Customer Reviews

Six

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I'll say this for Mansun's "Six": its certainly not run of the mill! I would actually give this 4 1/2 stars if I could, by the way. I really don't think that I have ever heard an album like this... its complexity is really stunning. And coming from a band who began with such a seemingly (if not all-together straightforward) debut album. Although "Attack of the Grey Lantern" was also dense in places, it doesn't even hold a candle to the themes and musical motives that dominate "Six." I would definitely say that Mansun decidedly dodged the sophomore slump that everyone expects these days. Even if they fade into obscurity because of "Six" (it could concievably happen - "Six" is the most radio un-friendly album I have heard in a while) they can certainly be commended for this stunning effort of bravery and musical conviction. "Six," if I may attempt to sum it up for you, is like a perverse cross between Radiohead's "OK Computer", Oasis's "Champagne Supernova", David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust", The Smashing Pumpkins' "Melon Colie and the Infinite Sadness", and Blur's triumphant "13." But "Six" is much more than a piece of cleverly molded pop culture - it is pop culture in an alternate universe. Plain and simple. The album opens with all stops pulled for the title track. A characteristically Manson-ish tune that is half Tears For Fears and late 90's brit-pop and half Smashing Pumpkins. The chorus is very get-up-and-go on this one. Toe tapping and singing along is greatly inspired ;} "Negative" is next. Still, not too unexpected. Maybe a little bit weaker than the title track, but not disappointing by any means. Loud guitars and scratchy bass abound, and again you will be at least humming along. "Legacy" is where it starts to change. A six minute long song that is repetitive, and may be annoying for the first few listens, until you get into the vibe of it and recognize the subtle changes beneath the chords. Draper's love song to his fans? Hmmm... who can tell? Does he love his job or hate it? And what exactly does he want his Legacy to be, anyway? "Anti Everything." Yes! This is where it gets exciting! New ground they are pushing with this little ditty. The quavering guitar solo that resounds through the song is nothing short of inspiring. The lyrics are precise, the chords short and choppy, and despite my better sense, I always want to dance around when I hear this song. "Fall Out." One Word - wierd. Dance of the Sugarplumb Fairies meets a young David Bowie here. If you don't love this song, it will at least be an interesting listen. You'll want to hear it more than once. "Serotonin." One of my favorites. Very melodic in an offbeat way. The affected vocals are a nice touch. From here on out, all of the songs seem to blend together. Rhythm changes everywhere. Beautiful melodies that seemingly come out of nowhere. Thrashing guitars that seem relentless, then end as soon as you get used to them. To try to cut this short, I will only give the highlights of the next few songs on the album: The gorgeous solo in "Cancer." The chorus "From my TV all my problems come" in "Television." Every minute of pop bliss in "Special/Blown It." The off-beat changes in "Shotgun." This one is quirky. The soaring chorus of "Being A Girl." Nice one, this. All blurred edges and cut-and-paste melodies. Good ending.

All in all, this is one of the quirkiest, unique albums I have ever heard. Simply a magnanimous achievement by a band that are going to up the standards every time they step into the arena. This album is best discovered through repeated listenings. Caution: I hated this teh first time I heard it. It takes time to love, but you will eventually come to embrace it f you have an adventurous heart. Furthermore, Yay Mansun!

What could you say about an album that interrupts your daily routine and sleep paterns? This sounds like a group of musicians who just found a bunch of different sounds to throw into an album and are uncertain about what it is trying to say. There is no effort to hide any seams, as the songs will change without any transition. Just a pause... maybe a whistle (like in the schizophrenic closer, "Being a Girl"). It't ideas and artists like this that make the most interesting albums. It is the perfect blend of experiment and melody. It's the same thing that makes Sonic Youth hard to listen to combined with what makes so many bands from the 80's a guilty pleasure (a meaningless word to me, really). Then we have Paul Draper's completely unique voice. Like an amateur opera singer from hell. And since it's less than $4 used right now, I suggest you buy it.

The first I heard of this group Mansun is when I saw their video for "Wide Open Space". I thought that was one of the greatest songs I had ever heard. I went out trying to find the CD to know luck. But I did find a copy of the Australian release of Six, which has a remix of "Wide Open Space" on it.(the idiots at the used CD store didn't realize it was an import so I got it for dirt cheap). I was absolutely amazed at this CD. I can listen to this over and over and over again for days, which I did. I listened to this for about 2 weeks straight. This is a CD that needs to be listen to all at once. The track sequence on the version I own is different than the US version. The songs just seem to flow to one another seamlessly-like and opera. I wish Mansun would get more coverage over here in the States, because we are missing out on one AMAZING rock group. Best songs: Anti Everything, Legacy, and Six.

