The Neon Fan Reviews
The Neon Fan Reviews
This is where you post your views on the new Erasure album The Neon.
From Wonderland to the World Beyond
Re: The Neon Fan Reviews
Here is the album review from friend of Erasure4rum Stephano Barberis,as posted on UEC with full permission to post here.
Stephano Barberis The Neon review
So, I've now listened to The Neon about six times on repeat, loudly over good speakers. I'll try to not be as wordy and drawn out as I am for every review in the past, but I can't promise anything. I'm writing this whilst still intoxicated by the frisson of a new Erasure album, so my smile can power light bulbs right now.
By the way, this isn't an album for laptop or iPhone speakers. It really needs to be heard loudly over good speakers or on good headphones. In fact, when I play it on my laptop, the songs sound so much more different.
Alright then. Welcome back, Erasure. You've been missing for a while. Though you may have popped your head in and out or driven by while waving every few years or so, you haven't really been fully yourself and made yourselves comfortable. When I initially heard the first three songs in a staggered release pattern, I couldn't really fit them into my brain properly. But now as an album, I totally get it. While not all of them are an immediate needle to the vein, they're still all interesting enough to return back to and palatable enough on first listen. There's a sense of the variational adventure of Wild! and Loveboat with the analogue minimalism of Chorus... without sounding like either. It's the deliberate pop of Cowboy without its sharp and plastically digital angles. Pretty much all of the tracks have grown on me. I also love how the two-chorus era is behind them, as is the excess rambling after choruses. No excess fabric that does nothing but get tripped over. Just the goods.
The Neon is fun and bright. It's more feel than think. There's a simplicity here that any normal pop band would have fumbled in the first track, but the tested alchemy of Erasure inoculates them from a similar fate. Over half of this album could easily become radio hits.
The mix by David Wrench sounds great. Wrench also mixed Goldfrapp's last album and it's magnificent. Gone is the thick, muffling blanket of World Be Gone.
With this album, Erasure have returned to their naive youth again while somehow aging into a stately maturity at the same time. Vince sounds like he's having effortless fun. Andy's voice sounds confident and powerful. This isn't an experiment in synth sounds. It's a return to what made them great in the first place. There are echoes of Yazoo to all of their past albums bouncing around the colourful grid walls of this album.
They are elder statesmen of synthpop now. If I were to visualise their musical return, it would be like Erasure driving into the middle of a barren desert with a car whose wheels aren't even touching the ground, getting out of their car, and starting to perform. The desert around them slowly begins to turn into a jungle of otherworldly plants; their car gets coated in massive, clear geometric crystals. Strange hybrid creatures dance around them happily. Tumbleweeds turn into balls of light. Vince's synths emit lasers. Andy hovers. This is the sound of The Neon.
As for the tracks:
// Hey Now:
This is going to get the live crowds exploding into a frenzy when it begins on tour. Even if it's not any fan's favourite song in the Erasure canon, it's still instantly recognisable and lifts spirits with Spartan-like deftness. Even haters will stomp uncontrollably when the opening notes pour out. It's simply a wonderful pop statement and even awkward lyrics can't really dampen its proud strut.
// Nerves Of Steel:
Vince really shines in this glamourous electro-rock tune. That synth lead is otherworldly. Again, there's that rocket science simplicity at play here. Though, there's a strangely disparate quality here between the vocals and the music that makes things interesting. It almost sounds like the two elements are divorced, yet somehow dancing together in a way that's difficult to look away from. It wouldn't be my choice for a single, but it holds its distinct flavour in the pantheon of songs here quite uniquely.
// Fallen Angel:
This inspirational angel clamoured its way up into my graces upon repeated listening. It feels almost too simple to be a single (Andy said it will be single #3), yet that appears to be the modus operandi of this album. You wonder why Andy didn't go for his dramatic turn in the melody, only to understand he's saving it for the next line. Simple... or complicatedly simple. It contains similar DNA to "Reunion, "Catch 22," and "Just A Little Love."
// No Point In Tripping:
Channeling Yazoo. Conjuring Jake Shears. Calling Philip Oakey. This was the first real E-zap to my brain on the album. An easy, potential single and one of my favourite songs here. This benefits from a good sound system to grasp the rhythm. I'm predicting it will be a fan favourite.
// Shot A Satellite:
Effortlessly 80's. Rubber-bouncing bass. Again, simple. Great backing vocals. Pleading, dramatic chorus. I'm flying through neon asteroids made of VHS static. It's as though the 90's didn't even happen when I listen to these songs.
// Tower Of Love:
This one took a couple listens for it to soak into me. Torchy and dramatic. Torsten takes over Andy's body briefly in a temporary Jekyll and Hide swap. The trippy moment the song turns with the synths and ooh's to the chorus is a genuine moment that feels like a portal to the 80s. I can't shake the visual of Vince playing the sounds with his bare fingers softly pummeling the vinyl of a spinning record. This song feels like a bit of a palate cleanser for the pop carnival to follow...
// Diamond Lies:
This is the pinnacle for me on this album. The music spins out of the speakers like woven light rays. Simplicity rules again. One thing I really find intriguing about this album is that it doesn't need to pound you over the head with colossal beats and BPM to move you. This needs to be a single. A preposterous Vince middle eight that sounds like a 60's mod dance sequence on acid provides this mountain's peak with a Saturn's ring. Facile vocals and melody by Andy, plus great synth flourishes bridging the gaps makes this quite brilliant and catchy in pretty much anywhere you stick the pin. A ballsy swagger permeates the track. In fact, it's so fun that it needs a pretty, misty morning sunrise of a song to follow it for the hangover...
