The Flood and The Mercy - reviews Options

[sellingthdrama]

I admit I only listened to the 30-second Amazon clips a handful of previews around the web, but I was pleasantly surprised. This is as close to "old Ed" as I've heard in a long time. But like others have said, you can see the evolution. I think (judging only from the samples, admittedly), this ranks above Alive and SFBM. I never thought I'd buy an Ed album (Alive sounded awful to me), but I'm reconsidering.

If he can continue to express that... whatever it is that got me hooked on Live in the first place - if it can come through in his newer songs, I'm completely in. That was the difference in what I heard from TFATM - there was more of that - whatever it is.

but I just don't think he's going to win me, and others like me, over until he slows down and stops churning out cookie cutter songs with the exact same formulaic structure over and over and over again. I think he can dig deeper on the music, be more creative and can certainly do better lyrically. I'm not a Christian, and I get that Christian lyrics are likely never going to appeal to me, but there are Christian artist that sing about their faith without it being so, for like of a better word, corny.

I think you nailed it. I think this is a good step, but we all know he can go deeper than that and get off the formulaic thing he's been doing. But - this was a step away from it; it was a bit different. I'm looking forward to seeing what's next.

This album is the best thing Ed has come out with since the split. The falsetto is gone, he's started to reach beyond the same stupid pop patterns (love the 8+ minute long song), and frankly, some of these songs sound like they could be old Live

Yes, I said it. Sounds like old live. I'm not talking SS or before, but Cornerstone easily fits on V and the lyrics are better.

Yeah, I thought so too - and I never thought I'd agree - but it had shades of old Live. Thank GOD the falsetto is gone. Thank GOD. If the difference between this and Alive is the direction he's going in, I'm looking forward to what's next.

[Liveman94]

It's been a long time since I last posted something on here.
. . . Anyway

and if your not keen on the album cover like me.
I changed it up a bit with a color version.

Thats epic, i like it more then the version he went with.

I enjoyed the even handed review i must say i really enjoy seven though lyrically and melodically its a high point for Ed as far as writing is concerned. I think.

But the production let it down too many effects and noises - he shouldve just let the song talk..

I am waiting for australia release b4 i review but seriously how many of us would ever imagine at SFBM we would NOT like Ed screaming in a song?

The fact that he is pushing angry vocals again alone signals vast improvement to me.

[SinfulEyes]

Thank GOD the falsetto is gone. Thank GOD. If the difference between this and Alive is the direction he's going in, I'm looking forward to what's next.

I dunno dude. To some (okay, just SJN1279) the falsetto has been the best aspect of Ed's vocals since V came out. /s

This post has been edited by SinfulEyes: Sep 16 2013, 9:36 pm

[Bremang]

after listening to it a bunch i like every track on the album...which is a huge surprise to me considering how I can't even listen to Alive except for Zion. people are hating on take me back, i think its good, especially the bridge at the end of the song "its all in you, its all in meee ee eee eee ee ee ee" "now we've got to dig!" nice stuff. Production is smooth throughout the whole album.

[mfitz804]

Just got my copy today. I have to say, I am really enjoying it. I would agree that it is far better than Alive was.

I have loved Ed's voice since 1993 or 1994 so basically anything he puts out I would give a listen to. Sometimes its a swing and a miss, I do NOT think The Flood and The Mercy is that.

I still think the cover art is questionable. Between Alive (aka "Poop in the Yard") and now this one, he should hire someone to consult on that.

[Live4Life]

Just got my copy today. I have to say, I am really enjoying it. I would agree that it is far better than Alive was.

I have loved Ed's voice since 1993 or 1994 so basically anything he puts out I would give a listen to. Sometimes its a swing and a miss, I do NOT think The Flood and The Mercy is that.

I still think the cover art is questionable. Between Alive (aka "Poop in the Yard") and now this one, he should hire someone to consult on that.

I think it's magnificent. The photographer caught that image so perfect. Dumped the water on him from behind and yet it didn't touch his face. That's fast shutterspeed. Perfect shot. I love it.