I got this album the day it came out in England, the UK version is better by the way. I still listen to it daily and it has been over a year now since it's release. There are simply too many elements thrown into Six to properly explain in this paragraph. It's as though they had fifty some fragments of songs, threw them all together and not even care about the results.

It sounds incredible, if you thought Radiohead were "prog" then this will kick that in the *** any day of the week. Paul Draper is brilliant as is they rest of the band.

PS. If you write Mansun they always reply to their fans, every single letter. It's nice to know that some rock stars care. Mansun are quite simply the best, only rivalled by Blur.

I own nearly 800 cds, but this one stands out as my favorite. It's so haunting and beautiful. But, I highly recommend spending the extra cash to get the UK import version. It's well worth the money. You get an extended version of the title track that blows the one on the US version away. Big time. Plus a lot more cool stuff including a dance remix of Wide Open Space. This album will not disappoint you.

Think Dark Side of the Moon for the '90s.

Simply the most graceful perfect album ever. There is no possible way to describe this album without talking for about an hour. The most incredible lyrics ever written: "I'm so boring my clothes wanna keep someone else warm, smeone cooler" layer upon layer of magnificent music. There are no comparisons to be made because it sounds like nothing around and any comparison wouldn't do it justice. Right now, God has this album on up in heaven, and he loves it

I would hardly ever give a CD a five star review. This borderline-concept album is just so many things though, and I must give the credit where it is due. And that's just about all of this album....it excells on so many levels.

I'm a big fan of melody, and this album delivers. "Six", "Negative", "Legacy", "Television".....every song really, has a great melody. And Paul Draper's voice....it's just....wow. His range and tone is GREAT. In fact...and this is a very strange combination....it's kind of like Billy Corgan mixed with Freddie Mercury. I just can't explain how much I enjoy it.

The music is also extraordinary. I'm a big fan of variety and interesting sounds. This album delivers more and more every time I listen to it. The song structures, melodys, moods, and instrumentations are all stellar. The songs are also VERY progeressive. I'm a fan of many progressive acts, I.E., Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiments, and others. This album holds all of that, including reoccuring musical themes. The song "Cancer", for example, goes through at least 7 changes in tempo and mood...but still maintains its expressiveness, and does not become a "Hey, look what we can do!" album.

Aside from the music, the lyrics are also great. I can't really explain WHY...they just are. You judge for yourself.

No review I do for this album could give it justice. I suggest you get this album if you are a fan music at all, especially bands such as Travis, Radiohead, or The Manic Street Preachers. If you're weary, buy it used. But I guess you should buy it here...(Go to Half.com, and you can get a used copy of it for about 5 or 6 dollars including shipping, *wink wink*) =)

From the beginning of this album, you know you're in for a treat. Every single track is original, and you never have the feeling of "Have I heard this one before?" like some other bands. While listening, you wish you could go back to listen to previous songs, and have a great need to continue to the end, at which point you realize that all you need to do is put the cd on loop in order to satisfy your need for continual listening. You have everything from Taoism to Marxism and Apathy expressed in these songs. Even the dance of the sugar plum fairy appears in one song-Fall Out. My personal favorite is the piano/guitar duo in Cancer. You just can't go wrong with this album. It is one of my favorite albums of all time.

this one will take a few more listens to appreciate - less instantly accessable than Attack of the Grey Lantern. Legacy is absolutely beautiful with lush guitars and harmonies drawing us in. Cancer and Television are also lovely. Is that a cat meowing in the early riffs of cancer?

Very uplifting parts of Six soar high on another dimension compared to their earlier work. Being a Girl is pure bliss for a finale.

Don't compare Six to Mansun's other work - it is too different, however widely interspersed the ebbs and flows of Six spread themselves. Still much of Mansun's indefinable beauty can be found throughout Six. Absolutely pick Six up!

The first time I heard this album I was completley shocked. Having heard Six was to be a complex and intricate affair I was still not prepared for such an insane journey of music which chops and changes practically by the minute. Upon further listening Six became stronger and stronger with each listen. Whilst not as consistently good as ..Grey Lantern, Six is more ecclectic with tracks such as Fallout, Anti-Everything and Cancer which show great experimentation. I would advise the purchase of the import version which includes the beautiful Inverse Midas which segues wonderously into Anti-Everything.

Six is a complex and challenging masterpiece and shows that Mansun are one of the best bands in Britain. Hopefully Mansun won't sell out in the future and will continue to produce albums of pure genius like ..Grey Lantern and Six