Levellers, The Levellers.
This was the Levellers third album. The Levellers, by the time this had been released, had been a band for nearly five years, though their original vocalist left after album number 1, they were certainly getting well known outside of the punky/celtic/festival scene ... Read review
Success hasn't spoiled the Levellers: This is the third album by the unkempt English ... more
quintet, and its political harangues are even more furious and focused than on earlier efforts. The album starts with a howling siren on "Warning," a critique on the w...
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Advantages: One of their best tracks is included. Disadvantages: Quite a bit of dross.
...
This was the Levellers third album. The Levellers, by the time this had been released, had been a band for nearly five years, though their original vocalist left after album number 1, they were certainly getting well known outside of the punky/celtic/festival scene that was their origins. I certainly remember seeing them in London in 1990 and they had built up quite a following of students, squatters and festival goers.
This ... ...that is the point, the Levellers should not be 'nice' anything, raw, potent, with a message, that is what works for them. Naff. 2/10.
Track 3. The Likes of You and I.
When they make a foray into melancholy they generally tell a great story and touch some of our deepest thoughts, this does that, especially combined with the haunting fiddle in the background. 7/10.
Track 4. Is This Art?
Very 'folky' and Celtic. ... more
Levellers, The Levellers.
This was the Levellers third album. The Levellers, by the time this had been released, had been a band for nearly five years, though their original vocalist left after album number 1, they were certainly getting well known outside of the punky/celtic/festival scene that was their origins. I certainly remember seeing them in London in 1990 and they had built up quite a following of students, squatters and festival goers.
This album for me marked a bit of a change in direction and, in my opinion is not as good as the first album 'A Weapon called the Word', or the 2nd album, 'Levelling the Land'. It is almost like they have got better and more polished, yet lost something along the way. That being said, there are some cracking tracks as I will divulge shortly.
*******The band line up******* Mark Chadwick - Guitars, vocals Charlie Heather - Drums/percussion Jonathan Sevink - Fiddle Jeremy Cunningham - Bass guitar, artwork Simon Friend - Guitars, vocals, mandolin They also used 'The Kick Horns' for some extra Brass (and woodwind?)
*******The Tracks******* Track 1. Warning. The start of this track is an air raid siren (reminds me of Frankie goes to Hollywood - Two Tribes). Furious guitar strumming, even more furious fiddle playing and a serious vocal telling just how bad things have gotten in the UK follows, the police stopping festivals etc. Great, lively start 7/10.
Track 2. 100 Years of Solitude. For me this is a poor track, nice musically, but that is the point, the Levellers should not be 'nice' anything, raw, potent, with a message, that is what works for them. Naff. 2/10.
Track 3. The Likes of You and I. When they make a foray into melancholy they generally tell a great story and touch some of our deepest thoughts, this does that, especially combined with the haunting fiddle in the background. 7/10.
Track 4. Is This Art? Very 'folky' and Celtic. The music is very, very good, lyrically interesting, good offereing this track. 7/10.
Track 5. Dirty Davey. Many Levellers albums have a 'named character' which they tell a story of, this album is no exception. The story is great, I won't spoil it. More of note is the absolutely hectic guitar and fiddle…..real undertones of 'The Devil went to Georgia', a completely 'yeehah' song, brilliant live. 9/10.
Track 6. This Garden. Great didgeridoo, nice music all round, but the song is cringingly, embarrassingly clichéd, even the vocal performance is very false, almost like 'talking down' to a group of children telling them a tale of days gone past. 4/10.
Track 7. Broken Circles. When I was transferring this to iTunes, I had forgotten about this track, mainly as it is forgettable, 3/10.
Track 8. Julie. Including: The Flowers of the Forest/The Crags of Stirling instrumentals. Best track of the album. Stunning, brilliant, melancholic. Great vocals, with simple guitar backing. Probably one of their best 5 songs ever in my opinion. Julie lives in a tower block, no job, no hope, life planned out with nothing to look forward to: "She felt alone in a crowded room, cried when she heard a happy tune". The end couple of minutes of this track are a revelation, we get a Bagpipe and drum rendition for a couple of minutes that just should not work, but is an inspired addition. Stunning, 10/10.
