Still Life |
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Artist:
Aqualung
Average Customer Rating:  
List Price: £11.99
Our Price: £3.49
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 5050466961327
Label: B-Unique/WEA
Manufacturer: B-Unique/WEA
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: B-Unique/WEA
Release Date: 2003-10-27
Studio: B-Unique/WEA |
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Disc 1:
| 1. Brighter Than Sunshine | | 2. Left Behind | | 3. You Turn Me Around | | 4. Easier To life | | 5. Another Little Hole | | 6. 7 Keys | | 7. Extraordinary Thing | | 8. Breaking My Heart Again | | 9. Take Me Home | | 10. Good Goodnight |
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Amazon.co.uk Review
One of British pop's new breed of moody and introverted post-Thom Yorke baby boomers, Still Life finds Southampton's classically trained Matt Hales--Aqualung's songwriter and frontman--succeeding in selling both himself and his omnipotent piano as a more erudite and self-absorbed version of Coldplay. Beginning with the mitigated optimism of "Brighter than Sunshine"--a gloriously simplistic pop song spruced with cloudy strings and therefore redolent of a more sullen ELO--and climaxing with the muttered, moribund lulling of "Good Goodnight", Still Life frequently attains levels of mumbled intensity via songs as alluring and bitterly withered as "Easier to Lie" and "Extraordinary Thing". The latter not only utilises a harpsichord and paraphrases one of Churchill's famous wartime speeches but goes on to satirise Radiohead's oevre with the classic--and practically comedic--opening line "Cheer up, it may never happen". It was always going to take something special to trump Aqualung's eponymous, Ivor Novello nomitated debut but Still Life really does do the job in atypically melancholic fashion. --Kevin Maidment
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More than i expected, 2009-03-12
This was a surprise, nearly all the tracks wre good to listen to. i would recommend this buy.
13 Trick Horse, 2003-11-27
Second album time for Matt Hales, and it's time for him to prove he's not just a one trick horse. "Strange and Beautiful" was both strange and beautiful, but the rest of his self-titled debut was ok at best; although on occasion it reached the brilliant intimacy of the single, most of it felt distinctly half-baked.
So, has he managed it? Brighter Than Sunshine kicks things off nicely, and the lingering doubt that this will just be another Volkswagon Advert will dissipate as soon as "Left Behind", easily a match for anything Coldplay have done, kicks in. It seems Hales has discovered the wonders of the recording studio; as well as a lusher accompaniment of strings to his piano, strange and often compelling sounds litter the album. But it is far from overproduced- the man knows where to draw the line, and everything melts together perfectly. "Another Little Hole" and "Take Me Home" are brilliantly numb break-up pieces; Hales shatters his voice at the beginning of "Breaking My Heart Again" for almost uncomfortably intimate effect. And what is that sound at the beginning of "7 Keys"? It sounds like a wave breaking gently against an electronic beach, or the world's friendliest TV snow. Either way, it's a fitting opening for a defiantly cheery song.
Matt Hales is both a musical talent and a master at break up albums. It's time he's recognised as such.
READ THIS if you're thinking of buying, 2004-03-07
Well - that got your attention. This CD is an absolute classic - you can sue me if you disagree! The first CD was excellent but this one shines even better. I am a fan of Coldplay and Travis (who Matt gets compared to) but this is altogether better, brighter and better songwriting throughout and deserves every plaudit. Heartfelt ballads to almost rock - some of the subtle changes in the music are just amazing. One review said - 'not for the recently separated or heartbroken' and I cannot agree more - there is so much emotion in the music. BUY IT - it will be re-promoted soon and you will regret not buying it. I have seen Aqualaung live and these songs sound even better. Hope you like this review. Like all great CDs - it takes time to kick in - 2/3 plays and you'll be hooked. Graham.
Wow, what a difference in sound..., 2004-05-15
I bought Aqualung's follow up LP expecting it to be merely an extension or olive branch from what the debut gave us - melancholic, reflective and beautiful piano melodies. Of course, it delivers perfectly once again in this area of the album structure but there's certainly a difference in the sound of the two albums. 'Still Life' sounds like Aqualung from the core elements of the music, but its clear Matt Hales has decided to tinker with his winning formula by adding a bigger sound scope. More guitar elements, drums and other instrumentation help make this a much more diverse record than the first. I never thought they'd better the self titled debut, but they've quite possibly exceeded all expectations by delivering something fans of the old material will love whilst attracting a new legion with the progression they've made.'Brighter Than Sunshine' is the perfect opener, a great pop song which has a great chorus and extemely uplifting. 'Left Behind' is perhaps the loudest part of the album and its here where you begin to see the diversity on offer. Matt sings the chorus here very passionately and its a song which develops to a mid-pace rock out. 'You Turn Me Around' and 'Easier To Lie' are next up, and in my view the best two tracks on the album. You Turn Me Around brings the sound back to a softer tone and features quite possibly the best lyrics on the enitre record. It's a beautiful, powerful piano led song and needs to be heard to be beleived. Easier To Lie however will lift you back up, it has a wonderful sweeping chorus and melody that just has the ability to make you feel good. '7 Keys' and 'Breaking My Heart Again' are the other stand out tracks and see the tone return once more to where Aqualung feel most at home. The rest of the songs are by no means average, but perhaps slightly lacking in quality to grab you like the others mentioned above. I gave this 5 stars because its an album which will certainly have you coming back time and again. Also, in my opinion, it's a record in which Matt Hales has successfully moved Aqualung forward in their search for new ideas. It's their creativity and ability to use a range of different sounds successfully which makes this essential listening for music fans who like blissful, easy listening piano led melodies. It still sounds like much of their earlier stuff, but its much glossier, and full marks to them for not resting on their laurels and honing their sound. This ain't far off perfection.
Its Great and powerfull, 2004-02-02
the songs are all quite quiet and soothing but the lyrics are powerfull and bring out lots of emotions. Very easy to listen to and a great buy.
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