Customer Reviews

Touch

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There are many different kinds of Delirious listeners. Depending on which type you are, you will either love or loathe the "Touch" album.

First, there's the casual fan who likes the radio-friendly songs like "Deeper" "History Maker" and the song that just about every CCM artist has covered, "I Could Sing of Your Love Forever." For these types, I would not recommend the groundbreaking "Touch" disc because it won't conform to the formula that you might wish it would. You'll be happier with CCM radio stuff and more predictable artists like Third Day and the Newsboys. Of course, if you're willing to abandon those expectations and become open to something a little more musically experimental, artistically unique, and lyrically mature, then "Touch" has a lot to offer.

There are others who think of Delirious primarily as a source for the latest groovy worship tunes that can be incorporated into a corporate singing setting, or the next Passion album. After all, isn't Delirious where "Did you feel the mountains...?" "I Could Sing.." and "My Glorious" came from in the first place? If you are this type, you might also be dissapointed to find that the next "Did you feel?" or "The Happy Song" is not lurking on this album, waiting to be discovered by the Passion empire or the next WOW Worship Magenta compilation.

And then, there are the Delirious "fans." Speaking as one who has found that no Delirious album has ever followed the formula of the preceeding one, I wasn't surprised to find that "Touch" was no exception. If I had to summarize this album's overall flavor, (which isn't totally possible un-fomulaic nature of the album) I would call it a cross between the arena anthem singability of "Glo" and the arsty studio production of "Mezzamorphis."

As is the case with any d: album, it will take some time for it to grow on you. The first listen will be completely different than the fifth, or tenth. In my opinion, the biggest strength of this album is that the songs on "Touch" come across as more honest, raw and risky than any the band's previously released work. Highlights include "Love is the compass," the title track and "Angel in Disguise." If you've been a Delirious fan for a while, you will grow to love this album just as much as the others, plus disc #2 has some rockin' live versions which only helps to sweeten the experience.

If you are semi-new to Delirious, and are looking for a first album to try out, I would recommend "Cutting Edge" and "King of Fools" over this one. The "D:finitie Worship Experience" double disc set is a good compilation of their best work but it takes away from the album feel of the songs since it tends to be more of a cut and paste job.

First I'd like to address all of you who are knocking this album because it is not a worship record. Over the past year and a half, I have become pretty familiar with delirious and their work. The first album I heard by them was "Glo" a terrific record that somehow manages to straddle the line between worship music and flat out rock 'n roll. While that album is definitely a milestone, and is hard to categorize, I can safely say that all of their other albums fall into one of two distinct categories: worship albums and not worship albums. Let's call "Glo" a successful attempt to achieve both statuses. Records like "Mezamorphis" and "Touch" and even "King Of Fools" (which i, regrettably am not as familiar with) falls into the non-worship category. "Cutting Edge" and "Deeper" are unabashed in their worship recordness.

I play in a praise band, and did not know until I bought and read the liner notes to "Deeper" that Delirious is responsible for writing some of the best and most well-known praise songs of our day. After finding that out, I stopped nursing the notion that they were another bunch of hacks putting out some tired, retreaded worship album: they were putting together a greatest hits album of sorts.

My respect for this band is sky high. They are innovators, visionaries, and on that standard alone, it could be said that absolutely any record they make is a good record, but I won't be that naive. "Touch" took me a couple of listens to come around to, but I'm glad I did. It reminds me of "Mezamorphis" in that these are just good songs that say so much about the way that faith in Christ effects our everyday life. "Mezamorphis" wasn't a worship record at all. The first time I heard "Heaven" was on a secular modern rock radio station. I didn't know who it was, and only assumed that they had to be a Christian band. Point is, Delirious is not softening up their message, they're just writing the songs that they feel are important to themselves, their fans, and most importantly God. Don't knock them for that.

I got this album a week ago and really liked it. As far rock albums go it doesn't get much better than this. I was suprised that a lot of people were so harsh on it with their reviews but as I began to read what they wrote it started to make sense to me. Most the people who complained about this album mentioned something about its spiritual content. I guess it makes since that since Delirious is a band that made a solid reputation based on worship music that this album would upset a lot of it's fans, not that it is by any means close to a secular album despite what some people have said. I can safely say if your looking for a truely religious work that you probably want to check out Glo, World Service, or even King of Fools but as far as rock albums go this is on par with anything Delirious has ever done and better than most of it. A good comaprsion would for those who aren't are familiar with Delirous be fellow british rockers U2, or the White Stripes odds are if you have their albums and like the highly sythensized abstract music they put out this is right up your alley if not you probably should check out something else. I would recommend either of Third Day's or News Boy's worship albums if thats what your looking for.

Unfortunately, most of the bad reviews have been because people don't understand the type of delirious that put this album out. Though not up to speed with King of Fools and Glo, Touch is still very addicting. The sound is much different than Glo and King of Fools and more along the lines of Mezzamorphis, which has more of a UK mainstream sound. The limited edition cd package makes the purchase all the more worth it, with great live performances and a bonus live performance of "There is a Light" which made me shed a tear the first time I heard it. So, if you are looking for the praise music delirious usually puts out, this isn't your cup of tea. But if you are a diehard delirious addict such as myself, don't even hesitate(you probably already have it, tho.)
LOOK FOR THE NEW DELIRIOUS? ALBUM COMING SOON! ALSO, CHECK OUT THEIR NEW SINGLE "MAJESTY" AT MP3.COM (due out october 1.)