// New Horizons:
The curtains pull on stage to reveal a Christian-greeting-card-esque sky of towering clouds and apricot sunbeams while Andy is still sprawled naked on his messy bed with an empty bottle of whisky by his thigh. This song is not only an incandescent prayer, but it's also a rather gorgeous song of evidence that you don't need a wall of sound to impress anyone. It's a songwriting and vocal performance that none of this band's synth pop contemporaries could even dream of. Spiritually romantic.
// Careful What I Try To Do:
This was yet another early favourite for me that could easily be a single. "You've got *fortitude!*" The song bounces along in a way that disguises its melodic strengths. Another light bulb in this happy marquee of an album.
// Kid You're Not Alone:
I've always said that Erasure could put together an album of all their last songs on their albums because they seem to have a distinct feel. This is no different. It's beautiful. It sways in sunlight. Andy's vocals soar without being forced.
Coming off of the very un-Erasure World Be Gone, they needed to ground themselves to recalibrate, so I believe this album bodes well for future albums. I can only imagine if they decide to have the songwriting be even more of a focus next time, like on the folky, melodic Chorus album. It would be great to see what they would do working with a producer as well to help curate the overall vibe and vocal. My preference is always for an "uplifting darkness" as opposed to lightheartedness or just morose darkness. Chorus had that up/dark feel, mixed with super-sweet melodies, and effortless spaciousness. Vince was more extreme with the synths and Andy more extreme with the melodic acrobatics, but in a quieter way. It has always been strange to me that Andy feels he needs to shout sometimes when singing, with that spectacularly gorgeous voice. He has nothing to prove to anyone.
This album is less goosebumps and tears of joy than it is an overall body buzz. The positive feelings embrace the listener in a more subtle way throughout the album. There's no urgency of "Chorus," stratospheric rapture of "Always," or pop nuke of "Sacred," but there's a musical ease that is still very engaging here. It's an album that is running on more cylinders than most of their albums in this half of their career. They may be into their 18th album now, but strangely, they're tapping into a long lost Delphic well once again.
I've heard a few reviewers rightly calling this album a balm. These songs are definitely a glowing salve for the wounds of our trying times.
Pughie-No pressure guys but this is the review Is going to be hard to beat
Stephano Barberis The Neon review
So, I've now listened to The Neon about six times on repeat, loudly over good speakers. I'll try to not be as wordy and drawn out as I am for every review in the past, but I can't promise anything. I'm writing this whilst still intoxicated by the frisson of a new Erasure album, so my smile can power light bulbs right now.
By the way, this isn't an album for laptop or iPhone speakers. It really needs to be heard loudly over good speakers or on good headphones. In fact, when I play it on my laptop, the songs sound so much more different.
Alright then. Welcome back, Erasure. You've been missing for a while. Though you may have popped your head in and out or driven by while waving every few years or so, you haven't really been fully yourself and made yourselves comfortable. When I initially heard the first three songs in a staggered release pattern, I couldn't really fit them into my brain properly. But now as an album, I totally get it. While not all of them are an immediate needle to the vein, they're still all interesting enough to return back to and palatable enough on first listen. There's a sense of the variational adventure of Wild! and Loveboat with the analogue minimalism of Chorus... without sounding like either. It's the deliberate pop of Cowboy without its sharp and plastically digital angles. Pretty much all of the tracks have grown on me. I also love how the two-chorus era is behind them, as is the excess rambling after choruses. No excess fabric that does nothing but get tripped over. Just the goods.
The Neon is fun and bright. It's more feel than think. There's a simplicity here that any normal pop band would have fumbled in the first track, but the tested alchemy of Erasure inoculates them from a similar fate. Over half of this album could easily become radio hits.
The mix by David Wrench sounds great. Wrench also mixed Goldfrapp's last album and it's magnificent. Gone is the thick, muffling blanket of World Be Gone.
With this album, Erasure have returned to their naive youth again while somehow aging into a stately maturity at the same time. Vince sounds like he's having effortless fun. Andy's voice sounds confident and powerful. This isn't an experiment in synth sounds. It's a return to what made them great in the first place. There are echoes of Yazoo to all of their past albums bouncing around the colourful grid walls of this album.
They are elder statesmen of synthpop now. If I were to visualise their musical return, it would be like Erasure driving into the middle of a barren desert with a car whose wheels aren't even touching the ground, getting out of their car, and starting to perform. The desert around them slowly begins to turn into a jungle of otherworldly plants; their car gets coated in massive, clear geometric crystals. Strange hybrid creatures dance around them happily. Tumbleweeds turn into balls of light. Vince's synths emit lasers. Andy hovers. This is the sound of The Neon.
As for the tracks:
// Hey Now:
This is going to get the live crowds exploding into a frenzy when it begins on tour. Even if it's not any fan's favourite song in the Erasure canon, it's still instantly recognisable and lifts spirits with Spartan-like deftness. Even haters will stomp uncontrollably when the opening notes pour out. It's simply a wonderful pop statement and even awkward lyrics can't really dampen its proud strut.
