Customer Reviews

Paper Scissors Stone

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

 

 

It seems like lately any band that I begin to like end up breaking up. Even though I've only known of Catatonia for about 8 months, I was crushed by the announcement. I'm not usually into the genre of music (I hate to call it pop, because each track has a unique sound), but Catatonia is one exception I have grown to make. I know that in Europe and the UK, Catatonia was one of the more famous bands, but in the United States they are sadly unheard of, as is the case with many bands that originate from Europe (I had to get "Paper Scissors Stone" off of Amazon because I could not find it anywhere locally). In April of this year, I heard their smash single "Mulder and Scully", and that got me hooked. I bought "International Velvet" and "Equally Cursed and Blessed" and I was pleasantly surprised by the variety and the quality of their music. I was ecstatic when I found out "Paper Scissors Stone" had been released this summer -- and is absolutely no exception, if not better than their other albums. Frontwoman Cerys Matthews has an amazing voice like none anyone's ever heard, and the lyrics are powerful -- ranging from sad and depressing [Mother of Misogyny, Imaginary Friend] to uplifting [Stone by Stone] to just plain weird [Is Everybody Here On Drugs?]. The accompanying band members also do a great job, changing their sound each track, making each one unique and fun to listen to. It is unfortunate that the band's internal conflicts led to the break up, but Catatonia has undoubtedly made a mark on the music industry.

If what I've heard is true and Cerys is leaving the band then this is a grand exit. Song for song, I think this is the best one yet. And the production is excellent. Before you even notice the improved songwriting, the sound of it all just leaps from your speakers. But that's just surface. The songs themselves are uniformly great. Highlights include "Stone By Stone," "Fuel," "Immediate Circle," "Godspeed," and "Mother Of Misogyny." Cerys voice is fantastic and the lyrics are as biting and intelligent as ever. Perhaps a song or two too long but that's just quibbling. An improvement over the good (but not great) EC&B and a match for International Velvet. If you are one of those who bought the IV but then lost interest in Catatonia (and the lackluster album sales in the UK show that there are many of you), the album proves that the best was yet to come.

I have all Catatonia records, and I have to say this is more mature and sophisticated than the others. Cerys never sounded better. Such a pity they disbanded. But I am ready for Cerys' solo career - she's got such a unique voice and personality, and now that she's married and healthy again, I'm sure we will hear more great stuff from her.

Paper Scissors Stone is the most amazing album I have ever listened to. The mix of exceptionally powerful tracks with more rocky influences goes to make a truly exceptional and utterly brilliant collection of fantastic tunes. I don't think there is a single song to complain about on that album.

If Catatonia's previous album, Equally Cursed and Blessed, didn't do as well as their earlier albums, it was because they gained production gloss at the expense of the wonderfully manic energy that infused International Velvet or Way Beyond Blue. Thankfully, Catatonia regain their footing with Paper Scissors Stone.

The songs on this album pack the old Catatonia punch, while keeping the polish that their studio work has attained since Equally Cursed and Blessed. The music is far more rich and textured than ever before, but it's all produced so well that the sound leaves just enough space for Cerys Matthews to show off her unique, surprisingly emotional voice.

Look to tracks like "Blues Song," "Stone by Stone," "Beautiful Loser" and "Is Everybody Here on Drugs?" to keep you both off-balance and hooked. Heretofore, Matthews has been the big star, but in this album, the guys (guitarists Mark Roberts and Owen Powell, bassist Paul Jones, drummer Aled Richards--THERE IS NO "ROBERT CATATONIA" WHO WRITES ALL THE SONGS, BY THE WAY) really grab your attention this time around, as the music gives the album as much character as Matthews does.

This may be the first album where Catatonia really come together as a band, so it's a real tragedy that they've broken up now. It's also a tragedy that Paper Scissors Stone, the album to rival and even surpass International Velvet, and the album that has the best chance at widespread commercial success, has not been released out of the UK.

