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The Gathering - Last One With Anneke

Steven Sly | Kalamazoo, MI United States | 09/23/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

""Home" would prove to be the last album for The Gathering with incredible vocalist Anneke Van Giersbergen at the helm. Shortly after the US tour in support of the album she announced that she was leaving the band. The album itself is another one that although I like it, does not exactly blow me away. It starts out very promising with the great song "Shortest Day". The next two "In Between" and "Alone" are both solid too, but things start to drag a bit as the album goes on. Anneke's vocals are pristine as ever, although seem somewhat restrained on this disc. The accompanying music is all decent, but again there is nothing here instrumentally that blows me away. The use of modern beats and electronics give the album a contemporary feel, and overall the sound is probably more radio friendly than some of the band's earlier works. How much you like this will depend on your personal taste. After seeing the band live on this tour I though a lot of this material came off a lot better in a live setting. I guess the bottom line is that I think this is a solid 3 star album, but I can't rate it much higher than that."

Always different....always great

B. Kemper | Madison, WI United States | 09/05/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"One way for a band to impress me is to grow and change over the years. I know there are those who would have liked The Gathering to stay stuck in their heavier-sounding period forever--and don't get me wrong, I love those discs too--but a one-trick pony band becomes boring pretty fast. This release is different, not only from earlier releases like Mandylion, but even from Souvenirs, and I think that's a good thing. In my view, this band has never put out a bad record, but a nice variety of very good ones. And I still maintain that Anneke's is the best voice in pop music today!"

Beautiful

Joseph P. Darak Jr. | Gallup, NM United States | 11/07/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Based on other reviews I've read, I guess I'm lucky not to have been a long time fan. This album is my introduction to the group. This is truely beautiful, well crafted music. The female vocalist is superb. This is like the progressive rock of old only updated for the 21rst century. You get the etheral feel from the vocals and strings. It is music that will send your mind on an adventure to really serene places. This is inspired music. I don't know about their heavier past, but this album is still definately edgy and way beyond pop sensibilities. It is like Europes Beauty & the Beast music without those dreadful beast grunts to come in and ruin everything. When you hear this singer you'll know you are dealing with a fantastic vocal talent. If uninitiated to this group you should definately add this to your collection. Highly recommended."