Great Introduction to Clogs
R. D. Kissell | Virginia, USA | 03/17/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Five out of Five Stars
Release date: March 2, 2010
The Creatures (10 tracks, 42 minutes) features guest vocalists Sufjan Stevens, Matt Berninger, and Shara Worden (who sings in a handful of songs). To be honest, I was excited about this release because I am a huge fan of My Brightest Diamond, and was looking forward to Shara Worden's vocals.
I am so glad I bought this CD! Worden is as fantastic as usual, and the music is breathtaking. The band members are trained in many styles, and they are truly masters at their craft. The layering of music is so intricate (with a heaping handful of instruments#, and the chord progressions are so unpredictable and heartfelt that you will be left staggering. Shara Worden's songs #"On the Edge," "The Owl of Love,""Adages of Cleansing") are the highlights of the album (I'm a little biased, so what?), but every single song is a joy to listen to.
The purely instrumental songs on the album ("I Used to Do," "To Hugo") are just as soaked with emotion as the rest. I'm definitely going to look into Clogs' other albums after listening to this one. It is very relaxing and I would highly recommend it. Five out of five stars. This may be my favorite album of 2010.
Favorite tracks:
On The Edge, The Owl of Love, I Used to Do
"
Deep Garden Music
Raymond Orkwis | Rockville, MD | 04/17/2010
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love most kinds of music, but the joys of listening to pop and the joys of listening to classical don't always combine. Ensembles like The Books, Rachel's, and the Clogs (note the word "ensemble," not "group") are some of the places that unite these diverse pleasures, joining the more meditative emotions that classical listening provoke to the more nervous excitement of pure pop. I have been seduced by this album's strangeness and beauty just as I could be by an album by, say, Elbow or The Clientele (two groups whose strangeness and nervous energy compel me to repeatedly listen). These are pop songs, but also something deeper, calmer, more in touch with stillness than agitation. The melodies are haunting, as is Shara Worden's singing. The arrangements toy with minimalism but only as a jumping off point -- this rocks without rocking and rolls like waves. If you're looking for quiet noise and a peaceful aural journey, check this out, then check it out again, and hear where that leads."
Innovation and pitch issues
Mona Peck | Westchester, NY | 04/27/2010
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I felt that most of the music was quite interesting, however, I was bothered by the lead singer's voice as she went off pitch and that is bothersome and took attention away from the music.
This CD reminded me of other artists' works; some innovative and new and others like Cat Stevens.I heard this group on NPR and frankly, they sounded better "live"."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1