Customer Reviews

Shock of Daylight: Heads & Hearts

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I spent a decade looking for CDs to replace my old vinyl recordings of The Sound. Two years ago Renascent released this disc combining the Heads and Hearts album with the Shock of Daylight EP (along with 2 bonus tracks). If you've never heard the group, this is a fine introduction to their "thinking man's pop" style of rock music. Anthems like One Thousand Reasons and Dreams Then Plans hark back to those days when decisions affecting the rest of one's life are made. The latter song hails from Adrian Borland's self-titled "Teutonic Romantic Period". Burning Part of Me contains the memorable line "Revenge and resolve are up against a weakening will." Teen angst, this isn't. Rather, these could well have been written by 30 year old men looking back at what was and what may have been. Borland's neat, crisp lyrics and airy vocals layer brilliantly over light pop melodies - some hooks are impossible to get out of your head. Renascent suggested they might re-release other bands of the 80s era, or even The Sound's album titled From the Lion's Mouth, but I have seen neither since this CD was published in 1996. If you ever see this disc on a store shelf, buy it. A band the likes of The Sound may never appear again.

MFT 1/00

How a song like "New Way of Life" never made it into the pop charts is a mystery. THE SOUND traded having a 'sound' all of their own for a more polished pop approach on these releases and the result is an album that is every bit as good as most "Breakfast Club" pop. While I prefer their early works, this twofer fits well next to anything released in the mid 80's by Simple Minds, Japan, and Talk Talk.

The comp of "Heads and Hearts" and "Shock of Daylight" is one of the best CDs I've bought. This was a period when the band were emerging from the English 'post-punk' gloom sound, sounding invigorated and fuller than before. The result is more comercial than "From the Lion's Mouth" (which is a little on the gloomy side for me) but still engaging and challenging. "Shock of Daylight" is absolutly flawless, with tunes like "Longest Day' sounding like a cross between Big Country. Simple Minds, and A Flock of Seagulls."Heads and Hearts" has a couple of filler tracks but for the most part is exceptional as well, with "Total Recall" being one of the most beautiful rock songs I've ever heard. Adrian Borland is also one of the strongest lyricists I have come across. A great album. They may have not been as consistant as U2, but I think this disc beats anything U2 ever released . . .I'm dead serious.

Let me tell you...did not know much about this band but this is a CD I will never forget! Songs like Winter, Counting the days, dreams than plans are brilliant.
I only had a tape until today...now I know there are CDs available! I ll buy it soon.
The sound is very 80's and, being a Simple Minds fan, I could see some similarities in the music.
If you like this kind of music get a chance to get a copy of it!!

What I have to say is very important--you must own this CD! By the third listen, you will love each and every one of these songs written by the brilliant Adrian Borland. Once this music is into your psyche, you will not be able to put it down. My personal favorites are the entire set from "Shock Of Daylight," and Under You, Total Recall, Burning Part Of Me, Love Is Not A Ghost and Wildest Dreams from "Heads And Hearts." I know that's 11 tracks, but I really can't narrow it down any further. As I write this, there are only a handful of copies left in stock. Buy this CD now...don't hesitate!

The fact that these guys never made the big time is a mystery to me. But possibly its just as well. if they had, they may have not had the amazing output that they produced....Every album is amazing...It sounds as good today as It did 20+ years ago... I had the pleasure of seeing them live in NYC in the early 80's And have been a fan ever since...Thanks Renascent for releasing these gems...(My old vinyl has seen better days.) Its great to have everything on cd finally and The remastering is excellent...The Sound is one of the few 80s bands that I have never tired of over the years....If you've never heard of them, Do yourself a favor and pick up any one of their cds while there still available. A good place to start is From The Lions Mouth..This was the closest they came to mainstream...A great album but there's so much more...Also check out Adrian Borlands solo stuff...And Pre Sound Band the Outsiders...Some is hard to find but woth the effort....RIP Adrian. Your Missed!!