Jason Pierce is maddening. His live performance at the Coachella Festival last April was underwhelming. Immobile other than strumming an acoustic guitar, sitting sideways to the audience whilst barely acknowledging them and wearing mirrored sunglasses, you could say Pierce was the antithesis of enthusiasm and energy. I've been a fan from the time I bought his "Royal Albert Hall October 10, 1997" album in '98 but had not seen Spiritualized live until Coachella. So I expected a passionate performance, since his recordings are passionate and emotional. Sure, Pierce has always been a master at downtempo, psychedelia-tinged songs, but one would think he’d put more effort into his live performance. Fortunately his songwriting comes across far stronger on Spiritualized’s sixth studio album Songs in A & E. It’s been five years since the last Spiritualized album, but it was worth the wait. This new album is amazing.
The sound of Songs in A & E is more folk and gospel than his previous recordings. It’s also not as thoroughly produced. Last fall, Pierce told the NME the album was "the work of the Devil...with a little guidance from me." Devil or not, he’s been inspired by a near-death experience of a few years ago. Jason had a bout of pneumonia that came close to killing him — twice, in fact, by his report. So it’s not surprising that the former Spaceman 3 member focuses on death, dying, fire and spirituality on the album.
But this is not a morose work. There are gorgeously orchestrated songs throughout, such as the slow- building album opener "Sweet Talk." It begins with the ring of a church bell, a choir "ooh"ing passionately, a bouncing electric bass and a sweetly playing violin. "Well, you sweet talk like an angel," Pierce sings, his voice an aching croon. "You‘re driving us blind. But don’t you sweet talk like an angel tonight." Soon brassy trumpets join in, as well as insistent drums and melodic piano in the background. All of this is gradually built upon with more brass and more strings. Pierce’s singing gets increasingly passionate as the song crescendos to an eventual climax and then slowly subsides. One might imagine this song being sung in a church, with Pierce as the high priest of cool.
"Death Take Your Fiddle" shows off Pierce’s preoccupation with death and dying. He sings about wanting Death to play him a song like the one he heard when he was close to dying. The song is very intimate. The simple, bluesy electric guitar is played in a way that it almost sounds like an acoustic guitar. A shimmering, ghostlike synthesizer hovers in the background with claustrophobic, rhythmically-timed deep breaths. Pierce’s craggy voice meanders into this deathly mix. It’s a fascinating song. "Borrowed Your Gun" is also about death: "Daddy, I’m sorry, I borrowed your gun, I shot up your family and a shot for the city." Another choir accompanies Pierce in hushed singing, hesitant, druggy drumming, intense violins and a mellotron. It’s a rather shocking song despite its intimate sound, due of course to those lyrics.
There are three songs on the album that use the word "fire" in their titles: "I Gotta Fire," "Soul On Fire" and "Sitting On Fire," which are also grouped together on the album. The indication here is that the "fire" represents a passion for life or a newfound spirituality. "I Gotta Fire" is actually an uptempo rocker you could dance to if you were so inclined. There’s some lively psychedelic electric guitar along with quickly strummed acoustic guitar, hyperactively tapped drumstick-on-drum-rim alternating with snare and bashing cymbals. "Soul On Fire," with its gospel flavor, was the first song released as a single. It’s a good song but obviously the most "commercial" sounding and not nearly as compelling as the others.
"Soul On Fire" Live at Gagarin, Athens, Greece 5/23/08(a month after Coachella & a far better performance):
A favorite is "You Lie You Cheat," a huge, raging rocker of a song with its ragged, psychedelic, squealing electric guitar, pummeling drums, ‘60s-style Hammond organ and Jason’s on-the-verge-of-screaming, fuzzily-distorted vocals. It’s a pretty intense song, and unusual in the Spiritualized songbook for its close-to-lunacy sound.
One drawback to the album are the snippets of instrumentals labeled as "Harmony" 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. These seem rather unnecessary strewn between the main songs. They obviously help to create an atmosphere, but I think they tend to get in the way of the flow of the songs. But after listening repeatedly, I find they tend to melt into the background, so it’s really a minor quibble.
Songs in A & E is a major comeback for Spiritualized, and with this album Jason Pierce proves that his near-death experience only aided the depth of his music. No matter how maddening he may be as an artist in his live performance, on this album, he is able to captivate our minds in fascinating lyrics and recorded song.
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Great review August. I am loving this record as well and agree with your thoughts about it being a major comeback from him.
He is coming to Minneapolis in a few months and I think I need to be there.
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I like this song you posted. I haven't always been the biggest fan of theirs but this is interesting. I like the wall of fuzz it has. Very jangly and psychedelic. I also like the back up singing. Kind of reminds me of Opal.
