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Recorded: 1999-2000. Released April 2003.
Musicians: Spencer Gibb (lead vocals,
guitars); Stewart Cochran (backing vocals,
Wurlitzer, organ, and JX-3P); Glenn McGregor (backing vocals, bass); JJ Johnson
(backing vocals, drums, percussion).
Guest Musicians: Brian Standefer
(cello on Plastic Love), Sarah
Nelson [Tosca] (cello on Nothing but a Child).
Produced by 54 Seconds.
Re-mastered by Luis
Guerrero.
Features: "Waiting Around" is a brand new song, and
"Plastic Love" is the rare original demo. "Jaded"
appeared as a hidden track on Promo 2,
and "Nashville" was on the alternate (mp3.com) version of EP.
"It Got You Thinking", and "Strange Day", both
appeared on Promo, and are alternate
versions to the EP release.
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Tracks:
Click songs for lyrics.
* alternate versions from the "ep"
album
** featuring Brian Standefer on cello.
Liner Notes:
"This CD is "a blending of the original "Promo" and
"Promo 2" discs, remastered with some additional
songs from the same sessions. All of these songs were recorded as demos and promotional material
intended for the "record industry". Using an 8-track machine, these recordings were made at
Spencer's house and our old rehearsal space between 1999 and 2000. - 54"
MP3s:
* World Stood Still
(radio edit) @ Loud
Energy.
* More samples at the CD
Baby
website.
Buy It: @
CD Baby
More Reviews:
* by Heather
Howe
MORE LYRICS...
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My Review: Firstly,
a bit of background:
This is the band's second official album
release. The other promotional discs being Promo
and Promo 2, both of which I own. Secondly,
the obvious pluses being;
[1] Finally we get all these wonderful songs on one CD!!
[2] The re-mastering has beautifully enhanced, already addictive
material, leaving you feeling completely content.
[3] The track order is excellent, with each song flowing nicely into the next
- although I do have to admit to jumping straight to Plastic Love when my copy
arrived! :o)
When comparing the previous releases to the new re-mixes for both It Got
You Thinking, and Strange Day, I found they are are noticeably
smoother, and fuller! (as a side note, Strange Day is probably the most
inspiring song written to date, and I am reminded of this each time I hear
it). For me, there was only 2 songs out of the 10, that I had not previously
heard. If there was ever a song to buy an entire album for, it would be Waiting
Around. The arrangement is
impressive to say the very least! The atmosphere that is created in the
introduction alone, is other-worldly! Silky slide guitar accompanied by
intervals of slow caressing guitar strums, and chucky steel-city percussion highlighting
the verse. The barely-there bass peaks more during the chorus, where the
injection of the spookiest (and dare I say, most seductive) Theremin
arrangement is most prominent. Smooth harmonies sneak in during the chorus,
but are more evident during the beautiful bridge. The song ends quiet suddenly
actually. No more waiting around I guess! Stewart says, "we only recently rediscovered that one in the vaults and it
was too good a song to remain silent. It was rarely performed live, but that will change."
Having become totally addicted to the live
performance of Plastic Love, I have to admit to being more than a
little nervous when I first heard the MP3
sample on CD Baby.
The live takes are more psychedelic, where as this original demo recording is
much more moody, with a very different vocal melody. That said, it is dripping
in breathtaking harmonies, and floating melodies from all involved, and
I wasn't at all disappointed upon hearing this recording. I must add of
course, rave reviews for Brian Standefer on captivating cello, which
highlights Spencer's personal vocals. [continued below]
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Other notable mentions include the
absolutely gorgeous songs; Skin, Poppyseed, and Nothing
but a Child. I have said before what an amazing song World
Stood Still is, as is this version of Jaded, and if you
have never heard Nashville, then you are missing out on
something sweetly sinister!!
Overall, the clarity and balance of every re-mixed track on here,
merely adds extra sparkle to already slick performances from every musician
on board. Finally, I can't help but feel nostalgic when listening to
this album, as kicking away on each track is JJ
Johnson. He's quite lucky really, that I'm not a vengeance demon -
I miss him that much!!
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[Discography
Index] [ EP (1998) ] [ Promography (2003) ] [ Coma (due 2003) ] [ Promo (1999) ] [ Promo 2 (2001) ] [ Jez Spencer (2001) ] [ Memoirs from the Superficially Happy ] [ Live at the Speakeasy ]
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