Doves - The Last Broadcast (12 tracks) +Album Reviews +Used CD available for Swap

A monumental release

Daniel Cherney | Boston, MA | 04/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been listening to a promo copy of this since early April, so I've had some time with it. Simply put, this is a fantastic record - the most rewarding rock album since OK Computer, and current frontrunner for best of the year. Even better than Doves' stunning debut, 'Lost Souls.' Think of the best work from The Beatles, Radiohead and The Verve, add in a bit of electronica, turn the creativity meter all the way up.. it comes out sounding like music you've known forever, while remaining fresh and exciting. Jimi's voice is better than ever, and drummer Andy even gets a turn on the mic on 2 tracks. Great songwriting, gorgeous arrangements, and amazing detail. There is zero filler here, as should be the case with every great record. A chilling intro gives birth to "Words," opening the album with waterfall-guitars and huge sound. "There Goes The Fear" is the first single, and possibly the best song of the year..love it. Next is the fragile and beautiful "M62 Song" - the acoustic guitar work on 'Broadcast' provide some of the best moments on the record. "N.Y." is simply a stunning rock song, one that melts into the spiritual and dreamy "Satellites." While still fantastic, this track ultimatley comes off as the brightest song on an album filled with bright songs. "Friday's Dust" is a haunting acoustic tune with delicate string and horn arrangements..a very cool song. After this comes one brilliant track after another to close the album - the relentless and soaring "Pounding," perfect melancholy dream-pop in "Last Broadcast"..by this point Doves have defied categorization, the only place for a song like "The Sulphur Man." The closer, "Caught By The River," is an anthem remeniscient of the very best of Oasis or The Verve. The album ends huge and warm, a big difference from the way they closed out 'Lost Souls.' 'Last Broadcast' is stunning in all of its psycadellic glory - all of the different colors, emotions and textures are both instantly acessable and continually rewarding. Not to mention the packaging and artwork is tops as well. So basically Doves will be making great music for a long time, and it'd be best to get on the bandwagon as soon as possible.
I cannot reccomend this album highly enough."

An individually brilliant album for the Doves

Chris Wren | Chicago, Illinois | 06/07/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The Doves sophmore release, The Last Broadcast, bucks the traditional sophmore slump and takes it's place as a stunning version of Brit-pop. While not as dramatic, moody and brooding as the debut album, The Last Broadcast is definitely the Doves' chance to shine as songwriters and as musicians.In comparison to their earlier release, Lost Souls, The Last Broadcast is definitely a happier and more accessible album. What the album lacks in dark honesty, it makes over tenfold in perfect songwriting.It almost reeks with pop motifs and has definite brit pop sound. A song like "N.Y." feels like a Blur song with Oasis pop, and "Satellites" is just riddled with gospel-influences, which instantly reminds me of Sting's last album. Those are just a few examples, at least. This doesn't detract from any of the songs (all of these influences are good), but it's not as groundbreaking or mood-setting as the debut. A song like "Pounding," which is my favorite track, has fairly basic guitar playing and musicality, yet has all the perfect hooks to draw the listener closer into the music. While I am a devouted fan to their debut, The Last Broadcast is an ideal follow up and a perfect way for the Doves to become one of the focal points of the new brit-pop movement. Their songwriting and lyricism is still up to par, and any appreciator of just good rock and roll would immensely enjoy this CD."

Takes them to the next level

drew m | maryland United States | 06/05/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Doves are a unique band. Coming from a background in dance music (as the band Sub Sub), they applied their sensibilities in that genre to create a wholly original sound as a rock and roll band. They're compared to bands like Radiohead and Coldplay much too often, and Last Broadcast is proof of why.Doves know how to make moody, ambient music. But what they've become masters at is taking their soundscapes and turning them into warm, full rock songs. Their debut, Lost Souls, was the beginning of Doves honing their sound. Here, on Last Broadcast, the band is tighter and more focused. A killer intro preps you for something astonishing, and when "Words" blasts in, it delivers. A clever riff enhanced by lush, rich production and a disctinct tone of optimism, "Words" leaves most gloomy Britpop bands in the dust (Travis and Starsailor, pack your things). Following the reggae-tinged "There Goes the Fear," the haunting King Crimson rework "M62 Song" drifts in as if from an ancient AM radio. Beautiful in every way, it echoes the work of Nick Drake and other long gone troubadours without feeling out of place within The Last Broadcast's greater framework.Some songs miss ("Satellites" is too long and meandering), but the last four songs are as good as it gets, particularly "Pounding," a pulsing, driving anthem sure to be playing on a movie soundtrack sometime in the near future. Where Lost Sould petered out as an album, Last Broadcast ends with "The Sulphur Man" and "Caught by the River," both powerful, atmospheric arrangements that leave you wanting more.Fortunately, for some customers, there is more. Some editions of Last Broadcast contain a bonus disc with four extra songs. Seek it out. While the four extra songs are fittingly not included on the album, they are fun on their own, particularly "Hit the Ground Running," which is a Doves rehash of "Werewolves of London." Already big in England, Doves deserve a larger following here in the US. The Last Broadcast could be, and should be, their big breakthrough."

A Major Album

alexander laurence | Los Angeles, CA | 04/20/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the second record by the much loved Doves. They are the greatest thing to come out of Manchester. Their first record Lost Souls was brilliant but often uneven. This time they went into the studio with the idea "Every song's got to be a killer." They were tired of being labelled as a dark and depressive band. They wanted to do music that was positive and upbeat, since now being miserable such a cop out. There's a new enthusiasm and confidence on the new record. The Last Broadcast is mostly self-produced. After the strange "Intro" the album moves into "Words" and that's where The Big Music starts. Even though it uses a U2 guitar riff, it goes on to something else. This is wake up and face the day music. This record makes you think about you life and hardly any music does that anymore. Songs like "There Goes The Fear" and "M62 song" show their more folk side with a knowledge of prog rock. The first song sounds like coming off drugs and trying to enjoy life with them. Doves are great at creating distinct sounds that come to mean something over time and repeated listens. Mostly recorded in Manchester and Bath, "M62 Song" was recorded under a flyover and sounds like some of the weird songs Vincent Gallo did for Warp Records. Just as things get spaced out and mellow, Doves get loud and big again on "N.Y." that sounds like driving in the country music. Doves define their true sound here early on. It is a real mix of modern and the past, and there's no looking back now. The American release also comes with a bonus disc of four songs that includes a funny take on a Warren Zevon song. The Second part of the album starts for me with "Satellites" that is a heartfelt ballad that is like a round. "Friday's Dust" is an even more impressive ballad. This is widescreen music for people who can look past the obvious. "Pounding" reinforces one of the main themes of the album: "Seize the time because it won't last forever...." This is done with a lot of building power. The title track is lighthearted ditty that becomes psychedelic at times. "The Sulphur Man" begins as a sort of religious song that could be played in a church. It is about this mysterious figure than seems as hard to put your finger on as this album is. This record is a great journey. It is a little deeper than something like Oasis. A song like the final track "Caught By The River" is like a little story about life itself. You are reminded that a lot has happened on this CD. Doves are finally a rock band that balances emotion and intelligence in a way that most of Britpop bands never could. (www.freewilliamsburg.com)"

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