Search - Ride :: Carnival of Light

Retro, yet ahead of its time, and most of all timeless!

Denmark Jensen | Carson City, NV USA | 05/24/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a quick perusal of the reviews here will show, this album really divided Ride fans, and still does. Some found the total change of direction in a much more retro 60's direction too much to handle and dismissed it. However, if you just listen to this album on its own merits, it is a classic, as good as its influences (the most obvious of which to my ears is '65-'66 Byrds). I liked Ride before this album, but this is easily my favorite of all. It seems somewhat ironic that in 1993 so many critized Ride for going retro, rather than forward, while just a year later "Definitely Maybe", chock full of 60's influences, was heralded as a welcome new direction away from "grunge". In retrospect, "Carnival of Light" is a much better, if slightly less obvious, collection of songs. It's failure to win either critial acclaim or commercial success seemed to be a big factor in the eventual demise of the band (after the tour was cancelled, Andy wanted to immediatly make another album before Mark had any songs ready). Its quite a shame, and I do place a lot of blame for that on the UK critics who were so quick to put this down, while embracing a full on 60's revival a couple of years later with bands like Oasis and Kula Shaker. Anyway, all that's in the past, but this album is still here as a lasting reminder of the greatness of Ride at their peak."

A shimmering album from a disintegrating band

M. Campbell | Hermance, Switzerland | 06/25/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Yes, there does seem to be a "love it"/"hate it" division among Ride fans on this album. Recorded at a tense time in the band's (rapidly ending) history, _CoL_ was, in many ways, a departure from previous efforts such as _Nowhere_ and _Going Blank Again_ (which some critics believe firmly put the band under the early '90s "shoegazer" label). Still, this album has some lush standouts (although apparently divided by Mark's songs on the first part of the album, followed by Andy's contributions). As one reviewer has already mentioned, there are Byrds-esque flavors to some of their songs, particularly "1000 Miles" and "Natural Grace". There is the 'old Ride' wall of swirling guitar on "Moonlight Medicine" and "Birdman" (with Andy's John/Yoko-like reference to his wife, Idha). And there is also the wistfulness of "Only Now" and "From Time to Time" (the latter with its incessant, hypnotic electric and acoustic guitars). A standout is the short yet haunting instrumental "Rolling Thunder". For new Ride listeners, give this one a try as you go to purchase a copy of "Going Blank Again"; it will give you insight into the range of music produced by this highly underrated yet influential (many artists cite Ride as a fave) band."

Def Retro

Mark Champion | San Antonio, TX United States | 02/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Retro? Yeah, right. As if there were anything but. The titles are amusing enough, but the lyrics to "From Time To Time" are so punningly religious/secular the song practically wears beads. And the aching ballad "Only Now" outdoes even itself when it (look out) comes to the afterglow of seduction ("Crown Of Creation" indeed, and where IS that incense. . .). "I Don't Know Where It Comes From" either but I'll bet it disappears down the ol' "Endless Road" for the next "1000 Miles" or so in search of that elusive "Magical Spring." Or butterfly, or whatever. Yup, a bona fide winner here, even better than the great Going Blank Again only, like, mellower. When the smoke clears this'll still be spinning and so will you."