Search - Raincoats :: Looking in the Shadows

Not As Spiritual as Past Albums

Sara G. | Mamou, LA USA | 07/06/2001

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I love the Raincoats for their ability to completely recreate themselves with each album. The first was punk, the third reggae, and the second somewhere in between. This album also is something totally different. As always they are willing to experiment with unusual sounds, instruments, and rhythms. This album, however, is the least favorite. It lacks the spirituality of _Odyshape_ and _Moving_, two albums where the music itself is a spiritual event. In _Looking in the Shadows_, it seems the stories they're trying to tell through the lyrics take precedence over song composition. The music merely provides background for the vocals, it doesn't reach out to envelop the listener like in previous works. The whole tone of the album is more cynical and harsh in sound and words- not something typical of the Raincoats. Overall, this album doesn't have a tenth of the emotional power of the past releases."