- Audio CD (15 Jun 2009)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- Label: Decca (UMO)
- ASIN: B001FBSMEY
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 197,899 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
My copy of Words & Music arrived today and to say I am disappointed is an understatement.
I have the original UK Aqualung self titled album, the live at the scala promo EP and the Still Life album. So much is reproduced on Words and Music I have acquired the grand total of 5 new tracks - it would have been cheaper to download them individually.
Sorry Aqualung, I love your music but this laziness is just not acceptable.
I have the original UK Aqualung self titled album, the live at the scala promo EP and the Still Life album. So much is reproduced on Words and Music I have acquired the grand total of 5 new tracks - it would have been cheaper to download them individually.
Sorry Aqualung, I love your music but this laziness is just not acceptable.
Format:Audio CD
This is a beautiful album, Matt Hales at his most melodic and lilting, very much in the vein of 'Strange & Beautiful'. There isn't one weak song amongst the 'new' ones and the pieces from other albums are pretty much different enough to definitely be worth the re-issue. The collection sits so perfectly as a whole that it's like they were all written for this album anyway. A Comfort Album.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
6 reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Maybe you won't "fall on your knees" for this one, but it might hold the "7 keys to your soul!"
13 Oct 2008
Format:Audio CD
Matt is back and so is the incomparable exquisite writing, perhaps one of the best songwriting of his generation. While I agree with some that "Words and Music" seems more like a detour than a new venue for Aqualung's future, it is a beautiful detour. "Everything Changed" indeed since Memory Man. One of the best qualities of Aqualung is that he rejects the impulse to recreate the magic of the last great song and travels towards melodic riddles.
"When I Finally Get My Own Place" is high up there with other intuitive songs about the anticlimactic experience of adulthood. "Mr Universe" made me think of the Beatles for obvious reasons (the beat, the harmonies, Matt's falsettos) but also because it had the goofy, jovial quality that we can seem on Aqualung's persona but don't get to hear through his songs. It made me think of the White Album. Strange, I know !
"Good Goodnight" is a great example of how most of these songs could've been little love notes. The good old "Love is the answer" quality of Aqualung's songs are well represented by this track. If you are also a musician, you got to appreciate how Aqualung has allowed himself to include longer and longer solos and chops of his great talent.
True; no "Pressure Suit" or "Something to Believe" this time. No great track to keep on singing way past your ipod batteries died. However, whether you are a die hard fan like I am, or you just discovered Aqualung...there is something fundamentally..."vanguardish" (yeah, I just said vanguardish) about it. Buy the Album. Listen once and once again. Listen it over tea. Listen it in the way home.
This album is a detour after all. That does not mean it can't lead those that love great music...home.
"When I Finally Get My Own Place" is high up there with other intuitive songs about the anticlimactic experience of adulthood. "Mr Universe" made me think of the Beatles for obvious reasons (the beat, the harmonies, Matt's falsettos) but also because it had the goofy, jovial quality that we can seem on Aqualung's persona but don't get to hear through his songs. It made me think of the White Album. Strange, I know !
"Good Goodnight" is a great example of how most of these songs could've been little love notes. The good old "Love is the answer" quality of Aqualung's songs are well represented by this track. If you are also a musician, you got to appreciate how Aqualung has allowed himself to include longer and longer solos and chops of his great talent.
True; no "Pressure Suit" or "Something to Believe" this time. No great track to keep on singing way past your ipod batteries died. However, whether you are a die hard fan like I am, or you just discovered Aqualung...there is something fundamentally..."vanguardish" (yeah, I just said vanguardish) about it. Buy the Album. Listen once and once again. Listen it over tea. Listen it in the way home.
This album is a detour after all. That does not mean it can't lead those that love great music...home.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Amazing...Perfect....other synonyms for earth shatteringly beautiful
21 Oct 2008
Format:Audio CD
I can't tell you enough how good this album is. Probably his most focused work to date, and one of the most genuine albums I have ever heard. It's stripped down, yet has an incredible incorporation of eclectic instrumentation. "7 Keys", "On My Knees", and "Nothing Else Matters" are probably the finest songs he's ever released, the Paul Simon "Slip Sliding Away" cover is breathtaking and aches with realism, and the beginning of "Arrivals" gives me chills (actually the whole song does). This song will reaffirm your hope in songwriting, music, and humanity in general. Please Listen.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
3.5 Stars... Matt Hales retreads from "Memory Man"
12 Oct 2008
Format:Audio CD
In March, 2007, Matt Hales (the one-man band behind Aqualung) released an epic album "Memory Man", which was one of my "best of 2007" albums, and which I thought might position Aqualung to greater commercial/mainstream success. But alas, it didn't happen, despite several outstanding tracks. Now comes the next Aqualung album, seemingly out of the blue (I picked it up today while shopping at my record store, I had no idea that a new album was on the way).
"Words and Music" (10 tracks, 43 min.) is first of all not to be confused with the Hugh Grant movie soundtrack of last year.... That cleared up, I was quite surprised by the overall tone of the album. No "Cinderella" or "Pressure Suit" to be found on here. Instead, the album opener "7 Keys" is a very low-key affair, and sets the tone for the rest of the album. The Paul Simon cover of "Slip-sliding Away" is pleasant but nothing ear-catching. The intimate songs follow, and "On My Knees" is just about the only up-tempo song on here. I don't understand where Matt Hales is going with this album. "Memory Man" set the table for a more forceful sound, and Matt Hales has retreated from it on this album. This is not a 'bad' album, but I was disappointed by it, period.
I saw Matt Hales/Aqualung on the "Memory Man" tour last year, and then it seemed clear to me that even bigger things were to follow. But "Words and Music" has not fulfilled that promise. Strange album. Not bad, but not that great either. Color me disappointed.
"Words and Music" (10 tracks, 43 min.) is first of all not to be confused with the Hugh Grant movie soundtrack of last year.... That cleared up, I was quite surprised by the overall tone of the album. No "Cinderella" or "Pressure Suit" to be found on here. Instead, the album opener "7 Keys" is a very low-key affair, and sets the tone for the rest of the album. The Paul Simon cover of "Slip-sliding Away" is pleasant but nothing ear-catching. The intimate songs follow, and "On My Knees" is just about the only up-tempo song on here. I don't understand where Matt Hales is going with this album. "Memory Man" set the table for a more forceful sound, and Matt Hales has retreated from it on this album. This is not a 'bad' album, but I was disappointed by it, period.
I saw Matt Hales/Aqualung on the "Memory Man" tour last year, and then it seemed clear to me that even bigger things were to follow. But "Words and Music" has not fulfilled that promise. Strange album. Not bad, but not that great either. Color me disappointed.
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