Notes from the Underground

Clan of Xymox

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 25, 2001)
• Original Release Date: September 25, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Metropolis Records
• ASIN: B00005NW1G
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #211,255 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bitter Sweet, December 6, 2002

By	Clarissa "MoonGoddess" (Ontario, California) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

In a futile attempt in trying to find the newest VNV Nation CD, 'Futureperfect', I stumbled upon 'Notes From The Underground' by Clan Of Xymox and for some reason felt very compelled to buy something by a band I'd never even heard before. However, being that my mind was set on purchasing something else I went home and did a little research on the group and discovered that they were signed to the same label as VNV Nation was: Metropolis records. I then went to mp3.com and listened to "The Bitter Sweet" and instantly feel head over heels in love with the group's industrial-rock/alternative goth fusion.

Clan Of Xymox is an amazing band and I'm so grateful to have checked into their music instead of just dismissing the cover's strange allure... The lyrics are darkly intriguing with synthy goth beats that are bound to leave you utterly helpless as it pulls you into its web of no return...

Ronny Moorings is a musical genious (as another reviewer stated before me) with a vocal style that is sexy (in a dismal sort of way) and captivating in every sense of the word. And while Clan Of Xymox can be compared to a dozen other groups, the most common influence I hear is from The Cure. The vocalization is completely altered but the musical guitar arrangements on songs like "At Your Mercy" and "Liberty" hit Cure-esque right on the dot! It's on subtle goth tunes "Innocent" and "I Want You Now" that Clan Of Xymox truly shine on though, with "The Same Dream" riding on similar winds as VNV Nation because of its more industrial/futurepop sound. Not to mention (for good measure) the drifting background vocals of Sonja Rozenblum...

'Notes From The Underground' took a while to grow on me but, like most of my favorite records (i.e. 'Visual Audio Sensory Theater' by Vast), they take the longest to reveal their awesome majestry.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keepers of underground 80's Goth, September 26, 2001

By	Dave Cordes (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

Once again Xymox prove they can keep the underground 80's Goth club scene alive and well. This album, while not predominately sounding like a verbatim tribute to Sisters of Mercy that was prevalent throughout their last album Creatures, does retain Ronny's monotonous Andrew Eldritch style vocals. While I actually liked their brief foray into the techno-rave scene with 1993's Headclouds, their return to roots with 1997's Hidden Faces was only natural and a positively welcome choice. Notes From the Underground is an introspective, self-reflection album. The songs are a bit more ambivalent and it sounds as though Xymox is doing some soul searching on this album. It is more melancholy and sentimental and an invocation of the vintage Medusa days, seeking a new direction without deviating from the successful trademarked formula it has embraced for nearly three decades and by the end of the album it asks the listener; "We've been doing this for so long, where do we go from here?" The answer lies in what Xymox does with its next album. Does it continue to emulate itself and continue cranking out more traditional 80's style Goth into the techno-pop infested 21st century, or do they decide to reinvent themselves which has either proven chemically successful or resoundingly disastrous for so many a band. For now, this new album is mandatory for any fan and Xymox is one of only a few bands whom I traditionally continue to purchase their new albums on the day of release solely on blind faith. They have yet to let me down. May that tradition continue for many years to come.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars she said shed always love me, April 7, 2004

By	jeff (tucson) - See all my reviews

the clan always and i repeat always put out good records under the full name clan of xymox this album is beautiful i drive at night through the arizona desert with this album playing. it resembles the lost love that many of us encounter. his voice is deep and sultry and can evoke intense memories of life. the harsh electronics are not quite industrial but they play along withe lyrics and the mood like what the doors did for jim morrison. its poetic, timeless, and almost belongs to the listener exclusively. still has the desperate love loss of medusa its perfect for watching the moon at 3am and letting your imagination go