Customer Reviews

Gravity

5 star:		(129)
4 star:		(74)
3 star:		(35)
2 star:		(36)
1 star:		(15)

 

 

I'm not sure why I decided to write a review of this Album two years after it's release, but I guess this would be more of an opinion of the band's current sound as a whole, as opposed to the tracks on this album.

I've been a die-hard OLP fan since the release of Naveed, until now that is. Any true OLP fan knows that the band was always at it's best when not over produced and the music not too thought-out...when the tracks just came together as they did on Naveed and Spiritual Machines. These albums just seemed more...raw, more edgy. There was one member who undoubtedly influenced this aspect of OLP's music - former guitarist Mike Turner. There are only a couple of tracks on this album for which he is credited and you can still hear his influence on them.

Why did Mike leave? Though I've never been able to find a difinitive answer (other than the standard "atristic differences"), I've come to assume that it resulted from Raine's (and the record label - Sony) desire to make the music more accessible (meaning, alter the sound) to the masses and go after the American market - more money, even though the band was wildly successful here at home. Mr. Turner, apparently was more worried about his artisitic integrity than breaking into new markets. Hooray for him.

Though I will never disparage Raine's lyrical or vocal talents, nor those of Mr. Turner's replacement Steve Mazur, I can't say that I'm a fan anymore. Mike took the soul of he band when he left. I can't blame him for not wanting to put his name on the watered-down, popped-up, whiny version of a formerly great sound that exists today.

This is a solid rock album. But it's not as good as their previous effort "Spiritual Machines". The sound has more bottom to it (thanks to Bob Rock -- or no thanks?) but at the same time it isn't heavier, which is strange. At first I was very disappointed with the album (I have all their previous recordings), but it eventually grew on me. However, if this is a new direction for the band, I don't know if I like where it's going.

The songs are almost all good, a very few as excellent, and most are just great. Personally for thirty-six minutes of music, I felt robbed for paying $18.99 . It really wasn't worth the asking price, but if you're a devoted fan of the band, then of course you'll buy it, and you will like it. I've heard a couple other songs from the band a while back, that I really like, even more so than most on this album. I really think they either rushed (or were rushed by the record company which can happen, (look at Meat Loaf) into making this album, or they don't have enough talent to put more on the disc. Don't get me wrong, it is a great album, overall, but when it all comes down to it, you really should be paying $12.00 at the most!!

The tracks that came to mind are, made of steel, innocent, somewhere out there, not enough, bring back the sun.
Although there isn't any horrible tracks, the songs really lack alot. Example the second track, "do you like it, ya ya, x2".

To sum it all up in a sentence,

a short album with all nice tracks but lacks work.

of the 4 OLP albums I have (I'm missing Naveed), this one is the worst. It does not contain anywhere near as much feeling and soul as Clumsy, Happiness..., and Spiritual Machines have. These guys are my second favorite band, and I love them to death, but they struck out on this one. While some of the songs are definitely good, on the whole, not anywhere close to their best work.

After a recent jaunt to Hawaii at the end of 2001 and early 2002, Canadian quartet Our Lady Peace have returned to the mainland blazing with their 5th album entitled "Gravity." Within this new masterpiece, it is quite evident that the band has radically changed their sound, for the better no less. Gone are the overly layered music, annoying jibberish choruses, and ambiguously written lyrics. Present are simplier and yet honest lyrics that invite the listener into the world that singer Raine Maida sees. The melodies on "Gravity" are infectious and memorable. Raine Maida, along with drummer Jeremy Taggart, bassist Duncan Coutts and newly recuited guitarist Steve Mazur round out this fabulous foursome. Standouts on this album include "Bring Back the Sun," "Innocent," "Story About A Girl" and their first single "Somewhere Out There." Through Our Lady Peace's direct and inviting approach on this album, they are surely bringing back the sun to the dark and dreary days faced by legions of disappointed modern rock and alternative fans.

I'm going to qualify each of the two stars I'm giving this record, and it's going to take me a few paragraphs. Those who'd like to rate this review "unhelpful" simply because they disagree with it are advised to read the below, or at least pretend to read to it (most will do neither).

I am an Our Lady Peace fan. I've been so for years, and there isn't much I don't know about the band. From the 1992's independant video "Out of Here" featuring the long-departed drummer Jim Newell, to lost songs "Home" and "Sleeping In," to the source material for the band's disjointed concept record Spiritual Machines, I've done my homework.

OLP has taken on many guises in the last decade, and I've welcomed each. They've evolved from a gritty grunge band to an alternative sensation, with the records Naveed and Clumsy, and then redefined themselves completely with the brilliantly challenging Happiness . . . Is Not A Fish That You Can Catch.

I consider those records a trilogy. There are somewhat trivial reasons . . . each has Sol Fox on the cover, the first single and lead-off track has the word "man" in the title -- but they also map a clear creative trajectory. You can see, or rather hear, the band striving to become itself. And with Happiness, they did: any trace of their grunge and alternative roots was shed, and what remained was a coherent, complete, and stimulating album which contained the music of a band working passionately, feverishly, and as a whole.

Predictably, the record sold a fraction of the more accessible Clumsy.

Happiness was followed by a good, but fractured disc exporing the concept of machines who become, intellectually and emotionally, human. Coming scarcely a year after Happiness, I really didn't care for an album that seemed a sudden step backward; the band spoke openly about simplifying their sound, getting back to basics, and so on, and the results were uneven.

But all the albums were held together by each member's quirky talents: Raine Maida's unique voice, Jeremy Taggart's innovative drumming, and so forth. From phase to phase, the albums were always recognizable as Our Lady Peace.

