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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Faithless's fifth studio album, To All New Arrivals, is a tribute of sorts to the brand new babies that band-members Rollo and Sister Bliss recently (and separately) brought into the world. Lead single "Bombs", with its chugging, understated beat, social analysis and decidedly anti-war stance, makes for an impressive start. From there the album gets a little bogged down in the rose-tinted sentimentality of 'new parent' syndrome. "Spiders, Crocodiles and Kryptonite" has someone uttering childish inanities in a silly voice (its saved by an extended segment of the Cure's "Lullaby" - but only just); the uplifting "Music Matters" (with Cass Fox) is marred by mawkish lyrics; "I Hope" offers similarly trite messages of parental hope, and the title track plots sounds like a song for Children In Need. All this is doubtless well meant, but comes across as naïve, even vacuous in places. Fortunately the music fares better. Aside from the wishy-washy "Last This Day" (with Dido) and the nondescript "Nate's Tune," the robust "Hope & Glory", the wonderful "A Kind Of Peace" (with Cat Power), the catchy "The Man In You" and the bristling finale, "Emergency", show that Faithless are still capable of writing rousing club sounds. --Paul Sullivan
Review
The title of Faithless' fifth studio album, To All New Arrivals, is derived from the happy fact that both Rollo and Sister Bliss have recently brought new babies into the world. Rather than allowing their new parental high to seep naturally through the pores of their new productions however, they've opted to use it as a hook for the entire album.
Lead single 'Bombs' kicks things off impressively; the chugging, chiming, understated beat, whispered social analysis from Maxi Jazz, and striking video making it classic music-with-a-message Faithless .
From there though things get increasingly bogged down in the bathetic soup of 'new parent' syndrome. 'Spiders, Crocodiles and Kryptonite' has someone uttering childish inanities over a quasi-eerie soundtrack; the record is saved by an extended segment of The Cure's 'Lullaby', but only just.
'Music Matters' (with Cass Fox), an otherwise decent, uplifting piece, is similarly marred by embarrassingly mawkish lyrics that give praise to 'all those who stood up and counted / all those for whom money was no motive,' etc.
And it gets worse. 'I Hope' is made up of trite messages of parental hope ('I hope you don't die before your time / I hope you always brush your teeth'), while the title track lazily plots child-death statistics over a plodding beat and throws in a chorus that chirps: 'We'd die for you / kill for you'. So much for being anti-violence.
Mixed messages and vacuous consciousness-raising aside, the music is also sub-par. Aside from 'Bombs', none of the tracks during the first half of the album inspire, with the droopy 'Last This Day' (with Dido) and the nondescript 'Nate's Tune' being particularly wishy-washy.
The album finally snaps out of this languid mood towards the end, with the robust 'Hope & Glory', the genuinely wonderful 'A Kind Of Peace' (with Cat Power) and the head-bopping 'The Man In You'; even the instrumental finale 'Emergency' bristles with a welcome energy.
But there are no 'Insomnia's, no 'We Come I's, and no real sign of Faithless' former glory, so forcefully represented on their recent Forever Faithless collection. Well-meaning it may be, but To All New Arrivals is far from vintage Faithless. --Paul Sullivan
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I agree with other reviews elsewhere and, after listening to this several times, I actually returned it, and thats never happened before with a Faithless album. I have followed them from the beginning, eagerly awaiting each new release, same thing here, but I was gutted. Without trying to sound too much like the anti-christ, I can cope with several songs about babies...but nearly every track? no, it's too much. The whole album sounds like having a Children in need TV special rammed down your throat. Surely this is not what Faithless are about? ok, maybe it is now. If that's the case then they should have split up as originally planned if this is the best they can do.
The over-reliance on Dido is another factor and her track is absolutely horrendous. Elsewhere only "Music Matters" sounds like the Faithless of old however, as usual, even this ends before it has a chance to really get going. Faithless have lost track of what made them so special, and popular.
Maybe next time? we'll see. With "No Roots" Faithless tested my patience, with "To All New Arrivals" it has snapped and i've lost interest.
