Search - Conjure One :: Extraordinary Ways

Great Album, but the 1st one is better

Anthony Morelli | Montreal, Canada | 09/02/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Bought it Wednesday morning and I like it. Took a couple of listens for me to get used to it. I was expecting something closer to the 1st album...with the familiar tribal, euro and techno beats. That one offered so much color. But this album is much more laid back and slow. It was slightly harder to digest and it's my only reason for the 4-star rating.



Track 4 "ONE WORD" (Sung by Poe) is beautiful and my favorite off the CD. Anyone who owns this CD will notice that Poe's name isn't mentioned at the end of the lyrics of each of her songs. Instead, the name "JANE" pops up. Is that her real name? Or am I missing something? As for the songs with the male voice & distortions...I don't really care all that much for them. And, they're too slow and repetitive...but are tolerable.



I've followed Rhys Fulber since 2001 when the Maxi Single of "A WHITER SHADE OF PALE" was released by Sarah Brightman & her record company. Rhys Fulber did a remix and i think his is the best of the 5 "publically released" mixes. His work is great, regardless if the song is slow, fast or both.

When he teamed up with POE and Sinead O'Connor, they made magic. This time around, I appreciate Poe more, and only wish the rest of the album was more up-tempo. If it weren't for Poe's collaborations, this album would be darker and I don't think it would have made it to my "will listen to again" pile.



I was honestly disappointed during the first time I played Extradorinary Ways, to the point where I really didn't want to review the CD, nor did I want to listen to it again. But it certainly saved my own rear-end by taking the time to listen to it entirely a 2nd & 3rd time. Now I like it.



If you don't already own the 1st album, do buy it. The 1st one's a lot more eclectic and RF's choice of collaborating artists is amazing, and it fulfills me each time I pop the CD into the stereo or discman.



I heard there won't be a 2CD set version of this album. That's good, because it will be less hard to find this album in all the store for future customers. The 1st album was and still is scarce, whether it's the standard 1-disc version or the 2-disc.



Tracklist

01- Endless Dream - 4:30

02- Face the Music - 4:35

03- Pilgrimage - 6:48

04- One Word - 4:40

05- I Believe - 6:07

06- Beyond Being - 7:07

07- Extraordinary Ways - 4:40

08- Dying Light - 6:45

09- Forever Lost - 4:46

10- Into the Escape - 4:15



This album is great for the Rhys Fulber collectors, but not a "Must Have"."

POE'S RETURN TO CONJURE ONE IS EXTRAORDINARY

Howard L. Salter | West Allis, WI United States | 06/15/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm not happy with the negative reports that people have been provided here. My inital exposure to the clever lyrical content of POE was initally through a Conjure One CD and I've since bought her other solo material in addition to these collaborative efforts. POE definately has a fan in Milwaukee. The songs and content of this CD are engaging and a light pop orientation in the vein of DJ Armin Van Burne, Balligomingo, and Enigma, and Delerium. I've been getting into another act in this genre called Collide and that band happens to be my favorite in the Genre. This album however, has been played daily on my ipod for the last two weeks. I can't get the song "Extra Ordinary Ways" out of my head. If you like these other bands then this line up is great. I'd love a chance to see how they collaborate and some behind the scenes stuff on how Rhyes (spelling) worked with these other artists and how his collaborative procesess work. I also secretly wonder if he's hip to other projects out there outside this genre like Dream Theater? Well, if you like Pretty or Vocal Trance music this is for you. It has a more poppy flavor than the Energizer Bunny Trance sounds and is definately more loungy. Enjoy it."

Flawless - My favorite album of 2005, hands down.

Rex A. Lloyd | Atlanta, GA USA | 12/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I enjoyed so much of Conjure One's first self-titled album, but it never seemed to flow properly for me. This album is all flow.

If you felt the same way... and if you liked Delerium's Symantic Spaces, Karma and Poem... if you're an old fan of This Mortal Coil and all things 4AD.. If you yearn constantly (as I do)for dark, lucious, brooding female vocals atop gorgeous flowing soundscapes... This album is the answer.

"