- Audio CD (28 Oct 1997)
- Format: Maxi, Import
- Label: Central Station
- ASIN: B00008EY2F
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 963,637 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Numan's 'Exile' album is a masterpiece of vast brooding music. It could almost be described as a concept album, for every song fits into a theme dealing with aspects of religion, divine intervention, and judgement, telling what Numan himself describes as a horror story. This 1997 album utilises the same stylistic elements as the later and better-known 'Pure' CD of 2001 - heavy guitars, industrial keyboards, and soaring angry vocals.
'Dominion Day' is a strong opener, and one of the more pacy tracks, while 'Prophecy' has an atmospheric melody and haunting vocals brimming with dark religious imagery. 'Dead Heaven' is one of the most memorable tracks from the album, sounding more like a 'Pure' track than anything else here with it's cutting guitars and mournful piano lead. 'Dark' is worth listening to just for the tolling bell accompanying the verse, but the standout track for me is 'Exile', with it's menacing lyrics and droning synth lines.
This is certainly far removed from the music Numan is famous for. Anyone expecting him still to be making songs like 'Cars' would be shocked to see how much his music has changed, but the curious will be pleasantly surprised. However, anyone who has been following the lesser known paths of his career will not be disappointed with this CD - the songs still sound like they could only ever be performed by Numan, and his vocals are still full of paranoia, with lyrics touching subjects nobody else can.
'Dominion Day' is a strong opener, and one of the more pacy tracks, while 'Prophecy' has an atmospheric melody and haunting vocals brimming with dark religious imagery. 'Dead Heaven' is one of the most memorable tracks from the album, sounding more like a 'Pure' track than anything else here with it's cutting guitars and mournful piano lead. 'Dark' is worth listening to just for the tolling bell accompanying the verse, but the standout track for me is 'Exile', with it's menacing lyrics and droning synth lines.
This is certainly far removed from the music Numan is famous for. Anyone expecting him still to be making songs like 'Cars' would be shocked to see how much his music has changed, but the curious will be pleasantly surprised. However, anyone who has been following the lesser known paths of his career will not be disappointed with this CD - the songs still sound like they could only ever be performed by Numan, and his vocals are still full of paranoia, with lyrics touching subjects nobody else can.
Format:Audio CD
This is a funny one. Not literally of course, it's actually rather gloomy, but in terms of the mixed feelings I have always had about it.
`Exile' was the next album after Numan's spectacular return to form on the remarkable `Sacrifice' but for me did not really continue the upward trend. It's in no way a bad album and is very `Numan' throughout, it's just that there is a same-iness to much of the material and to this day I can't tell most of the tracks apart.
Let's put it like this; if like me, you found `Absolution' a bit dull, then it's unlikely that you'll take to `Exile', as most of the songs sound a bit like that, with perhaps slight variations in tempo. The songs worked well live though, where they were interspersed with older, familiar songs, but listened to as an unbroken stream, the album has always seemed a bit one-dimensional to me.
The general atmosphere is very moody, with sparse instrumentation and distant drum-loops, and many of the tracks never really get going. Only `Dominion Day, `Prophecy' and the monumental `Dark' (one of Numan's finest songs and a long-time personal fave) stand out from the inseparable `Angel Wars', `An Alien Cure', `Exile', `Innocence Bleeding', 'Dead Heaven' et al.
The lyrical content sees Numan railing against God, which neither interests nor repels me personally, but it does wear a bit thin by the end of the album.
As ever though, since Gary Numan can't honestly be compared with anyone else, it's all relative, and the music here is still light years ahead of even his best mid-to-late 80's output, so in that respect I do hold it in high regard.
I guess it's a fan thing really; if you are one, you'll already have at least one copy of `Exile' and will have formed your opinion of it years ago. If you're new to Numan though, I think you'll be much more impressed by `Sacrifice' and `Pure' or any of the pre-1985 releases, which you should check out before filling in the gaps with the less essential albums like this.
Like I said, a funny one this.
