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50 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Amazing Epic Prodigal Son Journey of Sin and Redemption, June 7, 2006
I listened to this for at least two months and loved about 80 percent of the songs. Great songs great lyrics great band. Then something clicked. As I noticed that all the songs run together I went back and read all the lyrics. It was then that I understood why there was a prologue that told the listener to open the booklet and read along. Sorry for those that are Christian theme wary, but don't worry this one is one that appeals to anyone and every human. The story is simple, it's a journey of one man that is tired of doing the right thing and wants to "be with" this girl. If it's for love then why is it wrong? He just "Wants to wake up in someone else's arms" Which is the first track after the flashback prefaced in the first real song "We're So Far Away"
3) Someone Else's Arms - "I've got a feeling It's not the safest place to start. This heavy breathing, it seems we're better off breaking hearts." He knows they are lusting after each other and want more. Should they really break each others hearts rather than give in? "I just want to wake up, wake up in someone else's arms "
4) "Suspension" is the fourth song (counting the prolog) where he says he's not scared and he's ready to do it, but knowing what this means he makes it obvious he wants the girl also to realize what they're about to do: "Say anything, but say what you mean. When you whisper you want this." - Separation from him and God.
5) "This is the Countdown": There in they' did it. I picture this the day after. The whole conversation is him and the girl thinking about what they did their previous dilemma with doing it and the rationalization: "Did you think that the night would posses us, Take us over like the rain that's falling down?" "I can see the signs, and I can read between the lines. But I don't know what we were fighting for, I'm just trying, to breakout." Yet he later mentions they're stuck treading water.
6) "Painless" is about the experience. He's just trying to "wring the color from the grey" "just one more chance to get away" He tries to make himself happy or fulfilled with this relationship "one more night is all he needs" "Until this empty place is filled, I'll keep pretending." All great lines from that song.
7) "The Ocean" is next and reality is setting in. He can't sleep at night and spends his thoughts trying figure it out:
" the night becomes the space that's somewhere in between what I feel and what I'm told. Sitting on the shoreline trying to figure it out, figure it out. To find out the meaning and reach it somehow."
8) "Breakdown" is where he knows the Breakdown is going to come. If you want something you can have it. God won't stop us we have free will. So he does what he wants but soon realizes this relationship is not going to fulfill him anymore than anything else of this world will and he knows that it will soon "Breakdown" It's great. One verse will talk about how he can't wait to be with her again then the next will be "I'm waiting for the breakdown (here comes the breakdown)" - he's addicted. "So take care what you wish for, for it may come true. But that September sky, how it whispered, "I love you." But I couldn't take it, any longer, no I couldn't stand. But the night brought sparks and the sparks brought flames. And you had to be sure this wasn't one of those games."
9) And Breakdown comes... "Mistakes We Knew We Were Making" She gets pregnant and then the blinders come off. This is real.
Driving in the rain to the hospital, quiet aches intense, what at once just seemed the impossible, now makes perfect sense. we held hands to face the uncomfortable cold, and lonely room.
10) "Cover ME". This used to be my least favorite song, but now that I know what it's about, I realize it's a perfect display of the confusion, regret, painful realization and feeling of helplessness... that is appropriate for this part in the story:
"This is the last breath I, I think I'll ever take. this is the last move I , I think I'll ever make. Will there be a chance now to figure this out? And be free tonight. But the music's much too loud, To hear this alarm sound. Too loud, will you cover me? But the emptiness I've found, Can't keep me on the ground."
11) " The EverGlow". In a moment of silence above the din, he looks to the sky and says:
"Here's a night, and it shines. And it calls us on and on. So be here by my side, and watch the stars. They're ours. Make a wish or just take charge. The moment comes get lost and go far. I think that we've got what it takes, to get this heart start beating again."
12) "Ready and Waiting to Fall" He's ready to come back to God. It's amazing how he equates coming back to drowning. He doesn't want anyone to throw him a line because he knows he has to be in 100% or he'll be tied back to the worldly actions lusts and desires etc that got him in this in the first place:
"Though it was a while ago I still can recall That moment, so ready And waiting to fall Can you take me back in time Remembering when You captured my heart" When God was all he knew "Heaven made sense And all the words rhymed No chance in stopping now I'm taking it all" he's going back to putting his faith and direction back in God where everything made sense.
