Still Life [IMPORT]

Aqualung

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 3, 2003)
• Original Release Date: November 25, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Wea Int'l
• ASIN: B0000EW9P0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #172,449 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
One of British pop's new breed of moody and introverted post-Thom Yorke baby boomers, Still Life finds Southampton's classically trained Matt Hales--Aqualung's songwriter and frontman--succeeding in selling both himself and his omnipotent piano as a more erudite and self-absorbed version of Coldplay. Beginning with the mitigated optimism of "Brighter than Sunshine"--a gloriously simplistic pop song spruced with cloudy strings and therefore redolent of a more sullen ELO--and climaxing with the muttered, moribund lulling of "Good Goodnight," Still Life frequently attains levels of mumbled intensity via songs as alluring and bitterly withered as "Easier to Lie" and "Extraordinary Thing." The latter not only utilizes a harpsichord and paraphrases one of Churchill's famous wartime speeches but goes on to satirize Radiohead's oeuvre with the classic--and practically comedic--opening line "Cheer up, it may never happen." It was always going to take something special to trump Aqualung's eponymous debut but Still Life really does do the job in atypically melancholic fashion. --Kevin Maidment

Product Description
Second album from singer-songwriter Matt Hales, who shot to fame in 2002 with his self-titled debut after the track 'Strange & Beautiful' was used in a Volkswagen commercial. With 'Still Life' he has refined his songwriting skills to come up with an album of epic pop, full of soaring strings & catchy melodies. Features 10 tracks including the singles 'Brighter Than Sunshine' & 'Easier To Lie'. B-Unique. 2003.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars In Pain, June 14, 2004

By	Claire Bates (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I once read a review of Aqualung where the reviewer describes Matt Hales as sounding like he was in exquisite pain. That's true, he does, but in a very listenable way. This is not an upbeat album in any way, but the lyrics and the sentiment are very cathartic (sorry for the cliche). It's a quiet, intimate album that you're almost afraid to listen to with any one else around. I would recommend this album over the first Aqualung CD.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely amazing., May 22, 2004

By	J. Bird (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I discovered Aqualung through the WB's show Smallville. They played Strange and Beautiful (I've never been much of a commercial watcher, so I missed it when that happened). I searched, and listened to some of the other songs and I've fallen absolutely in love. A worthwhile investment, all around!

Where most Artists release a song, and then the other tracks are increasingly different from the sound you fell in love with, Aqualung is refreshingly (instead of stagnantly) consistent with their mesmerizing sound.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, July 3, 2005

By	Max Fisher "Max" (SLC) - See all my reviews

This album is beautiful and heart felt. Great song writing ability is seen and heard in each song. I was trying to make a mix cd recently and looking to put one of these songs on there and I couldn't decide on one because they are all so great. Please take the time to listen to this album and also check out Strange and Beautiful.