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Product Description
Review
Glasvegas first emerged in 2007 ticking many of the ‘big sounding’ indie band boxes: a gang of four working-class kids from Glasgow’s east end flaunting a woolly-mammoth-sized take on Jesus and Mary Chain scuzz and 60s girl-pop grandeur. Unlike the vast majority of their peers, however, this lot actually had something — the sound was authentically naive, brittle; the clunking bum-TISH rhythms and singer James Allan’s vocals betraying a strange vitality the rest could only dream of getting close to.
Since their self-titled 2008 debut it’s been far from plain sailing for the group, however. Original drummer Caroline McKay has departed, to be replaced by Swede Jonna Löfgren, while James Allan reportedly overdosed on animal tranquiliser at the Coachella festival in 2009, also going AWOL for five days around the time of Mercury Prize ceremony of the same year.
Despite all the turbulence they’ve made it back for a second bout, and EUPHORIC /// HEARTBREAK \\\ announces Glasvegas MkII as a somewhat different beast to its predecessor. U2 producer Flood marshals the band’s bulldozing energy into an altogether slicker sort of bombast, and admittedly there are moments (Dream Dream Dreaming and the seemingly endless build-up of Lots Sometimes) where the songs sound in danger of losing their way in the middle of it all.
Mainly, though, Glasvegas wear their professional makeover with surprising panache. Part of the credit for this belongs to new stickslady Löfgren, who brings complex accents to tracks like The World Is Yours: a star-spangled gallop whose electric whammies and crashing snares sound like Echo & The Bunnymen in their Killing Moon pomp.
But ultimately the record belongs again to James Allan, who brings all the right notes of toughness and vulnerability to Shine Like Stars’ Killers-ish synth-rock and the pounding, disconsolate You, a highlight which hot-wires the Doves template and plunges races it straight off the nearest available cliff. He also gives fuller rein to the lonesome upper registers of his voice on the majestic I Feel Wrong and Whatever Hurts You Through the Night’s exquisite, slow-motion heartbreak.
Put simply, you feel that every note is earned with this guy, and when he duets with his mum (seriously) on set closer Change you know that however much this album risks trading in on some of their native charm as a band, Glasvegas have come through admirably.
--Alex Denney
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Product Description
Slick 2011 album! Soaring stadium-rock 'n' bombastic guitar-pop from the Scottish sensations. Includes "The World Is Yours" and "Euphoria, Take My Hand". (aka "Euphoric ///Heartbreak\\\")
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
After the critical acclaim they received for their 1st album(although the BBC blatantly dismissed it during an award show,not allowing viewers any preview),Glasvegas returned with a 2nd album,that delivered a more mature sound,I'd the opportunity to catch a Glasvegas show,while they performed a mini-tour of the Highlands,testing the waters with some tracks from the forthcoming album. It was a brilliant show, you could tell by the sound,they'd gained a lot from their touring with U2 on the 360 tour....... Glasvegas have delivered an excellent album here with Euphoric///Heartbreak\\\......will they be overlooked again? It'd would be a travesty ,James(Allan) is a fantastic songwriter and some recognition would be well deserved. If you loved the 1st album "Glasvegas", you'll enjoy the next step on their journey......... Thanks for reading,enjoy.
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Glasvegas have been through a few storms since we last encountered
them in the listening world. They seem to have survived relatively
intact despite a change of drummers (Jonna Lofgren appears to have
slotted into place perfectly well). 'EUPHORIC ///HEARTBREAK\\\' is
a big album full of big fat musical ideas. Producer Flood makes
sure that they are captured in their rapturous brooding intensity.
There are not many laughs to be had among the eleven new tracks in
the collection; the band's raison d'etre denies us even a giggle.
The reason we love Glasvegas lays in the solid grandeur of their angst.
Singer James Allen knows a thing or two about despair and desolation and
isn't shy about sharing it. 'E///H\\\' is a veritable monument to misery!
These are anthems to accompany us to the darkest recesses of the soul.
In a mighty song such as 'You' the dour intensity becomes strangely
uplifting. Mr Allen's doleful voice emerges from the sonic mire like
a ghost with unfinished (and unholy) business. A truly haunting epic!
There is however some pleasure to be had mixed in with the pain (like
a spoonful of sugar after a bitter pill). 'Whatever Hurts You Through
The Night' has a really lovely tune which communicates a curious warmth
despite the words driving nails through our hands and feet and heart.
