Search - Pale Saints :: Slow Buildings

BRILLIANT

jkmckenna | Portland, OR USA | 09/10/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is the best offering from the now defunct Pale Saints. Sure, Meriel Barham's writing style is different than Ian Master's, but the quality of work is just as good. Barham brought new light and killer licks to what ultimately became Pale Saints swan song. And as a vocalist, she surpasses Masters by miles. 'Slow Buildings' may not be the best rock album in the world but it remains one of the finest moments in music from the 1990s. 4AD fan or not, this record will appeal to anyone looking for great brit-rock from the last decade. It's still as refreshing as ever. I cannot get bored of this album. Highlights: Under Your Nose & Fine Friend."

Acceptable fair from a great band

Joren Lindholm | Washington DC, United States | 10/27/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I saw Pale Saints play a concert in Florence, Italy in 1994. I had never heard of Pale Saints, but was certainly glad to be at that show. Pale Saints were SOOOO enjoyable on that night - much better than many other shows I've seen. All four members were really into the performance. They may have gone on to do other things, but they know (as well as many who saw them live) that they surely rocked. And that's that.My favorite recording by them is the "Fine Friend" CD single. The album "Slow Buildings" is something I enjoy listening to. But after their concert, it sounds unnecessarily laiden with thick production. The songs, some of them their best, feel like their shellaced with audio 'stuff' when I hear them on this album. I get the same feeling when I listen to a This Mortal Coil record. This vice, however, is probably due to the producer, not the band. Song highlights: "Under Your Nose", "Gesture of a Fear", "Always I" and "Fine Friend"."

Obscure Perfection

Rock Spahr | High Point, NC USA | 04/22/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To me this is "The Pale Saints" and the album that exposed me to this great band. Mariel Bonham has a wonderful and relaxed voice that really makes the songs shine. The guitar craft is the tightest the band has ever been and the songs contain just enough experimentation to make them interesting for many repeated listenings. Stumbling across this album was a defining moment in shaping my taste in music today and as a result it consistently is among my favorites. King Fade, Fine Friend, and Suggestion are my choice songs."