Search - The Tear Garden :: Tired Eyes Slowly Burning

A masterpiece of dark electronic music.

11/11/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album was produced around the same time as Skinny Puppy's "Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse" and the two albums share very similar sonic characteristics. Skinny Puppy had grown out of the dark Synth-Pop scene (often mis-nomered Industrial though they sounded nothing like those bands) and by '86 they had developed a super-clean masterful sound that should have hit the top of the charts in the US but never quite made it (mostly due to poor promotion). * This album is a slightly more experimental and laid back version of the same brilliance that appears on "Mind" mainly due to the absence of Ogre's vocals and the addition of Edward Kaspell's. * cEvin Key's music shines in compliment to Edward Kaspell's dreamy voice (his voice is reminiscent of Peter "Bauhuas" Murphy's, but he is by no means a copycat). Gone are Ogre's tortured demon vocals (except on one part of "You and Me and Rainbows" which is quite jarring) and Key's music takes on a totally different vibe without Ogre's agression. * Many of the Puppy tracks on "Mind" like "Antagonism" and "One Time One Place" "musically" sound virtually identical to this Tear Garden album (the Tear Garden is just a little slower in tempo and a little less dance oriented), but Kaspell's vocals add a dreamy magic that puts "Tired Eyes" in a whole 'nother world. * This album is easily one of my all time favourites and it is a MUST-HAVE for any fan of dark electronic music. And if you do enjoy this album, I also suggest buying Puppy's "Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse" as they are so similar in sound. * As for a comparison to the later Tear Garden albums . . . this album, alas, is unique. The later three albums (Last Man to Fly, Sheila Liked the Rodeo, and To Be An Angel Blind) while very good albums in and of themselves, sound virtually nothing like this album (with a few exceptions like "A Ship Named Despair"). The later albums are very "rock band" in structure employing live drums, bass, guitars etc. where as "Tired Eyes Slowly Burning" is almost purely synthesized music (drum machines and synthesizers). BUY IT, YOU'LL LIKE IT. TRUST ME"

Tear Garden's best release.

Jaron Evil | Canada | 09/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There's some very ambient stuff happening here. It's very reminiscent of Skinny Puppy, but with more melody. Most of the songs off this one have a pretty catchy hook to them, particularly the songs `Room With A View", "Déjà Vu", and the album's epic, "You And Me And Rainbows". For anyone intrigued or curious about Tear Garden, this is the album to start with. It's by far their best one. Tear Garden's music as a whole is very experimental. This album, although maintaining the band's experimental sound, is the most mainstream of all their efforts. Don't let that deter you from any of their other releases, or indeed this one if mainstream is not your thing. All their albums have something different to offer, and it's all good."

The SECOND Best

dl5192 | Upstate NY | 09/28/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I think this is the Tear Garden's second best CD next to "Last Man". The reason it sound so much like Skinny Puppy's "Mind:" CD is because all of the music was written and recorded by cEvin Key before Edward Ka-Spel ever laid down the vocals. This is really a cEvin Key/SP CD with Edward Ka-Spel on vocals. The reason I like "Last Man" is because it is much more of a true collaboration between members of LPD and Skinny Puppy. However, this CD is an absolute gem and I would urge you to pick it up if you can find it. I have seen it at mainstream stores such as Tower off and on for the last two years or so. "Shelia Like the Rodeo" is not a great CD in my opinion. Reminds me of the Chemical Playschool series from Legendary Pink Dots. There are a few good tracks but not great overall. "To Be and Angel..." is a decent CD but I have never been able to get into it that much. I think the Legendary Pink Dots' CDs are much better. Pick up the last 3 releases from LPD...they'll blow you away if you like the Tear Garden."