Search - Philip Glass, Michael Riesman, Bruce Fowler :: Philip Glass - Songs from Liquid Days

Get back on the solids

IRate | 03/12/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Even amongst much hit and miss recorded material, these choral keyboardings are just a constant bore, even a mild embarrassment, with a few pretentiously exotic bombardments substituting for the album's most emotionally satisfying moments."

Hate to be a hater, but I really need to add to the minority

Maxx | NY, NY | 12/03/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"definitely the worst Glass I've heard

I get the idea - bring classical music to the masses through pop arrangement.



the first track is probably the most successful

I don't think I've ever heard Glass write a better melody

the lyrics are excellent. Paul Simon makes the track vague without being fluff.

the vocal production is terribly 80's, which makes the entrance of the voice really awkward and makes it seem out of place.

it's a bit drawn out and the melodic doubling with the flute is terribly cheesy



but not as cheesy as "Lightning"

if you thought the synths were embarrassing

just wait for the drums



the music to just about everything else is mostly forgettable, either regular Glass stuff or, even worse, when he doesn't rely on his rhythmic ideas and tries to focus on melody and harmony, like on the truly terrible "Open the Kingdom"



the lyrics for "Liquid Days (Part 1)" deserve special mention. David Bryne really nails what Glass is trying to do with the music: it's naïve and complex at the same time. Suzanne Vega's lyrics on "Freezing" are cool. The Roches deliver the best vocal performances on the album wherever they show up.



so, aside from a few lyrics and the first song, I see this album as alternately forgettable and horrible.

any of Glass' work from the 70's or even the 80's is preferable to this."

One of the Finest Glass has Produced

C. Bridge | North Palm Beach | 11/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Some of Glass's albums are dullsville, but this album is extraordinary

as a mixture of glass style with the remarkable voice of Linda Ronstadt.

The quirky lyrics and operatic style make it highly listenable.

The writing and influence of David Byrne, Suzanne Vega, and others give

it a unique viewpoint whereby a faint hum in the room can turn into an operatic search behind the couch and the refrigerator, which is not your

usual type of song.

If you love Glass you'll love this album."