Customer Reviews

Symphony Or Damn

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Terence Trent D'arby's Symphony or Damn is a musical tour de force. The albums 16 tracks run for 65 minutes and cover all styles from funk,rock,jazz,pop to beautifil ballads all sang with that distinctive signature voice.
TTD still has to convince the huge following who purchased his first album, Intoducing the Hardline, but with this record he more than matched it.
From the outlook you know this album is something special. It's initially in two parts. The first part, Confrontation, explores different musical boumderies for TTD with a harder edged feel than previous work, whilst the second part, Reconcilliation, is a slower based affair dominated by ballads reminiscent of Stevie Wonder's early seventies albums.
Clearly we are in different territory here from Hardline, guitars are used to great effect on She Kissed Me a rock-fest dominated by a standout chorus and a forceful vocal delivery.
Do You Love Me Like You Say? the first single explores new ground for TTD, funk, rock and jazz are combined to great effect for a track that runs like a musical opera changing styles frequently against a pulsating drum loop and percussion.
Delicate, another single is a lush ballad with great keyboard work and production. Des'ree makes an appearence to add depth to the beautiful vocals. Other guests appear throughout the album, the Tower Of Power horns appear on Neon Messiah a fast based rock-funk fusion.
Harvey Mason an excellent session drummer associated with many seventies artists including James Brown appears on Frankie and Johnny, a great little ballad used in the film of the same name.
One of the strongest tracks, Turn The Page borrows a very famous drum sample and is an ambitious epic, with TTD experimenting both musically and lyrically to great effect with astonishing results.
My favourite track on the album is Succumb To Me a rich phycadelic keyboard synth is the backgound to a emotionally charged vocal. This track never lets up and is a incredible power trip.
The album closes with three classic ballads. I still Love You features TTD at his most romatic, a great melody with beautiful lyrics, very similiar to his earlier classic Sign Your Name.
Seasons, an outstanding effective track really lets TTD's vocals impress the listener, with only a subtle backdrop of acoustic guitar, congos and atmospherics. The best track and final single taken from the album is Let Her Down Easy a classic piano led ballad with a wonderful vocal that pulls at the heart strings long after the album closes.
Released in 1993, this album was written, arranaged, and produced bt TTD and although recieved critical acclaim it didn't persuade the 8 million people who purchaesd the first album to diverge. Anyone who did by Hardline really should explore this album, they will not be disappointed.
TTD is a very underestimated as an artist and generally ignored by the record buying public, a shame because he is a wonderful talent and this album, his finest hour, really should be labelled a classic of the last decade. Recommended.

This is one of the best albums I've ever heard, but it took over a year for me to realize it. I originally thought Delicate was the only good song on the album, but when I bought a car with horrible radio reception I was forced to re-discover my CD collection. I think the first time you hear most of the songs on SoD you have to pay attention otherwise it can just sound noisy. I really like that TTD dips into different musical genres and creates a style that is his own. On SoD, it's a confident blend of rock and pop, with a bit of blues, but what makes this album truly beautiful is the soul in every track. My favorite songs are the ones that make the most of TTD's strong, articulate voice: Wet Your Lips, Turn the Page (what lyrics!), Frankie and Johnny, and Let Her Down Easy (gorgeous). As others have alluded to, there are no junky songs on here. Some are complex, some are super-simple (e.g. I Still Love You), some loud, some quiet, but all are solidly good. This is a must-have album. I do not know how I lived without it so long. I love Introducing the Hardline, too, but while that has a definite 80s feel, Symphony or Damn sounds rather ... timeless.

I like TTD because he evaded pop stardom and redundancy. He's an artist that you can call your own without seeing billions of adoring fans agree with you. I think TTD is one of the most talented musicians of our time. I compare him with Prince, but without the popularity. Of TTD's four cds, I believe his first and Symphony or Damn are his best. Symphony or Damn outshadows his debut because of it's audaciousness and boldness. It's original, diverse, and satisfying. 16 tracks, and not one is a throwaway. Few artists can boast that they made a 16 track album with no filler. Symphony or Damn contains great songs like "She Kissed Me", "Do You Love Me Like You Say You Do", "Baby Let Me Share My Love", "Delicate", "Neon Messiah", "Wet Your Lips", "Turn the Page", "Let Her Down Easy" and "I Still Love You." Because the grunge and rap movements were so big in 1993, this great cd fell through the cracks because it's not easily categorized and it doesn't contain grunge or rap. This, and TTD's debut cds are must haves for any rock collector.

