Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Best of 2003, October 2, 2003
With their strongest release since "Marchin' Already," the OCS are back in a big way.Apart from their usual abundance of classic rock hooks, what's really remarkable about "North Atlantic Drift" is the wide variety of rock styles and influences. "On My Way," with its hard-driving guitar attack and tight horn-section chaser, could have been pulled right off of "Sticky Fingers" or "Exile on Main Street." "For Every Corner" features some neat Beach Boys-style harmonies. "Second Hand Car" and "Question" are a pair of remarkable acoustic folk-rockers. The swelling psychedelic intensity in the coda of "When Evil Comes" suggests the feel, if not the sound, of the Beatles' unforgetable finish to "A Day in the Life." Even some perfectly placed blues harmonica makes an appearance on the chilling "Will You Take Her Love." And a good-natured tribute to the weekend, "I Want to See the Bright Lights," suggesting a mix of 70s country-pop and Sly & the Family Stone, finishes the album with one last musical twist. OCS refreshingly avoids the punk influences that infect so many of their Brit-Pop counterparts. Their records also avoid the ironic self-consciousness and cynicism of the past decade. The OCS sound is unabashedly straight-forward and sincere, suggesting not only their 60s classic rock forbears, but also the best of what so many music lovers now remember fondly of the 1980s. The best track of this exceptional disc, "Make the Deal," illustrates this perfectly. While drawing from the best traditions of classic rock, it remains unmistakeably their own, with a refrain at once insanely catchy and emotionally moving. What a shame that, given the nature of today's music industry, neither "Make the Deal," nor any of the other great songs on "North Atlantic Drift," will ever be heard on American radio.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Easily one of OCS' best albums, June 14, 2005
Ocean Colour Scene have always had a lot of potential and on this album they re-realise their full potential and hit back at everybody with an album that lacks a single weak song.
"I Just Need Myself" is the first single to be taken from the album and charted quite highly in the UK singles chart back in 2003. To some it might be a traditional OCS rocker (which it is) but it has a slight edge to it and is a great album opener.
"Oh Collector" is one of 4 songs that could have made good single material but didn't get picked, with a easy going verse and heavy chorus this song really adds quality to the album and has some nice guitar playing by Steve Cradock, and even Oscars drumming is intriguing too. The final chorus elevates the song to near-anthemic status and ends with a unique outro.
The third song is the title track and has an almost George Harrison style slide guitar lick to it, a strong song and also catchy. In fact most songs on "North Atlantic Drift" are catchy and you'll find it hard to forget many of them. This song has lyrics that are quite confusing yet really good to hear and delivered well.
"Golden Gate Bridge" is the song that Noel Gallagher (of Oasis) said he wished he had wrote. A love song that is full of emotion, and again delivered with a huge sounding chorus and some exquisite guitar playing again by Cradock, this could actually be Steve Cradocks best played guitar song ever by OCS. "Golden Gate Bridge" was also the final single to be taken from this album.
Now we are faced with the 2nd single from "North Atlantic Drift". "Make The Deal" is here in its original form (having been re-done for the single release) and complete with a string section and big chorus (yet again) maybe should have been titled "The Real World". Lyrically it attacks the music industry and it's dictatorship approach to musicians.
"For Every Corner" is another of those "should this have been a single?" album tracks. What a great chorus this song has and the build up to it is perfect. You'll want this one playing loud wherever you are for sure.
"On My Way" is a stomping rocky number complete with horn section and catchy chorus (suprised?) seems very much of the style set for driving. Some great guitar playing throughout this song too.
"Second Hand Car" is a song about men and how they take women for granted, what a beautiful song though. The lyrics here are un-faultable and are just brilliant. Ending with a touching guitar solo.
"She's Been Writing" is a huge string led song. I can't say much on it but it is produced very well and the musicianship in it is gorgeous.
"The Song Goes On" has many sides to it and yet is such a strong way to bring the album to a close, especially when the "it depends on who's doorway" section.. I love the slide guitar parts in that section. This is one that goes on repeat.
"When Evil Comes" is my personal favourite on the album and the longest track too. It builds and builds and builds on a droning guitar then comes the tablas and it just is a great way to end the album.
OCS returned to form big time with this album!!!! BUY IT FOR THE SONGS AND THE BONUS TRACKS TOO!!!! It IS worth it.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A great album from a highly underrated band, October 4, 2004
This album pulls together a lot of what I love about Ocean Colour Scene and I think it's a great one to check out if you want to know what this band is all about. Good lyrics, simple but exhilarating melodies, and a very full sound filled with multiple guitar tracks, rich harmonies, and a great rhythm section. I've heard all of their studio albums and though they've never released anything that is as complete and phenomenal an album as their early 90s release "Mosely Shoals", this is one really comes close. I was somewhat disappointed with "Mechanical Wonder", particularly because it was their first US release in several years, but the Englishmen are back on track and heading in a good direction with North Atlantic Drift.
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~ Ocean Colour Scene
~ Ocean Colour Scene
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~ Ocean Colour Scene
~ Lily Allen
by Ocean Colour Scene 
