Customer Reviews

Open All Night

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

 

 

This album is definitely the best Almond has done to date. The mixture of pop, jazz, blues, cabaret and the like all make for an incredibly creative and interesting effort. The duets with Siouxsie Sioux and Kelly Ali should heighten its appeal to those who have not previously been Marc Almond fans. While you probably won't hear any of the tracks on the radio and won't be a commercial success in the US, it is definitely an album to own and to listen to repeatedly!

This is the album that Marc Almond has been trying to make since leaving Soft Cell. He has managed to fuse together all of his influences: pop, disco, dance, electronic, R&B and cabaret all thrown into the mix to produce this incredibly diverse and entertaining album. Perhaps it was the freedom of recording and releasing the CD as a semi-independent release. It was initially to be released in 1998 on the British label Echo, and in fact the first single release from the album, Black Kiss, was released on that label. Echo released Almond from his contract and he decided to go the independent route; for him, this was a good move. He has produced a very original work that still falls into the Marc Almond mold. Although fans will love this CD, it is accessible enough to attract new listeners as well. Almond has surrounded himself with very talented guests on this album, including Siouxsie Sioux (of Siouxsie and the Banshees and the Creatures), who duets with Almond on the brilliant "Threat of Love." Song topics are the usual for Almond (death, sleaze, love, lust and the like) but what makes this album so interesting is the music: beautiful, well-crafted melodies with heavy dance beats. Not an easy task, but he does it very well. Almond is very talented and a great deal deeper than he has been given credit for. This is a great example of just how creative he is when given the artistic freedom. ~ Aaron Badgley , All-Music Guide

I have been listening and adoring Marcs music now since 1985. The man is brilliant and in each release his voice gets stronger and stronger. While I am partial to his CD's Mother Fist and Her Five Daughters, Absinthe, Torment and Toreros (as the Mambas) and The Art of Falling Apart (As Soft Cell) Open All Night is a good piece of pain and sorrow. I mostly enjoyed the tracks, Black Kiss, Tragedy, Sleepwalker, and Threat of Love (Duet with Siouxsie Sioux) out of the CD. I felt Almost Diamonds was sugar water, and at some points throughout the CD I felt I was listening to Portishead, which kind of annoyed me. With the direction he is heading on this CD I don't think I can even imagine what the followup to this one will sound like. Perhaps a 4th CD of covers is in order! However, this CD has it all, it is housey, jazzy, gothy, pop-esque, loungy, and yet still remains in the all encompassing genre of camp! If you like this album, run don't walk, and find Mother Fist and her Five daughters.

Before I ordered this newest CD by Almond, I saw nothing but rave reviews. And each and everyone of them was right. Almond's voice is ideal for the trip-hop direction he's taken. Yet, he retains some of the familiar elements, too, including ballad, cabaret, and eastern flourishes. It all melds together incredibly well. His voice is goes from soothing, to seductive, to sad and wistful. He's has two great duets one which includes Siouxsie sounding as treacly as ever. Favorites, hmmm, which to choose, certainly "Almost Diamonds", "Open All Night", "Threat of Love", "Tragedy" - oh, alright - all of them! Plus, the US release has three extra bonus tracks that fit right in the rest quite well including "Beautiful Losers."

Open All Night is pure Marc Almond. All his influences, styles, and previous work, combined with a very late 90's sound. For best results play at a higher volume than normal.

This is Mr. Almond's best work in years. I was a little thrown the first time through. After the third listen, I decided I liked it. And every listen after that I only like it more. It hasn't come out of my CD player in weeks.

This is not an album to be missed, whether or not you are a long-time fan of Marc Almond. It should be wonderfully accessible to all.

Some of Marc's best work is definitely contained here. A very refreshing change from the commercialized music that now dominates the airwaves. Track #2 - TRAGEDY showcases both the lyrical and vocal talents of this accomplished song writer. The real tragedy is that this album might not be a commercial success in the US.

to be fair i bought this because siouxsie sioux is on one of the tracks included here but i found a very good album that would otherwise have escaped me

This album is so hot! It took me a few months to really appreciate it but now I adore this music. It is so sensual and seductive! I love to dance to its Arabian flair and intensity. These songs really put you in the mind of Marc Almond. They are full of lust and passion in a very tragic romantic way that's so fun to sink into and feel its depths. All the songs are exceptional and my favorites are Bedroom Shrine, Heart in Velvet and Open All Night. I feel the power of the night and the lust of the moon through Marc's songs. What a gift to the world he is! This is one of his finest albums along with Stranger Things, The Stars We Are and Enchanted. You need to keep listening to this album because it takes time to really appreciate its magnificence! A real work of art that transcends 99.9% of all other albums on the planet. A must have to any Marc Almond fan!

Former Soft Cell singer and creator of several solo records dedicated to Georges Bataille and Jacques Brel, now releases a record on his own Blue Star label, released here in America on Instinct. The torch singer we know is present on a few of the opening tracks like "Night & Dark" and "Tragedy." Almond has definitely updated his sound, and made an all-around listenable record. Kelli Ali and Siouxie Sioux duet with Marc on certain tracks. Also there are three bonus tracks including the lovely "Satan's Child." Almond's palette is both light and dark, and fans of Gavin Friday and Nick Cave should come round to this one. Not his best, but the first good one in a long time.

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