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 Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:41 am 
I personally think Room Noises was better, because the melodies were just a bit catchier and prettier. A few of the songs on Combinations tend to sound too folksy-too accoustic. Like Come Clean for instance, it's not edgey enough for my taste. I was never a big fan of folk music. I like the rock side of Eisley. But I will always admire Eisley and love their incredible sound no matter what. I like to compare loving Eisley to being married. A good marriage is not perfect but you go through the ups and downs together because it wouldn't be fun without them. _________________ Don't you let them tell you you're an ugly child. They are blind to the beauty that lies within |
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Joined: 05 Feb 2005 | Posts: 814 |
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Post subject: shoes Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 10:44 am
I awoke this morning from a dream in which i was buying this album. So pretty much the first thing I did when I finally got out of bed was go purchase it on itunes. I really wanted an actual cd, but there are no CD stores within almost 100 miles of here and i didn't want to wait for one to come in the mail. So here I am. In a ditch in the middle of nowhere with vultures picking my bones. And as they do that, I will review the album song by song as I listen to it. Many Funerals: This is definitely a departure from their old style. I makes me feel like hitting a gnome with a shovel. It just rocks that hard. And my god! That dissonant vocal chord around the 2:36 mark is so groovy. First song and I'm already in love. Invasion: Ok... This song starts out with a theremin. Or something that sounds just like one. And it's their first single off of the album. Theremin sci fi pop music? I'm starting to get butterflies. Taking Control: Oh wow! Heavy Beatles influence? I swear parts of this song came out of the White Album/Let it Be sessions. And the dueling vocals at the end are just pure genius. Go Away: So I wasn't feeling this song as much as the others until the "I am holding you" section came around. I just couldn't stop smiling when I heard that. I Could Be There For You: I really like the production on this so far. This song is just written very well IMO. Chauntelle's voice is amazing. I really would love to hear her sing more. Come Clean: This has to be my favorite so far. Everything about it just sends shivers up my spine. The melodies, chord progressions, the performance, everything is flawless. And I just love how this song builds. Starting out with just Stacy's voice and climaxing into and explosion of harmonies. Ten Cent Blues: Chauntelle's guitar work on this song is top notch. It's probably my least favorite song musically so far. But lyrically it stands above all. The words seem to demand my attention. A Sight to Behold: NICE! I love how this rocked hard yet stayed very melodic and beautiful at the same time. Something I don't hear a whole lot. Combinations: Another very Beatles-ish song. To me anyway. The instrumentation is very George Martin. One of the highlights of the album for sure. If You're Wondering: .............................................my.. new....favorite... song....everrrrrrr. I don't think I've ever heard a song this beautiful in my life. It literally brings tears to my eyes.. so amazing. I'm so glad they chose this to be the closer. Now every time I listen to this album all the way through, my breath will always be taken away. Marsh King's Daughter: Well I can see why this never made it on to the album. It doesn't really seem to fit. But that doesn't take away from the fact that it's a really great song. It just makes me feel good. I am truly blow away by this album. It's worlds better than their first to me. I really like how the band's sound has progressed. I think it's good for an artist not to make the same album over and over. If they keep this up, they will soon be on my top favorite band list next to The Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Radiohead. |
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Joined: 09 May 2006 | Posts: 49 | Location: Clarksdale, MS
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Post subject: Re: shoes Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:10 am
elfnogg wrote: makes me feel like hitting a gnome with a shovel. Finally, I read endless piles of opinion, and someone says it for me. But no. I like it, I like it a lot. I played it really loud and ate toast with strawberry honey, then vacuumed, then danced a little. And it was cool. _________________ "The artist, like the God of creation, remains within or behind or beyond or above his handiwork, invisible, refined out of existence, indifferent, paring his fingernails."(J.Joyce) |
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Joined: 18 Dec 2004 | Posts: 339 | Location: never give up and good luck will find you.