// Nerves Of Steel:
Vince really shines in this glamourous electro-rock tune. That synth lead is otherworldly. Again, there's that rocket science simplicity at play here. Though, there's a strangely disparate quality here between the vocals and the music that makes things interesting. It almost sounds like the two elements are divorced, yet somehow dancing together in a way that's difficult to look away from. It wouldn't be my choice for a single, but it holds its distinct flavour in the pantheon of songs here quite uniquely.
// Fallen Angel:
This inspirational angel clamoured its way up into my graces upon repeated listening. It feels almost too simple to be a single (Andy said it will be single #3), yet that appears to be the modus operandi of this album. You wonder why Andy didn't go for his dramatic turn in the melody, only to understand he's saving it for the next line. Simple... or complicatedly simple. It contains similar DNA to "Reunion, "Catch 22," and "Just A Little Love."
// No Point In Tripping:
Channeling Yazoo. Conjuring Jake Shears. Calling Philip Oakey. This was the first real E-zap to my brain on the album. An easy, potential single and one of my favourite songs here. This benefits from a good sound system to grasp the rhythm. I'm predicting it will be a fan favourite.
// Shot A Satellite:
Effortlessly 80's. Rubber-bouncing bass. Again, simple. Great backing vocals. Pleading, dramatic chorus. I'm flying through neon asteroids made of VHS static. It's as though the 90's didn't even happen when I listen to these songs.
// Tower Of Love:
This one took a couple listens for it to soak into me. Torchy and dramatic. Torsten takes over Andy's body briefly in a temporary Jekyll and Hide swap. The trippy moment the song turns with the synths and ooh's to the chorus is a genuine moment that feels like a portal to the 80s. I can't shake the visual of Vince playing the sounds with his bare fingers softly pummeling the vinyl of a spinning record. This song feels like a bit of a palate cleanser for the pop carnival to follow...
// Diamond Lies:
This is the pinnacle for me on this album. The music spins out of the speakers like woven light rays. Simplicity rules again. One thing I really find intriguing about this album is that it doesn't need to pound you over the head with colossal beats and BPM to move you. This needs to be a single. A preposterous Vince middle eight that sounds like a 60's mod dance sequence on acid provides this mountain's peak with a Saturn's ring. Facile vocals and melody by Andy, plus great synth flourishes bridging the gaps makes this quite brilliant and catchy in pretty much anywhere you stick the pin. A ballsy swagger permeates the track. In fact, it's so fun that it needs a pretty, misty morning sunrise of a song to follow it for the hangover...
// New Horizons:
The curtains pull on stage to reveal a Christian-greeting-card-esque sky of towering clouds and apricot sunbeams while Andy is still sprawled naked on his messy bed with an empty bottle of whisky by his thigh. This song is not only an incandescent prayer, but it's also a rather gorgeous song of evidence that you don't need a wall of sound to impress anyone. It's a songwriting and vocal performance that none of this band's synth pop contemporaries could even dream of. Spiritually romantic.
// Careful What I Try To Do:
This was yet another early favourite for me that could easily be a single. "You've got *fortitude!*" The song bounces along in a way that disguises its melodic strengths. Another light bulb in this happy marquee of an album.
// Kid You're Not Alone:
I've always said that Erasure could put together an album of all their last songs on their albums because they seem to have a distinct feel. This is no different. It's beautiful. It sways in sunlight. Andy's vocals soar without being forced.
Coming off of the very un-Erasure World Be Gone, they needed to ground themselves to recalibrate, so I believe this album bodes well for future albums. I can only imagine if they decide to have the songwriting be even more of a focus next time, like on the folky, melodic Chorus album. It would be great to see what they would do working with a producer as well to help curate the overall vibe and vocal. My preference is always for an "uplifting darkness" as opposed to lightheartedness or just morose darkness. Chorus had that up/dark feel, mixed with super-sweet melodies, and effortless spaciousness. Vince was more extreme with the synths and Andy more extreme with the melodic acrobatics, but in a quieter way. It has always been strange to me that Andy feels he needs to shout sometimes when singing, with that spectacularly gorgeous voice. He has nothing to prove to anyone.
This album is less goosebumps and tears of joy than it is an overall body buzz. The positive feelings embrace the listener in a more subtle way throughout the album. There's no urgency of "Chorus," stratospheric rapture of "Always," or pop nuke of "Sacred," but there's a musical ease that is still very engaging here. It's an album that is running on more cylinders than most of their albums in this half of their career. They may be into their 18th album now, but strangely, they're tapping into a long lost Delphic well once again.
I've heard a few reviewers rightly calling this album a balm. These songs are definitely a glowing salve for the wounds of our trying times.
Pughie-No pressure guys but this is the review Is going to be hard to beat
From Wonderland to the World Beyond
Re: The Neon Fan Reviews
The Neon is out today and first listen after reading over 30 various reviews from so called professionals who it seems this time around all absolutely love the new album!!
So with no pressure having sat last night watching all the fans who were getting to hear it before me! Due to where they live,Australia getting first dibs at listening and the comments seems to be more along the lines of Vince is running on 100% with all engines on full and hitting all the right notes. On the other side of the coin,Andy seemed to be getting most of the flack with his lyrics,I seem to remember World Be Gone and ‘baby-gate’,we aren’t getting any ‘baby’ this time! So what’s your problem?,it seems his lyrics now are and I quote ‘phoned in’ whatever that means,they are repetitive,lame even lazy.
