Search - George :: Unity

Awesome work from a great Australian band.

orderinchaos | Perth, WA Australia | 03/14/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I largely agree with the other review... I think it's great that a band who's done an acclaimed pop-fusion album showing off their immense skills and selling it platinum can completely change their sound for their second album. There's jazz, funk and ballads and a bit of rock on here. This album worked for me better after seeing it live - I at first thought it was too experimental, but it's grown on me. I can see them playing the chorus of "One" at protest rallies in 20 or 30 years time, and "Fortunate Smile" will always remind me of the man Katie Noonan invited on stage here in Perth to propose to his now-fiancee.Katie's ethereal vocals (13 years of classical voice training and it shows), Tyrone's almost Jeff-Buckley-esque contrast, Nick's seemingly impossible guitar playing (a lot of what sounds like synth is actually him), Jeff's ability to keep time even with the oddest time signatures, and Paulie's organic bass combine to make one of the two best bands I've heard out of Australia in the past 10 years easily (the other being John Butler Trio)."

Album of the decade?

T. Mobbs | 08/19/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm sure you've read plenty of hyped reviews from excited teenagers saying "This is the best album EVER!" etc. Well, it's a while since I've been a teenager, and this is not my favourite album of all time, but it's certainly the best I have heard in the last 5 years or so.



It has all the virtuosity of the latest Radiohead, but with far more warmth of feeling. It has not one but TWO amazingly gifted singers, a group of musicians capable of throwing rock, orchestral music and electronica into a single song and making it work, but most of all it has heart. After 6 months of listening to this album it's in my player more frequently than when I first bought it, not less.



The decade is only half over, but it's going to take something very special indeed to oust this from my no.1 position for this particular stretch of 10 years."

Mature follow-up to Polyserena ages like fine wine

David G. Dixon | Vancouver, Canada | 06/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am that rarest of beasts -- a George fanatic from Canada. I first heard of them on a Qantas flight to Sydney, and was immediately a fan for life after hearing "special ones" (like many others, I suppose). I bought both "Polyserena" and "Unity" as soon as I had the chance while in Australia.



Of course, "Polyserena" is a very special album. Most of the songs (esp. Katie's) are very catchy and beautiful. George is one of those rare bands which seems capable of just about anything musically, and they pull out all the stops on Polyserena (including doing their own horn arrangements, which, on the penultimate cut, seem to pay homage to Gil Evans, a pretty amazing feat for a bunch of 20-something popstars from Oz!). They seem to be just as much a jazz ensemble as a pop group.



I must say that it took me a lot longer to get into "Unity". The songs were not as catchy as those on Polyserena, and there didn't seem to be any real standout track like "special ones". However, now, after a month or so, I find that I am listening to Unity more than Polyserena. Unity is a work of real maturity, and the music is deeper than Polyserena. Here they have added an orchestra, and hired Aussie jazz musician Paul Grabowsky to write their horn and orchestra arrangements (Katie and Paul did a duet album together which I have yet to hear -- next trip to Oz).



The most pleasant thing about Unity is that Tyrone's songs are a vast improvement over those on Polyserena. It took him a bit longer to find his compositional mojo than his sister Katie, but found it he did on Unity. I find that I actually prefer his songs on Unity, especially "Fortunate Smile" and "Change", which seem to form a bit of a suite, along with Katie's "Jaded". He has a wonderful piano style which provides just the right backbone for his tunes. My other favorite tracks are "Still Real", "Today", and "Surrender". That last one took me a while to appreciate, but now it's probably my favorite on the album!



If you, like me, bought this album and were disappointed with it, please listen to it for a few days. It will definitely grow on you!"