|
Amazon.co.uk allows you to pay for your items in your local currency. Restrictions apply. Learn More. |
Special Offers and Product Promotions
- Jubilee offer: spend £10 or more on any product sold by Amazon.co.uk on or before June 6 and you can buy "The Diamond Jubilee A Classical Celebration Album" for just £2.50 Here's how (terms and conditions apply)
Frequently Bought Together
Product details
|
Track Listings
| 1. Oro Mo Bhaidin |
| 2. Make Light |
| 3. Little Secrets |
| 4. Moth's Wings |
| 5. The Reeling |
| 6. Eyes As Candles |
| 7. Swimming In The Flood |
| 8. Folds In Your Hands |
| 9. To Kingdom Come |
| 10. Sleepyhead |
| 11. Let Your Love Grow Tall |
| 12. Seaweed Song |
Product Description
Review
In 2008 Passion Pit's auspicious six-track EP, Chunk Of Change, sparked feverish excitement on both sides of the Atlantic.
Early adopters were quick to embrace songs which mixed the warm, melodic intent of The Beach Boys, the studied electro cool of MGMT and the organic euphoria of The Polyphonic Spree and The Magic Numbers.
Although only the marvellous Sleepyhead from the EP made it on to Manners, the rest of this debut album is so damned life-affirming Passion Pit could be forgiven even if the only format it was available on was 8-track.
Hearing Eyes As Candles and its wordless chorus reference 80s glam-pop stars like Hall & Oates in a more joyous way than contemporaries like Empire Of The Sun and Black Kids is a pleasure.
Folds In Your Hands conversely has a wondrous tone reminiscent of Kate Bush's Running Up That Hill crossed with Funk D'Void tech house.
Frontman Michael Angelakos is key: a man whose high voice sounds gleeful rather than silly and he's ably assisted by the rest of the Cambridge, Massachusetts band.
Ayad Al Adhamy is particularly savvy with his synths and samples on Sleepyhead. Only the toughest of brutes won't crack a smile when hearing the ethereal sample from Irish harpist Mary O'Hara's Oro Mo Bhaidin.
Make Light showcases resolute bass work from Jeff Apruzzese, while Nate Donmoyer's drums shine throughout but nowhere better than the crashing might of lead single The Reeling.
Unquestionably one of the greatest songs of 2009 The Reeling features terrific crashing beats, swoonsome keys and a euphoric vocal with lines like, ''I can feel the madness inch by inch/ the more I run the more I am convinced''. It's typical of Passion Pit's inclusive sound. They always sound like they're having a great party and everyone's invited.
They could be Mercury Rev or Arcade Fire reworked for ravers or they could be rabid evangelical Christians looking for a deluge of converts - so huge, inspiring and bright is their sound.
Regardless of Passion Pit's reasons for the arms-aloft nature of their songs, the musical landscape would be far greyer without them. --Lou Thomas
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I came across Passion Pit via The Mummers who do a wonderful version of 'Sleepyhead'. I thought that was so good, I searched out more of Passion Pit's stuff on YouTube and ordered the CD.
So - was it worth the risk? Oh yes, I think so. Apparently the EP Chunk of Change was first recorded on a laptop. So, it kind of fits in with that lovely sort of home-made feel like Animal Collective. But the album benefits from a full studio.
It's great - it's really happy, fun music. It does have a rather 70s Supertramp feel to it - the vocals are definitely reminiscent of Supertramp, but in places it gets quite 70's funky as well, although most of the tracks have a heavy 4/4 beat.
The sleeve notes consist of the lyrics - they're all a bit hippy-trippy:
'When I came down the dawn poured into me
I shook 'em up the walls came crumbling
My thin skin trembling with these salty wounds
My stolen gold inside the emperor's tomb
Now painting rainbows on my ugly face'.
Er, right. I think Jon Anderson would be quite at home with some of these! Still, those lyrics come from the second track 'Little Secrets' which is a really funky track with a chorus of 'Higher, higher, higher'.
Then 'Moth's Wings' starts with mandolins, before the piano and heavy 4/4 beat comes in again.
'The Reeling' reminded me of 'Tempovision' which, admittedly, isn't very 70s. Again, it's a really funky, heavy synth sound, but with a thumping 4/4 beat.
'Swimming In The Flood' is a down tempo ballad, but with heavy percussion right up front.
'Folds In Your Hands' - vocal harmonies, thumping synth, funky, happy pop music.
'To Kingdom Come' starts with a nice guitar riff, then the heavy percussion thumps in, gentle synth and vocals and, curiously, a horn section (well, probably a synth).
