Customer Reviews

Waiting for the Moon

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

 

 

If you love Tindersticks you will forgive this record; if you don't know them, it is a harmless, lightweight introduction to their majesty. Sorry to be the dissenting voice here, folks, but I think this album pales in comparison to "Curtains" and "Simple Pleasures." It isn't very complex and overall has a thinner sound to it -- and it is sorely hurt by Dickon's lackluster, conventional voice taking over so many vocals from Stuart's aching croon. I won't say it's Tindersticks-by-the-numbers because it's pleasant enough and has some wonderful stuff on it ("My Oblivion" is out-of-this-world fantastic in the grand, lush ballad tradition that would make Scott Walker proud ), and it's still better than "Can Our Love," but let's not overrate it, okay?

I'll start off by saying that I'm a big Tindersticks fan, and that I've loved most of their albums (with the exception of "Can our Love"). However, when I first listened to "Waiting for the Moon" I felt really disappointed. It seems flat, uninspired, and the band seems to be working in all too familiar territory. Gone is the passion and force behind such albums as "Tindersticks 2" and "Curtains". There are a few good tracks on this album, ("say goodbye to the city") but I'm beginning to think that the band may have peaked.

They just get better with age. Been a fan of Tindersticks since their essential first album. This one will not come as a surprise to any long time fans but a great introduction for any new listeners.

At first I was wondering what was going on when the opening track didn't have Stuart Staples doing the vocals, but I find the secondary choice of singer pleasing but nowhere as good as the trademark clipped vocal croon that instantly identifies this fine band.

This album just gets better and better. 'My Oblivion' is a classic that ranks up there with the likes of 'City Sickness' and the brilliant second album. 'Say Goodbye to the city' and the almost familiar Staples duet with a chanteuse are other stand out cuts. Finally 'Just a Dog' with the wonderful line 'but at night I howl' and the way the entire musical arrangement bounces along until it starts to come apart at the seams. Brilliant stuff. Tindersticks remain one of the finest bands working today.

Waiting For The Moon is one of those CDs that took a while for me to get into. I already own a number of other Tindersticks recordings, including the essential first one so I had some expectations for this that were not met when I gave it its first spin in the rotation. There seemed to be something missing, and what is missing is the edginess and urgency in the music apparent on some of their other CDs.
That's not to say there is nothing enjoyable here. Waiting For The Moon is a VERY laid-back recording. My favorites here are Until The Morning Comes; the title cut; Sometimes It Hurts, with a duet that reminds me of one Dave Alvin did with Rosie Flores; and the aching, hauntingly beautiful My Oblivion. And all the way through, Stuart Staples' extraordinary voice is in fine form.
So, despite that the edginess of the band's songs is somewhat dulled on this CD there are enough very good songs to make it one worth owning.

Sometimes, one song is enough to justify and glorify an album. This is the case with the latest 'Tindersticks'. "My oblivion" carries you away, it takes you deep inside and brings you back out of yourself, you could listen to it over and over and over again. But of course, this is only my opinion...

Highly recommended for anyone who fell in love with their first two albums.

After veering into a ditch with their last album by turning to a more blues-oriented sound, Tindersticks are back doing what they do best: creating dark and often beautiful mood music for people with champaign hangovers. They've brought a string section with them that drips with gorgeousness. Standout tracks: "Until The Morning Comes", "Trying To Find A Home", "My Oblivion", "Running Wild"

Another fairly consistent outing from Tindersticks, although certainly not their best work overall, ( their first album remains the essential purchase in my opinion ). I have to wonder if all is well with the band.I may be wrong but there appears to be a power struggle between vocalist Stuart Staples and violinist/multi-instrumentalist Dickon Hinchcliffe. Does Dickon sing the two songs that he wrote individually because the band is trying to expand its horizons ? His voice is competent but unremarkable and the songs are less than what they could have been as a result. However, the cd is worth your investment just for one song "My Oblivion" it's an absolute gem.. prepare yourselves for the Rod Stewart/Celine Dion cover versions !!

For anyone who's even vaguely followed the Tindersticks' career this album is no surprise, not in the sense that this may very well be their best performance yet.
Sure, it aint reinventing the wheel, not cutting any new ground nor is it gonna musically shake the decade we are going through but this is far besides the point.
Albums like this either "have it or they dont" because they are built mainly on slow paced melancholic songs that need charm to affect the listener. Charm this has aplenty.
The comparisons to Cave or Cohen are of course inevitable allthough when the 'Sticks come close to these two they rather sound Cavish than Cohenish. Not that there's anything wrong with that, Cave has managed to release about a hundred albums based on that formula.
If you could categorise music according to the seasons then this would definately be an autumn album and I have no idea what it's doing being released in the middle of the scorchin' summer.
Having said that, all the songs on this LP bring rain to mind, rain coming hard against the window, drops racing down the glass and lightnings seen in the far distance. That's the mood you'll be encountering here.
The stories being told are appropriately dark and could easily be the soundtrack of a modern film noir.
The Tindersticks, i'd think, will have a hard time doing better than they've done here. That's perfectly ok though. Their dark sweetness is adequate compensation.

This album is one of their finest to say the least. The orchestration is beautiful and haunting, just the way it should be. And Stewart Staples lyrics are some of his best in years; if you like the first three Tindersticks albums you will really love their latest effort. A band such as this should never be disrespected. Word!