Customer Reviews

Song in the Air

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This cd is beautiful. It's a great cd to drive around and think to. This cd brought tears to my eyes on my vacation...when i was watching the ocean pass on the ship. I honeslty recommend anyone who is into stringed instruments incorporated into wonderful music to go and purchase this album and listen to it straight through...

I first heard the song "Beijing" on Pandora. I was working furiously on something when the song began gradually emanating from the computer in the room and suffused the air with these gentle, lush combinations of voice, guitar, drums...It was unreal. I stopped everything, stared off into space, and only recovered when the song was over. I bought the album almost immediately. I think it is virtually impossible to single the songs out and rate them individually. Like some people have already suggested, Elliot's songs are symphonic and seamless, leaving you with memories of the entire album and no distinct memories of individual songs. I can only say that I am so envious of people who got to see Elliot live. Its baffling that they are no longer together. What an amazing album!

I'm a late comer to the Elliot camp, having not heard them until their final release "Photorecording", and coming across this album after purchasing that one. However it can only be said that Elliot had to have been one of the most underappreciated acts in Indie rock. It's almost a shame that a band so talented and dynamic is no longer making music together, as their striking blend of mellow rock was not only original and captivating, but an absolute pleasure to listen to. Much in the way artists like Ariel Kill Him and The Appleseed Cast blend atmospheric, spacy rock with lush instrumentation, Elliot creates vibrant soundscapes and tuneful melodies that circle around the listener from every angle. Not just that but Elliot are also seemingly able to create an album which seems more like one giant piece, rather than just a collection of songs. The album as a whole feels complete and that is quite an accomplishment. Why are such talented bands continuing to call it quits?

In the vein of Post-Rock, Elliot seems to enjoy pushing their instrumentation to the front of their sound. Not to say the vocals are unimportant, but when you listen to this cd you hear the music more than the words. However the soft and affectionate way the vocals are delivered adds a stunning texture to the music and a perfect backdrop to their endearing musical work. While most of the songs are slow-moving (and I'm regularly a fan of faster paced music), I can't help but get captivated in almost every single one. Even epics like "Beijing (Too Many People)" which creeps along slowly to its 7:24 mark isn't in the slightest bit boring or dull. That's saying a lot when people in today's musical world have such short attention spans.

Picking favorites is a pretty difficult task for the disc, because in reality every song offers something different and unique. "Carry On", with its soulful violins and beautiful melodies, is probably the most straight-forward and upbeat of any track, but still has plenty of twists and turns to keep the listener interested. The two instrumental pieces, "Drag Like Pull" and "Genea" are two highlights, the former being a slow-building but gradually epic conjuring of rock riffs and exceptional drumming, and the latter being a serene and nurturing ending to the disc. "Believe" and the title track are both keepers, with their excellent lyrics and magnificent structures. Like the title of the record implies, most of these songs make you feel like you are floating in the air. And if this is what floating in the air feels like, then I'd probably never want to walk on solid ground again.

This album, their exceptionally recorded final offering "Photorecording", and the absolutely magnificent "False Cathedrals" are all necessary purchases for fans of the said genre ("Us Songs" is as well), or those who enjoy well thought out and executed indie rock. Elliot quickly became one of my most played bands with this disc, and having looked into all their other full lengths, I can safely say this way a band that went unnoticed for far too long. If you happen to stumble across this or any other release by these guys, do yourself a favor and pick it up, especially if you're into music along the lines of Ariel Kill Him, Sigur Ros, or The Appleseed Cast. With all this talent it's hard for me to believe that they called it quits, but I'm guessing time and situations dictate responses. As for now we can only hope for a reunion sometime in the future.

Don't send me away, come with song in the air
bring your life and your loves, show that sparkles last
drag on, away
maybe your the same, without me

A beautifully satisfying, thought provoking, landscape of sound dying to be explored... buy it, attatch headphones, study it... love it.

This is the best way to describe this album, musical genius. It's a cross between Radiohead, Coldplay, and even some Pink Floyd... but it's mixed in such a way that it is unique to Elliot. The lead singer's voice is soothing... and although it may be described a weak, it isn't the core of this CD. This CD is mostly instrumental and only accented by his voice. What also makes this CD worth listening to is the masterful mix of both strings and what sounds like steel guitar, creating a rich and heavenly musical masterpiece. This is the best CD that I've bought in a long time.

On the first spin, I didn't know what to make of this album. It sounded like a movie soundtrack more than a rock album, but I kept it in heavy rotation, and I am so glad that I did. This album is one of the most beautiful albums I've heard in a long, long time. With two instrumental tracks and sparser vocals than the last album, the melodies and layers sing for themselves without the help of lyrics. The title track alone is so stunningly gorgeous yet so aching that you'll forget all about any misgivings you had about this album compared to Elliott's previous albums-and just surrender to the lull of the violin.

It seems that every album that Elliott comes out with is completely different than their last. Their first album, U.S. songs, was harder than any of their other stuff. Then they gave us False Cathedrals, which I think is the greatest album ever made. It sent us all through emotional ups and downs. And finally their newest album, Song in the Air, is the softest stuff they've ever put out. It still runs the listener to emotional ups and downs, but it is hard to follow up an album like False Cathedrals. This album wont disappoint you i promise. its great, buy it.

What happens when Elliott gets a new bass and guitar player? Throw in keyboards on "Blue Storm" and tear-inducing strings (violin, cello, viola) to "Song in the Air" and you've got the most gorgeous album ever. Don't hesitate, you'll love it!

I don't like this one as much as I like "False Cathedrals", the album before this. That's because of many different things. First they have tuned down Chris Hidgons vocals, so its not as easy to hear as earlier, wich is a shame since he has a really good singingvoice (I read somewhere on the internet saying he have the voice of an angel, that's a bit exaggerated, but still..). Second, they have turned down the intensity - On "False Cathedrals" their music was so powerfull, so dramatic and majestic it blew me away, but on "Song In The Air" the music lacks the "punch". Third, there's for som reason more guitarnoice/distortion on this one, wich messes up the melodies. And last, "False Cathedrals" was (is) such a wonderfull album that "Song In The Air" just can't match up to, too bad for Elliott.

And finally, Chris Hidgon has a new band, and a new album, due iut ca. december - I can't wait.

elliott does it again. each album has it's own feel, all so good in their own right. i didn't think anything could come close to false cathedrals, but this one did. a pretty mellow album with so much emotion. the tracks with violin and cello definately stand out. i love this cd.