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:11 am
I really think this album is a step up from Room Noises, and though I am still disappointed they didn't use MKD or pull out any of their older songs (which are very near and dear to my heart), I think it's a very nice album. However, I honestly don't see anything on it breaking past college radio. If we're lucky, they may turn out a good video that is Fuse or Vh1 worthy. I still can't help but get the feeling that Eisley will always be a better live band, though. (Live CD, perhaps?) Many Funerals- This is certainly what I am talking about with the whole live performance issue. Originally hearing this song played live was so captivating, whereas I have just typed these last few paragraphs while listening to it, and didn't stop to listen once. Invasion- I assumed this would be the first single before it actually was. It makes sense. I think it is solid, and I really enjoy it... but, really I can't think of a single radio station that would play this. Taking Control- I think this is a dark horse in my favorites race. It grows on me every time I listen to it, and it certainly has a knack for getting stuck in my head. It's almost single material, but something doesn't quite click right for it. Go Away- The only other potential single I see on the album. I don't really like it quite as much as everyone else seems to. Don't get my wrong, Stacy sounds incredible. I think that, even though this album is more stripped down to Eisley's roots, this song is almost TOO simple. I Could Be There For You- This has been my favorite new song since I've heard it. The composition all the way through is just completely perfect, IMO. And not to mention, Chauntelle's solo, which completely blows my mind every time. I don't think I could ever see this not being my favorite. Come Clean- Another brilliant piece of work that gets stuck in my head more than any other song on the album. Not much to say beyond that. Ten Cent Blues- I absolutely love this song. Lyrically, it's totally beautiful. It reminds me of driving through SmallTown, TX in the summertime (gee. I wonder why. ha.) A Sight to Behold- Token rock song? I like it, though. Combinations- I really thought this song was a letdown, personally. I even forget the tune of it, at the moment. It doesn't stand out at all, in my mind. If You're Wondering- I like this song, but it kind of seemed out of left field to me. So very different than the rest of the album, but a wonderful "lullaby-esque" closer that I would be very pleased to fall asleep to after listening through the album. It reminds me of an ice sculpture for some reason. _________________ 
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Joined: 21 May 2005 | Posts: 5051 | Location: TX/NYC
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 11:12 am
I love the album a whole lot. 5-8 is the rock of the album. The best part. Stacy shines! The only thing I would change is shorten If You're Wondering a little. By one minute. Two minutes in I feel the song should end. |
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Joined: 12 Jun 2005 | Posts: 20735 |
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:32 pm
i have only got to listen to the album once, so i can't give a review but i do have questions about other songs that aren't on the album: what song was the one that was on the first youtube video - it almost had a Tin Pan Alley feel to it and Sheri sang some lyrics about 'falling in love.' that was the track i was most looking forward to. second, i listened to Like the Actors before picking up the album and right now i'm liking it more than anything on the album. i really love the Beatle-y instrumental bridge. _________________ I am Torgo. I take care of the place while the Master is away. |
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Joined: 05 Nov 2002 | Posts: 6830 | Location: Gilmer, Tejas
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:41 pm
i can't stop listening to this CD. my favorite songs are taking control, go away, a sight to behold and combinations. my least favorites are ten cent blues and if you're wondering. i think it's a lot different than room noises (but that is NOT a bad thing at all). this record seems to have more passion in it than room noises does. _________________ 
[flickr] http://www.flickr.com/photos/artache [last.fm] http://www.last.fm/user/owlslikeus/ [livejournal] http://anarr.livejournal.com [myspace] http://www.myspace.com/kkthnxby TheAntrider wrote: I'm inspired to quit doing drugs. So inspired that I will start doing drugs just so I can quit them! |
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Joined: 04 Aug 2006 | Posts: 389 | Location: earth
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:43 pm
I am officially convinced that there could not have been a better choice at all for producer. To be completely honest, I can't find a single thing wrong with this album. Even with the songs that were cut being cut, after hearing them, it makes perfect sense. _________________ Thistledown |
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Joined: 01 Mar 2005 | Posts: 4657 | Location: Melton Mowbray Pork Pie
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 12:50 pm
Jessica wrote: I don't like how they toned down Weston's beat in I Could Be There For You. The loud and bumpin' live version is better. YES. I decided that today when I realized why I would skip over it. I loved it live. |
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Joined: 23 Mar 2005 | Posts: 1919 | Location: In a glass case of emotion
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:36 pm
Overall: I like it better than Room Noises.. I feel that it's produced better and I love the way their voices and their music have matured.. Song-by-song: Many Funerals - This one, in my opinion, is okay. I just liked it better live, it seemed richer to me. Invasion - I knew this would be the single. It's not my personal favorite, but it's pretty and catchy. Taking Control - I am pleasantly surprised by this one. I didn't really like it that much live and lyrically it isn't my favorite, but somehow it grows on me every time I hear it. The last 30 seconds when Stacy and Sherri are just going back and forth singing different stuff just makes it for me. Go Away - This song is really really pretty, especially the "I am holding you" part, but for me it's like My Lovely... it's pretty, but lyrically since it's so simple, it gets old really fast. I Could Be There For You - Favorite. This song is so lush and beautiful. I'm glad they quieted it down and made it more subtle and haunting. Come Clean - I really love this. This is probably my 3rd favorite. The first few words Stacy sings are so pretty and I love the happy little instrument whose name I don't know that is used in it. Ten Cent Blues - This is my favorite after I Could Be There For You. It's not astounding musically, but lyrically it's so beautiful to me, and the guitar on it is great, so that puts it high up there. A Sight to Behold - This one's pretty. Stacy's voice is so beautiful and soft and that with the hard guitar is pretty awesome to me, so I like that. Combinations - This one's really beautiful initially and was my favorite upon first hearing, but others surpass it after several listens. If You're Wondering - this is really pretty, but too sweet and sentimental to me.. I might like it more after falling in love but right now I can't relate to it Like the Actors - I know this is just a b-side, but I'll tell what I think of it too.. I love this one.. it could easily replace If You're Wondering for me, or Many Funerals.. but then, after I Could Be There For You, it was always my favorite |