GET A GRIP PEOPLE
What exactly do you want?,Shakespeare? Oscar Wilde? JK Rowling? ..... hold on we do have a bit of JK ...... Andy has waved his magic wand around and spellbound us with yet another album of catchy sing-a-ling songs that you’ll be singing yourself hoarse on tour next year.
Hey Now gave me goosebumps on first play on a Radio 2,a winner.
Shot A Satellite an instant winner full on classic Erasure.
Nerves Of Steel ..... hmm sorry but due to and to quote an a Erasure remix a ‘combination of special events’ meant at first listen I was confused,I was expecting a full on stomper,but only having heard 3/4 of it on first play it didn’t gel,but after the video appeared it took on a whole new life. A worthy second single.
No Point In Tripping I sneakily listened on a Radio 2 loved it.
Now we get to album release day. 5 songs to hear to get the full Neon experience.
Erasure The Neon
Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling)
A perfect start to the campaign,as album track and single,sing-a-long. This will be a live favourite,we will all be singing hallelujah. It’s just pure Erasure Hi NRG goodness.
Nerves of Steel
Mid tempo track,how Vince constantly comes up with this synth lines using maybe 3-4 notes yet always comes up with these catchy riffs is beyond me. Andy sings his heart out with some class ‘yeahs’! My only gripe is it finishes to quickly,maybe the extended video version was the original ending?
Fallen Angel
3rd track in,3rd single it’s a real catchy one this,Andy on top form. People are saying this album is Erasure at their best,at their classic pop best,Vince really has managed to get that sparse sound that they always had at the beginning it’s very similar in sound to Wonderland or Yazoo it’s that simple yet effective backing that just brings the best out of both their talents. It’s all the layers that build up to create the perfect sound.
No Point in Tripping
Yet another sparse sounding track,yet it delivers a big sound,it’s amazing how this album sounds very classic yet also in exact amount so fresh & new. It’s like the past & the future fused into now. “Older wiser”. Erasure in the best disco in town.
Shot a Satellite
This is classic Erasure all the old school elements are in place,pure Vince bleeps singalong lyrics Erasure perfection.
Tower of Love
This didn’t grab me at first listen,but it’s growing on me,I much prefer the faster songs,it’s very cinematic in sound,some nice moody synth sounds. This is like the Crown Of Thorns track on the album.
Diamond Lies
Here we go back to the Dancefloor. A deep throbbing bassline,plenty of trademark ‘whoas’,lyrically heavy,almost a tongue twister,good luck remembering these on stage Andy. Love it. A weird middle 8 from Vince,but in a good way.
New Horizons
The piano ballad,the Piano Song for 2020,I will make a u turn herE with my ‘I only like faster songs’ this is just a beautiful song full stop. Vince’s programming on this is sublime,Andys vocals are perfection. This really is top contender for my favourite track off the album and no one is as more surprised at that statement as me.
Careful What I Try to Do
Pump it up again after the previous track,a great bassline riff from Vince. Possibly the most Yazoo sounding track for me,it’s sparse sounding with great depth of sound,if that makes any sense,Vince at his absolute best.
Kid You’re Not Alone
The last track in the tradition of Erasure album closers,they always seem to end on a track that just makes you want more. Total Erasure perfection to end the album,and album not that long in time but what it packs in is just what we love Erasure for.
Conclusion
The pre-release reviews that I’ve seen 100% positive.
After release with the fans getting to hear it,the reviews for some reason took a turn mostly aimed at Andy and his lyrics etc,Vince got away scratch free.
‘Erasure at their very best,an album that’s up there with their best’
That was the consensus.
So with no pressure having sat last night watching all the fans who were getting to hear it before me! Due to where they live,Australia getting first dibs at listening and the comments seems to be more along the lines of Vince is running on 100% with all engines on full and hitting all the right notes. On the other side of the coin,Andy seemed to be getting most of the flack with his lyrics,I seem to remember World Be Gone and ‘baby-gate’,we aren’t getting any ‘baby’ this time! So what’s your problem?,it seems his lyrics now are and I quote ‘phoned in’ whatever that means,they are repetitive,lame even lazy.
GET A GRIP PEOPLE
What exactly do you want?,Shakespeare? Oscar Wilde? JK Rowling? ..... hold on we do have a bit of JK ...... Andy has waved his magic wand around and spellbound us with yet another album of catchy sing-a-ling songs that you’ll be singing yourself hoarse on tour next year.
Hey Now gave me goosebumps on first play on a Radio 2,a winner.
Shot A Satellite an instant winner full on classic Erasure.
Nerves Of Steel ..... hmm sorry but due to and to quote an a Erasure remix a ‘combination of special events’ meant at first listen I was confused,I was expecting a full on stomper,but only having heard 3/4 of it on first play it didn’t gel,but after the video appeared it took on a whole new life. A worthy second single.
No Point In Tripping I sneakily listened on a Radio 2 loved it.
Now we get to album release day. 5 songs to hear to get the full Neon experience.
Erasure The Neon
Hey Now (Think I Got A Feeling)
A perfect start to the campaign,as album track and single,sing-a-long. This will be a live favourite,we will all be singing hallelujah. It’s just pure Erasure Hi NRG goodness.
Nerves of Steel
Mid tempo track,how Vince constantly comes up with this synth lines using maybe 3-4 notes yet always comes up with these catchy riffs is beyond me. Andy sings his heart out with some class ‘yeahs’! My only gripe is it finishes to quickly,maybe the extended video version was the original ending?
