Til the Ocean Takes Us All - The Cat Empire, Angus, Harry
No Mountain - The Cat Empire, Felix
So Long - The Cat Empire, Felix
No Longer There - The Cat Empire, Felix
Lonely Moon - The Cat Empire, Angus, Harry
Radio Song - The Cat Empire, Felix
The Darkness - The Cat Empire, Angus, Harry
Voodoo Cowboy - The Cat Empire, Angus, Harry
Strong Coffee - The Cat Empire, Felix
Won't Be Afraid - The Cat Empire, Cat Empire
Wanted to Write a Love Song [*] - The Cat Empire,
This time around, the party throwdown that the boys pioneered on "Two Shoes" has crossed the line between mystery and light. And back. A few times. "So Many Nights," says bandleader Felix Riebl, "is filled with little vign... more »ettes from our travels, stories that got etched out in the back of a tour bus over the years. You get to a point where it really gets hard to distinguish between what's happening and what's a dream." And so the strange, colorful trip unfurls from the airborne whimsy of "Panama" to the mystifying, swirling thrill of '"The Darkness." It's all melancholy ache in "Lonely Moon," funky as hell in "So Long" and "Strong Coffee," then freaky like a spaghetti western acid trip in "Voodoo Cowboy." From David Letterman to Jay Leno appearances, the Glastonbury Festival to New York's Central Park Summerstage, Japan to Barcelona, from Bonnaroo to the Montreal Jazz Festival and rave reviews at all stops, it often seemed The Cat Empire were sole nominees for Superlative of the Year (Indefinable Genre Division) `06/'07. Like some kind of funky circus troupe, they roll into town, sell twice as many tickets as the previous visit, and a truckload of CDs on the way out. Already platinum in their native Australia, So Many Nights was recorded in Malibu, CA in April '07 by the legendary John Porter (Roxy Music, The Smiths, BB King, Ryan Adams).« less
This time around, the party throwdown that the boys pioneered on "Two Shoes" has crossed the line between mystery and light. And back. A few times. "So Many Nights," says bandleader Felix Riebl, "is filled with little vignettes from our travels, stories that got etched out in the back of a tour bus over the years. You get to a point where it really gets hard to distinguish between what's happening and what's a dream." And so the strange, colorful trip unfurls from the airborne whimsy of "Panama" to the mystifying, swirling thrill of '"The Darkness." It's all melancholy ache in "Lonely Moon," funky as hell in "So Long" and "Strong Coffee," then freaky like a spaghetti western acid trip in "Voodoo Cowboy." From David Letterman to Jay Leno appearances, the Glastonbury Festival to New York's Central Park Summerstage, Japan to Barcelona, from Bonnaroo to the Montreal Jazz Festival and rave reviews at all stops, it often seemed The Cat Empire were sole nominees for Superlative of the Year (Indefinable Genre Division) `06/'07. Like some kind of funky circus troupe, they roll into town, sell twice as many tickets as the previous visit, and a truckload of CDs on the way out. Already platinum in their native Australia, So Many Nights was recorded in Malibu, CA in April '07 by the legendary John Porter (Roxy Music, The Smiths, BB King, Ryan Adams).
A different direction, but the same amazing quality!
C. Baillie | New Jersey | 05/28/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Cat Empire are one of the best bands out there. All of their albums have gone platinum (some multiple) in Australia...it's criminal that they are not better known in the us. This album continues their streak of genius material. However, this time they have more laidback, smokey vibe going on for them. This album, right down to the artwork is amazing! The addition of a lot of strings on this album (particularly breathtaking on "Panama") is a welcomed new twist. This band is continuing to switch up their sound, while still keeping their unique sound."
What are you thinking?
Schway Master | WI | 04/25/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Whoever you are, as far as I'm concerned the cat empire is still one of the best bands ever. This album may be a lot more laid back, but the fact that they're still experimenting with their sound is always going to be an interesting manuever for the band. So therefore, I give them 5 stars for coming out with new material, and yet again exciting my ears"
One of the best albums I have ever bought.
Cory J. Lewandowski | Alfred, NY, the college town you havent heard of. | 06/03/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I rarely ever buy albums for their full price, but after being obsessed with "Two Shoes" I had to get "So Many Nights" during it's release. Don't expect the same weird perky tone to it, it seems like these guys sort of grew up between albums. There are a few more slow songs like Panama and Til The Ocean Takes Us All but they all have certain flows to them that make them oddly addicting, like every other infectious song from "Two Shoes."
This album is packed with a lot of different genres, mostly around sombra, ska, and some that just can't be explained. Expect weirdness, after all it IS a Cat Empire album. My favorites from this album are the faster ones, but that's just because of my punk ska roots: Fishes, So Long, and So Many Nights but there isn't a single song on this album that I would say I didn't like. Theyre all very unique and enjoyable.
My overall impression from this album is that it is Cat Empire but more polished. To any fan of "Two Shoes" this album is an absolute must, but if you're just getting into them, start with Two Shoes and work your way into this, because after this album is different from Two Shoes, but in a good way."
Another BRILLIANT addition to the discography!
David Coyne | 01/17/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Wow! These guys remind listeners again that they are a musical powerhouse of talent, humor and thrills. The principal reviews are on the money: this disc has much of the familiar CE sounds, but is a further evolution of their sounds. One notable area is Harry's singing. On tracks like "Til the Ocean" and "Lonely Moon" he dazzles and thrills. There is less of the reggae influence heard on their earlier work, but plenty of that Cuban sound that makes Two Shoes so fun. The horns are out in force, but new instruments creep in, like the harpsichord intro on "No Mountain" and they play with some new (but old and familiar) bits of melody woven into the overall songs. If you listen to Two Shoes and Cities (available only through thecatempire.com site) you'll recognize that this album fits their catalog of work in many ways and is typical overall of their body of work.
Tell me this is the best such band ever and I won't argue. If I were a musician I'd want to hang-up my instrument after listening to these guys cuz they're at a level I can't imagine I'd ever attain."