Mr Allen bares his very soul on 'I Feel Wrong (Homosexuality, Pt 1)'.
It is a magnificent composition! The pain and the truth is palpable.
It burns like hell and he deserves the biggest hug we could all give
him for sharing the hurt but there is power and ecstatic affirmation
at hand in 'Stronger Than Dirt (Homosexuality, Pt 2)'; the words prove,
beyond all doubt, that love is still possible, even in a hostile world.
'Lots Sometimes' turns our guts inside out. A strange hymn for godless
times. A sublime paean to hope and the possibility of inner-happiness.
There is nothing here which shouldn't be. The album is a revelation.
Essential.
them in the listening world. They seem to have survived relatively
intact despite a change of drummers (Jonna Lofgren appears to have
slotted into place perfectly well). 'EUPHORIC ///HEARTBREAK\\\' is
a big album full of big fat musical ideas. Producer Flood makes
sure that they are captured in their rapturous brooding intensity.
There are not many laughs to be had among the eleven new tracks in
the collection; the band's raison d'etre denies us even a giggle.
The reason we love Glasvegas lays in the solid grandeur of their angst.
Singer James Allen knows a thing or two about despair and desolation and
isn't shy about sharing it. 'E///H\\\' is a veritable monument to misery!
These are anthems to accompany us to the darkest recesses of the soul.
In a mighty song such as 'You' the dour intensity becomes strangely
uplifting. Mr Allen's doleful voice emerges from the sonic mire like
a ghost with unfinished (and unholy) business. A truly haunting epic!
There is however some pleasure to be had mixed in with the pain (like
a spoonful of sugar after a bitter pill). 'Whatever Hurts You Through
The Night' has a really lovely tune which communicates a curious warmth
despite the words driving nails through our hands and feet and heart.
Mr Allen bares his very soul on 'I Feel Wrong (Homosexuality, Pt 1)'.
It is a magnificent composition! The pain and the truth is palpable.
It burns like hell and he deserves the biggest hug we could all give
him for sharing the hurt but there is power and ecstatic affirmation
at hand in 'Stronger Than Dirt (Homosexuality, Pt 2)'; the words prove,
beyond all doubt, that love is still possible, even in a hostile world.
'Lots Sometimes' turns our guts inside out. A strange hymn for godless
times. A sublime paean to hope and the possibility of inner-happiness.
There is nothing here which shouldn't be. The album is a revelation.
Essential.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
i just love this band the new offering is one mans battle against himself depression self hate etc it feels breathes hurts just listen from start to finish its just mesmorizing glasvegas have grown up!!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
more heartbreak than euphoric
Not as good as the first album. Slow to start,but picks up for the last four tracks which are as good as any on the first Lp.
Published 3 months ago by klaus meine
Excellent Indie album
Definitely an album of the year. But only if you're into this type of music. I managed to pick it up in a bargain basement (not sure why) but it's great. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ray
Daddy's finally gone
I hated this album when I first played it. I didn't get it and it sounded over produced. I now cannot stop listening to it. Read more
Published 11 months ago by MmmBop
Not Very Good
Excellent first album and then a fresh progressive maturity on the bands second album release? Why? I liked the sound of the first album and was hoping for more of the same.... Read more
Published 12 months ago by John
great followup album
if you liked the first one then this one will not disappoint. it isn't the same as the first but still a good evolution of their sound.
Published 12 months ago by pab009
Big Sounding.
Many bands find it hard to follow the success of their debut album but not Glasvegas.
This is a band going places with their sound and they know how to get there. Read more
This is a band going places with their sound and they know how to get there. Read more
Published 12 months ago by REDSCOUSER
sold ther soul !
what a shame this is after their first album which is superb they have gone and ruined all with this over produced , over polished , damp squib of an album , it sounds more like a... Read more
Published 12 months ago by bedfords music know all
Brilliant album
The first being almost impossible to follow, this takes some time to get into it. But once you do... it's spectacular! Read more
Published 13 months ago by Iain Hudson
Turgid self-indulgence
Oh dear, oh dear.
I was really, really looking forward to this after the absolutely superb first album with Geraldine et al. Read more
I was really, really looking forward to this after the absolutely superb first album with Geraldine et al. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Bon Toulouse
Glasvegas - A classic case of the sophomore slump
Having read the Uncut review of this album and their description of it as "excruciating" I had intended to spring to the defence of Glasvegas and write a "au contre" response. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Red on Black
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