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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
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
Product Description
Aqualung - Still Life
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
By Stuart
Format:Audio CD
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.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album is absolutely stunning! I have not heard anything quite like it for some years and is some of the most beautiful music I have ever heard, it is quite staggering. What this music has in abundance is power, beauty and ambience with astounding songwriting, intelligent lyrics and sublime production. Songs such as "Brighter Than Sunshine" are so poignantly heartfelt, striking and wonderful on their own but the best way to enjoy this album is to sit back and listen to it in it's entirety, sit back and drift away, and when it is finished play it all over once more. This is quite exceptional. It's one of those that grows and grows the more one listens to it.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
I think this is every bit as good as the first record, in fact I prefer it. Yes it's different in places, more upbeat at times, but the space is still there and the songs are still beautiful. I agree It doesn't slap you around the face the first time you play it quite like the first one did, but it does on the second play. I really wish some of the reviewers here had taken time to give this a good listen to instead of judging it on what I suspect was a quick listen (probably in order to get their reviews on here asap).
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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
More than i expected
This was a surprise, nearly all the tracks wre good to listen to. i would recommend this buy.
Published on 12 Mar 2009 by A. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars
READ THIS if you're thinking of buying
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. Read more
Published on 7 Mar 2004 by Graham E. Thomas
4.0 out of 5 stars
Its Great and powerfull
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.
Published on 2 Feb 2004
4.0 out of 5 stars
13 Trick Horse
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... Read more
Published on 27 Nov 2003 by "parsefone"
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not perfect by any means, but a sound album
I bought this CD on the strength of "Brighter Than Sunshine" which is a fantastic opener to a thought-provoking CD. Read more
Published on 9 Nov 2003 by J. Burlace
4.0 out of 5 stars
Hales is the chief...
I bought this Aqualung album on the strength of the fantastic single 'Brighter than Sunshine' which, on initial hearing seems the stand-out track. Read more
Published on 4 Nov 2003 by "andrewjthompson2"
3.0 out of 5 stars
mixed reaction from a huge Aqualung fan
I too was as excited as a chimp at feeding time when I learned of a prospective follow-up to Aqualung's powerful debut. Read more
Published on 31 Oct 2003 by P. A. Hurford
2.0 out of 5 stars
Drab and largely forgettable
Whilst the first album was not a classic it had it's moments so my hopes for the follow up were reasonable. Sadly, after the promising opener the album goes nowhere. Read more
Published on 31 Oct 2003 by B. A. Woodhouse
4.0 out of 5 stars
Just as good as the first one!
I only received 'Still Life' this morning and have already played it 4 times!! I loved his debut album - in it's low-key, melancholy way...but this is totally different style. Read more
Published on 31 Oct 2003 by Ca Pearce
5.0 out of 5 stars
still beautiful
A perfect second album, different enough to remain interesting with more upbeat songs like 7 keys and and still beautiful enough to be able to recognise the beautiful piano skills... Read more
Published on 30 Oct 2003 by "strange_and_beautiful"
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