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Nicely done. A&E is definitely best of '08 material...
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Mike thanks. I knew you were enjoying this album. If you do see them live I hope he's more animated than at Coachella. Here he is doing "Anything More/Ladies & Gentelemen We Are Floating In Space" at Coachella(Disclaimer: We are not responsible for the big YAWN factor you are about to witness, heh):
Sam cool. Somehow I'm not surprised you're into 'em somewhat. I like that wall of fuzz too. I'm not familiar w/Opal, I'll check them out.
Krossfader thanks. I agree w/your assessment too!
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I'm on board with the praise, August. Loving the Spiritualized buzz and fuzz. Appreciating the coverage.
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Great write up August, some of my best college years were spent sitting around till 2am with this band playing in the backround
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MikeTK that buzz 'n fuzz is pretty hard to resist if you're a fan of great songwriting isn't it? And I know you're a sucker for a well written pop song or two . . . .
Hey thanks Kev! Had a feeling you might be into them. Definitely some great hanging w/your homies music.
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Great review. I haven't heard the record yet but you've whetted my appetite. I concur with your view of the live set, which can be underwhelming - although, sometimes, the band can blow you away, too. Probably depends on what drugs he's on. ;)
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Marvelous review! BUT, why'd ya have bring up church in this para?!
""Sweet Talk." It begins with the ring of a church bell, a choir "ooh"ing passionately, a bouncing electric bass and a sweetly playing violin. "Well, you sweet talk like an angel," Pierce sings, his voice an aching croon. "You‘re driving us blind. But don’t you sweet talk like an angel tonight." Soon brassy trumpets join in, as well as insistent drums and melodic piano in the background. All of this is gradually built upon with more brass and more strings. Pierce’s singing gets increasingly passionate as the song crescendos to an eventual climax and then slowly subsides. One might imagine this song being sung in a church, with Pierce as the high priest of cool." ; )
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Colin danke, I think you'll enjoy this quite a bit(especially since I know you liked that The Good The Bad & The Queen debut cd. It's a somewhat similar vibe I'd say).
Helen spirituality can happen ANYWHERE, dontcha know, even sometimes in church @=P Thanks for the kudos dear!
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Well...let me just say THIS one might does not imagine this song being sung in a church.
heh ; )
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For Kapranos sake, a review that makes me to desperately want listen to another album! I have no time, no time, do you understand? Darn these great reviews, darn 'em! ;)
Yeah, I wasn't in that show in Athens.
allows herself a moment of fury
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Helen the church ref. wasn't about the red button song, it was about the song "Sweet Talk" which is far, far mellower.
Anna thanks, the power of words is amazing isn't it? mwuahahaha
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I know I'm with you. You talk about all this passion and climaxing and then bring up church which I wouldn't think of with passionate singing and climaxing. Sorry to get all pervy on you, but I obviously had to do it! : P
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Hehe, well now the secrets out to the success of my review writing, damn you! If you use enough sexy talk, they will come(or climax), ahahahahaha! And I can outperv you anyday, so not to worry, be as pervy as you want, hehe!
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August...nice review which will probably make me change my ideas about purchasing the album. See, like you I was a fan of "Ladies & Gentlemen and the 90's stuff", but I saw him live on jools Holland's show a couple of weeks ago and thought the new songs he performed were a complete snorefest.
I think I'll have to investigate because it seems that the studio performances are more interesting than the live versions.
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Thanks Ben. I made the same comparison of his live performance I saw at Coachella Fest versus his studio albums. Check out the video I posted in my first post in the comments above from Coachella. A TOTAL snorefest!
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That's a very nice review, thanks.
Funny, I had the opposite experience - I totally dug the Acoustic Mainlines show, but was a bit underwhelmed by the album. I think doing an acoustic show like that at a big festival was maybe a mistake; I saw Jason & co. in the much more intimate surroundings of Bimbo's 365 Club in San Francisco, and it was really transcendent. The more hushed approach with the strings and the choir really brought out the emotion and desperation in the songs. There is a great recording of the Boston show here if you want to give it another try: http://www.bradleysalmanac.com/2007/11/mp3s-spiritualized-live-in-boston.htm
Hopefully the album will grow on me with a few more listens, like Let It Come Down did a couple of years ago.
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Thanks Excowboy. I agree, I think an acoustic show at a festival isn't a good idea but then again, I sincerely doubt Jason is interested in doing what's best for a fest. It might have been better if I'd at least known he was so mellow live, but that was my bad for not doing my research ahead of time I guess. Thanks for the link, I'll check that out.