Fallen Angel
3rd track in,3rd single it’s a real catchy one this,Andy on top form. People are saying this album is Erasure at their best,at their classic pop best,Vince really has managed to get that sparse sound that they always had at the beginning it’s very similar in sound to Wonderland or Yazoo it’s that simple yet effective backing that just brings the best out of both their talents. It’s all the layers that build up to create the perfect sound.
No Point in Tripping
Yet another sparse sounding track,yet it delivers a big sound,it’s amazing how this album sounds very classic yet also in exact amount so fresh & new. It’s like the past & the future fused into now. “Older wiser”. Erasure in the best disco in town.
Shot a Satellite
This is classic Erasure all the old school elements are in place,pure Vince bleeps singalong lyrics Erasure perfection.
Tower of Love
This didn’t grab me at first listen,but it’s growing on me,I much prefer the faster songs,it’s very cinematic in sound,some nice moody synth sounds. This is like the Crown Of Thorns track on the album.
Diamond Lies
Here we go back to the Dancefloor. A deep throbbing bassline,plenty of trademark ‘whoas’,lyrically heavy,almost a tongue twister,good luck remembering these on stage Andy. Love it. A weird middle 8 from Vince,but in a good way.
New Horizons
The piano ballad,the Piano Song for 2020,I will make a u turn herE with my ‘I only like faster songs’ this is just a beautiful song full stop. Vince’s programming on this is sublime,Andys vocals are perfection. This really is top contender for my favourite track off the album and no one is as more surprised at that statement as me.
Careful What I Try to Do
Pump it up again after the previous track,a great bassline riff from Vince. Possibly the most Yazoo sounding track for me,it’s sparse sounding with great depth of sound,if that makes any sense,Vince at his absolute best.
Kid You’re Not Alone
The last track in the tradition of Erasure album closers,they always seem to end on a track that just makes you want more. Total Erasure perfection to end the album,and album not that long in time but what it packs in is just what we love Erasure for.
Conclusion
The pre-release reviews that I’ve seen 100% positive.
After release with the fans getting to hear it,the reviews for some reason took a turn mostly aimed at Andy and his lyrics etc,Vince got away scratch free.
‘Erasure at their very best,an album that’s up there with their best’
That was the consensus.
- Rating: 25%
From Wonderland to the World Beyond
Re: The Neon Fan Reviews
I will probably write a review regarding the music in a few days time. This is just about the visuals. I do the cover idea and style and a lot of thought went into all the different formats. The booklet on first look is great, but if you look closer it is very fuzzy, reading the credits and lyrics is problematic on the LP sized booklet. And who thought white text on orange background would be a good idea? The 4 cards in the CD release are lacking vibrant colours and a sharper print. Despite some sad shortcomings I think it is one of the better album covers. I wish music releases would get proper credits again, I wish I could tell which 4 tracks feature the backing singers. I will take my time before commenting too much on the music, but I am so far really impressed!
Re: The Neon Fan Reviews
Regarding the “lyrics issue” brought up earlier... I mentioned this to a fellow fan last night...
I was in the camp of many fans who were concerned about the decrease in quality of the lyrics. The funny thing is that (IMO) it rings true for the previously 3 released songs BUT not at all with the rest of the album!!
The seven other tracks have fun, witty, clever and serious lyrics which often tell an interesting story or paint a vivid picture. Look at Fallen Angel:
Ride on top of a rollercoaster
Walk up the down escalator
I tried all of the things that give me love
Fly like a fallen angel
Love just like it's second nature
I tried all of the things that give me love
That is pure joy wrapped up in a song!!
I’ll give further thoughts on the album later, as it continues to sink in...
I was in the camp of many fans who were concerned about the decrease in quality of the lyrics. The funny thing is that (IMO) it rings true for the previously 3 released songs BUT not at all with the rest of the album!!
The seven other tracks have fun, witty, clever and serious lyrics which often tell an interesting story or paint a vivid picture. Look at Fallen Angel:
Ride on top of a rollercoaster
Walk up the down escalator
I tried all of the things that give me love
Fly like a fallen angel
Love just like it's second nature
I tried all of the things that give me love
That is pure joy wrapped up in a song!!
I’ll give further thoughts on the album later, as it continues to sink in...
-
erasurehead
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2020 12:30 pm
Re: The Neon Fan Reviews
So impressed after the first listen! Off to more listening, happy times isn't it? Will write full review later.
-
erasurehead
- Posts: 25
- Joined: Tue Feb 25, 2020 12:30 pm
Re: The Neon Fan Reviews
Stephanos review is hard to beat (as always ). He's so clever with the words.
After multiple listens I think the album is such impressive piece of work. Vince is really on fire and Andy delivers big time. There're so many brilliant quirks and moments, like the sound effect on Andys voice when he sings " cliff", or repeats "myself" in the verse of Fallen Angel. Take the synths in the chorus of Tower of Love, it's sooo good. No Point In Tripping, really infectious chorus yet so unerasure. Diamond Lies is another favourite with one of the most catchy prechoruses on the album. Carefull What I Try To Do, what can you say, it's so beautifull all the way. Nerves Of Steel and Shoot A Satellite are both classic allready for me. The only one I didn't get in to yet is New Horizons, I don't know but it could be that after so many good synth driven tracks my ears want just jump over to the next synth toy
. Overall I'd rank The Neon close to VF or Nightbird which means above LATEOTW, TW or WBG but below the big trio of Chorus, I Say and Erasure. It's almost impossible as these 3 are the best in their canon for me.