Then 'Sleepyhead', which is just a lovely, silly, happy, daft song, backing vocals by Alvin And The Chipmunks, well, sounds like.
Overall, then, a sort of retro-electro-pop and above all happy sound. Definitely 70s inspired - but please don't let that put you off! There's some good stuff here :-)
So - was it worth the risk? Oh yes, I think so. Apparently the EP Chunk of Change was first recorded on a laptop. So, it kind of fits in with that lovely sort of home-made feel like Animal Collective. But the album benefits from a full studio.
It's great - it's really happy, fun music. It does have a rather 70s Supertramp feel to it - the vocals are definitely reminiscent of Supertramp, but in places it gets quite 70's funky as well, although most of the tracks have a heavy 4/4 beat.
The sleeve notes consist of the lyrics - they're all a bit hippy-trippy:
'When I came down the dawn poured into me
I shook 'em up the walls came crumbling
My thin skin trembling with these salty wounds
My stolen gold inside the emperor's tomb
Now painting rainbows on my ugly face'.
Er, right. I think Jon Anderson would be quite at home with some of these! Still, those lyrics come from the second track 'Little Secrets' which is a really funky track with a chorus of 'Higher, higher, higher'.
Then 'Moth's Wings' starts with mandolins, before the piano and heavy 4/4 beat comes in again.
'The Reeling' reminded me of 'Tempovision' which, admittedly, isn't very 70s. Again, it's a really funky, heavy synth sound, but with a thumping 4/4 beat.
'Swimming In The Flood' is a down tempo ballad, but with heavy percussion right up front.
'Folds In Your Hands' - vocal harmonies, thumping synth, funky, happy pop music.
'To Kingdom Come' starts with a nice guitar riff, then the heavy percussion thumps in, gentle synth and vocals and, curiously, a horn section (well, probably a synth).
Then 'Sleepyhead', which is just a lovely, silly, happy, daft song, backing vocals by Alvin And The Chipmunks, well, sounds like.
Overall, then, a sort of retro-electro-pop and above all happy sound. Definitely 70s inspired - but please don't let that put you off! There's some good stuff here :-)
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Chunk of Change EP was the best EP I have ever listened to. It was unique, beautiful and creative. Whilst the lyrics were often bordering on sickly sweet they complemented the music so well and in the end you just couldn't help yourself but to smile.
Now after bringing together a full band and using instruments instead of a laptop we have Manners. And as my title suggests it is the perfect follow up. After first hearing The Reeling I knew I was in for a treat. Manners continues the synth driven sounds of the EP but adds much more depth, such as the use of other instruments aswell as childrens choir singing. These create at times avery different feel to the album. After my first listen I was happy that they pulled off such a great album and was in such a happy mood because the music itself on the whole is so cheery. Second listen though, the album seemed to expand, when closely listening to the lyrics you realise a slightly darker feel to them, plus songs like Swimming in the Flood and Seaweed stand out as being somethign very different. This is not to say that this makes Manners worse, quite the opposite, as they have shown that they can make an array of synth driven songs that impress on many levels. Also when I saw Sleepyhead was to be included I wondered if they would re-record it to match the theme of the new record, I was pleased to find that they had, whilst it is still essentially the same song, the differences are noticable. Whether it is better or not depends on the listener.
Overall a wodnerful album, the best so far of this year and one of the best albums I have listened to, I know it might seem it bit early to say this, but when an album is able to capture the same magic as Chunk of Chnage and also sounds unique and natural.
Now after bringing together a full band and using instruments instead of a laptop we have Manners. And as my title suggests it is the perfect follow up. After first hearing The Reeling I knew I was in for a treat. Manners continues the synth driven sounds of the EP but adds much more depth, such as the use of other instruments aswell as childrens choir singing. These create at times avery different feel to the album. After my first listen I was happy that they pulled off such a great album and was in such a happy mood because the music itself on the whole is so cheery. Second listen though, the album seemed to expand, when closely listening to the lyrics you realise a slightly darker feel to them, plus songs like Swimming in the Flood and Seaweed stand out as being somethign very different. This is not to say that this makes Manners worse, quite the opposite, as they have shown that they can make an array of synth driven songs that impress on many levels. Also when I saw Sleepyhead was to be included I wondered if they would re-record it to match the theme of the new record, I was pleased to find that they had, whilst it is still essentially the same song, the differences are noticable. Whether it is better or not depends on the listener.
Overall a wodnerful album, the best so far of this year and one of the best albums I have listened to, I know it might seem it bit early to say this, but when an album is able to capture the same magic as Chunk of Chnage and also sounds unique and natural.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Well here's a cracking little album and make no mistake !
