OCTOBER?????? Friggin October we go back to college. Are they trying to make me have a mental brea...
OCTOBER?????? Friggin October we go back to college. Are they trying to make me have a mental breakdown or what?????
Member since:23.11.2003
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Ok people, this is my first attempt at an album review so please be gentle with me. The album I am reviewing is ‘Affirmation’ by Savage Garden. For all those who don’t know who they are - YOU HAVE NO TASTE WHATSOEVER AND I WASH MY HANDS OF YOU!!!!! Ahem, this isn’t really what you would call a band as there are only two of them, Darren Hayes who is the lead man and does all of the main singing and Daniel Jones who prefers to stay in the background because he is very shy (and that’s actually true). I think if I remember correctly, they are Australian (not that that makes any difference to whether you will like them or not).
What I particularly like about this pair is that not only do they have the voices of angels (I’m a sucker for a good voice) but they write all their own songs and co-produced the album with Walter Afanasieff, which in my book just makes this album even better. They made sure it was done to the standards they had set - true artists, who weren‘t just thinking of the money.
Now being a huge fan of Savage Garden, I was really peeved that they split up before I had the chance to go and see them live in concert (but I’m going to win the lottery tonight so I can pay them to give me and my sister who is also a fan a private show hehe). ‘Savage Garden’ and ‘Affirmation’ are the only albums that I know of that they have released. As soon as this one hit the shops, I was straight down there breaking down the door to get my grubby hands on it. Like most of my CD collection, I brought this in Woolworths for £12.99 but you will find it any shop which sells music (and more likely cheaper seeing as it’s a few years old now).
On the cover, you will see a picture of the two boys (although not to my tastes I will admit they do look rather lush) standing in front of a blue background. Their band name at the top in a white and a kind of yellowy-greenish colour enclosed in a white box and the album name in
smaller writing underneath that. On the back you get a list of all the songs on the album (I’ll get onto them in a mo’ - patience). Flicking through the booklet you normally get with these CD’s, they have very nicely given you all the words to their songs so you can have a sing-a-long session (most considerate of them). But I’m sorry to say you don’t get lots of piccies to drool over, the only piccies you get are on the front and back of the booklet and a nice black and white photo of them is revealed when you take the CD out of the case (that’s you’re lot).
Now onto the actual music. I’m not very good when it comes to describing instruments and vocals and what not, but I will say that most of this album has a good beat throughout the songs that it will be impossible for you not to start strutting you’re funky stuff across the living room floor. (I’m not because I’m reviewing it at the mo’, so I’m just boogying in my chair, which Mindy the kamikaze cat isn‘t happy about because she’s trying to have a kip on my lap. Oops too late, she‘s jumped off, she’s giving me the filthiest of looks, she’s whingeing at me - I consider myself thoroughly told off - oh dear.)
Because I’m naff when it comes to instruments, I’ll give you a brief run down of what I think the songs are about instead (bearing in mind I‘m probably completely wrong but this is my interpretation of them):
AFFIRMATION
This if a nice funky song, that will get you head banging before they’ve even opened their mouth. It’s great track, with them telling you all about what they believe in life “I believe the struggle for financial freedom isn’t fair - I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires” is just a couple of the lines but already I can see you’re agreeing, which is what you do throughout this song (well I do anyway, every line he says is followed with me saying “yeah, me too”) Every line of this song starts with ‘I believe’ and they make some very solid points.
Hold Me
When listening to the words of this song it sounds as though he’s desperately trying to make up for an argument he and his sweetheart have had. He just wants to be held awwww, but like the typical bloke he expects her to make the first move and say everything’s hunky-doory because he‘s not going to.
I knew I loved You
Ahhhhh, a nice sloppy slow song to seduce your loved one with (oops did I really say that?) Everybody must have heard this song when it was released. He’s crooning all about how much he loves someone and that he thinks he must have dreamed her into reality, because she is his ideal woman (why can’t I be loved like that???? Huh).
The Best Thing
Again he’s singing all about how much he loves someone and telling her what how she makes him feel and what he would do for her love. In short she is ‘the best thing’ about him (sniff that’s sooo sweet).
