The Last Broadcast

Doves

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 4, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000065SXM
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (118 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #21,633 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #95 in

  Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Dream Pop

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The Last Broadcast sees Doves frontman Jimi Goodwin and multi-instrumentalist brothers Andy and Jez Williams soaring to new if perhaps grandiose heights. The thundering opening beat and spiraling guitars of "Words" are reminiscent of Ride at their bombastic peak, and "There Goes the Fear" has relentlessly reverberating Latin rhythms, New Order-influenced guitars, and sweeping vocals that are nothing less than breathtaking. Quiet reprieve comes with "M62," a delicate haunting reworking of King Crimson's "Moonchild," bizarrely recorded under the M62 flyover in Manchester, and its desolate atmospherics are juxtaposed against the remainder of the album. With the thrusting onslaught of "Pounding," the obligatory earthy rock of "N.Y.," and the joyous pastoral acoustic-led splendor of "Caught by the River," the Doves have crafted a liberating sophomore album that happily combines the uplifting anthemic essence of dance with good old rock & roll. --Christopher Barret

Product Description
The Follow Up to the Critically Acclaimed 'lost Souls' Dispels Any Prior Notion that this Band Are Melancholy. Their Collective Confidence and Cohesion as Well as Strong Positive Attitude Come Through Each Note of this Album as You'll Hear the Moment the Laser Hits the Disc. This is an Auspicious Occasion Where the Band Prove to the World that They Indeed Belong in that Class of Groups with Radiohead, U2, Oasis and all the Rest...where Everything They Do Justifies Attention and the Praise Heaped on them from the Beginning. The First Album was Born Out of Frustration and Countless Setbacks. This Time, It's Solid and as Nme Says, 'something Fresh and New. It's a Euphoric Experience...and One that Finally Reveals What a Great Band the Doves Are.'

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An individually brilliant album for the Doves, June 6, 2002

By	Chris Wren "Chris Wren" (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews

The Doves sophmore release, The Last Broadcast, bucks the traditional sophmore slump and takes it's place as a stunning version of Brit-pop. While not as dramatic, moody and brooding as the debut album, The Last Broadcast is definitely the Doves' chance to shine as songwriters and as musicians.

In comparison to their earlier release, Lost Souls, The Last Broadcast is definitely a happier and more accessible album. What the album lacks in dark honesty, it makes over tenfold in perfect songwriting.It almost reeks with pop motifs and has definite brit pop sound. A song like "N.Y." feels like a Blur song with Oasis pop, and "Satellites" is just riddled with gospel-influences, which instantly reminds me of Sting's last album. Those are just a few examples, at least. This doesn't detract from any of the songs (all of these influences are good), but it's not as groundbreaking or mood-setting as the debut. A song like "Pounding," which is my favorite track, has fairly basic guitar playing and musicality, yet has all the perfect hooks to draw the listener closer into the music.

While I am a devouted fan to their debut, The Last Broadcast is an ideal follow up and a perfect way for the Doves to become one of the focal points of the new brit-pop movement. Their songwriting and lyricism is still up to par, and any appreciator of just good rock and roll would immensely enjoy this CD.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Takes them to the next level, June 5, 2002

By	drew m (maryland United States) - See all my reviews

Doves are a unique band. Coming from a background in dance music (as the band Sub Sub), they applied their sensibilities in that genre to create a wholly original sound as a rock and roll band. They're compared to bands like Radiohead and Coldplay much too often, and Last Broadcast is proof of why.

Doves know how to make moody, ambient music. But what they've become masters at is taking their soundscapes and turning them into warm, full rock songs. Their debut, Lost Souls, was the beginning of Doves honing their sound. Here, on Last Broadcast, the band is tighter and more focused. A killer intro preps you for something astonishing, and when "Words" blasts in, it delivers. A clever riff enhanced by lush, rich production and a disctinct tone of optimism, "Words" leaves most gloomy Britpop bands in the dust (Travis and Starsailor, pack your things).

Following the reggae-tinged "There Goes the Fear," the haunting King Crimson rework "M62 Song" drifts in as if from an ancient AM radio. Beautiful in every way, it echoes the work of Nick Drake and other long gone troubadours without feeling out of place within The Last Broadcast's greater framework.

Some songs miss ("Satellites" is too long and meandering), but the last four songs are as good as it gets, particularly "Pounding," a pulsing, driving anthem sure to be playing on a movie soundtrack sometime in the near future. Where Lost Sould petered out as an album, Last Broadcast ends with "The Sulphur Man" and "Caught by the River," both powerful, atmospheric arrangements that leave you wanting more.

Fortunately, for some customers, there is more. Some editions of Last Broadcast contain a bonus disc with four extra songs. Seek it out. While the four extra songs are fittingly not included on the album, they are fun on their own, particularly "Hit the Ground Running," which is a Doves rehash of "Werewolves of London." Already big in England, Doves deserve a larger following here in the US. The Last Broadcast could be, and should be, their big breakthrough.

20 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a monumental release, April 29, 2002

By	Daniel Cherney (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I've been listening to a promo copy of this since early April, so I've had some time with it. Simply put, this is a fantastic record - the most rewarding rock album since OK Computer, and current frontrunner for best of the year. Even better than Doves' stunning debut, 'Lost Souls.' Think of the best work from The Beatles, Radiohead and The Verve, add in a bit of electronica, turn the creativity meter all the way up.. it comes out sounding like music you've known forever, while remaining fresh and exciting. Jimi's voice is better than ever, and drummer Andy even gets a turn on the mic on 2 tracks. Great songwriting, gorgeous arrangements, and amazing detail.

There is zero filler here, as should be the case with every great record. A chilling intro gives birth to "Words," opening the album with waterfall-guitars and huge sound. "There Goes The Fear" is the first single, and possibly the best song of the year..love it. Next is the fragile and beautiful "M62 Song" - the acoustic guitar work on 'Broadcast' provide some of the best moments on the record. "N.Y." is simply a stunning rock song, one that melts into the spiritual and dreamy "Satellites." While still fantastic, this track ultimatley comes off as the brightest song on an album filled with bright songs. "Friday's Dust" is a haunting acoustic tune with delicate string and horn arrangements..a very cool song. After this comes one brilliant track after another to close the album - the relentless and soaring "Pounding," perfect melancholy dream-pop in "Last Broadcast"..by this point Doves have defied categorization, the only place for a song like "The Sulphur Man." The closer, "Caught By The River," is an anthem remeniscient of the very best of Oasis or The Verve. The album ends huge and warm, a big difference from the way they closed out 'Lost Souls.' 'Last Broadcast' is stunning in all of its psycadellic glory - all of the different colors, emotions and textures are both instantly acessable and continually rewarding. Not to mention the packaging and artwork is tops as well.

So basically Doves will be making great music for a long time, and it'd be best to get on the bandwagon as soon as possible.
I cannot reccomend this album highly enough.