"" 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.”"

This post has been edited by Live4Life: Sep 19 2013, 6:47 pm

[Bremang]

I still think the cover art is questionable. Between Alive (aka "Poop in the Yard") and now this one, he should hire someone to consult on that.

I'm thinking next album he should poop in the yard with water splashed perfectly on him.

[Live4Life]

I'm thinking next album he should poop in the yard with water splashed perfectly on him.

Me too. And they should show the poop like running in a stream....a river of poo.

[mfitz804]

I think it's magnificent. The photographer caught that image so perfect. Dumped the water on him from behind and yet it didn't touch his face. That's fast shutterspeed. Perfect shot. I love it.

"" 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.”"

Yeah, or its yet another water reference.

[mattyeagles]

Yeah, or its yet another water reference.

ha yeah, i think the cover is lame....I like album covers without the actual picture of the artist, kind of corny otherwise...doesn't really matter though because the CD is really good, I am liking it more and more

[Live4Life]

I like the cover. His water refences are never lame to me. They are his metaphors therefore they mean something different to everyone. A lot of artists have them and there's nothing wrong with that at all. I like covers that have the actual artist on them as well.

[mfitz804]

I like the cover. His water refences are never lame to me. They are his metaphors therefore they mean something different to everyone. A lot of artists have them and there's nothing wrong with that at all. I like covers that have the actual artist on them as well.

Yeah but Ed has a LOT of water references.

I should add that unlike most, I don't use that as a criticism of his recent (last 4-5 years, or post TDTH, or whatever you think the bad stuff started, people have different views) work. The water references have been present from the beginning.

This post has been edited by mfitz804: Sep 20 2013, 3:57 pm

[Live4Life]

Yeah but Ed has a LOT of water references.

Well, he has A LOT of metaphors. LOL!

Many many many from the beginning.

This post has been edited by Live4Life: Sep 20 2013, 4:48 pm

[Hoodstock]

I can understand how some may like the album more than others. I can see how some might like songs that I don't.

But for the life of me I can't see how people think this album was not a huge disappointment.

Ed wrote Throwing Copper, Secret Samadhi, The Distance To Here. The Flood And The Mercy is like shit on the bottom of his shoe compared to what he has done and what he is capable of doing. There is no way anyone can listen to it from start to finish and say they enjoyed every bit of this album.

Maybe everyone's standards around were crushed when Alive came out, but that's the standard that Ed set. This album doesn't even belong on the same iPod as those.

TFATM has a few decent moments. There are a few songs that I can listen to that would serve as album filler on other albums. But as a whole it's bad.

As bad as Alive was, Alive had more listenable songs - and The Garden (minus I'm The Proof and the remixes that weren't done by Ed) was better period.

This post has been edited by Hoodstock: Sep 21 2013, 3:15 pm

[Bremang]

I can understand how some may like the album more than others. I can see how some might like songs that I don't.

But for the life of me I can't see how people think this album was not a huge disappointment.

Ed wrote Throwing Copper, Secret Samadhi, The Distance To Here. The Flood And The Mercy is like shit on the bottom of his shoe compared to what he has done and what he is capable of doing. There is no way anyone can listen to it from start to finish and say they enjoyed every bit of this album.

Maybe everyone's standards around were crushed when Alive came out, but that's the standard that Ed set. This album doesn't even belong on the same iPod as those.

TFATM has a few decent moments. There are a few songs that I can listen to that would serve as album filler on other albums. But as a whole it's bad.

As bad as Alive was, Alive had more listenable songs - and The Garden (minus I'm The Proof and the remixes that weren't done by Ed) was better period.

I don't think he is capable of writing songs as good as his work in the 90's. He doesn't have the vocal strength, or the inclination. I think this album was a good effort on his part. As you said, post 2000 the songwriting got worse, so our expectations were managed leading up to this album. It's amazing that you like Alive more than TFATM!