Customer Reviews

Universal

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

este album en mi pais es muy dificil de encontrar, lo encontre de casualidad en un supermercado de mi ciudad, estaba en la seccion de cassetes de 3 dolares, o sea los mas baratos de ese entonces.... ; yo inocentemente pense q si estaba tan "barato" era por que seguramente no era muy buena la musica, o no era muy popular, asi que decidi comprarlo a pesar de que no conocia ninguna cancion de ese album, ni siquiera un single, asi que lo compre con cierto temor de que me mi dinero fuera malgastado, ademas en esa epoca, yo compraba albumes siempre y cuando conocia alguna cancion, pero el tiempo me daria la razon, compre este album simplemente por que era OMD y yo ya era fan de OMD en ese momento, asi que luego de haberlo escuchado realmente me sorprendio de que no hayan pasado en las radios de Lima ninguna sola cancion de aca... realmente sorprendente pero ahora ya me di cuenta que la musica mas popular no necesariamente es la mejor, la mejor del album ? victory walz, y sobretodo, VERY CLOSE TOO FAR AWAY, cuando escuche por primera vez THE BOY FROM THE CHEMIST pense que era una cancion alegre, pero luego de escucharlo bien es una cancion triste,realmente buena tambien es la cancion semi a capella de THE GOSPEL, realmente, para llorar, OMD vuelvan, el mundo necesita musica asi

OMD didn't create any devastating waves with this final voyage home. There was no buzz about the last CD from Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark when it landed here in the States. No radio attention. No tears wept by the dumbed-down MTV legions. Only the quiet whirring of a handful of CD players loosely scattered around the continent; CD players owned by a few loyal OMD followers who knew this was the last link in a fading chain.

Having been moderately unmoved, yet equally devoted to the two previous OMD albums (Liberator and Sugar Tax), I was hoping for a clean diversion from the too-commonplace pop that had seeped into Andy McCluskey's work as of late. What I heard was not the early OMD experimentalization that so many OMD disciples have traditionally called for, and that was fine by me (you can't go back to the way things were). More over, what I heard on Universal was not the poppy, simple melodies with over-instrumentalization that wore thin in recent projects, either. In fact, Universal didn't match up perfectly with any previous OMD CD at all, and that was precisely what I needed to hear.

It's easy on the ears, there's no denying that. And the sound is unmistakably OMD's (former OMD founder Paul Humphries even had co-writing credits on two of the songs here: "Very Close to Faraway" and "If You're Still in Love With Me"). But the approach was so stylistically sensitive that even now, in 2004, it makes more sense than half of the filler out there. Furthermore, it's probably the most emotionally genuine album I've ever heard from OMD, including their "roots" days back in the early 80's. "That Was Then" captures McCluskey at his most reflective and sincere ever, his voice harkening back to the vulnerability of Sugar Tax's "Was It Something I Said."

This disc is, note for note, the album I would've chosen to honorably conclude the evolution that was OMD's life.

Universal is one of the two best OMD albums--I can't quite decide whether I prefer the elegant chart-topper Sugar Tax or the kaleidiscopic unsung classic that is Universal... Both albums are beautiful, but where Sugar Tax was commercially successful, Universal was inexplicably not; perhaps it is not such a mystery, however, as rumour has it that Andy McCluskey (co-founder, songwriter, and frontman of OMD; he forged on under the OMD banner more or less as a solo artist from 1988-1996, producing three of OMD's greatest albums: Sugar Tax, Liberator, and Universal) had a wretched recording contract and little corporate support. OMD certaintly never received the mainstream radio or TV airplay that they deserved, at least in North America. This, combined with the steady and supreme vapidity that afflicts much of the international pop-youth culture music audience, has ensured that Universal is an unknown diamond-in-the-rough; a fabulous 12-track studded crown of artistic achievement whose relative obscurity and difficulty to obtain satisfies the effort all the more so. I LOVE THIS ALBUM. I can say that I absolutely love 6 of the 12 tracks, really enjoy at least another three, and like or am impartial to 3. At least 75% of the album is excellent material. It shares, with Sugar Tax, an impeccable and glorious, soaring edge of romantic desperation--if there is one thing that Andy McCluskey/OMD has been good at, it is weaving the keening sound of the wounded lover and souful reminiscer into songs that are at once urban-elegant, romantically impassioned, timelessly poignant, cinematically euphoric, sweetly melancholic, downright groovy and eminently danceable... Though the song-moods on this album are kaleidiscopic, there is a noble, heart-gracing bittersweet that lies below the surface and surfaces full-fledged periodically through the album. When Andy was writing this he was obviously hurting from love. My girlfriend and I broke up just in September and this was the album that most resonated with my spirit at the time--it carried me across the streams of tears that it helped foment, it awakened my heart fully, it sensitized the emotions and reminded me that a beauty can awaken in everything if the temperment is exquisitely tender for it... I really liked this album when I bought it 3 years ago, but now it has become, in a way, an inseparable part of me--reflecting in music some of the most special and intimate moments of my recent existence. If you have imagination and spirit, and any like for passionately-driven, heartfelt music that stylishly blends organic symphonics with excellent synthetics, is heavily dosed with irresistable rhythm and soaring pop melody, and can suit near any mood, from eurodance ebullience to sweeping, elegiac melancholy, BUY UNIVERSAL!

