In a typically garbled and ridiculous attempt to make myself understood, in my last Doves review I said that The Last Broadcast was a better album than Lost Souls. It isn't, but I do think it's destined to be more popular, more mainstream and more accessible. So… I kinda retract. If you get ... Read review
In an about-face that will infuriate technophiles, this group of dance revisionists ... more
celebrate guitars and "real instruments" in the face of processed music. The Williams brothers and their mate Jim Goodwin first had a hit with the disco-charged "Ain't ...
Postage & Packaging: £1.21 Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days...
In an about-face that will infuriate technophiles, this group of dance revisionists ... more
celebrate guitars and "real instruments" in the face of processed music. The Williams brothers and their mate Jim Goodwin first had a hit with the disco-charged "Ain't ...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: great, brilliant and rambly - and that's just my review... :P Disadvantages: none, honest.
...was a better album than Lost Souls. It isn't, but I do think it's destined to be more popular, more mainstream and more accessible. So… I kinda retract. If you get what I mean. If you don't, well, makes no difference, you should listen to both anyway. :P
Aaron, another one just for you. :P
Lost Souls is, as debut albums go, a pretty classy offering. 10 full tracks and 2 instrumental mood-pauses (a regular Dovesian trick ... ...Mancunian rollercoaster.
Lost Souls kicks off with an atmospheric and slightly creepy instrumental intro track, and these as a rule have slight echoes of the band's Sub Sub past and their fondness for blending unusual sounds to make slightly melancholy and blurry music. All of Lost Souls is tinged by a minor key feeling, with delicate and precise guitar patterns over fuzzy keyboards and drums. And just as Where We're Calling From leads ... more
In a typically garbled and ridiculous attempt to make myself understood, in my last Doves review I said that The Last Broadcast was a better album than Lost Souls. It isn't, but I do think it's destined to be more popular, more mainstream and more accessible. So… I kinda retract. If you get what I mean. If you don't, well, makes no difference, you should listen to both anyway. :P
Aaron, another one just for you. :P
Lost Souls is, as debut albums go, a pretty classy offering. 10 full tracks and 2 instrumental mood-pauses (a regular Dovesian trick to keep the album flowing as a single musical offering rather than a collection of individual singles-fodder) join together to form a beautifully turbulent river of sound, or something equally lovely and pretentious. :)
There are certain trends in Doves music that have become more pronounced through Last Broadcast and Some Cities. Roughly speaking, the title track is always a bit vague, there is at least one bass thumping indie chart-fodder track, and there is at least one piece of genuine musical genius.
Probably the best way to give you a flavour of how this album works is to embark on it track by track as if it's a big, hairy, beardy Mancunian rollercoaster.
Lost Souls kicks off with an atmospheric and slightly creepy instrumental intro track, and these as a rule have slight echoes of the band's Sub Sub past and their fondness for blending unusual sounds to make slightly melancholy and blurry music. All of Lost Souls is tinged by a minor key feeling, with delicate and precise guitar patterns over fuzzy keyboards and drums. And just as Where We're Calling From leads into the gut-kick of New York on Last Broadcast, this gentle introduction sweeps into Here It Comes, a pounding, jazzy, piano-led offering that mixes Jez Williams' nasal whine with Jimi Goodwin's throaty drone to create a kickass musical drama. A pacy showstopper, this is followed up by the gentle and haunting Break Me Gently, with its distorted, broken vocals and piercing lyrics. The opening riff of this is actually capable of making me cry but then I'm strange like that.
Kicking up a gear pushes us into Sea Song, a lyrical, slow, repetitive drift through musical meandering (this river analogy is getting old now, isn't it?), the only disappointment of which is the fact that it's slightly inferior to its B-side remix, Down To Sea, which features on Lost Sides.
From there we launch into the Alex patented Doves-Track-I'm-Perpetually-Ambivalent-About. Rise is actually good. It is. But from time to time, for no reason at all, this powerful, jungle-noise-mixing, sounds-like-the-guitar-bit-from-Through-The-Barricades number gets up my nose. But that's quite okay, because it leads straight into the melodic, slightly vague and very lovely Lost Souls.
Post-souls is a bit of a jangly indie nostalgia-fest in Melody Calls. A strong chorus and bouncy baseline makes this a likeable paint-by-numbers singalong fest, and for that reason it's particularly lovely that it leads into a markedly anthemic number, Catch The Sun. CTS may be pretty mediocre in terms of the genius Doves CAN produce, but it still knocks the socks off the competition. A bouncy Pounding-esque number, it wakes you up just in time to be mellowed out by one of my personal favourites, the droll and yet somehow also eerie The Man Who Told Everything. For some reason I think of TMWTE as the kind of thing Alice In Wonderland's Caterpillar would have as a theme song for his life… (am I being too odd in public again?)
And then there's the real showstopper. The Cedar Room mixes all the classic Doves principles: blending sounds, extending and playing with musical patterns, melancholy lyrics and a touch of inexplicable brilliance.
After that, the lovely instrumental Reprise and the odd and ever-so-slightly indie-sanctimonious A House kind of get forgotten as you come down from the thrill, but hey, who cares?
