Customer Reviews

Stop All The World Now (Special Edition Version)

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Unlike many of the reviewers, I enjoyed Howie Day's previous release, "Australia," but I also found it to be inconsistent. "Stop All the World Now" avoids sounding somewhat inconsistent (hey even Coldplay have improved since their somewhat inconsistent "Parachutes). But I digress. "Stop All the World Now" starts off strongly and ends off strongly, filled with tons of passion throughout and a great acoustic rock fill.

"Brace Yourself" is an amazing song and lyrically has a range of motions within it...great opener to an album. "Perfect Time of Day" has a calypso-esque acoustic feel to it that is interesting. "Collide" is the song that catapulted Howie Day up the charts and it's easy to see why...this is a love song, but a love song that is almost bittersweet too at moments. The lyrical quality, acoustic nature, and the 25 piece orchestra just make this song even stronger and more amazing. "Trouble in Here" is a great acoustic song and the piano really makes this song stronger and "sing" even more. "Sunday Morning Song" is probably the one song that could drag this album down though it is different. "I'll Take You On" is another different kind of song but the crescendo in the middle of the song just intensifies the passionate lyrics. This is one of the better songs on the album. "She Says" harkens back to "Ghost" and although it cannot supercede "Ghost", it is still a great acoustic song. "Numbness for Sound" is another song that builds in this album, beginning off with vocals and very little instrumentation, but as the song progresses, it builds with emotion and power. Yet another one of the better songs on the album. "You & A Promise"...this is my second favorite song on the album. The lyrics tackle some very difficult issues like pregnancy but the lyrics are trascendental enough that they can apply to any hard time in a relationship when promises are made. Great song with the vocals, lyrics, and music. "End of Our Days" is another song about relationships but it's also a beautiful love song...another one of the better songs on the album. "Come Lay Down" would have to be my favorite song on the entire album...the lyrics convey that beckoning feeling, that feeling of protection. The instruments and vocals are perfect as well and help create a mood of flying. "This Time Around" is a perfect song to follow "Come Lay Down" and has great lyrics. "Standing in the Sun" continues in a "flying" type of mood and is of course another of the better songs on the album. The acoustic versions of "Brace Yourself" and "Collide" are great to end off with because it strips Howie Day down to his vocals and just a guitar...a fine way to end off this amazing album.

I listen to and purchase lots of music of all kinds. This is among the best albums I have ever heard, top to bottom. I have listened to it many times every day over the last month, and I have not tired of it. I had listened to the disc one time online, and then was inspired to buy it after reading the many reviews on Amazon. I agree with the other reviews - and have not been disappointed with my purchase.

"Even the best fall down sometime, even the stars refuse to shine, out of the dark you fill my mind, and you and I collide".

I saw Howie on the Letterman show and got his cd the next day. His music is always playing in my studio and I find I am inspired by his writings. His voice is mature beyond his years. Don't let his baby face fool you, he has a maturity in his work that will enchant you.

I highly recommend this cd. Young talent like this is refreshing to find.

This is the first album that I have taken the time to write a review for, and I can only give one reason for it: Stop All the World Now is simply the best Album I have bought in a long, long time.

I can't describe how good it is. There could be simple comparisons to David Gray, or other songwriters, but comparisons don't tell how artful Stop All the World Now really is. Sure, there are a couple of times when the use of processed sounds just doesn't seem right, but dammit, its still good music.

What most bands would need a full album full of screams to accomplish is simply summed up into a simple chorus by Howie. He uses restraint to keep from taxing the listener, and does so in a way that keeps one reaching for the repeat button. Listening to "Perfect Time of Day" once is almost impossible. In Fact, its hard to listen to this album all the way through without skipping back.

Quite Frankly, I want this album to be playing in the background of all the events I want to remember in 20 years.

In March 04 we went to see the Bare Naked Ladies in concert and Howie Day opened for them. I have never heard of this kid, but I was amazed at his talent. During intermission we went to the lobby and bought his CD and got it autographed by the band. It amazes me with it's level of depth in the music and lyrics. Pretty amazing for a kid who is under 20. His voice sounds like a mixture between the lead singer to the GooGoo dolls and Bono from U2. The song "Come Lay Down" is reminiscent of Zepplin's music. More importantly this music seems to have a very calming effect on me.

I love this C.D. I have not stopped listening to it since I ordered it in January!!! Can't wait until he has a new CD out!

I really enjoyed Stop All The World Now. I originally bought it for my mom as a mother's day present, only familiar with the hit track "Collide". I popped it in my CD player and listened to the entire thing...I really enjoyed it! Howie plays relaxing music that you just can't say no to. I loved all of his bonus acoustic tracks. Some of my favorite songs are Collide, Brace Yourself, Trouble in Here and The Sunday Morning Song. I would reccomend this CD to anyone who likes deep, acoustic music that goes straight to your heart.

This CD is awesome, I couldn't stop listening to it once I got it. I like how at the end there's the extra songs and the acoustic versions of "Collide" and "Brace Yourself" I'd have to say that my favorites on this album are Collide, Perfect Time of Day, I'll Take You On, End of Our Days, She says, and Standing Still. Oh and if you ever get the chance to see him live, he's amazing!!

If you are recent fan and merely like/know Howie Day for Collide then you cannot truly appreciate his music. Take some time and explore his music over the past several years and see how he and his music have developed. Check out some recordings of his concerts throughout his career (that's where the real magic is) and then take a listen to this album. SATWN is another incredible release from Howie.

If you're really interested in hearing a more intense and original acoustic sound, Howie Day is the artist you've been looking for. "Stop" is a breakaway from the solo sound heard on Howie's "Australia" yet shows a more versatile side of his talents. On "Stop", Howie has a backup band and some of the background orchestration as heard on "End of our Days" is amazing. For longtime fans of Howie, like myself, this cd may be hard to swallow at first-it's a little darker than "Australia" and has a common winter theme and feel in the music. It's a diverse collection of songs that will send your heart racing or will entrance you into a sweet, happy slumber. I love this cd and it's among my favorites but beware old school Howie fans-this radio-ready cd may throw you for a loop. Personally, I prefer Howie's one man show where he mixes his own songs through looping-he's AMAZING in concert if you ever have the opportunity to see him solo.

All of this aside, this cd is definitely worth a listen and will make you interested in other Howie Day albums. According to Howie, his next album features a lighter and more summertime feel-a preview of that album's sound can be heard on "Standing in the Sun", a track added after the original release of "Stop".
Merry listening!