The Flood and The Mercy - reviews Options

[dangum]

The album is now available in some European markets.

Please use this thread to post your review of the album.

[dancing queen]

I have been trying to listen to this cd objectively. Which is not easy considering some of Ed's douchebaggery of late (the "I'll turn my cheek after I break yours" comment on facebook was really awful, in particular). Anyway, besides the fact that Parasite is a really pathetically badly written song that I have to skip after one listen (unlike the rest of the cd which I have been listening to straight through), I haven't been lyric listening. I've been listening in the car (which has a sweet system) and on longish rides so I can hear the whole thing. Just listening without lyric listening, and my overall impression is:

Ed has mastered non-verbal vocals. (whistles, la la la's, la de da's, woooo's, ooooooohs, etc...)

I will listen through sometime next week and consider lyrics (besides Parasite, which, having heard once I never need to hear again because I wrote a similar angry letter to an x-friend in middle school and it brings back bad memories of awful poetry). Because I am a Christian, and I look forward to possibly some decent lyrics (I have been noticing some things, of course, and haven't been terribly turned off, but haven't been focusing on lyrics).

Anyway, overall, this is Ed's best work thus far. That said, the overuse of non-verbal vocals confirms in me the stated opinion of many around here that Ed takes his presence too seriously in the music. He oooohhhhs and aaaaahhhhss over the music. In other words (actually, word): EGO.

and too much of it.

that's what I've got so far. Ed as an arrogant solo musician.
man, I wish I wasn't just being cynical.

But I did say this sounds like his best solo work so far... (and I think it is, genuinely)

[Bremang]

I have been trying to listen to this cd objectively. Which is not easy considering some of Ed's douchebaggery of late (the "I'll turn my cheek after I break yours" comment on facebook was really awful, in particular). Anyway, besides the fact that Parasite is a really pathetically badly written song that I have to skip after one listen (unlike the rest of the cd which I have been listening to straight through), I haven't been lyric listening. I've been listening in the car (which has a sweet system) and on longish rides so I can hear the whole thing. Just listening without lyric listening, and my overall impression is:

Ed has mastered non-verbal vocals. (whistles, la la la's, la de da's, woooo's, ooooooohs, etc...)

I will listen through sometime next week and consider lyrics (besides Parasite, which, having heard once I never need to hear again because I wrote a similar angry letter to an x-friend in middle school and it brings back bad memories of awful poetry). Because I am a Christian, and I look forward to possibly some decent lyrics (I have been noticing some things, of course, and haven't been terribly turned off, but haven't been focusing on lyrics).

Anyway, overall, this is Ed's best work thus far. That said, the overuse of non-verbal vocals confirms in me the stated opinion of many around here that Ed takes his presence too seriously in the music. He oooohhhhs and aaaaahhhhss over the music. In other words (actually, word): EGO.

and too much of it.

that's what I've got so far. Ed as an arrogant solo musician.
man, I wish I wasn't just being cynical.

But I did say this sounds like his best solo work so far... (and I think it is, genuinely)

First Live song on the first album, MJ, track - Pain Lies on the Riverside, enter Ed.....Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

his ooo's and ahh's are nothing new, that ego argument is biased and silly. So any singer who makes non verbal vocals has an ego? That's just about every singer in history i guess.

What was Ed's comment about; "I'll turn my cheek after I break yours"?

This post has been edited by Bremang: Oct 1 2013, 10:01 pm

[PurdueSteve]

First Live song on the first album, MJ, track - Pain Lies on the Riverside, enter Ed.....Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
aaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

his ooo's and ahh's are nothing new, that ego argument is biased and silly. So any singer who makes non verbal vocals has an ego? That's just about every singer in history i guess.

What was Ed's comment about; "I'll turn my cheek after I break yours"?

The opening to PLOTR's non-verbals served a purpose, it was meant as a sort of tribal chant. Forgot what Ed called it, but he addressed it in an interview long long ago. Can't remember where. La da da da da, does not serve the same purpose nor does the amount of non-verbals contained within MJ come close to the non-verbals in TFATM

As for his comment, don't know where he said it or in what context, but it doesn't sound very Christian. Sounds to be exactly the opposite of one of the biggest Christian talking points of forgiveness.

[Bremang]

The opening to PLOTR's non-verbals served a purpose, it was meant as a sort of tribal chant.

oh please