Lungs

 

 

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I am pleased as ever with this vinyl. It has perfect playback, I received it quickly, I have absolutely no complaints.

When auditioning LUNGS by FLORENCE AMD THE MACHINE, one hears a fusion of the brilliant pop eccentricity associated with BJORK brushed with a minor vocal shadow of KATE BUSH and in certain moments CHRISSIE HYNDE and ANNIE LENNOX (as soloists).

This CD is musically influential for this decade as it creatively surpasses current low standards set by the music industry. Fans of Britney, Millie and other pop tarts are duly warned this will go above the grasp and knowledge that you have acquired for pop music.

LUNGS immediately landed at #2 on the UK charts upon its release and impressively remained at that position for five consecutive weeks.
Certain segments remain dark and ominous as witnessed by the lyrics on tracks GIRL WITH ONE EYE & the troubling KISS WITH A FIST that tackles the theme of abusive relationships yet melodically it remains sophistically inspiring and upbeat.

The intriguing musicianship crafting this CD constantly sways from Indie/Pop to Baroque/Folk.
The end result has listeners spellbound, addicted and truly wanting for more from this band.

Best tracks:

DOGS DAYS ARE OVER
RABBIT HEART
HURRICANE DRUNK
KISS WITH A FIST

and the remake of Candi Staton's hit;

YOU GOT THE LOVE

~~~~ One of the best releases in 2009!~~~~~

"Happiness hit her like a train on a track/Coming towards her stuck still no turning back/She hid around corners and she hid under beds/She killed it with kisses and from it she fled..."

Florence and the Machine is one of those little bands that seeps in under the pop radar, and becomes a sensation based on pure talent. And Florence Welch and Co. produce a solid debut, "Lungs," that blends delicate polished instrumentals and different genres -- there's little splatters of pop, punk and soul woven together, and cemented in place by Welch's lovely voice.

It kicks off with the plucked intro of "Dog Days Are Over," with Welch's sweet voice singing about "Happiness hit her like a bullet in the head/Struck from a great height by someone who should know better than that." While it starts off as soft, ethereal pop, the melody is swathed in eruptions of orchestral pop-rock -- it gets loud'n'catchy, with Welch yelling, "The doooog days are OVER-ER/the dooooog days are ALL DONE!"

She continues the high note with "Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)," a scintillatingly colorful melody that sounds like a thunderstorm in a flower garden. After that she unleashes a bunch of other great songs: the soulful "I'm Not Calling You A Liar," the urgent piano-pop of "Howl," the wandering twangy "Girl With One Eye," the bouncy wistful "Between Two Lungs," and the sweetly macabre "My Boy Builds Coffins." An especially fun one is "Kiss With A Fist," a blazing punky tune that celebrates rough'n'passionate relationships ("You hit me once, I hit you back/you gave a kick, I gave a slap/you crashed a plate over my head/and I set fire to our bed!").

But Welch and her revolving-door band really shine when the music overflows into a steady river of fiery rock'n'roll, wrapped in twisting gossamer synth and soaring rich vocals. "Howl," the hymnlike "Drumming" and the bleak "Hurricane Drunk" all fit into this category -- and these are absolutely stunning songs, if not as immediately accessible as the catchier tunes.

Florence and the Machine has a pretty unique sound -- there's a lot of punky rock'n'roll, a spattering of pop's catchiness, and some jazzy overtones woven into a few of the songs. As debut albums go, this is a pretty spectacular one, with a distinctive flavour that sounds like little else in modern music -- the closest comparison that comes to mind would be if Joanna Newsom formed a punk-rock band and went for pop stardom.

In particular, Welch has a very pretty voice -- it's a little wavery and girlish, but she sculpts it into a flickering, roaring presence in the louder songs. And she has a knack for dark, evocative lyrics ("Louder than sirens, louder than bells/sweeter than heaven and hotter than hell!") with a quirky edge ("He's made [a coffin] for himself/One for me too/One of these days he'll make one for you"). There are a few lines that need some smoothing out, but not badly enough to distract.

And the instrumentation from The Machine is a gorgeous accompaniment -- lots of rich, swirling instrumentals and straight-ahead rock'n'roll, usually depending on Robert Ackroyd's strong electric guitar and Christopher Lloyd Hayden's solid drumming. Isabella Summers wraps the album in gossamer-soft synth, and Tom Monger adds to the ethereal edge with a harp -- it also helps give it a more classical sound, rather than straight rock-pop.

Florence and the Machine's debut "Lungs" really shows why this band has been getting so much attention across the pond -- it's passionate, eclectic and a lovely piece of work. And it sounds like they'll only get better.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Florence + the Machine, enough said.
If you've heard any of Florence + the Machine songs, it's hard to not hear more, which makes this a must to buy. Lisez davantage

Published 5 months ago by shezzypants

5.0 out of 5 stars Fab CD
Great CD filled with angst ridden lyrics. CD arrived well before estimated delivery date. Ordering from Italy can be a pain, but sellers like this make the transaction livable.

Published 7 months ago by Jennifer Andres

5.0 out of 5 stars She's got pipes and harps
This is an amazing album all round. Enchanting lyrics, sounds, beats and a modern vibe grounded in a classical sense of the world.

Published 9 months ago by kaloy

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous experimental pop
I bought this album after listening to one song, and it was love, love, love! Florence's lovely voice blends artfully with the intricate and often delirious musical arrangements... Lisez davantage

Published 10 months ago by G. Larouche

5.0 out of 5 stars Raise Up Your Mood with this Collection
This is a very beautiful and unique music collection by a one of a kind singer. Like many reviewing this collection, I was taken in by her song "Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)". Lisez davantage

Published 17 months ago by Stella Carrier

5.0 out of 5 stars I just heard this for the first time...
I love when I get to hear a fabulous song from someone I've never heard of, and buy their CD. I just heard a song on TV from "Lungs". Lisez davantage

Published 18 months ago by E. Carter

5.0 out of 5 stars A musical experience like no other
While I can't say I've been with Florence and the Machine from the very beginning, I am proud to say that I discovered this incredible artist several months before she started... Lisez davantage

Published 19 months ago by Daniel Jolley

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing album
I bought this album for one song (this is the love) with some left over vouchers and wasn't expecting to listen to the rest of the songs, but once I had listened to the whole... Lisez davantage

Published 21 months ago by Ben Nicholson

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Album
I had vaguely heard of Florence and the Machine through word of mouth and seen a music video of theirs over Youtube and found myself mildly intrigued by their eclectic genre... Lisez davantage

Published on Mar 3 2010 by Alexander Michaels

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