EGYPT STATION
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Nancy R wrote:
Mr. Spock! Haven’t seen you on here in forever!
Live long and prosper.
You ever hear from Audi?If so, say hi to him for me.
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One of the great things about Australia.... we are one of the first to get the new releases. A time thing.
I have had the album on high rotation for two-three days. It is growing, and growing, and growing. With every listen.
Dominoes... that song had me at 'hello'.
So many great songs, sounds. Not all perfect, but geez, it is (in the words of Larry David) 'pretty, pretty good'.
A couple of the songs that were released as 'singles', which I thought were a bit 'average' sit perfectly on the album, perfectly in their place. I've completely warmed to them. Particularly the opener 'I Don't Know'. And, yes, 'Fuh You'. It's a fine album track.
I need to continue to revisit every station before I can fully evaluate. But it's been some journey. One of Paul's more unique albums. I'm still working it out. But, I am completely enjoying it. The songs continue to grow on me.
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Yankeefan2 wrote:
Nancy R wrote:
Mr. Spock! Haven’t seen you on here in forever!
Live long and prosper.
You ever hear from Audi?If so, say hi to him for me.
Yes, just yesterday on FB! (He’s back!) Will do.
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So, I did a crazy thing last night. My order from Paul's site just shipped, meaning it won't arrive till next week, so I went to Amoeba Records in San Francisco and bought a copy. So next week I'll have an extra copy to give away, lol, but I couldn't stand the wait.
I've only listened once and opinions are far from settled. It will take several more spins at least. But on almost every Paul album there's been a song or two that just grabbed me the first time I heard them -- Somedays, Mr. Bellamy, New -- and nothing here did that. I Don't Know has definitely grown on my after multiple listenings, so I suspect some others will too, but it's gonna take a while.
But oh dear, the state of Paul's voice is pretty sad these days. Yes, I know, he makes it work and sometimes it even adds to the impact of a particular song, but... sigh...
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Bruce M. wrote:
So, I did a crazy thing last night. My order from Paul's site just shipped, meaning it won't arrive till next week, so I went to Amoeba Records in San Francisco and bought a copy. So next week I'll have an extra copy to give away, lol, but I couldn't stand the wait.
I've only listened once and opinions are far from settled. It will take several more spins at least. But on almost every Paul album there's been a song or two that just grabbed me the first time I heard them -- Somedays, Mr. Bellamy, New -- and nothing here did that. I Don't Know has definitely grown on my after multiple listenings, so I suspect some others will too, but it's gonna take a while.
But oh dear, the state of Paul's voice is pretty sad these days. Yes, I know, he makes it work and sometimes it even adds to the impact of a particular song, but... sigh...
I know, it’s sad for me too. His voice up to even 2002 was spectacular. It has been difficult to see its decline. I still think he sounds good on Fuh You and Come On To Me. (My CD arrives today and I have stayed away from listening online)
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By the way, FWIW, ES is currently no. 1 on the Amazon CD/vinyl sales chart and no. 5 on digital albums. I doubt he'll overcome Eminem, but seems to have a good chance at a no. 2 debut.
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Just spent the last 58 minutes alone with my thoughts and Egypt Station. A nice hour run, not a soul in sight. Just me and Paul. This album continues to dazzle me; even the songs that I don't love (Back In Brazil, People Want Peace, Confidante) sound beautiful and the production is amazing. Not once did I notice a problem with Paul's voice; it was strong, tender, reflective, and sweet. A voice that can sing "Caesar Rock" and "Hand in Hand" is quite honestly, amazing. Yes, I'm a rocker, but absolutely love "Happy With You". One reviewer compared Egypt Station to my all time favorite album, RAM. You know, he might be on to something!
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Nancy R wrote:
Bruce M. wrote:
So, I did a crazy thing last night. My order from Paul's site just shipped, meaning it won't arrive till next week, so I went to Amoeba Records in San Francisco and bought a copy. So next week I'll have an extra copy to give away, lol, but I couldn't stand the wait.
I've only listened once and opinions are far from settled. It will take several more spins at least. But on almost every Paul album there's been a song or two that just grabbed me the first time I heard them -- Somedays, Mr. Bellamy, New -- and nothing here did that. I Don't Know has definitely grown on my after multiple listenings, so I suspect some others will too, but it's gonna take a while.
But oh dear, the state of Paul's voice is pretty sad these days. Yes, I know, he makes it work and sometimes it even adds to the impact of a particular song, but... sigh...
I know, it’s sad for me too. His voice up to even 2002 was spectacular. It has been difficult to see its decline. I still think he sounds good on Fuh You and Come On To Me. (My CD arrives today and I have stayed away from listening online)
With all the digital magic that can be done in the studio I don't understand why he doesn't fix his voice up for these albums. He sounds great on a few of the tracks, but it's the slow ballads where it's most noticeable.
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toris wrote:
One of the great things about Australia.... we are one of the first to get the new releases. A time thing.
I have had the album on high rotation for two-three days. It is growing, and growing, and growing. With every listen.
Dominoes... that song had me at 'hello'.
So many great songs, sounds. Not all perfect, but geez, it is (in the words of Larry David) 'pretty, pretty good'.
