Search - Autumns :: In the Russet Gold of This Vain Hour

Simply Beautiful

divineblue | Claremont, CA | 02/16/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What can I say about In the Russet Gold of This Vain Hour? It is simply beautiful, tear-inducing, dreamily gorgeous. The Autumns succeed again in hooking us with sweet melodies and sweeping vocals. Producer Simon Raymonde of the Cocteau Twins has done an amazing job of bringing out the band's true sound and nature, something I only thought was evident during their live performances. The most beautiful track is undoubtedly "Bicycle", with it's swirling guitars and vocals like a warm misty rain on a spring day. If you are a fan of beautiful, dreamy music, In the Russet Gold of This Vain Hour by the Autumns is your ticket."

A dissenting voice

Kevin McFadden | Gambier, OH | 03/31/2000

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Along with My Bloody Valentine--Loveless, The Angel Pool was the first album I'd ever heard to have this beautiful, ethereal, distortion and effects ridden sound to it, which is often referred to as shoegaze or dream-pop. Since then I immersed myself in the music of slowdive, ride, lush, the cocteau twins, etc. But The Angel Pool is still my favorite album.3 stars may be a bit low, but I wanted to express my discontent with this album. It seems The Autumns have gone the way of other shoegaze bands like Ride or Lush, in that they grow into a progressively more pop-oriented sound--one that is much less engaging. This album misses all the beautiful waves of distortion that make up the Angel Pool. Many of the songs are still very well written--Boy with the Aluminum Stilts, and the title track are two of the most interesting to me.Much ado was made of the fact that Simon Raymonde was producing the album. But the production is actually the weakest part of this release. The vocals are simply mixed way too high for this style of music. And, on the subject of vocals, the singer seems to be really intent on wringing every last drop of emotion from his voice, to rather unnecessary extremes. The Autumns music is already so emotional, that the singer doesn't need to over do it. He sounds like he's trying to be Thom Yorke in many occasions (a very trendy predilection these days, but an unsucessful one for anyone who is not, in fact, Thom Yorke). The emotion is still genuine and touching at times, but without all the distortion it can also be just plain embarrassing to listen to. Perhaps I went into this album with too much of a bias--I wanted another "The Angel Pool" and I got pop. It can be a very good album on its own merit, but this new sound is disappointing to me."

Dark victory.

powercorruptionandlies2002 | Southern California, United States | 10/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is a complete departure from the first release. But, it still delivers well. A darker, more dismal recording, they still manage to rise above the ordinary and permeate the slumbering mind. I listen to this record often, and it has become such a big part of my life. Of all their catalogue, this is my favorite. It is not as spacious as the first release, but the songs are more meaningful and emotional this time out.They are still the best band in the world."