13) "Anything" He's back and acknowledges that "Love is the wave I ride" and that being with God is definitely a ride it's not easy, but "every now and again sometimes I get lost on the wind of a dream.
the air gets clean and the seas get wide. and I can do anything. the pain it won't even cross my mind. there is wonder in everything. the rope gets loose and the chains unbind."
14) "The Sun and the Moon" He thinks back on the past journey he was on:
"wasted time. I can not say that I was ready for this. but when worlds collide, and all that I have is all that I want. the words seem to flow and the thoughts they keep running. and all that I have is Yours. all that I am is Yours."
A journey of sin and redemption. Amazing story from an amazing group.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect if you're looking for some depth in your music, July 5, 2005
This was an impulse buy, I saw it on sale at Best Buy and decided to buy it. I can't say enough about how well crafted the CD is. Mae (Which stands for Multi-sensory Aesthetic Experience) lives up to their name, providing 13 tracks of pure, rich, audio, and an accompanying booklet full of beautiful artwork ala Maurice Sendak's "Where the wild things are."
The Album starts and ends with a friendly voice explaining how the book and CD interact, creating a storytelling mood - and the music fits the mood perfectly. Pop piano reminiscent of Ben Folds combines with smoothly distorted guitars, powerful percussion, and beautiful harmonized vocals. About the only drawback to the disc is that it's difficult to pick out any given song; not that every song sounds the same, rather Mae created a CD with 13 songs that form one giant story. And, like any good concept album, the songs are abstract, and somewhat hard to understand unless you have the accompanying booklet and illustrations.
Really, The Everglow is a story about a journey, and to appreciate it, a full listen to the CD's one hour plus runtime is needed. But, a dedicated listener will be richly rewarded by this multisensory experience.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Mae- The Everglow, September 7, 2005
"The Everglow" unites the band Mae in a single front like none other album. As soon as you open the CD, you realize that this is indeed a work of true art to be experienced. The front insert is illustrated as if it were a children's book with a different illustration on each page that represents each track. The album, going along with the theme of the insert, opens with the faux crackling of an old record player and consists of Rob Sweitzers moving keyboard work as a calm female's voice welcomes you to the "Everglow" in a tone reminiscent of children's book recordings, reminding the listener to "turn the page" and "please read along in the booklet". The dramatic title track follows this original introduction with gorgeous piano work by Sweitzer and honey-like vocals from Dave Elkins. The listener, throughout the first few tracks, is still unsure of exactly which genre this band prefers. The piano's soothing accompaniment smoothly flows into a well blended Forte of the entire instrumental section, including drummer Jacob Marshall, guitarist Zach Gehring, bassist Mark Padgett, and Elkins on vocals and backup guitar, along with Sweitzers playing electric keys. The word "Mae" stands for "Multisensory Aesthetic Experience". According to drummer Marshall, the founder of the band Mae, the title represents the question, "What would music look like is you could see it? What would it feel like and how would it taste?" The musicians question the listeners with each track, challenging us to dig deeper into the musical experience, as they have done so well in "The Everglow". There is no weak link in this powerful chain of musicians as each song features each superb musician, from amazing full sounding drum fills and "not-just-background" bass work by genius Padgett to unique key work and talented guitarists' renditions of a new genre. This Norfolk, VA group that has been labeled "Indie Rock" began officially in 2001, but Elkins and Marshall began recording at Padgett's home studio much earlier. Since their humble beginnings, Mae has been on tour with several accomplished groups, and, according to bassist Padgett, many of the lyrics of "The Everglow" come directly from the learning and experiences the band took in while on tour. "The Everglow" is really the story of love, striving, failure and reward. Many of the tracks are directly related to actual stories of love and lost love of the five musicians. The album's main theme is being true to yourself, finding your passions and making them your reason living a fulfilled life.
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