Listen often before judging this one
Darin W. Toohey | Lafayette, CO USA | 08/02/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ok, so I will admit up front that I am a fan of the man, and have been for 20 years. Even so, when I first played this disc I was disappointed. It didn't sound the same as any of my other Midge Ure discs. I didn't run out my door and proclaim to all my neighbors "Midge Ure has a great new CD". It sounded darker, heavier, less sublime than his previous solo efforts. Instead I decided to play this one once a week for at least several months before I decided to rank it against his previous work. And I am glad I waited! This is really an exceptional piece of work. The tunes aren't instantly hummable (which may be why some people have set it back on their shelves or pawned their copies off on Ebay), but once they become familiar, they are clearly identifiable as "by Midge Ure". "You Move Me" was a wise choice to open the disc, as it is almost hummable on first play (kind of like "Breathe"). "Spielberg Sky" is pure Midge - what a powerful chorus!! "Words" is probably the most instantly accessible tune on the disc, and one that showcases Midge's incredible vocal range. If "Strong doesn't put shivers down your spine and change your mood to one of introspection, you are emotionless! The list goes on. "Alone" is reminiscent of Ultravox; "Monster" could be a U2 instrumental; "Absolution Sometime!" and "The Refugee Song" are Ure/Mitchell collaborations, and live up to expectations. I think "Four" is the best track on the disc - deeply heartfelt and upbeat. The disc ends with soft sounds of "Somebody", leaving you with the need to hear more. As usual, Midge continues to stretch his songwriting and redefine himself. As such, it is difficult to instantly like each new presentation - you need to let them grow on you. But to me, those are the one's that endure as 'favorites', and not those that sound the same as last year's model. Those of you who quickly put this one back on the shelf, dust it off and give it a few more spins!"
His most personal, heartfelt effort to date
Craig L. Nicholls | Littleton, CO United States | 07/02/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Before the "Move Me" album was available in the US, I had a unique chance to meet Midge and his manager in NYC at a special one-off gig at Arlene's Grocery. (the gig was a special show trying to help land a US distribution deal with an Indie lable run by Nigel [formerly w/ Modern English]) I was invited to a press party as well as the sound check before the show.As such, I talked to his manager for over an hour (as well as talking to Midge several times over the weekend; he even bought me a drink!) and learned alot about what went in to the making of "Move Me"Although I can't mention specifics, I know first hand that this album,particularly "Strong" and "Let Me Go" are incredibly personal expressions of Midge's emotions and the struggles he has had throughout his life. Knowing this makes me enjoy this album even more.Another thing I took away from this experience was how seriously Midge takes his music and his fans (his outburst at the noisy crowd in the back of the room was, although vulgar, cool because it showed how much he appreciated those of us who had come from 100's of miles around; he was amazed that I had driven up from Virginia with laryngitis to see the show). It felt pretty good to know that he respects and appreciates his fans. It deepened my respect for him.If you ever liked Midge's music, get this album."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