Hey, do you think if I keep treating English like it's German by gluing words together with hyphens I'll end up with a review one day that has absolutely NO spaces?
Oh, and speaking of language… please recognise that there is ABSOLUTELY NO "THE" BEFORE DOVES. It shouldn't annoy me, but it does. Unlike the album, which has been on repeat play in my car for so long that I've forgotten how to drive without it.
Stop listening to me, for heavens's sake, and go and listen to a heavenly album instead. Comes in a variety of prices (I got it for £7 in an HMV sale) but start with www.play.com
Advantages: Good Indie Album Disadvantages: Maybe a little bit too instrumental
Lost Souls is the debut album from Manchester 3 piece Doves. Formally known as dance act Sub Sub, Doves decided on a change of direction moving more towards this sort of indie rock and brought out this superb debut album. The Doves are:
Jimi Goodwin - Vocals, Bass, Acoustic Guitar, Keyboard/Samples
Jez Williams - Electric & Acoustic Guitar & Backing Vocals
Andy Williams - Drums, Vocals and Harmonica
This album is made up of 12 tracks and lasts ... ...vocals. 9/10
Track 6: Lost Souls
This is my joint second favourite track on the album another chilled out mellow indie track. Vocals come in pretty early on in this track for a change. Some of the tracks on this album showcase just how amazing Jimi’s vocals can be and this is one of them. Again a steady guitar, Bass and Drums combo. 9.5/10
Track 7: Melody Calls
This album is very much instrument based with large parts of the album being ...
Andy.mack 20.09.2002 (23.01.2003)
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lost Souls - Doves
Advantages: An album that gets better the more often you hear it. And you should hear it a lot. Disadvantages: The band your mum would probably like - which is never fun
...Overall the sound of Lost Souls is one of darkness, a sound that a thousand students can get hopelessly excited about, yet also a sound of complete tranquility. Even their fast songs seem to take their time - this isn't slowness or dragged feet though, this is sheer beauty.
Stand out tracks (though what can be said to oppose them is a harder question) include the unbelievable The Cedar Room, the opening song from their live act and a track so outrageously ... ...songs on the album. Their recent release 'The Man Who Sold Everything' works so much better here in context with the rest of the album, its low key optimism wonderfully refreshing. Title track 'Lost Souls' is a captivating track, owing much to the sound of 69-70. Which is no bad thing.
Overall, 'Lost Souls' is the album that can argue the statement 'No one makes 'em like that any more' They still do, but you just wanna know about Sub Sub. And that's ...
everyplatewebreak 10.01.2001
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lost Souls - Doves
Advantages: The Minimalistic Future. Disadvantages: The Speed Crazed Past.
From early nineties acid kids (Sub Sub) to millennium indie darlings, Doves have a come a long way and in doing so produced one of the genuine surprises of 2000. 'Lost Souls' abounds with enormous helpings of memorable guitar based melodies that have such powerful edges they will leave you searching for scorch marks. Right from the off the Air-esque instrumental 'Firesuite' signals a burning talent ready to offload its many varied musical directions ... ...the debut single 'Here It Comes' emerges possessing a swaggering beat and a tinkering piano lilt that is perfect for watching the sun go down. Doves output has a distinctly bored with Britpop feel about it. Many of the songs weigh in at about 5 minutes or more, so those looking for a quick Oasis type fix are likely to be disappointed. 'Lost Souls', the title track, for example relies heavily on its simple acoustic, organ drenched, semi-distorted ...
indiecater 15.02.2003
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lost Souls - Doves
Advantages: Emotional, powerful, great production Disadvantages: Missing some lyrics on the sleevenotes
...'Lost Souls' was born.
Lost Souls was released in 2000, and featured an old SubSub tune as it's opening track. 'Firesuite' was originally recorded in the mid-nineties and was deliberately remixed and put on the album as a tribute to the past. It's an instrumental track, accompanied by some strange atmospheric synths and a haunting guitar lick.
The track dives straight into second track 'Here it Comes' which sounds similar to an old 60's motown ... ...a fine job of it as well. His voice is completely different to Jimi's and one could easily mistake this for a different band. Up next we have 'Break Me Gently' which is probably the most ambient song on the album, beautiful acoustic guitars over distant vocals make it sound like somebody playing and singing in the wind. Truly exceptional.
The fourth track 'Seasong' is like a more upbeat version of the last track. Again dominated by acoustic guitars, ...
seanjkeating 18.01.2006
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lost Souls - Doves
Advantages: Great mix of interesting sounds Disadvantages: Peters out a bit towards the end
...question "Why should you buy Lost Souls?" I will ask "Why shouldn't you buy it?". Hopefully it's clear that I adore this album and would always recommend it to anyone, but I think the negatives would be useful to you the reader. Probably the worst thing about the album is that it tails off a little in terms of mood towards the end and this can be easily mistaken for a drop in quality. What it actually means is that you'll have to put a bit more effort ... ...be worth playing the last few tracks of the album before you play the first. As such it's more an issue of structure than quality. Pertaining to that, taste is the biggest factor in terms of whether you think the album should be upbeat-downbeat or downbeat-upbeat. The only other thing that I could point out as a drawback is that it wouldn't make as good a bridge into the light rock genre to a person of my previous musical persuasion as The Last Broadcast ...
crutchley_am 20.10.2005
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Lost Souls - Doves
Originality
Lyrics
Quality and consistency...
