Waves

Devlins | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 25, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nettwerk
• ASIN: B0006ZXJCU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,567 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Devlins' fourth full-length is designed for lovesick dreamers. Is it any wonder their music has been popping up in such dark-tinged productions as HBO's Six Feet Under ("Waiting") or Mike Nichols' Oscar-nominated Closer ("World Outside," also from 1997’s Waiting)? As Colin Devlin sings in "Someday," "Someday you'll find your place in time." A similar sense of longing permeates the entire moody, melodic enterprise. Colin, who also handles guitar duties, is joined by brother Peter on bass and Guy Rickarby on drums. Based in Dublin, the Devlins don't sound like any other Irish group that comes to mind (although they do resemble a few Scottish ones, like the Blue Nile ). At times on Waves, however, they evoke another notable sibling duo, New Zealand's Finn Brothers (Neil and Tim from Split Enz and Crowded House), but their sound is smoother, more subdued. Waves was engineered by Danton Supple of Coldplay fame. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars It broke my heart to give it 3 stars..., August 26, 2005

By 

StephenMcC "StephenMcC" (Ireland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waves (Audio CD)

As a mega Devlins fan it wasn't easy giving Waves just 3 stars, but that's not because this album is all that bad, but because the rest of their music is just so, so good! Below are my points in brief:

- Firstly I wasn't mad about the cover, I found it a little bland as they've always had cover's that felt much more personal and inspiring.
- The sound, arrangement and writing wasn't as focused as on there other offerings, I'm talking about tracks such as: 'Someday', 'Feel It When You're Gone' and 'Waves'.
- I also found Colin's singing wasn't as passionate, especially on Waves, just sounds to me like he just can't wait to get outta the studio! I mean check out the vocals on the title track on Drift as a comparison!

However this album has some good points, such as 'Everything Comes Around', 'Careless Love', 'Lazarus' and the beautiful 'Don't Let It Break Your Heart'. If it weren't for these then I would have been forced to give a much lower rating.

I put off buying this album for a long time as I say the cover didn't fill me with confidence. But I had the pleasure of seeing them in Belfast (again) and they were mega, I picked up my copy after the show (which I got signed) as well as my Devlins T-Shirt which I wear with pride. They did mega versions of 'Everything Comes Around', 'Careless Love', 'Lazarus' and 'Don't Let It Break Your Heart', which all blew me away, they also did 'Almost made u smile' which almost made me cry (man I wish I had had the courage to get up and dance to that!) and after much shouting from my older Bro, an in-promptu version of 'Some to talk to'

I'll just finish by saying that the show was that good I wish it had been recorded, guys you outta think about doing a live album, but it has to be a small intimate show, that's where you guys really come alive.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Ride these waves, January 27, 2005

By 

Victoria Ballarat (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Waves (Audio CD)

This album has grown on me in such a big way since I got it soon after its Irish release last summer. Leave your expectations at the door if the only Devlins album you own is "Waiting," because although it begins with a bit of the dark atmosphere people who love the "Waiting" album will relate to in "Everything Comes Around," Waves flows in new directions as well.

Everything Comes Around - love the haunting sound, especially the middle eight.

Sunrise - hooks you with its chiming guitars, which the Amazon clip skips over, and keeps the momentum of the first song going.

Careless Love - slows things down a bit and has a light melody, which contrasts with the lyrics about deceit and cheating: "No one has to win or lose, no one has to take the blame. All I wanted was the truth, not a careless love..."

Someday - my personal favorite picks things up a bit again and features overlays of Colin Devlin's voice that give it a stronger sound.

Lazarus - before I ever heard the album, someone described this as a song for gazing out the window at rivulets of rain. Works for me.

Don't Let It Break Your Heart - has an incredibly infectious chorus I have trouble getting out of my head.

Feel It When You're Gone - gives off what sounds like a strong British pop sound vibe to me that grows on you the more you hear it.

Coming Alive - sexy, soulful late night stuff with a female singer helping Colin Devlin out on vocals.

Headstrong - "All the things that hurt, you know, are just a part of living..."

Waves - undulates, both melodically and lyrically, to the rhythm of its metaphoric peaceful seas and features an omnichord for that almost musicbox sound in the background.

It's so hard to get a feel for a song from short clips, so if you're undecided I'd recommend you go to the news page on the Devlins' website and click on the "Waves ecard" where you can hear three full songs: "Careless Love," which is the first single; "Don't Let It Break Your Heart;" and "Someday."

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Album, January 25, 2005

By 

Gilbert Solorio (Santa Cruz, Ca. United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Waves (Audio CD)

I actually purchased this album in November from this Ireland website and I enjoyed every song on the album. I really recommend this album to existing devlin's fan and to those people who haven't really listen to the devlins. This is one of my favorite albums of the year and it is a must have.