Odyssey Number Five

Powderfinger | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 20, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Umvd Labels
• ASIN: B00004Z3BE
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (57 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #162,084 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The million-dollar question would seem to be whether Powderfinger took its moniker from the Neil Young and Crazy Horse song on Rust Never Sleeps. The distorted guitar chord that kicks off "Waiting for the Sun" and opens Odyssey Number Five--the fourth album and first American release by this Brisbane, Australia, quintet--would indicate that these guys have at least heard the Young classic. They're not Neil Young and Crazy Horse at their best--but that doesn't stop Powderfinger from being contenders in the upstart-guitar-rockers sweepstakes. Lead singer Bernard Fanning brings a postmodern pop sheen to the proceedings, and the band is all over the musical map on this eclectic effort, from the beautiful and melodic melancholia of "The Metre" and "Thrilloilogy" to the buzz saw Cream-like riff that dominates "Like a Dog." While it may occasionally drift a little too close to what used to be considered mainstream alternative to put it in the same league as the Living End's terrific, contemporaneous Roll On, one can detect a groovy little rock renaissance occurring Down Under. --Bill Holdship

Product Description

2000 album from the Aussie rock band. Featuring the first single, 'My Happiness'. Powderfinger were introduced to the U.S. via their contribution to the 'M.I. 2' soundtrack. This CD release entered the Aussie charts at #1. Standard jewelcase.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just when I thought they couldn't possibly be any greater..., November 3, 2000

By 

Michael J Harrington (Phoenix, Arizona USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Odyssey Number Five (Audio CD)

This CD is one of those 'instant classics' - it grabs you from the first track, and takes you on an emotional journey that few CD's can. Their successor to the fabulous 'Internationalist', this CD shows a more 'even' setting to the songs throughout - in other words, even the more rocking songs blend in with the tone of the CD versus the 'quirky syndrome' that can happen when the 2 styles are not mixed in well.

You will find yourself drawn into the pulse and emotion of this CD rather quickly - from the upbeat opener, straight into the heart of the 2nd track 'My Happiness', weaving through the following tracks and into even more great songs like 'Up & Down & Back Again' and 'These Days'...there is just not a bad track in the lot!

They have been sighted as being 'Bowie influenced' - I would agree, however not ever being a huge Bowie fan, I can't comment. My personal comparison is to 'what R.E.M. could have been', and throw in a much more talented vocalist, with sensibilities of the best parts of rock music from the 70's to the 90's, and there you have my 'who they sound like' view of Powderfinger. Hard to 'put a finger' on them (no pun intended!) - however if you take a chance on this band you will NOT be disappointed if you like the types I music I alluded to earlier. Bernard Fanning is just simply the BEST vocalist I have heard in a LONG time - and he just keeps getting better.

If you made it this far into the review, thanks. I can't say enough positive things about this band. I lived in Australia for 7 years (90-97), and grew fond of a lot of the local talent that is just simply not heard on the US Airwaves (Spiderbait, Pollyanna, Chisel as well as Powderfinger). I think with a little push from the right people, this group could gain some more fame overseas (if that is what they want). They simply blow away so many of their contemporaries it is pathetic - I mean, any song from this CD would top 'Sex and Candy' or anything like it...

What to do next? Buy it!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powderfingers best album, June 25, 2001

By 

Jodi (Sydney, NSW Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Odyssey Number Five (Audio CD)

Odessey Number Five is the most recent album by the Australian Band, Powderfinger. Lead singer, Bernard Fanning's unusual voice cuts through the melodic guitar and is a nice change from the mass produced voices so common on today's radio. Clean, sharp, soulful and fresh.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powderfinger...Better than Ever, February 15, 2001

By 

"jgrabowski" (New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Odyssey Number Five (Audio CD)

Just when I thought that Internationalist would be the crowning achievement of Powderfinger's career they bring out this masterpiece. I first discovered Powderfinger while studying abroad in Australia about the time their last album, Internationalist, was getting a lot of play. I thought that album was great but this one blows it away. It has the melodic pop that is lacking in most music today. Yet they stay away from being too pop or without real substance. Songs like My Happiness, These Days, and My Kind of Scene are great, radio friendly tunes that show that POwdefinger understand the importance of good songwriting. The real gems of this album, however, are the songs that take a few listens to even begin to comprehend. Tunes like The Metre, Thrilloilogy, and Up & Down & Back Again (my favorite), with its amazing coda show the maturation of the band. The guitars are restrained and fairly simple but prove that they are there to enhance the song rather than show off with complicated licks that go nowhere. The drums and bass lay a solid, if inconspicuous base, and Bernard Fanning simply has the best and most emotive voice in music today. Listen to him and you will be amazed. All in all I recommend all the Powderfinger albums, and suggest listening to the others first, but this one is the best.