Six Feet Under Vol.2 (Everything Ends) - Various Artists

...it is, My review of Six Feet Under: Everything Ends.......

To my utter disappointment, the packaging is boring. You might remember that the first CD had what I thought was innovative and exciting packaging; this CD is in a standard jewel case and has a lacklustre insert with the bare minimum of information. There are no extras here. It is possible (although nowhere did it tell me so) that I have purchased a US Import of CD one, but ...
...that this CD sounds like Six Feet Under, The Final Series: It was all to fast and too stylized. It seems to be aware of its need to be quirky and because of that it fails to be as original and eccentric as it might have been. It is a good album but it ain't great.The last seriesof SFU was just that. With the exception of the fantastic and tearjerking last episode the last series seemed bereft of its original wierdness and poignancy. This CD reflects ... more

I promised you all (the thousands of Ciao members who hang upon my every word....) this review as soon as I had received my album and had a few days to listen and inwardly digest! Well, Amazon got their act together and dispatched promptly, I've mused on the album's offerings for a suitable period, so here it is, My review of Six Feet Under: Everything Ends.......

To my utter disappointment, the packaging is boring. You might remember that the first CD had what I thought was innovative and exciting packaging; this CD is in a standard jewel case and has a lacklustre insert with the bare minimum of information. There are no extras here. It is possible (although nowhere did it tell me so) that I have purchased a US Import of CD one, but if so, why do the Americans get better stuff than we do? The second disc looks naff in comparison.

Off we go to the music....On first listen, the album seems more coherent than the first one. There is less of the eclectic feel and more of a themed sense to the choice of tracks. I feel that the album is self-consciously attempting to be as quirky as the first, but this interferes with the balance. There are a couple of "odd" tracks, a Latin American number and the rest is standard youth oriented fare. In all I think they have tried too hard to match the off-centre, off-beat texture of the previous album. It still works, just not that well.

On second and third listens I find that I am really enjoying the songs and the mix. It works well as background noise while I work. Then I find that I don't really want the album to do this.... It's okay for middle of the road Dido or James Blunt to warble on quietly while I think and type; I really don't care what THEY do. To me they 're just filler. I want this album to knock me out of my seat. I want it to reflect the brilliance of the final episode of the series. I want to be LISTENING to the music and engaging with it. Ah well.

Track listing:

1. Nina Simone "Feeling Good" You must know this one! It has everything: Nina Simone's booming, sensitive voice and some of the best lyrics ever! Its a real boost of a song. A great start to the album.

2. Jem "Amazing Life" this is an average, middle-of-the-road song. Ambient music. Wallpaper music. It's pleasant enough but that's about it. Soft female vocals and a nice drum beat. Some warbling. A little bit Dido -ish! Not really my thing but like I said, It's quite listenable.

3. Phoenix "Everything is Everything" This is better. It has a funky guitar riff and some great lyrics. Male vocals and excellent music breaks. It jumps out as one of the better tracks on the album, certainly after the somnolent quality of the previous track.

4. Coldplay "A Rush of Blood to The Head" Am I the only person in the country not to get the Coldplay thing?? I just find them whiney and limp. The sentiments are sometimes quite profound but (and particularly after this song) I am left feeling like I need a good bracing shower. The music seems to dribble over me like something gooey and unpleasant. Can't you just see why they named the kid Apple??!!

5. Sia "Breathe Me" This is brilliant. It is the best song on the album. I have nnever heard of her but I'm pretty certain that she is going to be HUGE! This is a song that needs maximum volume. The vocal is moving and emotional, Sia's voice cracks with the passion of longing. Yes, I know that sounds whiney and limp!! BUT, This song is intelligent and different. I am reminded of earlier Tori Amos and some Sarah McLachlan with a rockier edge. For those who watched the series, this is the song that played throughout the final scenes as Claire drives away to het New York future. Totally powerful!

6. Radiohead "Lucky" Who doesn't know of Radiohead? Well, I didn't until quite late in their career, but I love them. I'm sorry but this is notone of their better tracks. I find it haunting and sad, it certainly is reflective of SFU, but i just drags on. Slow male vocals and guitar, heavy on the bass, there's almost a Pink Floyd sound here. It's okay and that's the best I can say about it.

7. Irma Thomas "Time is on my Side" yes, you know it. This is an oldie and a goodie. SFU had a knack for leaping back a few years and pulling out a long-forgotten song and setting it against some apocalyptic moment in the series, subsequently reinvigorating the song. This one got that treatment. It's the kind of song that you can imagine dancing to late on at your mates wedding, with all your other mates doing the actions and pretending to be backing singers. A hairbrush Diva song. Fabulous.

8. Bebel Gilberto "Aganju: The LatinProject Remix Edit" This is okay. Lounge music. not enough latin beat for it to really catch my attention. It blends into the background like some oftheothers I mentioned. Good vocals but a bit too much ofthe "remix" sound. I would like to hear it in its original form.

9. Interpol "Direction" This is enjoyable, beginning with a good (if repetative) guitar riff and a tentative drum beat, it builds into something quite atmospheric. more guitars come in and the drum beat becomes more regular and insistent. Then everything fades out and back in. It's innovative and exciting. Then again, you might just find it tedious! depends on what you want out of a track. I like it. Especially when the strange vocals come in.

10. Caesars "Don't Fear the Reaper" We all know this one I'm fairly sure. It's excellent and I never tire of hearing it. Fantastic guitar playing and superb lyrics, a real beat driven song. Makes me want to trade in my battered acoustic and get wired up with something electric!!

11. Death Cab for Cutie "Transatlanticism" What? Who? It's unpronounceable. But it is actually really good. A piano led song, which is quite unusual unless you listen to Chris Martin. The male vocals are sublime. This is a sad, ballad type song but it's absolutely miles away from Coldplay. It has originality and flashes of brilliance. Why this group is not better known is beyond me. Based on this song I am looking for their albums and i intend to buy.

12. The Arcade Fire "Cold Wind" This song ranks up near the top in my "in order of greatness" list. It is kind of ballady but with a definate rock influence. The lyrics are good, not great but the tune is devine. Like a lot of the songs from SFU you know you have heard it somewhere but you don't know where. This is very much the case with this one. It is guitar and drum driven and is very evocative of desperation and determination in the face of probable oblivion.....

Secret track: I will tell you about his one because it was worth buying the CD for this tiny 55 second gem alone. This is Imogen Heap singing "I'm a Lonely little Petunia in an Onion Patch" and it is delightful. I wish it lasted for ages and ages. Her voice is something else.

So, that's the review. Like most music it's really difficult to tell people what something sounds like. I will tell you that this CD sounds like Six Feet Under, The Final Series: It was all to fast and too stylized. It seems to be aware of its need to be quirky and because of that it fails to be as original and eccentric as it might have been. It is a good album but it ain't great.The last seriesof SFU was just that. With the exception of the fantastic and tearjerking last episode the last series seemed bereft of its original wierdness and poignancy. This CD reflects that loss. So, that said, I can only recommend this album if you want to reflect on the series, hear a few good tracks, or if you really want to hear Imogen Heap!

It cost me £8.99 at Amazon

Cheers, Pippa x

 

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