A couple of the songs that were released as 'singles', which I thought were a bit 'average' sit perfectly on the album, perfectly in their place. I've completely warmed to them. Particularly the opener 'I Don't Know'. And, yes, 'Fuh You'. It's a fine album track.
I need to continue to revisit every station before I can fully evaluate. But it's been some journey. One of Paul's more unique albums. I'm still working it out. But, I am completely enjoying it. The songs continue to grow on me.
It's amazinghow they grow on you & become earworms.
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Well.... I’ve listened non stop to the entire album and will continue into tomorrow. I’ve completely enjoyed the first three pre-released singles.
I wanted to wait until I’ve had at least a week with the album to make any public commentary. But I’ll just come out and say it..... LOVE LOVE LOVE it.
so far I Don’t Know, Fuh You and Dominoes just rise to the absolute top. just crazy and amazing how well he did here.
more commentary to come, Quebec City next week... just a great great time to be a Macca fan. couldn’t be more pleased.
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Gave it a second spin and a few tunes are growing on me, especially Dominoes and Who Cares. The jury's still out on People Want Peace and Despite Repeated Warnings, plus a few others, but I suspect I'll mostly end up liking it. On this album Paul sounds like he's got something on his mind, which I like and which hasn't always been the case (although it's been more the case the last 20 years or so.
I'm glad there are people who manage not to be bothered by the state of Paul's voice. To me, his singing is now the equivalent of Muhammad Ali's boxing the last 5 ofrso years of his career. His speed, agility and strength were mostly gone, but he got by -- and even won some important fights -- with strategy and skill. Paul's basically doing the same thing, working around his vocal limitations when he can, using them for effect when he must. But it's really hard for me to listen to a song like Confidante and not wish he'd sung it years ago.
Interestingly, I don't find myself wishing I could hear this album sung with Paul's crystalline voice of 1970 or so. What I find myself longing for is to hear it sung with his Flaming Pie-era voice -- older and a bit weathered, but still capable of great beauty when the occasion demanded. Sigh...
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Meanwhile, Billboard's review is out. Read it here.
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Nothing for Free is really sticking with me. I think it should have replaced Do It Now.
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My CD finally arrived around 6 pm (our mail comes super late) and I listened to half of it. I like Happy With You and Who Cares. Always liked Come On To Me and Fuh You. I need a magnifying glass to read the lyrics though!
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Nancy R wrote:
My CD finally arrived around 6 pm (our mail comes super late) and I listened to half of it. I like Happy With You and Who Cares. Always liked Come On To Me and Fuh You. I need a magnifying glass to read the lyrics though!
I need a magnifying glass to read the damned song names on the back of the "limited edition" concertina CD that I got from Amazon. Did you get a CD with a red strechy band around it under the shrink wrap? Bit of a cool feature. The opening piano is SOOOOO beautiful.
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Erik in NJ wrote:
Nancy R wrote:
My CD finally arrived around 6 pm (our mail comes super late) and I listened to half of it. I like Happy With You and Who Cares. Always liked Come On To Me and Fuh You. I need a magnifying glass to read the lyrics though!
I need a magnifying glass to read the damned song names on the back of the "limited edition" concertina CD that I got from Amazon. Did you get a CD with a red strechy band around it under the shrink wrap? Bit of a cool feature. The opening piano is SOOOOO beautiful.
Yes, only my band is green! Agree about the opening piano!
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OK in the first song "I Dont Know" when he sings "so what's the matter with me" at around 2:11 it sounds just like Donald Fagen of Steely Dan. Anyone notice this? Am I finally insane? Is Fagen a part of this track? Back in Brazil also has an unmistakably Steely Dan feel to parts of it. Anyone one? Please comment on this.
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Nancy R wrote:
Erik in NJ wrote:
Nancy R wrote:
My CD finally arrived around 6 pm (our mail comes super late) and I listened to half of it. I like Happy With You and Who Cares. Always liked Come On To Me and Fuh You. I need a magnifying glass to read the lyrics though!
I need a magnifying glass to read the damned song names on the back of the "limited edition" concertina CD that I got from Amazon. Did you get a CD with a red strechy band around it under the shrink wrap? Bit of a cool feature. The opening piano is SOOOOO beautiful.
Yes, only my band is green! Agree about the opening piano!
OK now I gotta get a green band one too! Where did you order from?
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Erik in NJ wrote:
OK in the first song "I Dont Know" when he sings "so what's the matter with me" at around 2:11 it sounds just like Donald Fagen of Steely Dan.
I don't know about Steely Dan but the piano parts of 'I Don't Know' reminds me a lot of the intro to Stina Nordenstam's 'Parliament Square'. I'm certainly enjoying IDK a lot more on the album than I did as a 'single' but maybe that's because I'm hearing it through half-decent speakers on my hi-fi.
This is 'Parliament Square' for anyone who wishes to make a comparison. Maybe I have an overactive imagination?
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I am obssesed with the bonus track "Nothing For Free" from the Target exclusive!!! Right now, it's my favorite song from the entire Egypt Station album.
This could be on the radio right now! It neeeds to be a #1 hit!!
Why why why couldn't this song be on the regular album and have been a single?!