Nearly a decade ago TTD released his third LP and the music world apparently couldn't possibly care less. Well, that's a shame since "Symphony..." is easily one of his greatest efforts (his best was 1995's "Vibrator") and stands as a major musical statement. In a rare TV appearance on the "Arsenio Hall Show" in '93(I still have it on tape!) D'Arby talked candidly about what drives hime to create the music he does and the two roads musicians take in furthering their careers 1 being 'following the safe path' as he put it, or by 'aspiring to be a true artist' which he has done from day one. Stunning songs like the brilliant, plaintive "Castillian Blue", the 60's pop jangle of "Penelope Please" or the shout-to-the-heavens soul wailing of "Do You Love Me Like You Say?" confirm that while accessability to a wide audience is indeed possible, it sometimes should take a backseat to the art itself. This nearly flawless song cycle infuses rock, pop, Dance, funk and straight soul together into a dizzying whirlwind of an album that never bores and will have you spinning it several times without a pause. His melodies are strong, singing unbelievable, and playing (he handles nearly all the instruments himself) remarkably tight. A Brilliant, Triumphant Album.

where, oh where have u gone, mr e.g. o'reilly? music that sounds this good, this thought out, this philosophical, and this secure-with-itself should not disappear by any means. i can't even listen to all the new r&b singers after listening 2 this guy. vocally, he's a combination of sam cooke, otis redding, and michael jackson and can sound like all of them in a single phrase. musically he aims 2 be the beatles in'revolver/sgt. pepper' mode. again, it's just ridiculous how good this guy is. anyways: 'she kissed me' rocks like a mother, 'do u love me...' is a pretty song even with the psychedelic guitar buzz; the sweet and sexiness of 'delicate' should win a few hearts; 'penelope please' has a killer melody that may prove 2 be addictive; 'turn the page' is freeform poetry with the jb's in psychedelic mode; there's more 2 say but u get it. one of my favorite things on this album is reading the lyrics, and a quote here is used that people should use in their everyday lives: "when in doubt just live the questions and someday u will grow in2 the answer". right now the author of that quote escapes me but it's obvious this guy is very well read, and not as some sort of marketing ploy. please pick this up so he can get a recording deal and we can enjoy this man's talent over and over and over and...

Terence Trent D'Arby is one of the greatest artists in music and this is one of the best albums of the 1990's. The music is bursting with creativity and the lyrics are emotional and passionate. The production is awesome with great performances from all the musicians and the intense vocals of TTD binding it all together. There's so many good songs on this album but some highlights include the opening rocker "She Kissed Me", the soulful pop of "Delicate", and the beautiful melodies of the amazing song "Let Her Down Easy". Stop reading and go listen beacause Symphony Or Damn is a classic album as good as anything that either Prince or Michael Jackson have ever done in their careers.

This album is fire. This guy never really got the credit he deserved. Listen to songs like "Penelope Please", "Let her down easy", "Do you love me like you say you do", "Delicate", "She kissed me" , etc and tell me this guy doesn't deserve more credit than he has been given. I wish this album came after his debut album because it would have been a strong follow-up. Go get this album!!.

If "Do You Love Me Like You Say You Do" was the only great song on this CD and every other song was a flopping fish on a scorching sun deck in mid-summer's heat, I'd still buy it! That song is such a classic cut that its value would hold up an overall terrible CD...but luckily, TTD doesn't disappoint and delivers a sterling set of musical genius (yet again)! From songs like "She Kissed Me", "Baby Let Me Share My Love", "Delicate", "Wet Your Lips", "Let Her Down Easy" and "I Still Love You." Great, great stuff! 16 terrific songs and no filler! How often can you say that...???

On his 3rd album TTD came roaring back with both cannons blazing...yet the music industry didn't get it! Thank Heaven's I did. As one reviewer said..sometimes it's nice to have an artist that is all your own..one that hasn't comprised the art of music or their talent for fame and fortune!

Whenever pressed to pick a favorite by TTD, I can't do it because each release of his gives me a different kind of release...it's like asking a parent to pick a favorite child..it can't be done! The man is a genius..take a walk on the wild, soulful, rock-edged side with TTD. You need this CD in your collection...I kid you not!

This album saw a return to commercial success of sorts after the Hardline-hangover of Neither Fish Nor Flesh. The beautiful Desree duet "Delicate", pretty piano piece "Let Her Down Easy" and rocking "She Kissed Me There" were all well received. Corny intro aside he rarely lets up. Vocally Terence is as tight as usual and all songs have some quality while his lyrics are at their most poetic yet. Any TTD admirer should definitely give this LP a listen.

I remember this CD coming out in 93 and at the same time as Lenny Kravitz 'Are you gonna go my way' and TTD music on this one got overshadowed by Lenny.

She kissed me may not have great lyrics, but this song doesn't let up, and a great vocal by Terence (as always!) Honestly, this CD is worth buying just for 'She kissed me', it's that good. Other highlights are 'do you love me' 'let her down easy' and 'delicate.'

Last I heard about TTD was when he sang with INXS in Australia back in middle of 1999, and back in the late 80s he was even considered to be joining the Rolling Stones!

I'd like to see more solo work from TTD, cause the song 'She kissed me' is as good as any song I've heard. Come back Terence!