For those who care, Spiritualized (one of the greatest live bands I’ve ever seen) just released a new studio album after a five year hiatus. I havn’t decided yet how much I like it (because it’s a Spiritualized album and they’re all that way); it’s no Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space, but […]
For those who care, Spiritualized (one of the greatest live bands I’ve ever seen) just released a new studio album after a five year hiatus.
I havn’t decided yet how much I like it (because it’s a Spiritualized album and they’re all that way); it’s no Ladies and Gentlemen, We Are Floating in Space, but with each play I like it more.
My favorite track so far is I gotta fire (click to play), though there are a number of other really strong tracks.
There’s a great back-story behind this album, which isn’t unusual with Spiritualized.
(From Wikipedia)
Songs in A&E comes five years after Spiritualized’s previous album – 2003’s Amazing Grace – and following Pierce’s near death experience in 2005 after he had contracted advanced periorbital cellulitis with bilateral pneumonia with rapid deterioration requiring intensive care and c-pap for type 1 respiratory failure.[3]. Indeed, the album takes its title from the long period Pierce spent in the Accident and Emergency ward (A&E) during this illness.
Their first CD (Lazer Guided Melodies) will always and forever be my favorite of theirs. Though, even years after the fact, I still have trouble pulling it out and listening to it, as it reminds me very much of a particular time in my life and brings back a lot of stuff. But what a gorgeous album it was. This sample you posted is so different from the Spiritualized I fell in love with that it’s hard for me to like it, even though I can hear its merits. Perhaps if I get the whole CD it’ll grow on me.
As a side geek note, because I was such a freak for their music, I ended up getting a copy of the US-banned pill-box version of “Ladies and Gentlemen…” before the ban and enforced repackaging happened. (I bought it the minute it showed up in the stores, in import, before the ban.) I still have it, even though it’s a fucking pain in the arse to store because it’s size is all weird. And having to actually break open the pill pack to get to the CD was kind of painful. It was so gorgeously packaged.
But the ex got the Pure Phase CD. Ah, well.
The Spiritualized I love best is actually live; the albums are cool, all different, all interesting, all complex, but live, they’re absolutely amazing. Royal Albert Hall October 10 1997 comes pretty close in sound, but isn’t quite there (since it was recorded ten years ago).
As to favorites; since all my favorite *songs* are on Ladies and Gentlemen (Cop Shoot Cop, Come Together, I Think I’m In Love, etc), I’d still stick with it as my favorite. But all their albums rule.
Plus I just finally found someone who’d send me a rip of Fucked Up Inside which I’ve been trying to get hold of for a year and a half. So I’m completely stoked. If you can find ’em, they’re going for $100+ used.