Crash And Burn
At last, my favourite song on this album. He’s basically saying you are not alone, he’ll always be here to pick you up when you’re down, mend you’re broken heart basically be a good friend. This is a nice love song that can be meant for friendship as well as the person you’re lusting after.
Chained To You
This is a very fast song, I get the impression this song is about the pure lust you experience when you’re off out clubbing. He’s pulled but the little vixen is a tease and is playing hard to get, so he’s letting off steam by having a good singsong about the feelings he’s experiencing.
The Animal Song
This is the first song they released off this album and although it’s very good, I personally don’t think it’s one of their best. He basically saying he wants to live like an animal, no rules, no dictation just sheer freedom. He makes the point - “animals and children tell the truth they never lie, which one is more human? There’s a thought now you decide” and it certainly got me thinking.
The Lover After Me
This is another sloppy slow song but a very sad one at that. He is pining for his girlfriend who he split up with 7 months ago. She’s moved on and met someone new, he hasn’t and still loves her dearly. Everywhere he goes there a memories of her and the life they shared. I love this song.
Two Beds And A coffee Machine
I find it extremely hard to listen to this song. It’s about a woman who is beaten repeatedly by her husband. She finally plucks up the courage to leave him and creeps out the door with their children whilst he is sleeping. She moves them into a cheap hotel for the night but decides she can’t cope alone. Rather than seeking help, she decides she will go back to him and no doubt receive another beating for leaving. You can’t listen to this song without having a lump in your throat and I have screamed at the CD player on several occasions telling her to stay away from him.
You can Still Be Free
This song is all about freedom and I personally think this song is a message to the woman in the previous song. I think this is someone they know and this is all they can think off to help her without her husband getting wind of it.
Gunning Down Romance
This is a strange one, but it’s still very good. He his begging for love to stay with him and not let his primal urges and lust consume him. Blimey first time I’ve ever heard of a bloke who doesn’t want lustful thoughts to take over him.
I Don’t Know You Anymore
This is a another sad one, by the sounds of it he’s been a bad boy and she hasn’t forgiven him. She’s married someone else and moved away. He obviously misses her and just wants her in his life even just for friendship if nothing else. He’s got in touch with her and wants to visit but she’s obviously not so sure. This song is all about trying to convince her to meet up again and talk.
Well that’s all the songs on the album, you only get 12 I’m afraid. You can visit their official website at www.savagegarden.com but I’ve been there and it’s not much to look at. You get to watch a few of their videos and that’s about it, not a lot of info on them in general but they do provide you with a link to other fan sites but seeing as this is their official site they really should have put a lot more effort into it.
Well I think that’s me done with my ramblings. I now live in the hope that they will get back together again although Darren did release a successful solo album (which I also have), it’s not the same without Daniel. But all in all it’s a great album, completely clean of swearing so it’s suitable for the kiddies as well. If you don’t already have it, I fully recommend that you do.
Thanks for reading, I’m going to see if Mindy has forgiven me yet : )
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Following the successful formula of their eponymous debut album, Savage ... more
Garden'sAffirmationis made up of classic pop melodies and sleepy ballads. The title track cracks open the album--a song that sees Hayes philosophising about the inequalities of the...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Following the successful formula of their eponymous debut album, Savage ... more
Garden'sAffirmationis made up of classic pop melodies and sleepy ballads. The title track cracks open the album--a song that sees Hayes philosophising about the inequalities of the...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
Following the successful formula of their eponymous debut album, Savage Garden's ... more
Affirmation is made up of classic pop melodies and sleepy ballads. The title track cracks open the album--a song that sees Hayes philosophising about the inequalities of t...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Disc 1 Affirmation Hold Me I Knew I Loved You The Best Thing Crash And Burn Chained To You ... more
The Animal Song The Lover After Me Two Beds And A Coffee Machine You Can Still Be Free Gunning Down Romance I Don't Know You Anymore Disc 2 The Best Thing The Lo...
Postage & Packaging: £0.00 Availability: 3-5 working days
Advantages: Makes you feel like there's light at the end of the tunnel and feel good about life in general. Disadvantages: No, there aren't any. Every song is top quality.
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