Another example of Virgin Records refusal to release something different in the American market. Andy's writing & performance have never been better, but this recording was thrown on the market with little marketing. If you like OMD this is a must- and is probably the last OMD release with original material.

I first heard Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark in 1978. I was working as a dishwasher in a restaurant just outside of Albany, NY. The pantry chef had a small, tinny radio that he used to play. One night, over the roar of the dishwasher, I heard the most wonderful music. I left my work station and pressed my ear against the radio until the song was over. I then called the radio station and learned that the song was "Electricity" by a band named OMD. The next day I drove to the city to a record store that sold import albums. They had one recording by OMD, a 12 inch single called "Enola Gay." I listened to that track over and over never tiring of it. Eventually more and more of their recordings became available and I bought every one. Over the years I graduated from high school, college, law school and started a family, but I never lost my fondness for OMD. I saw them live whenever I could. My love affair with this band has lasted well over 20 years. I was profoundly saddened when I learned that OMD had disbanded. Happily they left as their swansong the marvelous "Universal." I have listen to this CD countless hundreds of times. At times sad, at times lugubrious, but always lovely it is a CD that I never tire of hearing. I can listen to "Too Late' over and over in a single sitting. Along with the 'Singles' CD and 'Architecture and Morality' this is a must have recording. It is a sad, but fitting end to one of the best bands of the 70s, 80s and 90s.

after buying this album again, i'm glad i did. at first listen i thought it was extremely depressing but i appreciate it more now. the songs are real and heartflet. "Too Late" is my favorite (a tune that andy co-wrote with stuart kershaw). for the skeptic, give it a chance! i did, twice!

This is a fantastic album. Andy has done it again. Although I am sad that this was the last of OMD, it is certainly an album to remember. Andy has certainly proved to us all that he can make great music without Paul and he has proved that on many albums like "Sugar Tax", "Libarator", and "Universal". I love all those albums as much as their old ones if not more. songs like Universal, Walking On The Milky Way, The Moon & The Sun, The Black Sea, Very Close To Far Away, That Was Then, The Boy From The Chemist Is Here To See You, and If You're Still In Love With Me are all fantastic songs. I am so glad to see that Andy McCluskey still has not lost his touch.

This was their last ditch effort and all I can say is good riddance. After their Sugartax album they started going down hill from their and started to become more of a funky newage/soft music group than the electronic dance/pop group they started out as. If this was their plan, they should have changed their name and started reaching out to a different kind of audience and left their long time fans wanting more right at the top of their success with their Sugartax album.

I think this is a very good album. It starts out etheral, and then kicks into a very catchy tune in "Universal" and continues in this fashion all the way through to the end. "Very Close" has Andy's emotions really ringing through, and "That was then" smacks of slight bitterness. I *love* "The Boy from the Chemist" and it's a new all-time favorite.

In short, a very welcome addition to any OMD-fan's collection.

To be honest I only like a little more than half the songs on this album. But those songs are more than good enough to equal a strong star rating in my book. The album starts off with a slow, serene instrumental beginning which eventually turns into a great pop song with a real kick. The second track, "Walking On the Milky Way" you probably all know from the singles collection. Good song, although far from the best on this release. That title should definitely belong to "Too Late", a sad, haunting ballad about one who's made too many mistakes in relationships and life in general. The hauntingly gorgeous "Black Sea" is an even more intense version of this. A truly beautiful masterpiece and one thats likely to be overlooked by many. Be sure not to miss it. Another noteworthy track and one of my faves, "The Boy From The Chemist Is Here To See You", delivers the most hard-driving beat and talks basically about good karma, especially against schoolyard bullies and the like. All in all its good stuff and this release has plenty thats worth listening to that you can't find anywhere else. Unfortunately, it the album gets a little weak at the end (the last two tracks are just plain boring). But other than that it should be an enjoyable experience and worth every penny. Recommended.