Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Diamonds' shining there...,, June 5, 2007
Well this is either all a strange coincidence or this is a bloody good album, so it's probably that last thing. I (hangs head in shame) was not aware of Soulsavers and was pointed at this album by a friend who knew my fondness for Mr. Lanegan and if you have Dust, Scraps at Midnight & Bubblegum in your collection (and if you don't shame on you) then you need to get a copy of this as well. This is without doubt the best album I've heard in a long time, bringing together different genres of music effortlessly and so interestingly that it leaves you wanting more and finding more after each listen.
I can hear shades of NIN in some of the music but it is more complete, more rewarding than anything I ever heard from Mr. Trent. And I can hear shades and echoes of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, which for me is no bad thing. But this is a significantly better album.
I absolutely love the drive, the bounce, the cool reflectiveness, the soulful mourning, the twists and turns this album makes. It has a rich weave, darkly textured, sometimes sparse, but never wanting. Soul, blues, hip hop beats all demand your attention but never overwhelm, instead pick you up and take you places that are really rather nice places to be. It's the perfect companion at 03:00 in the morning when there is only you and a bottle of vodka, and equally perfect the next morning whilst you are padding around the kitchen looking for something to line your innards with.
Every track brings something to delight about; musically, lyrically, the way different genres snuggle up to each other and effortlessly support and inspire. Worthy of note in my opinion are the backing vocals, used on many tracks not only to support Lanegan's voice, but also to add emotive tones that are just done to perfection.
Revival could well be the song of the year so far, if it were not for Kingdom of Rain, it engraved itself on me the first time I heard it, and I will always remember the first time I heard it. It is magnificent. And I wholeheartedly agree with the Johnny Cash/Hurt comparison. It is moving, dark, delicate; the musicianship, the lyrics, the backing vocals, the everything about this track is just something to behold and take joy in the fact that it is out there for people to hear. It makes the hairs stand up on the back of my neck, it manifests out of the speakers, makes you sit down and take notice. This is just one of the finest records I have ever heard and is for me, the highlight of an exceptional album.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
soulsavers will save their soul. or will they?, March 29, 2007
since leaving queens of the stone age, mark lanegan has suffered for lack of work. on the heels of 'ballad of the broken seas' with isobel campbell (ex-belle & sebastian for those not in the know), mark has lent his consider vocal talents to eight tracks on soulsavers' new album.
casting lanegan was a brilliant move. his voice is appropriately gruffy, weathered, worn, and wise. it's perfectly suited to an album whose overarching theme focuses of redemption of the personal sort. tracks like 'revival' (the clear standout, in my opinion), 'ghosts of me and you,' 'paper money,' 'spiritual' (jesus, i don't want to die alone), and the sadly-titled closer, 'no expectations' ('put me on a train, i've got not expectations to pass through here again. once i was a rich man, now i am so poor, but never in my sweet, short life have i felt like this before').
in an age where people seem to scramble for any shred of 'spirituality,' soulsavers (no small bit of irony in the name) tackle the universal themes in a personal way. after all, we all have these questions at times, don't we? soulsavers frame the questions within some glorious music, making that personal search for redemption meaningful (but never didactic or preachy) and ultimately very rewarding.
a very solid album.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific Record, February 29, 2008
There is little i can say about the album without running out of superlatives within the first paragraph. In a year that saw many stellar releases, this album topped them all. Having previously never heard of Soulsavers, i had no idea what to expect upon ordering it, but even if i
had, i doubt i could have anticipated such an excellent record. It is a wonderful album, a true modern great(And i say this knowing full well how over the top that sounds).
Pointing out highlights seems a little pointless when it is an album that NEEDS to be listened to in full. Intricate, and beautifully atmospheric, each song feeds into the next to paint a dark yet elating picture.Picking out singles would defeat the purpose of the album, as it is an album in the purest sense of the word.
Right from the sublime Revival, the album does not let up, each song seemingly confronting more than the last. Even the instrumentals evoke great emotion, a feat that must be admired, as Lanegan is in outstanding form, his deep vocals hitting the very bottom of the heart.
I must make a special mention of the Rolling Stones cover, No Expectations, as the closer. The song is magnificent, completely transforming the original into a moment of ethereal beauty.
Firmly one of my favorite albums already, I cannot recommend it highly enough. It is a shame this is Lanegans lowest profile album to date, as it is probably his best. He sounds like a man trapped in his own despair, yet refuses to give in.
Incredible album.
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is Soulsavers' 