Under their contract with Sony, the band had complete creative control, which they've now signed away for a new contract with Metallica producer Bob Rock.

Under this new contract Rock reigns. He cut two songs from Gravity because he didn't care for them. He told Taggart -- arguably the band's most talented member -- to be "less busy" on the drums, and he directed Raine Maida to tone down his distinctive vocal quirks.

It was in this atmosphere of simplification and mediocrity that founding guitarist Mike Turner left the band. I can't say I blame him. I don't blame Rock either; the remaining three members willingly signed the new contract, and should shoulder significant responsibility for the band's descent into easily-swallowed arena-rock-pop.

New guitarist Steve Mazur was not recruited from thousands of fans worldwide. Such a contest was conducted but Mazur was only taken on after filling in for Turner as a session guitarist, even as the contest took place.

The record itself is a mess of meaningless lyrics, tedious power-chords and thin, forumalaic song structure. Maida, who has written with intelligence and passion, tosses off such gems as "I can be anything you want me to be/A punching bag/A piece of string, oh/That reminds you not to think."

Taggart's distinct jazz-style percussion has been watered down so as to be indistinguishable from the time-keeping of Nickelback, Default, Creed, and the like.

Under Rock's direction, the band no longer plays to its strengths. It plays to the demands of the marketplace -- and if the above mentioned bands are selling, this is the type of music OLP must make.

Teeny-boppers will enjoy the record and the accompanying video because "RAIN IZ SUCH A HOTTIEE!!!!!" and because of the pop sensibilities of the record. Fans of music, fans of Our Lady Peace's sonically diverse but always impressive past efforts, will find Gravity tiresome, cold, and temporary.

Our Lady Peace's Fifth album should and hopefully will be the one that ultimatly places them on the lips and in the ears of the people in America.

Did OLP sell-out and write a record that is undeniably not along their usual vein? Yes. However, in the process they managed to make some great songs. Admittedly, "Innocent" is pure radio-fodder. You can almost hear thousands of tweeny girls chanting along to the chorus. But at the same time, it produces a fun, forget about life and enjoy the music sort of feeling in you when you listen.

As far as I'm concerned, Naveed is the best "Rock" album OLP had done. Spiritual Machines was the best album period. But, in the mix of those two and Clumsy and Happiness... falls Gravity. It's a bright gem that, at the very least, will serve to introduce some people to one of the most underappreciated bands out there.

If you like Somewhere Out There, buy Gravity. If you like OLP, buy Gravity. If you like good music, buy Gravity. Believe me, it's more than worth it.

I am a big fan of OLP. I own all five of their CDs, know pretty much all the lyics. They've been one of my favourite bands for a long time. This album just disappointed me, though.

Whenever you hear a song on the radio that's by OLP and on one of the first 4 CDs, you can say "hey, that's OLP." That's because they had such a destinctive sound that you could recognize even if you weren't really a fan at all. That sound that was OLP was what defined them as OLP.

Gravity ruined that sound. This sounds so droning, so depressing. Jeremy's drumming has turned into a slow and repetitive rumble. Raine's voice is so different and hard to listen to. I don't know if it was Bob Rock who is responsible, but I was disappointed with this album.

Hopefully this album was just a phase, and as OLP writes their next album they'll look back at Gravity and reflect upon just what happened to make it so different.

But as OLP fans we must support the band, after all, we are all they have. Even though this was a mediocre CD, I'm still just as hardcore a fan of OLP as I ever was.

Personally, my favourites are Innocent, Sell My Soul, All for You, and Bring Back the Sun. And I don't mean that they're GREAT songs, they're just my favourite off the CD.

As a long-time fan of this amazing Canadian rock band, I am very disappointed in Our Lady Peace's Gravity.

Previous Our Lady Peace albums have wowed their listeners with experimental guitar riffs, sassy drum parts, and amazing vocal talents. None exist in Gravity.

Our Lady Peace has essentially dumbed down their music for this album. Lead singer Raine Maida no longer implements his trademark falsetto ANYWHERE on the album. The stray drum riffs and listless guitar parts are absent as well; every single song has a structured, easy-to-follow melody. Even the lyrics sound uninspired and poorly written.

Despite its obvious flaws, Gravity has many good qualities. After all, this is rock and roll, pure and simple. The track "Sell my Soul" could easily be an anthem for any alternative rock station. Many of the tracks are worthy of singles, and such media giants as VH1, MTV, and Top 40 radio stations will eat this up in a second. Gravity is conventional rock; the media will welcome it with open arms.

But for an Our Lady Peace follower like myself, Gravity has marked the end of an era: an era of unique, creative music. The casual pop/rock fan will fall instantly in love with Gravity, but the devoted fan will only pray that OLP's next album will break the mold of mediocrity.

I have to say this is a very big change for O.L.P. but I hate when people whine about
this album. I have been a huge Our lady peace fan ever since they realesed Naveed and out all their six albums this would be about 5th. Now sure they really
changed theyr'e style on this album but listen to a song like "Inocent" or "Somewhere out there". Theyre both great rock songs. "Inocent" ranks up their with any OLP song in my mind. As for the rest of the album sure its very bland and mainstream compared to other OLP but it is still catchey. "Do you like it" has a hook you wont be able to get out of your head for weeks. "Not Enough" is another great song with some cool guitar riffs. "Sorry" sounds a-bit like something off of "Spiritual machines".

Anyways the point is this is a good solid album and even though its not old OLP its stll damn good.

Oh yeah , the band switched guitarist's so that is a key reason why this album sound's alot different.

Besides "Healthy In Paranoid Time's" is a step in the right direction!

Cheers!