Customer Reviews

Memento: The Very Best of Dead Can Dance

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

 

 

Honestly, this music is almost pointless to describe. It really needs to be heard, felt, and absorbed to blow your mind. But in words, it is a unique blend of folk, electronica, goth, and world music. In one word, I'd say it sounds ancient. This is actually their second collection. "A Passage In Time" is one track longer than this, however "Momento" includes tracks since, like the earthy "Yulunga". Existing fans might simply choose which disc has more of their favorite songs. New fans will love either. As with any "Best Of" I miss quite alot, but as a sampling of their work, "Momento" is wonderful.

I consider myself extremely fortunate to have seen Dead Can Dance on their 2005 reunion tour, at their October date in New York City at Radio City Music Hall. They have been my #1 all-time favorite band for years, so it was an absolute thrill and easily ranks as the best concert experience of my life. But much like 'Memento', although the content was fantastic, there wasn't much new.

That's NOT a complaint, mind you. I realize that on a reunion tour not every band can come up with new stuff. In a live environment that's entirely understandable. For a 'best of' album though, a few great songs are noticeably missing (I think it'd be impossible to fit a true 'best of' DCD on one disc though), and they have already released a few compilations with much, if not all, of this material on them.

It serves as a great introduction to the band for those who haven't heard their fantastic music before, so if you're one of those people who have never heard them but have always heard OF them, this might be for you. For a long-time fan like myself though, this isn't a must-have or anything, because I already have all of the material on other releases.

This is my new soundtrack for life. It's really beautiful & has lots of cool ethnic parts. I can listen to it over & over again.

Dead Can Dance's music has managed to survive after the group's death. In spite of belonging to a different time and century, it still retains the same spirit it had back when we first heard them. This compilation of the best of their work can only be blamed for the same problem that most compilations have: it does not have enough space to house all the great work they recorded. But it allows newcomers into their music to get a feel for their medieval-meets-ethnic approach, and realize what they've been missing. Past that point, there is no resort but going back and getting their entire catalog. Long live Dead Can Dance!

This CD seems to be a good cross-cut of what Dead Can Dance was capable of doing. It seems to be a bit inconsistent although very nicely done. The group might have focused more on a particular style or theme of their other efforts. I realize this is a "best of" album, and so a few different genres were represented. I discovered the group accidentally just week ago while perusing Celtic CDs, including Patrick Cassidy. I took a step of faith and ordered this CD. I'm not disappointed one bit. I'll enjoy it for a long time to come. Oh, yeah, one thing, when the first track starts off, don't think your CD player is having a problem. The synthesized opening strains are for real. It kinda threw me off at first, but it culminates into a great piece. Sit back, relax, and enjoy it.

This is simply another collection of songs from previous works and if you have not heard this wonderful group before, then dive in by all means. Established fans will know that this is just another marketing ploy to squeeze some more buck$ out. Personally, I would recommend the live "Toward the Within" CD as a good overview, if only because the live feel of the sound gives it a greater immediacy.

I am not a diehard fan of Dead Can Dance. I like what I have heard from TOWARD THE WITHIN. I always wanted to hear more of their music but money is tight for me. I opted for MEMENTO, a best of compilation. Their last compilation which was two discs but was a bit too pricey for me. MEMENTO was perfect as far as my budget is concerned. Dead Can Dance's music is a a beautiful, haunting mix of Middle Eastern, ambient, and a hint of folk music. Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard does a nice job of sharing vocal duties with each other. MEMENTO is the perfect cd to relax to with a steaming cup of tea after a hard day at the office. I find the music so calming to my nerves.

I just don't see how anybody can write a bad review on this CD. This is the greatest hits of Dead Can Dance. The only people who would even dare write a bad review on DCD are people who have no buisness owning a greatest hits album by this band in the first place. Every song is magic. Every track is great. The production is excellent. The qaulity is perfect. The album is perfect. If you like melodic world music, or dark romantic music, than this is your shure thing. DCD also have a large goth following, but if goth isn't your thing don't let that sway you. This beautiful music and verry enchanting on every level.

like dobro i originally bought dead can dance after reading a review. also like dobro i first felt betrayed and disliked the cd. but, unlike dobro, since i had spent the money i listened to it a few more times. and then a few more. and then i bought more dead can dance cd's. and listened to them over and over. point being, listen more than once before you decide on a piece of music. dobro didn't get his expectations met immediately so he trashed the cd. others' expectations were met and they rushed to say so. what will you think? listen to the samples. if they intrigue you get the cd. and listen.

These songs are great and I agree with Rene [See Below] but might these songs be remastered, cus they sound Terrific. A good cd for beginners or even the previous comp "A Passage in Time". I got this cd cus it was cheap at the closing of Tower Records. When I opened the cd, I noticed the insert had a couple of pages. BUT NO PHOTOS OF THE BAND :(
I would've at least put a photos going thru their different musical eras or live shots or something. This cd has pretty much every album represented except for Their 1st Album "Dead Can Dance and Ep "Garden of the Arcane Delights", which is a shame because I would've loved to hear them remastered.

-1 star out of 5 for boring artwork!