Paper Scissors Stone was the first Catatonia album I've bought. I already knew some of their songs, such as Mulder And Scully and Road Rage, just to name a phew... so I thought "Hey, let's try an entire album." Best choice I made in 2001 so far. Paper Scissors Stone is a superb album with mindblowing tunes, all equally catchy. It's impossible to pick out a favorite track. Too bad this album is Catatonia's last, since they recently announced they were calling it a day. The track Stone By Stone will be their only single to be taken off this album, and that's a shame. This is an absolute classic! No question!

I had a friend in London ship me this and I'm awed at how Catatonia manages to keep reinventing themselves without losing who they are as musicians. The easiest way to review is the song-by-song so... "Godspeed" - starts out in classic odd Catatonia that kind of reminds me of "Shoot The Messenger" on their third album, but then kind of transforms into a ballad. Nice starter.
"Immediate Circle" - One of the great ones to sing along with, cathcy lyrics, catchy hooks.

"Fuel" - This song reminds me of America, a fool in charge and a fuel shortage :-) Very pretty, but somewhat overdone when compared to the acoustic version.
"What It Is" - This song is just *so* cool. It has this groovy, techno vibe which is a brand new sound for the group.
"Stone By Stone" - Energetic for a slow song, no surprise it's the first single.
"Mother of Misogyny" - I love this song, it has great tone. It's one of the slower ones, but one of their best slow ones since "Don't Need The Sunshine".
"Is Everybody Here On Drugs" - Has great pace, and is quite catchy and bouncy. It's my friend's favorite with good reason.
"Imaginary Friend" - Initally reminded me of "Selfish Gene" in the respect that it starts out as Cerys and a piano but it completely rocks out in the end. One of my favorites.
"Shore Leave" - In a word: "cute"
"Apple Core" - Another groovy-technoish song, about a minute and a half long. Get the "Stone By Single" as it has the full-lenght version of this which is another favorite of mine.
"Beautiful Loser" - Currently my favorite off this album, I've had it on repeat one for the past hour at least :-) Mid-paced, but great hooks and great vocals.
"Blues Song" - nice and rocky, but the chorus wears thin near the end
"Village Idiots" - I really like this song, kind of depressing lyrics set to a pretty fast beat :-) Funny.

"Arabian Derby" - "Everyone's a winner, baby!" Very good song that wavers between fast and slow. Enjoyable til the end, great way to go out :-)

What a great album!! Too bad they broke up. This album was probably their best, and showed what a great band they were. I think if they didn't split, there would've been many more great albums from them. The whole album showcased the witty lyric writting, and the wide range of pop-rock Catatonia are capable of. Godspeed and Stone By Stone were pretty dramatic. Cerys' voice was great singing this kind of dramatic songs. Immediate Circle and Is Everybody Here On Drugs were the fun pop-rock songs that will make you sing along with them. Shore Leave just gave me the lonely feeling after traveling from places to places. Get this CD, it'll make you laugh and make you cry.

I don't usually buy imports because they're so prohibitively expensive, but after hearing snippets of this on the NME site and the documentary on BBC Radio One (online!) I decided I had to have this album. Not for a minute have I regretted the extra cost, because this is a definite five-star album if there ever was one, and it kicks the pants out of "International Velvet." Songs like "Immediate Circle" and "Village Idiot" rock out, while emotion flows from "Godspeed" (kinda a rough song to open an album with, but give it a chance) and "Fuel." "Shore Leave" is another favorite, being a song with a simple, contagious melody, while "What It Is" is an interesting turn. Cerys remains a love-it-or-hate-it voice (I pick the former), but the way she switches from rough-hewn and ballsy to sweet and vulnerable shows her vocal depth. This is a great "rebirth" album for a band that we nearly lost to exhaustion and alcohol, showing they are a close-knit group continuing to make better and better music.

I spoke to a wise friend of mine a few years ago and asked him if he liked Catatonia. He replied, "Ah, that's the good stuff..." And you know what? It still is. I'm very happy to have more Catatonia to listen to!