Customer Reviews

Reconciled

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had the honour of meeting Been after a free show at Jacksonville Beach. What a pleasant man. The concert, must have been maybe 200 at this outdoor show, was an event I will not soon forget. The power of the positive words that resonate from the band are hard to turn from. Been sings with such passion that you almost feel as if your soul would leave your body to follow him in the hope that it would be able to bask in the power of his voice.

I bought this cassette when it first came out and much like early REM was a constant in my car and home stereo system. As many have stated, this band is very underrated and underappreciated. Much like the Connells, they never received what they should have. This CD contains 2 of their best songs: I Still Believe (Grand Design) and Everywhere I Go. I Still Believe is one of, if not the, most fuel injected creations your ears may ever participate in. The bass plays like footsteps on a wooden staircase from an empty basement as the song rises reach the light that shines underneath the basement door. Other songs that standup and demand your attention are Even Now (a great closing piece), With or Without Reason (whose guitar work seems to hide in the back until just the right moment) and The Morning. Even Now plays like a calm Autumn lake, and to a degree closes out the up tempo opening track as if they were two friends separated for years yet still close.

The telling component of this CD, apart from Been's voice and lyrics, is the way the bass seems to carry the songs, much like Mills does with early REM. One might argue that this is what alternative 80's bands used to stand out from the lead guitar based pop rock of the time. Not all bands were able to pull this sound off and still stand apart. The Call were one of the few. Own this disc.

Led by singer/bassist Michael Been, the Call were always a very critically acclaimed group, but sadly, for all of their musical firepower, they never acheived the commercial success that they so rightfully deserved. Though most of their albums are currently out-of-print, and they apparently disbanded for good after their 1997 release, "To Heaven And Back," the Call were--and are--rock music titans, and their phenomenal eight studio albums recorded between 1982 and 1997 are all worth seeking out.In 1986, the Call released what is without a doubt their masterpiece, "Reconciled." It is one of the greatest, most passionate rock albums ever made. The Call deliver one emotional, powerhouse rocker after another, such as the dramatic "Everywhere I Go," the triumphant "I Still Believe," "Blood Red," "Oklahoma," "Sanctuary," and the closing "Even Now." The band's musical interplay is tight, and Michael Been's lyrics & transcendent lead vocals are passionate with a capital P. And, for the coup de grace, "Reconciled" features guest performances by such Call fans as Peter Gabriel and Simple Minds' Jim Kerr on backing vocals, and Robbie Robertson on guitar. Outstanding music from start to finish, the Call's "Reconciled" is a magnificent album from a magnificent band.

This is one of the GREAT albums by The Call. Along with their first (The Call), Modern Romans, Into The Woods and Red Moon, this album is absolutely indispensable to any Call fan (sorry, just heard about Heaven & Back, so I can't call that one). This could easily stand alone as a Greatest Hits release. Been and the lads really show why they were the greatest American band of the 80's on this release. Along with The Long Ryders they were probably the most underappreciated band of the decade. Buy this album along with Rain Dogs by Tom Waits and pour yourself a long dram of Talisker or Laphroig and kick back and revel in true genius. Play it LOUD...it doesn't get any better.

I had this album while in college and I got all my friends hooked on it. Saw them in concert in support of this LP and it still was the best concert I ever saw! Opened with "The Morning" which remains my favorite Call tune and just kept the place going the whole time. One of the greatest albums of all time.

The Call's music is characterized by driving rhythm,deep and subtle lyrics and a texture unlike anyone else out there.This album,more than any other captures the anthemic essence of The Calls mission...great rock and roll with a reason. I Still Believe,Everywhere I Go and Oklahoma rate among my favorite songs of all time.Michael Beens voice is the absolute glue of the whole works.Deep,rich and gutsy his treatment of the lyric puts this album in a class by itself. This band never got its due,but they were on of the great unsung bands of all time.Thanks guys for letting me spill a long standing grievance!

This is one on my favorite albums of the 80's. It just didn't seem to make it into the mainstream. I first heard the single "I still believe" on the 91X in San Diego. The DJ described the CALL as America's U2: true great edgy rock and roll, with intellegent, moral and subtly spiritual songwriting.