Just a thought: They should bring back Jamie and Zoe Johnston and dump the "chill-out" feel to their most recent work, the market is already flooded with these types of albums, usually ending up in the bargain bins. In 3 months time, "To All New Arrivals" will also be there.
The over-reliance on Dido is another factor and her track is absolutely horrendous. Elsewhere only "Music Matters" sounds like the Faithless of old however, as usual, even this ends before it has a chance to really get going. Faithless have lost track of what made them so special, and popular.
Maybe next time? we'll see. With "No Roots" Faithless tested my patience, with "To All New Arrivals" it has snapped and i've lost interest.
Just a thought: They should bring back Jamie and Zoe Johnston and dump the "chill-out" feel to their most recent work, the market is already flooded with these types of albums, usually ending up in the bargain bins. In 3 months time, "To All New Arrivals" will also be there.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Don't pay any attention to these other reviews. It's a music CD not a political manifesto for a country's financial development!! Half these 'reviewers' who want to appear the intelligentsia of music can't even spell or punctuate! Some intelligence eh?
It's a good music CD to play in the background. Nice rhythms and harmony changes.
Makes my toe tap and my spirit relax.
Thanks Faithless. Good music.
It's a good music CD to play in the background. Nice rhythms and harmony changes.
Makes my toe tap and my spirit relax.
Thanks Faithless. Good music.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I don't know how people couldn't like "Last This Day" & think it wishy-washy. Anyone who has ever had a premature baby or lost a baby, this song speaks directly to you, full of the desperate quiet heartbreak of a parent just wanting their child to live, just last this day. Powerful, powerful stuff. Faithless isn't all about the bangin' choonz, y'know - there are songs of gentle wisdom, stuff that speaks to the heart, among the anthems.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
One of their best.
Just read a ridiculous review from someone saying it was "Wishy washy" and that they'd had enough of Dido.
That's stupid. Read more
That's stupid. Read more
Published 9 months ago by Jon R. Roberts
SOUND AS A POUND
Money well spent listened to this while Storm Chasing in the USA a few times mmm maybe 20 times, terrific relaxing compelling.
Published 21 months ago by Mr. S. J. Lansdell
I speak on the Mircophone :-)
excellent album. Faithless at its typical game, making an album chilled and relaxing, but at the same time, fun, uplifting and inspiring.
Published 23 months ago by S. Robinson
Limited Edition?
I'm reviewing the copy I bought in Tesco when it was released in 2006. Firstly I'd like to ask if anyone knows what makes the above version "Limited Edition? Read more
Published on 18 April 2010 by Grant Howard
A mature Faithless
I just don't understand the criticism of this album from so many.
It plays on the fears of any parent and balances the joys and love of children with the fear of what we might... Read more
It plays on the fears of any parent and balances the joys and love of children with the fear of what we might... Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2009 by Neppo
One word, Amazing!
This album has got to be up there with some of the best in the genre. It conveys powerful messages on important social issues including class conflict and poverty. Read more
Published on 23 Aug 2007 by A. Lippiatt
V. Good - after a few listens!
I bought this album after first hearing the radio edit of track 3 (music matters) - which is a pretty cool track. I was disappointed at first (especially with track 3! Read more
Published on 13 July 2007 by root_man
listen again
after years of following Faithless and buying every album, they have grown up as I have grown up...
And now that they are having kids and incorperating the feelings,... Read more
And now that they are having kids and incorperating the feelings,... Read more
Published on 6 April 2007 by E. Schäfer
A definite change of direction
I always look forward to a new Faithless offering with much anticipation, and having been slightly disapointed with 'No Roots', I believe the band are back on form with 'To All New... Read more
Published on 23 Mar 2007 by P. D. Barry
Forever Faithfull
As a huge faithless fan, i was suprised when i heard this album- its completley different to thier other stuff:
Unlike thier older albums, it dosent boast huge dance... Read more
Unlike thier older albums, it dosent boast huge dance... Read more
Published on 4 Mar 2007 by Charlie
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