`Exile' was the next album after Numan's spectacular return to form on the remarkable `Sacrifice' but for me did not really continue the upward trend. It's in no way a bad album and is very `Numan' throughout, it's just that there is a same-iness to much of the material and to this day I can't tell most of the tracks apart.
Let's put it like this; if like me, you found `Absolution' a bit dull, then it's unlikely that you'll take to `Exile', as most of the songs sound a bit like that, with perhaps slight variations in tempo. The songs worked well live though, where they were interspersed with older, familiar songs, but listened to as an unbroken stream, the album has always seemed a bit one-dimensional to me.
The general atmosphere is very moody, with sparse instrumentation and distant drum-loops, and many of the tracks never really get going. Only `Dominion Day, `Prophecy' and the monumental `Dark' (one of Numan's finest songs and a long-time personal fave) stand out from the inseparable `Angel Wars', `An Alien Cure', `Exile', `Innocence Bleeding', 'Dead Heaven' et al.
The lyrical content sees Numan railing against God, which neither interests nor repels me personally, but it does wear a bit thin by the end of the album.
As ever though, since Gary Numan can't honestly be compared with anyone else, it's all relative, and the music here is still light years ahead of even his best mid-to-late 80's output, so in that respect I do hold it in high regard.
I guess it's a fan thing really; if you are one, you'll already have at least one copy of `Exile' and will have formed your opinion of it years ago. If you're new to Numan though, I think you'll be much more impressed by `Sacrifice' and `Pure' or any of the pre-1985 releases, which you should check out before filling in the gaps with the less essential albums like this.
Like I said, a funny one this.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
To be honest this is the second Gary Numan album I have ever purchased. The first being his Best Of 1978-1983 album, which I bought for We Are Glass, Are Friends Electric, I Die:You Die, and We Take Mystery To Bed. Gary's latest offering is a great album in my opinion. Very haunting in parts yet other tracks are quite upbeat and reminded me of Depeche Mode (who I like very much) Top tracks IMO are Dominion Day, Prophecy, Absolution, etc... listen for the bells ringing on "Dark", it will freak you out. BUY IT! This will appeal to both fans of electronic music and rock, but is also a great album for chilling out.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Dull angst
This is a 3am insomniac self-indugently telling us all what he thought of God when he was at his lowest. The lyrics are adolescent and the music is tedious. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ed Kingsley
I don't understand
This album is supposed to be one of the very best of Gary Numan and sold many times more than lots of the mid-year ones. Read more
Published on 28 Sep 2009 by Ecky Carlyle
The exiled godfather of electro-rock returns
This is another great example of Numan's new heavy industrial/electro style. I have been trecking backwards through Numan's musical career after being reintroduced to his music via... Read more
Published on 28 Aug 2009 by J. Hodgkinson
Gary Attacks God
For a guy who claims not to believe in God, Gary Numan devotes a heck of a lot of time writing songs about him. Read more
Published on 8 Jan 2008 by M. Evans
Genius. His best album since Pleasure Principal.
Some people may find this album dull and repetitive, others will think this is a masterpiece. One thing is for sure, this is NOT pop music! Neither is it Industrial Rock. Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2006 by Saul
Dull
Not the return to form that many say it is. Very similar drum loops & tempo throughout.. And the vocal melody of "Absolution" is repeated in at least three songs.
Published on 26 Oct 2006 by Jay65
Very Good, Dark and Haunting Album. BUT...
I bought exile about a week and listened to it all the way through twice.
I thought every song was astonishing, brooding and terrific but most songs had the same beat Nnuman... Read more
I thought every song was astonishing, brooding and terrific but most songs had the same beat Nnuman... Read more
Published on 22 May 2005 by Daniel Blake
State of art dark beauty
A rage against love and god - that brings the listener definitely closer to the Divine. The usual paradox of life? A church of sound that still is original Numan. Read more
Published on 18 Mar 2005 by Thomas Szoke
Probably the best album ever written by any artist.
I have been a Gary Numan fan for as far back as I can remember I have all his albums from his Tubeway Army days to the Sacrifice album. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2000
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