Customer Reviews

Songs of the Unforgiven

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

The Crash Test Dummies website describes "Songs Of The Unforgiven" as a stylistic shift from 2003's "Puss 'N' Boots", and they aren't kidding. They go on to say that this new album is similar to something Nick Cave or Tom Waits would do. I actually felt it was something more like fellow Canadian Leonard Cohen would produce.

There are 17 tracks, but really there are 10 full-formed songs couched in between three sonnets and four interludes that are all very short. I felt that this album was better than "Puss 'N' Boots" musically and lyrically. It's not up to their best work such as 1991's "The Ghosts That Haunt Me" and 1993's "God Shuffled His Feet", but there's something compelling in the lyrics of "Unforgiven" and Brad's dreary drone. The songs are pretty much about evil, corruption and the end of everything. It works pretty well, but there's little variation.

In fact, this album is quite homogenous in its approach and sound, and many of the songs sound alike. This works as a whole album though, but if you are looking for individual tracks that stand out, you will not find one. I have to hand it to Brad Roberts for keeping the band going (even though it's just him now with Ellen Reid lending her voice at times), and for going independent rather than selling out to the major labels. Most bands in this position would have sold out, but not Brad.

If I had to point to the best songs I'd pick "And So Will Always Be", "The Unforgiven Ones", "Is The Spell Really Broken", "Everlasting Peace" and "The Wicked And The Evil".

Let's just say that I hope Brad feels better soon, because this is the third Crash Test Dummies album in a row that has been downbeat. Maybe a reunification with the other four members might rejuvenate the music?

If your a CTD fan, you know not one album will be like the next. It is always interesting to see what Brad will come up with next. Strangely enough, this one is as deep in the roots of old contemporary country. It is slow the whole way through and a dark album, with incredible lyrics and vocals. This album is perfect for the fall season, when everything is getting darker and dying. It is a setting for Autumn. I again think this album is one of his better albums. I would say if you like "Ghosts That Haunt Me Now" and "I Dont Care" albums this is perfect blend of the 2. However don't expect the pace to ever get any faster then what it is. Nice work Brad, another great album.

I really like this new album. After being hooked on CTD by a friend over the summer, I have listened to the band almost every day. This one is much different from the well-known "God Shuffled His Feet" and is more melancholy in nature. The lyrics, sung by Brad Roberts in his haunting baritone voice, are very thought provoking. Highly recommended.

If you like the CTD, I can't see how you would not like this latest cd. Every one of their previous cd's is unique in its own right, and this one is no different. I can ALWAYS find a CTD cd to fit a particular mood I am in. This latest is very dark and easy to listen to. In fact, this one has prompted me to cycle through all their previous a number of times. It reminds me of how much I like Brad's voice and how much I love this band. More to the qualities of this CD: Dark, slow, sad,
depressing. I LOVE IT! I will always be a CTD fan and hope that they continue to produce unique music for a very long time.

The best CTD album of them all. If you liked "I don't care if you don't mind," than you should love this. It really grows on you. It never gets old. It's dark, slow, and moving.

I am a casual fan of CTD, had their first two albums and stopped listening to them a long time ago.
I like this CD enough to listen to it once every couple of months. But I find it difficult to rate it high. It's a very melancholy, monotonous thing. I am a very optimistic person, but listening to this, I felt like each song was trying to hypnotize me into popping a bottle of pills in laying down in bed waiting for the end ("You've Had Your Run" about sums it up). The songs are also very similar musically - they have similar structure, with similar chords. Each chord is strummed slowly once. Not very impressive composition, IMO. Unless you are following the songs with the song list in hand, you will lose track of which one is playing. There are a couple of songs that display some kind of personality, but the rest has the consistency of soggy cereal. The singer's deep voice is the only thing that keeps things interesting.

IMO, you will not miss this album if you don't get it.

I seem to have discovered what could have caused difference in opinion between those who enjoy and those who despise this album; the quality of the stereo system one is using. I can imagine that through poor-quality or even just standard speakers, this album would have been a lot more boring to me. But I am fortunate to have a very impressive stereo system with which to listen to this album, and to my ears it is nothing short of beautiful. The sheer ambience of the recording is enough to sweep you off your feet, complete with a pipe organ and very good acoustic guitar. Then you add in the backup voices of Suzy Roche and Ellen Reid to add that soft, lush layer. Then comes the main ingredient; Brad Roberts and his excellent songwriting. His voice is magnificently deep and sombre in this album, bringing his emotional lyrics to life perfectly. It's nice to hear him dip into the more aggressive side, such as in the song "The Beginning of the End," where you can hear a definitive and rough rocker sound during the second verse.

With good speakers, this album is nothing short of beautiful. Although certainly with a much darker, more emotional feel than previous albums, I think this one fits right up alongside "God Shuffled His Feet" as some of the favorite music I own.

Yes, I am talking to all of the whiners out there that expect every new CTD album to be regurgitated God Shuffled His Feet fare. And when, amazingly, they find out that it is completely different all they do is ooze pathetically about just that...how different it is! Thank God! Don't get me wrong, GSHF is a phenomenal album, but I don't want to hear it reincarnated every couple of years. Any Floyd fans out there? Do you whine and cry because Atom Heart Mother is so different from Dark Side of the Moon? Or the Wall? Or Meddle? C'mon, the sign of a great artist is their ability to create and produce something new and different. Brad succeeds every time he puts out a new album. Some days I could go for Ghosts, some days for Worms, and some days for Don't Care. They are all great albums. Songs of the Unforgiven is no different...or is it?

This cd is filled with songs that are soothing and make you feel happy. But i think that God shuffled his feet id funnier and more relaxing. But this album is pretty good. It is perfect to put on if u have a date or if you take a bubble bath. But i suggest God Shuffled his feet for a date or bubble bath.

I decided to give this cd a chance since I have all of ctd cd's this one is the same as "I don't care if you don't mind" all of these songs a very slow with the kind of a western theme no rock tracks here but the cd does offer a glimps of brad roberts vocal talents. This is a cd for an aquired taste keep in mind this is a band that does not do the same type of album twice the backing vocals of ellen reid on the unforgiven ones ,And So Will Always Be and others are fantasic. One would have to settle down and listen to the pure talent of this cd of course it's not from the days of god shuffled his feet but this cd itself has it's own style.