Customer Reviews

The Winter of Our Discontent

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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

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.

The Winter of Our Discontent is The Echoing Green's sixth studio album, and it's the group's strongest effort to date. The album combines various sounds and moods (straight-up synthpop, intense uptempo numbers, and downtempo mood pieces); however, the songs sound like they naturally segue seamlessly into each other.

"The Story of Our Lives" is definitely the strongest song on the album. As the song progresses, so does its intensity. At its climax, a soaring soprano vocal provided by Jenna London takes the song to "the next level." The listener literally gets a chilld down their spine when Jenna's voice enters the mix.

"Heidi's Song" is synthpop at its finest. Lead singer Joey Belville demonstrates that he can truly hit some high notes on this one. And in "Blind," Joey shows that he can also hit some impressive low notes.

For me, the one real weak spot on the album is "Bittersweet" (a cover of a song originally done by Velour 100). Musically, the song gets stuck in a rut; also, the music is ultimately what gets stuck in your head rather than the words. It seems that the music draws a little too much attention to itself.

Overall, The Winter of Our Discontent is a very strong album, and it's disappointing to realize that the masses will not get a chance to hear it. It's an album I highly recommend. After one listen, you'll wonder why The Echoing Green hasn't broken through to the mainstream yet.

I was introduced to The Echoing Green on a compilation CD some years back, and thank god for that. This band keeps getting better and better. There aren't many albums (by many artists) that I can sit through and listen to every track without getting bored, but The Winter of Our Discontent has me hooked on every song. Beautiful tones, poetic and meaningful lyrics, and talented vocals. A must have for any fan of electronic music.

Favorite Songs: Apology, Story of Our Lives, and the cover of New Gold Dream.

This is one of my favorite CDs in my entire collection. I absolutely love The Echoing Green, and this may be their best album.

Favorite songs? "Fall Awake", "Blind" and "The Sparrows and the Nightingales"

(note, I have a different version of this album than the one listed)

great cd from the echoing green. as a depeche mode and iris fan, this was my first echoing green cd and i was impressed. what really surprised me were 2 tracks that could fit right in with an early nine inch nails cd. best tracks are "the story of our lives" and the middle eastern tinged "bittersweet".

I don't know, other than New Gold Dream and Fall Awake (which are fantastic) this CD doesn't do much for me. The songs are way short of anything on Songs from the Ocean Picture; there's too much electronic noodling and attempts at trip-hop, and not enough solid melodies.

Hate to say it, but I expected a little more from this.

I'm a new fan of The Echoing Green and thought I heard their best with the 'Supernova' CD and 'Hope Springs Eternal' CD , but 'The Winter of our Discontent' was just as exhilarating and full of synergistic polyphony. Joey Belton gloriously presented the dualism for the spiritually-minded person who must live in the present for the eternal future and how they are both important because abundant living starts here, with our eyes toward heaven in Track 2 "Story of our Lives". I loved Track 7 "Blinded" for its razor edginess and the way Joey B. makes you think about the deception that lies in wait when we judge solely by our autonomous senses. The words "it's getting bright, but its not the Light", leaves the unilluminated - thinking. "Apology" Track 4 was also excellent. Don't "be sorry, sorry"....buy this CD.

Echoing Green has a new album out titled "Winter of our Discontent". After hearing the first single Fall Awake available on mp3.com I was worried that the whole album was going to be darker/harder synthpop. I am relieved that this album still sounds like the EG that I have come to love. A nice mix of Joey and Chrissy with articulate programming, good vocals/lyrics, and a really nice feel over all.

I have listened to it many times and quickly came to love "the story of our lives" which is going to be the second single. Its a very nice poppier, happier song. The whole album flows nicely with Chrissy getting her vocal lead on Starling.\

A highly recommened CD to anyone who is a fan of EG or of electronic music in general.