The Winter of Our Discontent

The Echoing Green | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 7, 2003)
• Original Release Date: April 7, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: A Different Drum
• ASIN: B00008YFVV
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #237,906 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This Winter Isn't Bleak, November 22, 2003

By 

Steve White (Grand Island, NE USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Winter of Our Discontent (Audio CD)

His musical prowess is undeniable, as the Echoing Green's Joey Belville creates syrupy sweet synth pop. Warm bass lines, aggressive beats, luscious harmonies, and beautiful melodies add up to terrific pop songs.

The band's latest, Winter of Our Discontent shows Belville has once again taken a tremendous stride forward.

Highlights include "Story of Our Lives", which is sure to be an instant classic among fans. The song alludes to heaven, as it speaks of a life lived with eternal perspective "anything and everything is meaningless when heaven's waiting."

"Fall Awake" shows the group exploring darker, yet rewarding sounds. The production is carefully orchestrated, with chirping crickets, and other effects layered together.

No Echoing Green album would be complete without a cover or two. _Winter_ is no exception. Joey B. has chosen to record "Bittersweet", a late '90s song by Velour 100. For '80s pop fans, the Echoing Green has also bent Simple Minds' "New Gold Dream" to their liking.

Joey B. has taken another lyrical risk, for the first time writing a love song to his wife. Starting with songs like "Ambler" on the classic Hope Springs Eternal Joey's songs have increasingly become personal and poetic reflections. "Heidi's Song" features some of Joey's most winsome lyrics yet.

I can see the destiny
in your russet eyes
and I can hear a symphony
in your autumn sighs
The theme of winter is woven through the album, as Joey B. sings about the cold, grey world around him. Yet in the end, he simply longs for grace.

Joey Belville's production skills have always been good, but have never been better than they are here. Virtually everything was played, created, and recorded on a computer. Yet the album maintains a warm, joyous feel. Not all of the songs can live up to "Story." "Heidi's Song," or "New Gold Dream" but it may well be the group's most consistent album to date.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars winter of emotion, April 22, 2003

By 

"lothlorien_is_real" (Albuquerque, NM USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Winter of Our Discontent (Audio CD)

When first listening to this album, you are immediately hooked by the smoothe melody and the stirring lyrics. In this album, Joey (bellville) and Crissy (Franklin) tear out their hearts, expose their deepest emotions, of love, pain, loss, and their overall joy. The only problem with the disc is that they put one of the greatest songs I've ever heard, as the first song (Actually the second track, after the intro) on the album. Throughout the rest of the album you're waiting, and wanting to hear that first song again. Even so, the rest of the album, although it takes a little time to get used to (For it's very dark for the echoing green) is extremely noteworthy. i've never heard a band grow so much in musical maturity between two albums. The emotional feel from this album reminds the listener of some distant past, they can't quite remember, but never seem to forget.
-Jason

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This record deserves to be heard, April 29, 2003

By 

Wayne Smith (Seal Beach, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Winter of Our Discontent (Audio CD)

I've been listening to music from The Echoing Green for some time now, happily so I might add. This latest batch of new songs won't change that. This truly is a great set of songs. Faithful to the origins of the band, yet completely fresh and original. You must pick this cd up and add it to your collection. My ipod thanks me everyday.