This is a spectacular CD. This collection of songs fills a huge range in musical tastes, satisfying the most discriminating of listeners. It beckons to be listened to all the way through (skiping tracks is unnecessary), and doing so will take you through a unique and gratifying musical journey. TOUCH has a huge mainstream sound, without selling out in the slightest; the passion is just as present here as it is in GLO. Get it. A MUST HAVE!

Yes, Touch is a bit of a different direction for Delirious. While Mezzamorphis and Glo hinted at a more modern, techno-ish rock, this one has some retro-flavorings. Although most of these tracks were also in the UK release Audio Lessonover?, several, such as "Waiting for the Summer" and "Love is the Compass" have been remixed and have a very different flavor. The song "Touch" as well has appeared on both a UK single and the compilation CD Roaring Lambs, but is now available in yet another remix - the 3rd version of the song, but the first on a full-length Delirious album.

As far as the lyrical direction of Touch, if you weren't offended by Mezzamorphis, you will probably have no problems with Touch. Delirious have always been one to have a vertical worshipful focus in their music combined with a desire to take the music out into the street where everyone can hear it, not just those that shop at a local Christian bookstore. The biggest new thing on this album is several songs written for the band's wives.

Overall, this is a good overall CD. I don't believe it to be Delirious' best record yet. Compared to many CDs out there it still ranks better than average. However, the addition of the live bonus CD makes this a much better buy. The bonus CD has a few tracks from Live and in the Can (which a great if you don't have that CD) as well as a few new recordings of Delirious worship favorites. The bonus CD (and music videos just for fun) make this a worthwhile CD for just about any Delirious fan.

The US released "Touch" transports Delirious onto a new stage, capturing whole-heartedly their progressive approach to music. Here is a successul band unafraid to delve deeper and create a new sound that is fully in tune with their vision. The infusion of a Coldplay like sound, with a definitive U2 feel certainly enhances the appeal of this CD to a world audience. While not as overtly 'religious' as previous albums, the lyrics are certainly packed with insight, and provide substance for the Christian and non-Christain alike. While I would like to see Delirious producing their own stuff in the US like they do in the UK, I am still delighted by the British music scene's ability to bring an exciting dynamic to world music. Delirious? are certainly creating a stir. This album is worth every penny - will grow on you by the minute, and leave you in awe of the innovation that Smith et al. bring to the Christian and World-Music scene. Buy it. Love it. Buy it for somebody else!

I bought both this CD and Audiolessonover because I love the band. I enjoyed lessonover, but I must say this CD fixed all the problems I had with it. Touch is an amazing experiance. I went horse from screaming the worship CD (which by the way incoporates several tracks from live and in the can) as well as the first track (touch). If you don't have lessonover I say GET THIS. If you do have lessonover, skip it, unless your a diehard, there is only a few new songs. But I am looking forward to the spanish CD thanks to "I could Sing of your love forever" because the bridge sounded great. Thank you JESUS!

Having firmly planted themselves as leaders of the modern worship movement with classics such as "I Could Sing Of Your Love Forever", Delirious? took a risky turn when they released "Touch" and its UK counterpart "Audio Lessenover". For fans who were waiting to see what the band had in store next after the success of "Glo", some might have been disappointed. "Touch" did not contain the same heart-pounding, euphoric worship anthems such as "My Glorious". This album contained catchy, imaginative alternative rock songs. CCM listeners could point to the title track and several other songs as evidence of a declaration of faith, but many of the lyrics could be interpreted as being addressed to God or to their love. The Christianity was still there, but it was subtle, thus making this Delirious?'s most radio-friendly album, particularly songs such as "Show Me Heaven", "Take Me Away", and the instantly catchy "Waiting For The Summer".

Delirious? sprang on the scene as a new-born Great Band. They were a breath of fresh air for Christian listeners, not least because they seemed as surprised by their fame as we did.

TOUCH is not a great cd. It's a very, very good album produced by a band whose sound we've grown accustomed to. Maybe a little too accustomed.

But not too much. 'Angel in Disguise' sings like a very fine love song:

'Wake me up, shake me up
Break me up
Then put me back together
Take my crown. Let me drown
Bring me round
Then stay with me forever
I've never known love like this
Maybe you're an angel in disguise

Call my name
Somebody take me away
Rescue me completely
No more shame
Somebody take it away
Rescue me

Wake me up, take me up
Feel the heat
It's closer now than ever
Secrets hide in the sand
Take these bones
And put me back together
Oh, oh, you're killing me with just one kiss
Maybe I'm an angel in your eyes


If this is a man discovering faithful love to one woman, it's a love song almost on the level of some of Sting's best writing. Then again, it may be a song about divine love. Then it's not so compelling. That's the trouble with 'crossover' albums. You can never tell for sure.

Still, track 8's 'Take Me Away' seems to encourage the man-woman love song intepretation, for it's unambiguously just that and demonstrates that the band has this genre in its repertoire. In fact, this one is worthy of alignment with the biblical 'Song of Solomon':

I'm in love with a girl.
Everybody seems to know.
I'll sing it loud.
Sing it cos' I'm feeling proud of
Love. Oh yeah this is love.

You take me away to another place.
You show me a way to a higher grace.
You take me away to another place.
I'm seeing it all with a happy face.

She can walk on the waves,
Crashing through my own desire.
Swing and sway.
Dance until my demons fly away.
This is love. This love.


The sheer boy-ish exuberance of this tune fails to hide entirely the redemptive splash of the last verse. Something important is under recovery and Delirioius? wants to *sing* about it.

So why the ambivalent tone of my review? I think it comes down to this: you have to *work* at this album to squeeze the juice out of it. You've got to pay attention. That's hardly a fault, just a warning that what sometimes falls flat as casual listening is a diamond in the rough for those who know how to polish.