WMBtPCoO - your reviews!

[bonsai_human]

Someone had to be first, so it might as well be me!

On first listen I was quite underwhelmed. Having now listened to the album a couple of times, I am a little less disappointed than I was. There are, in fact, several tracks I really love. But still, it's no Love is Real.

Maybe the problem is having heard so many of the tracks before I heard the entire album. LiR was my first Maus album, and I'd only heard Rights for Gays before buying it, so it had an album feel to me from the start. WMB... just doesn't seem to.

So - the negatives:

- Keep Pushing On is the biggest disappointment for me. After hearing it recorded live, this version is extremely unwhelming. The vocals are so quiet!
- Matter of Fact is an unnecessary addition, I think. We've all heard it before.
- Hey Moon is one of my favourite Molly Nilsson songs, but I can't be sure this version is anything other than JM karaoke. If not, it's the straightest cover ever.

And the positives:

- Head for the Country is clearly a masterpiece. It, along with Quantum Leap, are clearly inspired by Limahl's The Neverending Story, and that is never, I repeat NEVER a bad thing.
- I love me some '80s keyboards, and this album delivers in truckloads.
- I studied music for many years and I still can't for the life of me figure out the time signature[s] in We Can Breakthrough. This is a Good Thing. It showcases his genius.
- On that theme - JM's love of mediaeval/baroque/church music is still to the fore. Lovely.
- And I'm a sucker for religious imagery. Is JM a Believer? I know he has a background as a church organist. I'm not one myself, but I find his interest in Jesus, erm, interesting.

So - 7/10. Love is Real was 10/10; Songs 8/10.

[AppTrans]

I think "Keep Pushing On" is quite satisfying...sounds like a basement chant with bursts of triumph coming through the furnace vent...just a right balance!
"Matter of Fact" is great just by virtue of the "pit stop" a la Huey Lewis or Genesis...if you know what I mean...that kind of 80's half-step up surprise.

I'm surprised no one posted anything about "Cop Killer" and its melody being lifted from this game (as noted in the WMBtPCoO cd cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsBIULHXT-I

[MausterofDisguise]

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[dean]

I agree about Keep Pushing On. I wish it was a better recording. I first heard it on a youtube video, and there was so much passion in the performance that I hoped that the recorded version would be able to replicate that. To me, it didn't.

That being said, the album is solid. I've played all of his albums to death, and each release has been my favourite of the year. There were some tracks that I wished had made the album, but other than that, it's deserving the press it is getting.

[travis]

I think "Keep Pushing On" is quite satisfying...sounds like a basement chant with bursts of triumph coming through the furnace vent...just a right balance!
"Matter of Fact" is great just by virtue of the "pit stop" a la Huey Lewis or Genesis...if you know what I mean...that kind of 80's half-step up surprise.

I'm surprised no one posted anything about "Cop Killer" and its melody being lifted from this game (as noted in the WMBtPCoO cd cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsBIULHXT-I

fuck that, fuck the album. it's all stolen shit. i think the idea for cop killer came from robocop, when he takes that guy into the station and they ask what are we booking him for and robocop says 'he's a cop killer'

[AppTrans]

Awesome review Trav!

[travis]

Awesome review Trav!

yeah

[eternia]

I'm surprised no one posted anything about "Cop Killer" and its melody being lifted from this game (as noted in the WMBtPCoO cd cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsBIULHXT-I

Oh Are there any other notes in the CD cover? I haven't mine yet.. thanks AppTrans!

[AppTrans]

I'm surprised no one posted anything about "Cop Killer" and its melody being lifted from this game (as noted in the WMBtPCoO cd cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsBIULHXT-I

Oh Are there any other notes in the CD cover? I haven't mine yet.. thanks AppTrans!

Eternia, the cover also mentions that Track 4 features and contains a sample from Molly Nilsson's song Hey Moon. :nod:

[AppTrans]

http://coolmusicforcoolguys.blogspot.co ... iless.html
:delaware:

[eternia]

Eternia, the cover also mentions that Track 4 features and contains a sample from Molly Nilsson's song Hey Moon. :nod:

ok, no more hidden prehistoric stuff..

[pluckypurcell]

I think "Keep Pushing On" is quite satisfying...sounds like a basement chant with bursts of triumph coming through the furnace vent...just a right balance!
"Matter of Fact" is great just by virtue of the "pit stop" a la Huey Lewis or Genesis...if you know what I mean...that kind of 80's half-step up surprise.

I'm surprised no one posted anything about "Cop Killer" and its melody being lifted from this game (as noted in the WMBtPCoO cd cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsBIULHXT-I

fuck that, fuck the album. it's all stolen shit. i think the idea for cop killer came from robocop, when he takes that guy into the station and they ask what are we booking him for and robocop says 'he's a cop killer'

hey travis good to see ya back. that's not the only time in that movie they use the phrase 'cop killer' you know.

[liam]

Awesome review Trav!

LOL

[liam]

I like Keep Pushing On

I also like the rest of the album, it is nice

I don't think it's much removed stylistically from Love Is Real (not that that's necessarily a bad thing, as I love LIR). But that did mean when I first heard it it didn't have the same impact that LIR did to me (in comparison to Songs, which I liked but wasn't totally into). As such I found it a bit disappointing

But like I said elsewhere, I think that's the result of the similarity rather than a drop in quality. If I'd heard this first I think I'd have been blown away, and then probably a bit disappointed when I later heard LIR maybe

Anyway it grew on me with each listen and I now think it's great. But LIR is still my favourite

[bonsai_human]

If I'd heard this first I think I'd have been blown away, and then probably a bit disappointed when I later heard LIR maybe

Ha, you're probably right. I guess nothing will replace the slack-jawed awe that comes with first discovering JM.