How does it compare to ...
Value for Money
Similar reviews »
Reviews which might be of interest for "Lost Souls - Doves"
Advantages: excellent, melodic and fresh Disadvantages: a few off-notes, but hardly worth complaining about.
I dedicate this review to TheDuke because I know exactly how much he loves Doves. :P
Listening to The Last Broadcast for, oh, the nth time, I never fail to notice just how damn good it is.
Unusual for a second album, this 2003 follow-up to Doves?s debut, LostSouls, is even better than its predecessor, despite their most breathtaking creation to date, The Cedar Room, nestling smugly on LostSouls.
I?ve tried to describe Doves to a cousin in New York who?d never heard a note before. What I came up with was unutterably clumsy, but, I think, accurate. Take a pinch of arrogant Mancunian indie-kid a la Oasis (a comparison aided by Doves brotherly backbone, Jez and Andy Williams), throw in a bit of shoegazing melancholia a la Thousand Yard Stare (provided by drawling frontman Jimi Goodwin, who first joined forces with the Williams ...
Advantages: Elbow Bending Over Backwards And Succeeding To Make Misery Sound Cool. Disadvantages: The Effort Required To Tame This Magnificent Album.
Never have I battled so hard to get to grips with an album. The Elbow experience is like when you watch a film and you know deep down it is quality but if you're honest with yourself you are clueless as to what's going on. Sooner or later, though, something happens and it all makes perfect sense.
'Asleep In The Back' has been compared to Doves masterpiece of last year 'LostSouls'. I must say 'LostSouls' stole my affections a lot quicker than this, Elbow's debut. It will likely hold them for just as long though because it is imaginative music beyond your wildest dreams.
The Any Day Now' single was released a couple of months ago and it left little or no impression on me. It just seemed too lifeless and dull to warrant attention. Put alongside the other tunes on 'Asleep In The Back' it really does blossom however. I had ...
Advantages: A wonderful mix of music Disadvantages: You can't fault near perfection
surprising since he has worked with Doves, who also produced one of the albums of last year in 'LostSouls'. There is even a dance suggestion with the interstingly titled 'Body Rap' a harder, more loud short experimental tune.
At the half way stage the album appears to be merley outstanding. But it gets better from here. A series of 3 minute warblers which compose jazz, funk, brass and many other eclectic sounds are followed by the hilarioiusly titled 'Pissing in the Wind', a country sounding warbler with an infectious chorus. Then comes the highlight of the album 'Disulllison'- look out for the video, which sees Gough imitiating a New York style taxi- genius! As an excellent ending to an excellent album comes 'Epilogue', a slow, reflective song which epitomises the beauty of the whole album.
No prizes for guessing, I am in love with this ...
Doves: Jimi Goodwin (vocals, acoustic guitar, samples); Jez Williams (acoustic & electric guitars, programming, backgrounnd vocals); Andy Williams (harmonica, drums, samples, background vocals). Additional personnel: Kate Evans, Jane Coyle, Barbara Grunthal, Wendy Edison (strings); Stuart Warburton (harmonica); Richard Wheatley (piano, Fender Rhodes piano); Martin Rebelski (piano).
Album Reviews
Q (1/01, p.90) - Included in Q's "50 Best Albums of 2000" - "...Heavy, sombre and lugubrious, it makes for seriously claustrophobic listening, until it takes a great gulp of euphoria..." NME (12/30/00, p.77) - Ranked #8 in NME's "Top 50 Albums Of The Year". NME (4/1/00, p.34) - 9 out of 10 - "...A serious and intense record....the first great album to come from Manchester since DEFINITELY MAYBE....they make being sad after drugs sound great." Magnet (1-2/01, p.87) - "...The group tries outdated post-disco...flange-smothered art pop...piano-key-mashing Britpop blues, Bragg-ish Labour folk and Ecstasy-riddled comedown drone with high-drama production..." CMJ (12/00, p.54) - "...The earthy instrumental elements and complex, layered arrangements in aching epics...provide the winning shots....balancing the heady, psychedelic leanings with a couple sublime and somewhat stripped-down guitar-driven numbers..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Firesuite
2.
Here It Comes
3.
Break Me Gently
4.
Sea Song
5.
Rise
6.
Lost Souls
7.
Melody Calls
8.
Catch The Sun
9.
Man Who Told Everything
10.
Cedar Room
11.
Reprise
12.
House
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
02/08/2000
Compare Lost Souls - Doves to other similar Rock & Pop »
![River Is Wide, The [Remastered] - Forum (The)](http://imagesb.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/251/prod_small-6006251.jpg)
![All The Lost Souls [ECD] - James Blunt](http://imagesa.ciao.com/iuk/images/products/small/282/All_The_Lost_Souls_James_Blunt__6707282.jpg)