). He's so clever with the words. After multiple listens I think the album is such impressive piece of work. Vince is really on fire and Andy delivers big time. There're so many brilliant quirks and moments, like the sound effect on Andys voice when he sings " cliff", or repeats "myself" in the verse of Fallen Angel. Take the synths in the chorus of Tower of Love, it's sooo good. No Point In Tripping, really infectious chorus yet so unerasure. Diamond Lies is another favourite with one of the most catchy prechoruses on the album. Carefull What I Try To Do, what can you say, it's so beautifull all the way. Nerves Of Steel and Shoot A Satellite are both classic allready for me. The only one I didn't get in to yet is New Horizons, I don't know but it could be that after so many good synth driven tracks my ears want just jump over to the next synth toy
. Overall I'd rank The Neon close to VF or Nightbird which means above LATEOTW, TW or WBG but below the big trio of Chorus, I Say and Erasure. It's almost impossible as these 3 are the best in their canon for me.
Re: The Neon Fan Reviews
I love reading everyone's comments and thoughts! Erasure are so precious and deeply personal to me and it warms me up here in my heart to know that all of you out there around the world are enjoying the same beautiful music as me. I think the most important thing is that Erasure and all of us are still here in 2020, and staying positive and loving life!
Now on to The Neon! I did not listen to any tracks except Hey Now before the album's release. My preference is to ingest the album as a whole, and not have any pre-conceived notions about any of the songs beforehand.
The first two things I noticed after my first listen: 1. The album is catchy, but not their best and 2. The lyrics are often very poor, but as far as I can tell, no "baby"! To address your remark @Pughie that fans should get over it (poor lyrics). I mostly agree, and I wasn't even sure if I would mention it. However, I think it does speak a little to the attention they give to their music. As a native English speaker, I notice weird lyrics. On the other hand, I'm sure we all love synthpop bands who do not sing in English and I would have no idea if a song in French (for instance) had poor grammar! I've always held that lyrics don't matter much, but when written well can add a lot. And of course, there are plenty of songs with good and bad lyrics across all of Erasure's history. I guess I'll finish this point by saying that I too noticed the poor lyrics here and there, but it doesn't detract from my overall opinion.
Overall, I feel the album is good but I can't shake the feeling it could have been better and longer, if V&A had spent more time working on music. When we first heard of the album, it was only a short time later that all the songs were done and mixing was starting!! Wait, what?? I keep hoping with each new album that V&A would delve deep into their minds and studio, and pull out another Erasure self-titled out of the cosmos. Engaging, artistic tracks that don't necessarily have to be 9 minutes long each, but that try for substance over radio flair. When Cowboy came out, I released that the band had not permanently changed their style but would stick with solid but shorter songs - some part of me wonders if we will ever see that super-artistic side of Erasure ever again. I don't even blame Vince & Andy, it just seems that the album as a format is becoming less and less important. You could say that if World Be Gone was our most recent Erasure, then The Neon is our Cowboy. A return to form that may not be their absolute best, but is solid and grows better with each listen.
1. Hey Now - I can't add much that hasn't been said. I don't like the "we wrote this for radio attention" feel that it exudes, but damn if it's not catchy. Vince's work is wonderful. I think the lyrics are terrible. Each line seems to have no relation to the line before it. Even the title is half-hearted.
2. Nerves of Steel -one of my favorite tracks so far. It has the same tempo as Breathe, and even sounds a bit like it to me, which is probably why they wrote or chose it as a single. And it has a fade-out! Fade-outs seem out of fashion these days.
3. Fallen Angel - Fly like a fallen angel? I thought fallen angels had lost their wings and couldn't fly? I don't think this song has much going for it musically or lyrically. It sounds like Just A Little Love, both of which seem written in 2 minutes and was meant as the last track of the album.
4. No Point In Tripping - A solid song. Some great synth work, especially the middle eight, and I like it when Andy harmonizes with himself (The Hardest Part is a great example)
5. Shot A Satellite - indeed the vocals sound like Human League's Love Me Madly ("you know you're making me nervous"). Another of the better songs on the album. I would love an extended version.
6. Tower Of Love - I agree that it feels like Crown of Thorns. It had me scratching my head on first listen, but quickly grew on me. I like that it's so different from the rest of the album, perhaps similar to Smoke & Mirrors on VF. Would not have been out of place on Snow Globe. This song has the best ending on the album.
7. Diamond Lies - Sounds like a track from Electric Blue. Catchy and has a b-side feel about it though I don't mean that poorly!
8. New Horizons - this album's Take Me Out Of Myself and the low point of the album for me. Is it pretty? Yes. Is the repeating piano key also a bit annoying? Yes. The melody is nice, but I'm still undecided on this one. This just sounds like the backbones of a song not yet finalized, and the ending just farts away like they just didn't bother to finish.
9. Careful What I Try To Do - another highlight of the album. It has such pleasant motion and uplifting lyrics. Understated and gets better each listen!
10. Kid You're Not Alone - Andy's voice sounds off or out of tune in the chorus of this song, and it makes it difficult to listen to. He should have taken it down an octave. The song is pleasant overall, even beautiful, but something just sounds off to me.