The entire album is awesome, but my highpoints are "Everywhere I go", "I still believe" and "Tore the old place down".

Another interesting note is the apprearance of guest artists Peter Gabriel (Genesis), Jim Kerr (Simple Minds) and Robbie Robertson (the Band).

This album emerged in 1986 after a period of upheaval for the Call. They had had legal troubles with their first record label and management, and lost their original bassist and keyboardist. However, they survived to produce what is probably their first consistent album.

The group's sound significantly changed. Jim Goodwin's synthesizer arrangements are lighter than his predecessor's, maybe sounding a bit dated now. Singer/songwriter Michael Been moved from guitar to fretless bass. Tom Ferrier does provide solid lead guitar, but of course, the guitar presence is less dense with only one player. However, this is compensated by Been's superb bass playing, pulsing at the heart of each song. The band does provide excellent support for him, though, with musicianship superior to most 80's bands. No drum machines here!

Been's songwriting is as passionate as ever, dealimg with turmoil both personal (the frightening "Oklahoma", "Even Now", "Tore the Old Place Down") and political (the somewhat heavy-handed stomper "Blood Red"). However, Been never gives up hope, which is perhaps why the first two songs were the most popular - the energetic "Everywhere I Go"; and my favorite "I Still Believe", a classic statement of faith and committment.

The only problem some people might have with this is that there isn't a whole lot of variety on the album. One anthemic rocker after another might be hard for some people to take, with only the slower, more subtle "Sanctuary" offering a change of pace. Still, at 39 minutes or so, all the energy doesn't wear me down, anyway. And any album with "I Still Believe" is worth the price of purchase. So, this CD is a great introduction to one of the great bands of the 80's.

I can't say much about The Call that hasn't already been said. This album, however, is a musical gem that many have sadly missed. With some of the dark sweetness of the Cure and the passion of early U2, the final product is all wrapped up in a package that is personified by Michael Been's driving vocals. I have loved this album since it's release and it would be one of those items that would be in my desert island survival kit. It's my personal opinion, but I don't feel that I'm overstating things when I say this just might be one of the top 10 most perfect albums of the 80's. If you haven't heard it (or haven't heard it in a while), please do yourself a favor and get Reconciled.

I'd seen The Call 3 different times in San Diego, mid 80's. All three were small venues, one was a New Year's Eve event were the paint was literally chipping off the ceiling as "The Walls Came Down"!! After one concert my friend and I were invited to an after party in their hotel room. We were a bit disappointed that Michael wasn't feeling good and did not attend. I spent time talking with Scott playing it "cool" not to come off too awe struck or groupie-like. You think I could have mentioned that their song "Everywhere I Go" was to be the first dance to my upcoming wedding. (I kick myself for not mentioning that.) After 20 years I still have the broken top to the beer I was drinking that night as a souvenir.

The Call sucked you into their world, with a driving danceable beat and intelligent lyrics that were easy to sing along to. I knew I was there at the start of something wonderful. Not only did The Call's "I Still Believe" make it into the film "Lost Boys", they were music guests on Arsenio Hall. I was so excited for them. But what happened? You are greatly missed. Reunion tour, anyone?

This is the album that first introduced me to one of the greatest rock bands that ever was. I was listening to a lot of crappy Christian music at the time and really liked one album in particualr by Russ Taff which includes a (really good) cover of I Still Believe. Some guy with far better taste than myself asked if i had ever heard the original version of that song - which led me to seek out this album and began my love affair with this band. This album, coupled with their next release (Into the Woods - their strongest album to date) establised The Call as the American answer to U2. Rightly so - great musicians, a passionate singer, great songs, an "original" sound, intelligent and thought provoking spiritually-themed lyrics, etc., but sadly - they never got the fame they deserved. Oh well - don't let thier lack of fame keep you from becoming a fan. Get this CD and Into the Woods - and you will become one. This album rocks a bit more than I.T.W., and is only a tiny step behind it - both are must-have, 5-star albums.