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Joined: 06 Mar 2006 | Posts: 676 | Location: Washington
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:37 pm
The beginning of "Taking Control" reminds me a lot of "Your House" by Jimmy Eat World. All in all, I think it's a solid album, "A Sight to Behold" owns my soul. _________________ Peace.Love.Music. |
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Joined: 06 Nov 2006 | Posts: 69 |
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:44 pm
It's like arriving at a really old spacious four-or-more story house on a spring morning. The inside is one room with an elegant spiral staircase in the very center. The staircase rises up through the top of the four-or-more stories. Many paper-thin rectangles of glass are just pasted into the air above. You ascend the staircase relaxed in awe. Each pane of glass responds to your eyes like exploring an art gallery of paintings; though, instead of a paintings to see, these are paintings to hear. It's a gallery of three voices and as you rise on the stairs looking from pane to pane you keep discovering new colors and textures of sound! And so.. the moment you arrive at the top you find yourself at the bottom leaving through the giant wooden doors. that's what it's like for me.  _________________ "Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed." prov 16:3 |
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Joined: 29 Jan 2003 | Posts: 1907 | Location: cypress, texas
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 2:58 pm
I was really pretty spoiled on the album before it came out, but that didn't really ruin it for me. I think it came out really well. I loved Room Noises, Marvelous Things was the first song I heard by Eisley, but I really would have been disappointed if it had just been Room Noises Part Two and I think this really is different and still similar at the same time. My favorite tracks are - Ten Cent Blues - I don't think it's Golly Sandra 2 or anything like that. I love it, it is just so interesting and the vocals came out so nice. Taking Control - I really did not like this live, and never paid much attention to it after the first live listen but I love it on the album. Go Away - I've really liked this one since I first heard it live. Beautiful song Come Clean - It has nose bleeds in it.. which is WEIRD but I like this one a lot 
I Could Be There For You - Chauntelle. Period
I don't care all that much for If You're Wondering, but I am sure it will grow on me more. I really love Like the Actors, and I don't care for Marsh King's Daughter, it's too cheesy/tap dancy for me. _________________ 
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Joined: 14 Jul 2007 | Posts: 155 | Location: Houston, Texas
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 3:15 pm
I'll admit that after having listened to the record a few times, I don't feel as enthused as some of the people who have posted on this site. But I think that stems from the fact that when I really like a band's style, I want to hear more from them in that style, and Combinations is a signficant departure from the Room Noises sound, so it will probably take a little getting used to. One of the reasons I loved Room Noises so much is because it had a very aethereal vibe that made the music seem otherwordly, but at the same time, reminded me of being a kid. There were so many moments of simple beauty, like the warm, sunny sound of the acoustic guitar on "Just Like We Do" and the beautiful inter-twining melodies that Sherri and Stacy sang on "Brightly Wound", to name just a couple of the things that made that album so cool. Overall, the production on that album didn't feel like "modern alternative radio" production. It had a quirky, offbeat feel that made the album that much more endearing. I think with Combinations, they have gone with a more "beefed up" sound. I don't know how to put it into technical terms because I don't know jack about production techniques, but let's just say it sounds much denser and louder. More layers of sound, more distortion guiter, and overall, it just sounds much more "professionally" produced. There was definitely a quality about Room Noises that made it seem as if it was made by very precocious children, and it was totally cool. But I guess the band has decided that since they are all growing up, they don't want to inhabit that world forever, so now they have moved on to a new sound, and since I've only listened to "Combinations" a few times, I don't yet know whether I will like it as much as "Room Noises", but several of the songs are really starting to grow on me. So far, my two favorites are "Ten Cent Blues" and "Many Funerals". I also think the title track kicks ass - I'm a sucker for piccolo trumpet. _________________ "Hello, Mother Leopard. I have your cub." |
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Joined: 27 Mar 2006 | Posts: 100 | Location: Maryland
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Post subject: Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2007 3:25 pm
I'm still debating over which album I like the most, I think I like them both equally. Combinations is just an amazing sophomore album and it just blew me away when i first heard it, and I also felt the same way about Room Noises. Although I feel as if there is less Sherri in this album and more Stacy as much as I love both of their voices I sort of felt as if there was something missing in Combinations, maybe it's the length of it or maybe it was because i'm more used to listening to more of Sherri's vocals. Overall i think this is a very strong album and I love it just as much as I love Room Noises. |
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Joined: 02 Aug 2005 | Posts: 571 | Location: Los Angeles
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