The parcel finally arrived today
. I bought the regular edition of Radio Wars because the deluxe edition was too expensive for me after all. Glad that I took this day off (not because of the album *lol*) - so I can take my time to listen to it.
Of course no signatures on the cover for me. The album has a great artwork with a black digipak, but the booklet is not a really useful one. Missing lyrics, not even credits in it, however the pics are nice and I like reading the Thank you's. Do you have more pics in the deluxe version than the one on the cover and the four in the booklet?
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Anyway it should be all about the music - so here's my first review:
It's amazing to listen to
"Treasure Hunt" in high quality - I've known this song before and it's still one of my favorite songs on the album. Great lyrics, atmosphere and energy in it. 10/10
"Cities burning down" is also a great atmospheric song - but the arrangement is a bit flat on this record, I hope you know what I mean with it. I've read they recorded two versions of it - where can I listen to the first version? 10/10
"It ain't you" is a song I have to get used to but it's getting better with every listen. These are often the most special songs. I like the stronger guitar arrangement - sadly rather rare on this record. 7/10
"Nightingale" is a bit disappointing for me because I've read lots of postive reviews about it. It's not as epic as we know and love it from the debut, the energy of "In the woods" is missing and the song ends too abrupt. A real climax is also not existing, that's kind of the sad because the song has so much potencial. 8/10
Strangely I really like
"Let's be kids" 'though lots of you don't like it - same like the not so popular "The night is young" - (that's one of my favorite Bell's songs). "Let's be kids" is the most outstanding song of the record for me and not too mainstreamy, even though it has a positive vibe. 8/10
"Ms Bells Song" has a nice instrumental arrangement, but I can't do anything with it. I like the bells in the background and the bass line but the melody is not my cup of tea, too monotonous. And again it ends too soon. 5/10
I really loved the
"Radio Wars Theme" at the concert - they played it so intensively - what happened to it at the recordings?? This version is just way too short and they it almost sounds mild. Please tell me where are the drums? That's why only 8/10
"Golden web" has a really good melodic beginning. But than in the chorus the melody structure becomes more and more simple and it is a bit too repeating and there are way too much electronic instruments in it. Not the best song of the record. That's simply too much pop for a band like the Howling Bells. 4/10
"Into the chaos"is my favorite song from the album and also on my list of favorite songs ever. I also knew this song before, that's why I had a lot of expectations concerning this album. The lyrics, whole atmosphere...like a journey through the night. The beautiful ambigous melody, the bassline, the drums combined with the synthesizers and the background vocals is just way too perfect. There is no possibilty to create a better sound in my opinion. 10+++/10
"Digital hearts" is a very classy song and it's nice to listen to it though the feeling is slightly a bit too positive and mainstreamy, this could also be from a Bon Jovi record - just jokin' ;D. The song could be a bit more profound - it's like they really wanted to get into the radio with it like some reviews said. Waikiki send their regards
. However in my memory they played "Digital hearts" very different at the concert. Have to check the live version. 7/10
"How long" is my least favorite track on the album. Though Juanita is singing well on it - it's too slowy, too undefinied concering musical genre and not rocking enough for me. 2/10
"To LA" sounds innovative, they use the electronics well for this one, but it's also too short, the climax is missing again and in my opinion it should go on for a minute or so to unfold the vibe better.7/10
Now I can understand all the reviews that were made about Radio Wars, this album is indeed different to the debut and I would dare to say that it's not as good as the first one. OK there are burners on Radio Wars but on the debut almost every song is a burner. At first most of the songs should have been longer, they stop so soon as if the band just had no time to finish them. Moreover I miss the rock and edgy elements of songs like "Blessed night", "Low Happening" and "Wishing stone". Sometimes the songs have indeed the potencial to be edgier but they are just arranged too flat on this record (for example: Cities burning down, Radio Wars Theme, Nightingale) - I would put out the guitars and the drums more. Juanitas voice is one of the most beautiful voices nevertheless it should not be in the foreground all the time.
It's noticeable that the live versions are often much more powerful than the recordings - that shows us that the songs of Radio Wars aren't that bad actually- the devil is just in the production. Howling Bells are a real live band - they really should put out a live album with all of their songs.
The whole undertone of Radio Wars is more positive on this album than on the debut - that takes a little getting used to.
It's still a gorgeous album but nothing compares to the magnificient debut. Don't get me wrong that's no reproach - I can imagine that it's is very hard to top your own best performance and simultaneously find a way of developing further.
Howling Bells was a milestone - Radio Wars is anyhow a step forwards for the band. Hope they will develop into the right direction on the third record - glad that they have made some statements about it yet. And they are so right - they don't require this electronic playing-arounds.
Wow, that was my longest post in this forum - trying to correct my mistakes now ;D