mostly seen on b-sides up until now. You won't find a better singer/guitarist combo in rock today than Simon Fowler and Steve Cradock. US fans of classic rock like the Who and the Stones should love this, as well as fans of the current crop of roots-rock bands. This is roots-rock with a distinctively British flair. Standout tracks are Up On The Downside, In My Field, We Made It More,... damn it, all of them! And I don't think I've ever heard a more beautiful song than If I Gave You My Heart. If Oasis, Travis and Coldplay can make it big in America, OCS with worlds more talent deserve to make it too.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A musical wonder? Not quite, but still worth a listen., November 12, 2001

By	cdswatch "cdswatch" (Folsom, CA) - See all my reviews

I have never listened to Ocean Colour Scene prior to this album. I have no other album to compare this one to, so what I am about to describe is my first impression which might be useful for new listeners.

I bought the album after I heard the song 'Mechanical Wonder'. Sure there wasn't anything particularly new about the song, but it is blessed with a great sincerity and melody. I have a penchant for mellow music and Britpop has been my consistent supplier thus far.

After listening through the whole album, I wasn't impressed, but neither was I disappointed. It is a very consistent album, there is hardly any departure from one song to the next. They seem to be playing what they know best and the music flows with a great execution and confidence. Is it like listening to twelve tracks of 'Mechanical Wonder'? I don't think so, similar as the songs might be, they do not reflect a malaise or lack of creativity. It is just that they know what they are good at and what they are good at is what they will play.

I would compare their music to Soul Asylum's: sincere, slickly rocking and unpretentious. Would I try another album of Ocean Colour Scene? I would and I hope that I will be as entertained as I am by this one.