Customer Reviews

Quiet Is the New Loud

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This album is one the best albums I own, (second only to Boy With the Arab Strap by Belle and Sebastian), and I think more people need to hear it. The music is reminiscent of late '60s, early '70s bands like Simon and Garfunkel, Nick Drake and Love. Their lyrics range from the simplistic, (The Girl From Back Then), to the metaphorical, (Parallel Lines).

The singing is soft and intimate and the guitar work is precise, meticulous and always excellent. If you listen carefully to some of the songs, a downtuned acoustic guitar provides the bass line.

"Quiet is the New Loud" is a gorgeous, sparse and extremely beautiful album and is an essential addition to any folkie's record collection.

I commonly surf Amazon.com to find new bands and new music. After looking at what other albums people who bought Beck's Sea Change, Nick Drake's Pink Moon, and others, I came across Kings of Convenience's Quiet is the New Loud. At first, I dismissed the disc as too folky for my taste and a Simon and Garfunkel wanna be. Fortunately for me, I sat down at a local record store, listened to the entire album, and purchase it fifteen seconds thereafter. Think of Simon and Garfunkel sitting down with Nick Drake over a case of cognac and coming up with this ablum. Rest assured, Kings of Convenience have their own unique sound which blends brilliantly with their subtle, sweeping voices. Along with superior acoustic arrangements, add a cello, some piano riffs, and you have a truly amazing arrangement of melodies. Since I purchased it, I've been listening to this album on repeat and have yet to get even remotely tired of it.

If you don't purchase this album, you're only neglecting yourself and the amazing music that surrounds us everyday.

I've just come back from a Summer house in Norway identical to the fjord in the cover photo of this beautiful album. I'd heard about Kings of Convenience because of their widespread coverage in the UK where I normally live. But until a couple of days ago, I didn't realise they were Norwegian (doh!). These two geeky looking Simon and Garfunkel wannabees make the most exquisite, gentle, painful, whistful music I've heard in a very long time. 'Winning a battle...' is a perfect piece of acoustic pop that will become a classic. 'Singing softly to me' is a bossa-nova masterpiece. This is the record I'll be playing all Summer and giving to all my friends. This is what the phrase 'mood music' was invented for. Kings of Convenience are Norway's best invention since skiing.

Kings of Convenience have produced a fine album in Quiet is the New Loud, reminiscent of Nick Drake, The Beach Boys and everything But the Girl. The arrangements are extremely fragile, and the harmonies delicate. When music is this stripped down there is no hiding behind fancy production, or gimmicky samples, the quality of the song writing is there for all to see - and there is plenty of quality with this band. This album is on a par with Coldplay's Parachutes - i.e. this is Album of the Year material. A work of great beauty.

This is one of those CDs where you put in the player, lean back and close your eyes because it is impossible to focus on anything else. This album is breathtaking. Music hasn't sounded this good in a long, long time. Yes it harkens back to Simon and Garfunkel but KOC are equally good in their own light. Beautiful vocal and guitar arrangements with such delicate atmosphere. I am so very happy I came across this because KOC have hit a musical nerve in me that nobody has touched since I first ran across the Red House Painters and before them... a very long time. Artists just don't make music like this anymore because the level of production is minimal, but with so little comes so much. If you like acoustic guitars with a piano or cello thrown in for added beauty then topped by pure vocals you just can't get anymore in pop music, try these guys. This is truly a phenomenol work!

After being bombarded by IDM over the last couple of years, I have found it very refreshing to listen to something organic again. What better album that this to kick the IDM habit for a while. Don't get me wrong. I still love Boards of Canada and Four Tet.

This music really reminds me of being five years old again when I used to ride around in my mom's pinto wagon not having a clue about life. When I only remember music as being something obscure to me. Now that I'm grown and understand more about music, I find myself listening to albums like this and really appreciating life.

The first song on this album called "Winning A Battle, Losing the War," is probably the most beautiful folk song I've heard this year. Holy Simon and Garfunkel. I hope that was the point because it sounds just like them. "The Weight of My Words" is the same way. Every song is exceptional and well worth any amount of money you spend on it.

If you haven't listened to folk in a while, let this album snap you back. I'll bet coffee shops around the world have this album on as I write.

If this album doesn't bring a sense of innocence back into your life, I'll be a monkey's uncle. Buy it. Enjoy it. Smile from time to time. Drink coffee.

The only good thing that came out of a 1/2 hearted relationship that I had was hearing this cd. I could listen to it all day. This cd has bottled my emotions and let me revisit them again and again.

Did Paul Simon write this? Did Art Garfunkel sing it? Maybe. All right, I know nothing about these two; I just bought the album because it was on the Astralworks Label, and they haven't let me down, yet. This album blew me away. The lyrics are amazing; so passionate, so intelligent--and they are actually sung! Beautifully! These two voices are indeed angelic. And the intstrumentation is so subtle. The drums on the first track that you don't even notice were there until half-way into the second. The silly hi-hat groove on the second; the muted trumpet on that one track (I can't remember track numbers because I always just listen to it straight through). The song, "I Don't Know What I Can Save You From" is my favorite. It's a situation everyone's been in; it's a song that's been sung before--but always with distorted guitars and 2-and-4 drums. This time, it's different. It's haunting; it's new. After all, quiet is the new loud. (Fantastic title!) Although, quiet isn't for everyone. Someone I used to date said this album made her want to slit her wrists, where as someone I'm dating now says that it's one of the most wonderful, up-lifting albums she's ever heard. Go figure. If you like Badly Drawn Boy or Belle & Sebastian or Snow Patrol, this is right up your alley. Nice.

this is one of those rare moments when I'm proud to be norwegian...

This is music to wake up to.. Music to enjoy sunday breakfast to, on your own, or with someone you love. Music for those quieter moments in life. For when you feel content, not really doing anything at all.. Just hanging around.

I can't explain this one. It is just one of those rare CD's that touches something deep inside me. A nerve I did not even know was there.

Kings of Convenience are not about "fjords" or about Norway. They come from Bergen, a city of 250 000 inhabitants, mostly known for constant rain and it's very proud inhabitants... my hometown. Kings of Convenience is about fragile beauty. "I'll be on my knees to feed her - to make sure that she is safe from harm"... What more can I say?

If you like these records you should buy Kings of Convenience:

Nick Drake - Five leaves left

Jeff Buckley - Grace

Duncan Sheik - Duncan Sheik

Enjoy!!