Ed Kowalczyk - The Flood and The Mercy, Ed's 2nd solo album due Fall 2013 Options

[Soxwsc]

Holy Water Tears sounds promising too. First time I listened to it I was thinking WTF is this.. but now I can't get it out of my head. The way he sings, the way it flows, to me it sounds effortless while not coming across as lazy. It actually works and actually sounds good.. something I haven't been able to say about Ed's work since BOP.

[mattyeagles]

Holy Water Tears sounds promising too. First time I listened to it I was thinking WTF is this.. but now I can't get it out of my head. The way he sings, the way it flows, to me it sounds effortless while not coming across as lazy. It actually works and actually sounds good.. something I haven't been able to say about Ed's work since BOP.

Def agreed...favorite one so far

[dangum]

I just placed an order for the 2 CD and Vinyl versions of "The Flood and The Mercy". According to Amazon UK they will arrive in Australia between September 18 - 23, 2013.

[dangum]

According to Ed, the release date for his new album in Australia is September 27, 2013

[SJN1279]

Radio edit of Seven:

http://www.directcurrentmusic.com/the-dail...czyk-seven.html

[dangum]

Thanks Nick. I've uploaded the radio edit here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?b2nvwd885zhdp97

[mfitz804]

I pre-ordered the UK version. $21.02 US shipped to me. I figure the few extra bucks gets me the goods over a month early, that's worth it to me.

[Crossed]

Thanks Nick. I've uploaded the radio edit here:
http://www.mediafire.com/?b2nvwd885zhdp97

Thanks for the upload!

I like this radio edit, the verses are louder and the whole thing seems closer to the acoustic version. The album version is my favourite though, I think it has more emotion and sounds darker. The heavier chorus gives it a sense of sadness & despair.

[Crossed]

Holy Water Tears sounds promising too. First time I listened to it I was thinking WTF is this.. but now I can't get it out of my head. The way he sings, the way it flows, to me it sounds effortless while not coming across as lazy. It actually works and actually sounds good.. something I haven't been able to say about Ed's work since BOP.

Dude!! I feel the same way. The chorus has a nice flow, I think it's the small breaks between words. I can't wait to hear the full version, that female signer compliments Ed's voice nicely.

[SJN1279]

Ed Kowalczyk is going to do an early CD signing and mini-concert in Holland on September 5, 2013. Info below:
http://www.entertainmentbusiness.nl/nieuws...czyk-fame-plaza

[dangum]

Ed has posted a couple of photos of the vinyl release:


link


link

[dangum]

Ed Kowalczyk Readies The Flood And The Mercy Release Date October 29, 2013

New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Missing Piece Group) "The image is just really striking and dense with movement and possible interpretations. The picture 'feels' like the album feels to me - intense and cathartic, with elements of surprise and songs that speak to new beginnings," explains ED KOWALCZYK of the cover of his new album The Flood and the Mercy (Soul Whisper/Harbour/Caroline Records; release date: October 29, 2013). A striking image by photographer Douglas Sonders of the explosive moment that a big splash of water hits Kowalczyk from behind, it's the perfect symbol for this album - immersive and engulfing, fully drenched in emotion and musicianship. "The Flood and the Mercy is really about the fact that life can go through these dramatic periods of movement, maybe even suffering, while simultaneously revealing great truths about yourself and even strength that you never knew you possessed."

Kicking off with the rock scorcher "The One", it's apparent that Kowalczyk's second solo album is one packed with vitality, strength and power. Lyrically dense and layered, mirroring perfectly the musical textures that he explores in depth, The Flood and the Mercy is a progression toward the music he's been striving to write. "I definitely feel as if I've moved forward in a major way in terms of my songwriting and singing on this record," he says. Accompanying him on this album are influential friends, singer/songwriter Rachael Yamagata and R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. "I'm really blessed to have Peter and Rachael on this album. It definitely feels serendipitous to have this caliber of guest musicians at this pivotal moment for me as a relatively new solo artist," he explains. "'Holy Water Tears' with Rachael singing on it is such a special moment for me in my career. It doesn't feel like a 'duet' to me. There is more of a union of voices and personas than a typical duet. The first time I heard it, I fell into a musical and artistic swoon. It's a deep song. Peter Buck's performances on the record are so Zen and effortless and singular. He's just an absolute genius."

The first single "Seven" is a perfect example of the depths that Kowalczyk plumbs for his songs. "There is a book by an anonymous writer from the 14th Century called the The Cloud of Unknowing. It's always been a go-to for me over the years for its profoundly moving description of the process of releasing or surrendering everything for Truth," he says of the song's origin. "'Seven' is my reply to it in a way, or an extension of my understanding of it at this point. Life is a road with all kinds of unexpected turns and surprises and sometimes, no matter how strong you think you are, you get crushed and can't find the light. Light breaks down into seven primary colors when viewed through a prism. In a way, life in all of its ups and downs, losses and victories, is just that pure Light that we truly are, but seen refracted by the 'prism' of this personal lifetime and experience."

Already making headway onto the radio, "Seven" has been generating steam with early adds on stations across the country. Among those who added the song right out of the box are Boston's WXRV, Norfolk, VA's WHRV, Knoxville, TN's WFIV, Park Hills, MO's KDBB and Monmouth, NJ's WBJB.

http://top40-charts.com/news.php?nid=93396

[dangum]

The album cover wasn't photoshopped. According to the photographer Douglas Sonders water was actually dumped on Ed.

link

[Badman]

I am shocked - a few of those tracks actually sound like rock songs! I don't really care for most of what I hear right now but these tracks sound like they have potential:

Parasite
Take Me Back
Supernatural Fire

These songs actually sound different from what he did on Alive or The Garden. It really depends on the lyrics and the complete version of the songs.

I'll also throw out a consideration for Watchman's Lament, it could have some potential as a decent song too.

Couldn't agree more about this whole post. I laughed when anyone called Drive a rock song, but it seems Ed is onto something with these songs. I was completely fed up with Ed's happy christian singsong falsetto crap. I am glad it's going away.

Additionally, I am surprised he didn't write a song dedicated to his kid or something.

[mfitz804]

My pre-order has shipped.