Track 9. The Player. Why? Happy trippy, dippy, hippy backing over a melancholic story. Useless.1/10.
Track 10. Belaruse. Lot's of folk I know really rate this track and I'm not sure why. The music is good, builds well, good use of drums, good guitar, but to me an 'empty song'. 5/10.
Overall: Track 5 and 8 carry the album, buy them as singles off iTunes, leave the rest. Not their best album. Cover is ummemorable, well at least it can be bought for around £2 on Amazon marketplace!!
Advantages: Wonderful songs! Disadvantages: Annoying trick on the last track. Depressing at times!
...Oh no, not while the Levellers still breathe.
The band was formed back in 1988 and brought together a range of talents and instruments. Fiddles, harmonicas, mandolins and of course guitar and drums. As a result their sound is something unique (at least it is in my CD collection). A wonderful blend of folk and rock combines well with Chadwick’s voice. Although one of the founding members was called Alan Leveller the name comes from some political ... ...at the first glance” The Levellers do like to ramp up the messages in their music. You can’t help but notice them even if you don’t agree with them.
“100 Years of Solitude”
You’ll be aware, if it wasn’t already crystal clear, that you’re not listening to a pop-rock album when the second track starts up. Fiddles and pop rock are mutually exclusive; at least, they were until the Corrs came along. This a sad song, many of the Levellers’ songs are ...
Manx 30.12.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Levellers - Levellers
Advantages: Good variety, not too slcik. Disadvantages: Pop music enthusiasts may not approve.
...any other artists, as the Levellers have a very distinct sound. Some parts of the album hint of an Irish descent, while others (particularly the bagpipes on "Julie"), are Scottish sounding. The music is sounds natural and has not been "over-produced". The result of this is that many of the singles released from this album were remixed for the commercial market, and some of these were released on "One Way Of Life: The Best Of The Levellers". This ...
sitdown 02.08.2000
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Levellers - Levellers
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3. ?The Rain ...
Advantages: Best music ever Disadvantages: I love them, so no disadvantages
The first thing I have to say is that this is only my favourite Levellers album because it is the first I bought. I have been listening to it for at least seven years and I never tire of it.
The Levellers belong losely to the folk rock genre. Their songs generally have a deeper meaning, but are also real jump up and dance songs. This album contains the best Levellers song ever - One Way ("there's only one way of life, and that's your own"), as well as slower songs like Another Man's Cause, which is about war, and its absolute pointlessness. Every song on the album deserves to be a hit, because the tunes are great, the performance is excellent, and the words are intense.
It also looks great. There is some wonderful artwork on the sleeve. I had the posters of this artwork plastered over my walls for years.
The Levellers are ...
Levellers: Charlie Heather, Jeremy Leveller, Simon, Mark Chadwick, Jon Sevink. Additional personnel: Richard Evans (whistle), Stephen Boakes (didjereedoo), Callum Williams (bagpipes), The Kick Horns (brass), Jem Finer (hurdy gurdy), Jacinda Jones (background vocals). All songs written or co-written by Levellers except "Dirty Davey" (Nick Burbridge).
Album Reviews
Musician (3/94, p.86) - "...A rich porridge of Celtic melodies, big beats and wailin' vocals...LEVELLERS makes each note sound like the beginning of the end...the dramatic cut-and-paste arrangments, highlighted by Jon's sweeping violin, recall prime Roxy Music..." Melody Maker (8/21/93, p.33) - "...here's another fine Levellers' record to love and laugh and fight and fall over to...." Option (8/94, p.109) - "...scruffy, urgent, fiddle-driven folk rockers..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Warning
2.
100 Years Of Solitude
3.
Likes Of You And I
4.
Is This Art
5.
Dirty Davey
6.
This Garden
7.
Broken Circles
8.
Julie
9.
Player
10.
Belaruse
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02/08/2000
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