Overall, the album is good but certainly not their best. Perhaps I'm too harsh a critic after all this time, but always a fan and I hope we get lots of wonderful mixes and b-sides.
Now on to The Neon! I did not listen to any tracks except Hey Now before the album's release. My preference is to ingest the album as a whole, and not have any pre-conceived notions about any of the songs beforehand.
The first two things I noticed after my first listen: 1. The album is catchy, but not their best and 2. The lyrics are often very poor, but as far as I can tell, no "baby"! To address your remark @Pughie that fans should get over it (poor lyrics). I mostly agree, and I wasn't even sure if I would mention it. However, I think it does speak a little to the attention they give to their music. As a native English speaker, I notice weird lyrics. On the other hand, I'm sure we all love synthpop bands who do not sing in English and I would have no idea if a song in French (for instance) had poor grammar! I've always held that lyrics don't matter much, but when written well can add a lot. And of course, there are plenty of songs with good and bad lyrics across all of Erasure's history. I guess I'll finish this point by saying that I too noticed the poor lyrics here and there, but it doesn't detract from my overall opinion.
Overall, I feel the album is good but I can't shake the feeling it could have been better and longer, if V&A had spent more time working on music. When we first heard of the album, it was only a short time later that all the songs were done and mixing was starting!! Wait, what?? I keep hoping with each new album that V&A would delve deep into their minds and studio, and pull out another Erasure self-titled out of the cosmos. Engaging, artistic tracks that don't necessarily have to be 9 minutes long each, but that try for substance over radio flair. When Cowboy came out, I released that the band had not permanently changed their style but would stick with solid but shorter songs - some part of me wonders if we will ever see that super-artistic side of Erasure ever again. I don't even blame Vince & Andy, it just seems that the album as a format is becoming less and less important. You could say that if World Be Gone was our most recent Erasure, then The Neon is our Cowboy. A return to form that may not be their absolute best, but is solid and grows better with each listen.
1. Hey Now - I can't add much that hasn't been said. I don't like the "we wrote this for radio attention" feel that it exudes, but damn if it's not catchy. Vince's work is wonderful. I think the lyrics are terrible. Each line seems to have no relation to the line before it. Even the title is half-hearted.
2. Nerves of Steel -one of my favorite tracks so far. It has the same tempo as Breathe, and even sounds a bit like it to me, which is probably why they wrote or chose it as a single. And it has a fade-out! Fade-outs seem out of fashion these days.
3. Fallen Angel - Fly like a fallen angel? I thought fallen angels had lost their wings and couldn't fly? I don't think this song has much going for it musically or lyrically. It sounds like Just A Little Love, both of which seem written in 2 minutes and was meant as the last track of the album.
4. No Point In Tripping - A solid song. Some great synth work, especially the middle eight, and I like it when Andy harmonizes with himself (The Hardest Part is a great example)
5. Shot A Satellite - indeed the vocals sound like Human League's Love Me Madly ("you know you're making me nervous"). Another of the better songs on the album. I would love an extended version.
6. Tower Of Love - I agree that it feels like Crown of Thorns. It had me scratching my head on first listen, but quickly grew on me. I like that it's so different from the rest of the album, perhaps similar to Smoke & Mirrors on VF. Would not have been out of place on Snow Globe. This song has the best ending on the album.
7. Diamond Lies - Sounds like a track from Electric Blue. Catchy and has a b-side feel about it though I don't mean that poorly!
8. New Horizons - this album's Take Me Out Of Myself and the low point of the album for me. Is it pretty? Yes. Is the repeating piano key also a bit annoying? Yes. The melody is nice, but I'm still undecided on this one. This just sounds like the backbones of a song not yet finalized, and the ending just farts away like they just didn't bother to finish.
9. Careful What I Try To Do - another highlight of the album. It has such pleasant motion and uplifting lyrics. Understated and gets better each listen!
10. Kid You're Not Alone - Andy's voice sounds off or out of tune in the chorus of this song, and it makes it difficult to listen to. He should have taken it down an octave. The song is pleasant overall, even beautiful, but something just sounds off to me.
Overall, the album is good but certainly not their best. Perhaps I'm too harsh a critic after all this time, but always a fan and I hope we get lots of wonderful mixes and b-sides.
- Rating: 50%
-
enamorizado
- Posts: 19
- Joined: Sat Jun 13, 2020 12:41 pm
- Location: Menorca, Spain
Re: The Neon Fan Reviews
mrblue wrote: Sun Aug 23, 2020 2:01 pm I love reading everyone's comments and thoughts! Erasure are so precious and deeply personal to me and it warms me up here in my heart to know that all of you out there around the world are enjoying the same beautiful music as me. I think the most important thing is that Erasure and all of us are still here in 2020, and staying positive and loving life!
Now on to The Neon! I did not listen to any tracks except Hey Now before the album's release. My preference is to ingest the album as a whole, and not have any pre-conceived notions about any of the songs beforehand.