Light and breezy and cute as a button.
Music to make you smile ( ... and goodness knows we could
all do with a bit of cheering up these days ).
Mr Angelakos and his band of merry men deliver eleven
fine tracks on 'Manners', their first full-length studio outing.
A blissful liaison between electronica and pure pop sensibility.
Strong melodies, dance-friendly rhythms and exuberant energy aplenty.
Everything seems deftly placed exactly where it should be.
Mr A's falsetto is a remarkable instrument. It's the real deal; he doesn't
struggle for a moment with those stratospherically high top notes.
It is entirely suited to the somewhat febrile nature of the compositional style.
So much to enjoy !
Opening track 'Make Light' kicks things off to a very fine start.
A blissed-out, uplifting and totally infectious idea, artfully realised.
So too 'Little Secrets', solid as a rock and brimful of sunshine.
The kids' choral commentary is an inspired inclusion.
Other highlights include 'Moth's Wings', a gorgeous tune whose soaring
central vocal and complex harmonic additions is curiously affecting.
If we hear many more songs as lovely as 'Eyes As Candles' this year
I will be very surprised indeed. Truly beautiful !
'Seaweed Song', winding the album up, comes a very close second.
Messrs Angelakos, Hultquist, Al Adhamy, Apruzzese and Donmoyer
should be warmly congratulated for this sterling effort.
They can be justifiably proud of all they have given us here.
It feels like a gift.
Unmissable.
Light and breezy and cute as a button.
Music to make you smile ( ... and goodness knows we could
all do with a bit of cheering up these days ).
Mr Angelakos and his band of merry men deliver eleven
fine tracks on 'Manners', their first full-length studio outing.
A blissful liaison between electronica and pure pop sensibility.
Strong melodies, dance-friendly rhythms and exuberant energy aplenty.
Everything seems deftly placed exactly where it should be.
Mr A's falsetto is a remarkable instrument. It's the real deal; he doesn't
struggle for a moment with those stratospherically high top notes.
It is entirely suited to the somewhat febrile nature of the compositional style.
So much to enjoy !
Opening track 'Make Light' kicks things off to a very fine start.
A blissed-out, uplifting and totally infectious idea, artfully realised.
So too 'Little Secrets', solid as a rock and brimful of sunshine.
The kids' choral commentary is an inspired inclusion.
Other highlights include 'Moth's Wings', a gorgeous tune whose soaring
central vocal and complex harmonic additions is curiously affecting.
If we hear many more songs as lovely as 'Eyes As Candles' this year
I will be very surprised indeed. Truly beautiful !
'Seaweed Song', winding the album up, comes a very close second.
Messrs Angelakos, Hultquist, Al Adhamy, Apruzzese and Donmoyer
should be warmly congratulated for this sterling effort.
They can be justifiably proud of all they have given us here.
It feels like a gift.
Unmissable.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Great Album!
Awesome for easy listening to whilst multitasking or just chilling... AND even better to blast aloud for a good house party with friends. Read more
Published 1 month ago by rebekah.a.r
Service was rubbish
I love passion pit so much and when my CD didnt arrive it kind of sucked. service was terrible! want this CD buy somewhere else.
Published 7 months ago by DHollinshead
its too not bad
I bought this album because i liked the song 'The Reeling'. There's a couple of good tracks such as 'Sleepy Head' and 'Make Light'. The rest of the album is a little disappointing.
Published 11 months ago by Cinnamon Girl
Do not buy
Unless you really like bad music, please do not buy this CD. I have always considered myself as seriously open minded but I know bad music when I hear it, and this is bad. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Pablo3000
Over-rated album.
Some songs were good, but others were actually very annoying. It is a pity because I heard such great things about the album before getting it. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Reviewer of things
What a great feel good album this is!
This is something I wouldn't actually normally go for, but I heard a bit of "sleepyhead" and decided to buy this album, and MY GOD am I glad I bought this. Read more
Published on 27 May 2010 by MyKeyReviews
Instant Pop Perfection
I bought this on a bit of a whim, and I am so glad I did! I'm getting a bit old to be listening to Radio 1 nowadays, where I hear that Passion Pit are championed, so I was lucky... Read more
Published on 7 May 2010 by Ash
Manners
I bought `Manner's based on an Amazon recommendation and I have to say I am thoroughly glad I did. To call this a feel good album would be an understatement. Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2009 by Spider Monkey
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
![[Start the discussion]](http://g-ecx.images-amazon.com/images/G/02/x-locale/communities/discussion_boards/start-new-discussion-sec._V192198663_.gif){kind=small}
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
