Customer Reviews

Ultimatum

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

 

 

This EP makes me want to live in a place where seasons change and where every girl I've ever loved remembers me with the same kind of smiling sadness. Maybe it's the vintage keyboards or that 70s-ish singer-songwriter vibe that sort of encapsulates that feeling of nostalgia. Maybe it's the songs themselves.

There's a quality of sonic virus (the earworms, catchy, catchy earworms) about them -- enough so that you have plenty of time with the songs running through your head to puzzle out the lyrics (once you realize who the Commander is in "The Commander Thinks Aloud," I can guarantee you'll have to sit very quietly for a moment or two to collect yourself.

I did. And I want to do it again.

So we didn't get a new Long Winters album in 2005.... Big deal. Get over it. Instead, we get this EP with four delicious, newly-recorded songs and two superb live performances from leader John Roderick. On this EP, The Long Winters--who have become one of my favorite bands since I found out *current* Harvey Danger singer Sean Nelson did backup vocals on their two albums--carry on the beautiful musicianship that was ever-present on their "acclaimed" albums 'The Worst You Can Do Is Harm' and 'When I Pretend To Fall'. And despite the fact that I don't really see either of these four new tunes ranking in my top ten Long Winters songs of all-time, they do however pose as a fine appetizer for their third, unnamed album, due out in early 2006.

The first track, "The Commander Thinks Aloud", is different than the version on the Future Soundtrack For America compilation (dubbed the 'future mix'). Here it is extended by over a minute, although the two songs are very similar, musically, and feature the same lyrics. The title track, a striking reminder of "Cinnamon", has some nifty guitar work alongside Roderick's patented, quirky lyrics. You could say it's classic Long Winters material; because it is. "Everything Is Talking" is notable for some catchy 'do-do-do's in the background and the 'I'll miss:' stanza. The final new song, "Delicate Hands", is likely my favorite on the EP. It's actually an early Western State Hurricanes (John's unknown first band) reworking, for whatever that's worth. The two live tracks are solo performances by Roderick, of "Bride And Bridle" and "Ultimatum". "Bride And Bridle" might actually be my least favorite Long Winters track among their albums; however, the brilliant drumlessness in its appearance here cause me to like it a bit more. And the title track, being played with the soft spots of John's fingers, makes for a decent finale to this disc.

You simply cannot compare this EP to their LPs, albeit you can certainly say these songs are on the same level as the songs on those terrific albums. So it is needless to say that this six-song release is worthwhile--if you liked the 'future mix' of "Commander" you will like the version here; if you liked "Cinnamon" you will be in love with "Ultimatum" after a few listens; and if you like The Long Winters you will ultimately be spinning this disc in your car or in your CD-player for (at least) weeks on end.

Um, yeah, it's an EP, so complaining about "Ultimatum" 's length is akin to whining that a novella is too short.

That said, the four studio tracks are haunting and spectral. If this version of "The Commander Thinks Aloud" doesn't break your heart wide open, you're already lying in a cold pine box.

The two live cuts showcase John Roderick's powerful voice and deft musicianship and will hook veteran Long Winters fans and newbies alike.

Rock this.

the first time i heard the long winters was sitting in the passenger seat of my friend jim's car staring out the window along the king's county highway going back to downtown seattle. it was one of the most beautiful days i had ever seen. the sky was that perfect shade of pastel blue, quiet simple changes of white clouds played hide and go seek beneath the sun while pacific northwest emerald green trees and soft glimmers of faceless shadows in reflections of rear view mirrors followed. we were smiling, listening to KEXP loud and as always, the music just kept on making the moments even better. following the sounds of radiohead, modest mouse, eels... the long winters came on with the track give me a moment. everything quietly stopped movie-like with simple connections to the way sounds repeated motion. the music kept falling in line right in time synchronizing itself to every single little detail as if it were tracing the city skyline.


ive been away, ive been away
and ive been out of my head
....

the long winters bring to mind simple beautiful bittersweet memories to the feeling of seasons changing, the way old notebooks read full of fragile poetry, soft acoustic guitars create comfort sounds and those times when you cant help but feel anything except the colorful patterns repeating in yr mind taking over. sometimes its too much and sometimes it just makes sense.

This EP shows a bit of the soft side of our friends the Long Winters as glimpsed in tracks like "It'll Be a Breeze" or "The Sound of Coming Down" from their previous release. The EP is just simply beautiful with a bit of a bittersweet sound that is a hard find in rock music today. A sign of amazing things to come, surely.

Ultimatum is EXACTLY what I look for in an EP... little wing-stretching. The EP is more of a step down an emotionally haunting road than the group's two previous LPs. Less rocktastic jangly songs... more sucker-punches to the heart (in a good way).

The four original tunes were fabulous, and once again showed John Roderick's mastery of lyrics. If I was half as good with words as Mr. Roderick, this review would be MUCH better.

The two solo tracks were a great add at the end. Fans of Bride and Bridle will be thrilled with this version.

Definitely a good pickup for anyone who loves good, thoughtful and fulfilling music. This should also help the fans awaiting the next LP get their fix.

Very disappointed in this CD. 4 new songs, and 2 live songs (one from their last CD - not even one of the better songs, and the title track from this CD). Nothing to write home about.