The first two things I noticed after my first listen: 1. The album is catchy, but not their best and 2. The lyrics are often very poor, but as far as I can tell, no "baby"! To address your remark @Pughie that fans should get over it (poor lyrics). I mostly agree, and I wasn't even sure if I would mention it. However, I think it does speak a little to the attention they give to their music. As a native English speaker, I notice weird lyrics. On the other hand, I'm sure we all love synthpop bands who do not sing in English and I would have no idea if a song in French (for instance) had poor grammar! I've always held that lyrics don't matter much, but when written well can add a lot. And of course, there are plenty of songs with good and bad lyrics across all of Erasure's history. I guess I'll finish this point by saying that I too noticed the poor lyrics here and there, but it doesn't detract from my overall opinion.
Overall, I feel the album is good but I can't shake the feeling it could have been better and longer, if V&A had spent more time working on music. When we first heard of the album, it was only a short time later that all the songs were done and mixing was starting!! Wait, what?? I keep hoping with each new album that V&A would delve deep into their minds and studio, and pull out another Erasure self-titled out of the cosmos. Engaging, artistic tracks that don't necessarily have to be 9 minutes long each, but that try for substance over radio flair. When Cowboy came out, I released that the band had not permanently changed their style but would stick with solid but shorter songs - some part of me wonders if we will ever see that super-artistic side of Erasure ever again. I don't even blame Vince & Andy, it just seems that the album as a format is becoming less and less important. You could say that if World Be Gone was our most recent Erasure, then The Neon is our Cowboy. A return to form that may not be their absolute best, but is solid and grows better with each listen.
1. Hey Now - I can't add much that hasn't been said. I don't like the "we wrote this for radio attention" feel that it exudes, but damn if it's not catchy. Vince's work is wonderful. I think the lyrics are terrible. Each line seems to have no relation to the line before it. Even the title is half-hearted.
2. Nerves of Steel -one of my favorite tracks so far. It has the same tempo as Breathe, and even sounds a bit like it to me, which is probably why they wrote or chose it as a single. And it has a fade-out! Fade-outs seem out of fashion these days.
3. Fallen Angel - Fly like a fallen angel? I thought fallen angels had lost their wings and couldn't fly? I don't think this song has much going for it musically or lyrically. It sounds like Just A Little Love, both of which seem written in 2 minutes and was meant as the last track of the album.
4. No Point In Tripping - A solid song. Some great synth work, especially the middle eight, and I like it when Andy harmonizes with himself (The Hardest Part is a great example)
5. Shot A Satellite - indeed the vocals sound like Human League's Love Me Madly ("you know you're making me nervous"). Another of the better songs on the album. I would love an extended version.
6. Tower Of Love - I agree that it feels like Crown of Thorns. It had me scratching my head on first listen, but quickly grew on me. I like that it's so different from the rest of the album, perhaps similar to Smoke & Mirrors on VF. Would not have been out of place on Snow Globe. This song has the best ending on the album.
7. Diamond Lies - Sounds like a track from Electric Blue. Catchy and has a b-side feel about it though I don't mean that poorly!
8. New Horizons - this album's Take Me Out Of Myself and the low point of the album for me. Is it pretty? Yes. Is the repeating piano key also a bit annoying? Yes. The melody is nice, but I'm still undecided on this one. This just sounds like the backbones of a song not yet finalized, and the ending just farts away like they just didn't bother to finish.
9. Careful What I Try To Do - another highlight of the album. It has such pleasant motion and uplifting lyrics. Understated and gets better each listen!
10. Kid You're Not Alone - Andy's voice sounds off or out of tune in the chorus of this song, and it makes it difficult to listen to. He should have taken it down an octave. The song is pleasant overall, even beautiful, but something just sounds off to me.
Overall, the album is good but certainly not their best. Perhaps I'm too harsh a critic after all this time, but always a fan and I hope we get lots of wonderful mixes and b-sides.
I'm not a native english speaker and although I've read that the lyrics are unfortunately printed in a very small size, I'm waiting until my physic copy of The Neon arrives to get into them. I was thinking I couldn't make out the meaning of some big aspects (like the one of Fallen angel that you describe) and it's a huge relieve for me as a learner to know that some lines in the lyrics are rare or hard to get for you too! So thank you!
Apart from that and considering all my difficulties to appreciate them properly I do agree that some seems simple or repetitive. However, i'm not bothered at all about that because I think is something common and natural in pop and the band don't have nothing to demonstrate at this point as @Pughie says.
I agree with almost all you expose and, although you may disagree, I would add that as Tower of love has the best ending on the album the next song (Diamond lies) has the worst.
So happy with the new release!
Re: The Neon Fan Reviews
I love mrblue and look forward to his in-depth analysis of Erasure songs and albums but I strongly disagree about the Fallen Angel issue. Yes a fallen angel may have had its wings clipped but that’s why it eagerly soars and flies to its best ability.
In my opinion (and this is all about our own individual opinions
) this song is so joyful and uplifting. This chorus:
Ride on top of a rollercoaster
Walk up the down escalator
I tried all of the things that give me love
Fly like a fallen angel
Love just like it's second nature
I tried all of the things that give me love
is pure, glorious joy!! And there’s no comparison to the lyrics and meaning of the very simplistic “Just a Little Love.”
Just had to express that.
In my opinion (and this is all about our own individual opinions
) this song is so joyful and uplifting. This chorus:Ride on top of a rollercoaster
Walk up the down escalator
I tried all of the things that give me love
Fly like a fallen angel
Love just like it's second nature
I tried all of the things that give me love
is pure, glorious joy!! And there’s no comparison to the lyrics and meaning of the very simplistic “Just a Little Love.”
Just had to express that.
- Rating: 25%