Customer Reviews

Warm

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

 

 

Made up of recordings at five different studios with twice as many mix masters, you get the impression that Velvet Chain was still looking for their sound when they made "Warm." If you arrived here after hearing the single "Strong," you may be frustrated by this album's inconsistency. All I want is to be wrapped up in the layers of Erika Amato's vocals, so that I'm bound tight when Jeff Stacy starts building up from the bass line. But on "Warm," VC can abruptly switch to En Vogue and then to Natalie Merchant. It's all quality, and this is obviously a very talented group, but it's not what I wanted. I would direct "Strong" fans to "The Buffy EP" first (not the soundtrack), which is a recent release, and to come back to "Warm" later.

The style of music that Velvet Chain produces can be compared to a rainbow of colors. From the darkest hue to the most funky feet movin' jams, The Chain does not disapoint. Most people like to identify with the voice of Erika Amato as the driving heart and soul of the group. However, I believe there is an underlying secret to the groups overall success. To begin with, the songwriting technique brings us into an era of Jim Morrisonesque and Pink Floydish style. It grabs you by the hand and demands that you listen to the story being told. But it is not forceful like a mother grabbing your ear, but like the Lion from the Chronicles of Narnia, basically enticing you to experience this hypnotic wonder. Secondly, the music and the people that let the magic arise from the instruments introduce us to another feeling, almost dreamlike. Bass player Jeff Stacy is an individual with a knife like feel. Smooth in the middle but very sharp on the edges, Stacy knows how to control the strings with precision but he is also not afraid to let it ride. The guitar riffs from Tom Calzini bring you to a fork in the road. The melody looks like it is going one way, but then takes the road less traveled by and comes up and bites you in the ass. Craig Van Sant has an eerie sound with percussion like Stewart Copeland from the Police. He relies on it heavily through many songs which emphasizes the other sounds and brings them all together. With this type of musical backing, you would be led to believe that it is to cover the mediocre lead singer. Not a chance. Erika Amato is a singer with the song of a bird but the roar of a lion. Her voice captivates, intimidates, and leads you into a hypnotic lair that you wish you could never leave. All in All, Velvet Chain is a talent that will continue to live, thrive, and survive, whether a 1000 people here them, or the world. The opinion offered is based on talent, the talent of Velvet Chain.

I bought this album several years ago after hearing STRONG on the Buffy Soundtrack and -unlike that one negative review I saw - I found it to be a really pleasant surprise! It was really cool to hear all the various styles on this CD. I personally hate it when a band's songs all sound exactly the same, and Velvet Chain definitely does not have THAT problem. Sure, the overall sound on WARM is a bit more raw and hard-edged that you might have expected if all you'd ever heard was the STRONG single, but you can still hear the groovy, cool, sensual through-line that makes this band unique. I think it's a great CD.

Also, for what it's worth, their two most recent albums, MOODY GROOVE MUSIC and ASTEROID BELT are AMAZING. I don't think you can get them anywhere other than the Velvet Chain website, but you should definitely check them out if you can. It's really cool how much their sound has evolved...especially on ASTEROID BELT: it's like they're playing groovy space-jazz/rock/funk on the MOON! I love this band.

It really depends on what kind of music you like. If you are a Buffy fan you might be familier with there song strong the version on this cd was even better I thought then the original version. I thought this was a great cd.

The samples presented here are NOT up to Amazon's usual standards - they don't do justice to Erica, Jeff, and the rest. Jeff has a deft hand with both composition and bass...and some of his best efforts are right here. Erica has an astounding voice. Listen to her on Time and Days, or Strong, or Treason, and you'll begin to appreciate the complex colourings, the depths of her voice.

This is one CD that's always in the player - even 7 years later.

And having met them at a couple of fan gatherings, I can say they're nice folks, too. (And yes, seeing them live is a treat!)

Thanks to a television show called "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" I gained an interest in this group. I now could be classified as a Velvet Chain Groupie, because I love this band. Please, please, please buy VC's album. Any album will give you a taste, but "Warm" will fulfill your cravings for real music. Erika Amato's voice can be compared to a bedtime lullaby one moment, then completely surprise you the next. The variety of this CD gives you an assortment of selections with which every song can be associated with one of your many moods. Any time you have one of those I-can't-decide moments, Velvet Chain will be calling your name from the depth of your CDs. Trust me, I know, because I have over 500 CDs an this is by far my favorite band. Praise the Chain! =)

p.s. Now if I can just get to L.A.

This is one of those records that will never leave your CD player. Singer Erika Amato has a beautiful, haunting voice, and the rest of the band lays down some amazing grooves! You can hear echoes of Portishead, the Cure, even Fleetwood Mac in the writing, but the sound Velvet Chain has developed is definitely all their own. Difficult to pigeonhole, but immensely appealing, I'd recommend this record to anyone who wants a new, dynamic sound to bless their eardrums! Buy it!

I am going to disagree with other reviewers - I don't particularly like this album. Now, hear me out.... You may still want to buy this if you like the sound of it but I am writing this to warn others that I had high hopes and this album was a HUGE disappointment.

Okay, most people considering buying this album are probably, like me, fans of the Buffy soundtrack. Surprisingly, Strong is my FAVOURITE song of all time. I listen to it nearly every day, it's fantastic! I don't know what everyone else sees in it because this album borders on embarrassing. VC'S other songs are literally laughable. They basically sound like a cheap local band with poor production. I only wish i had payed attention to the reviewers who said the same thing.

The reason I gave it two stars (actually 1.5) is because I like Strong and can tolerate Treason. I give it two stars because I hope for something better in the future (not that I'll risk buying it!) Bottom line: get it if you want but don't buy it expecting dark sexy music like "Strong". I suggest Portishead or Massive Attack instead.

Velvet Chain is....amazing. from Erika's voice to Jeff's muscianship...there is no one like them. I want to move to Los Angeles just to hear them live. Wow. "Treason" is amazing Erika's voice reaches out and wraps you in pure velvet. A cd you can't afford to not have.

The album has one feeling of...being alive in a busy world, where on the other hand it's got a feeling of making do with the things life deals you. The lead singer's voice is haunting, and this will always be one of my favorite albums.