Search - The Listening Pool :: Still Life

Andy who ?

viceman71 | Binghamton, NY USA | 06/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If anything, this album from the "other 3" members of OMD proves that the vital aspects of OMD, being the melody, the solid songwriting, and stellar musicianship does NOT belong exclusively to OMD singer, Andrew McCluskey. In fact, this album gives Mal, Martin, & ESPECIALLY Paul their moment to shine. And they do so brilliantly. Paul's voice is phenomenal & has only gotten better with time. Much more melodic & soulful than any of his OMD efforts. This album is what OMD's last album SHOULD have sounded like. Very mature, yet classy. The two stand-out tracks on this album are MEANT TO BE and the title track, STILL LIFE. Irrepressible hooks that keep you humming the damn melody for days after you've listened to it. While this album isn't as synth-laden as a "traditional" OMD album, it showcases a different side of the classic OMD sound.......true soul & solid, mature songs. Paul Humphries was undoubtedly the vital element in OMD's success. Truly one of the great & under-appreciated keyboardists of the last 25 years. And Martin Cooper's Bass playing is more solid & punchy than ANYHTHING on an OMD record. Mal Holmes rounds it all out with a tight in-the-pocket groove on the drumkit. As a long-time fan, I can only dream of how great OMD would be if these guys could get their differences put aside & get on with the music. Go out & Buy this album. You'll wonder WHY you waited so long. To sum it all up in one sentence......STILL LIFE is the long-lost OMD album. The type of record that Andy McCluskey & his hired guns SHOULD have made. A definite 5 out of 5 for me ! :-)"

Background Listening

Raleigh | Raleigh, NC | 08/22/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I expected that Paul Humprhies, Martin Cooper and Mal Holmes would NOT want to sound like their former band: OMD. But I think the years of legal wrangling over control of the OMD name, and the inability for the three of them to release themselves from contract took a creative toll. But there are definite moments that prove that Paul Humprhies was an integral part of Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. "Oil for the Lamps of China" is a scintillating pop-tune, produced with just the right flourishes and odd arrangement. Unfortunately, while the melody is there, Humphries has never been good a crafting lyrics (think of his OMD hits like "Souvenir" or "Secret"). Unfortunately, the rest of the album is most accoustic and unmemorable. "Meant to Be" and "Promised the World" almost rise to the occasion, but sound like everything else on the album. The only other track worth noting is "Blue Africa," a quasi-African soundscape. It's use of samples and synths prove that Humphries, while not the major song-writer, understood better than McCluskey what the OMD "sound" was. I think this would have been an excellent album if they'd stuck to the synthesizers and left the tepid guitars at home."

Good news!!

Analog | Planet Earth | 03/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For everyone hoping to get their hands on this incredible album, it's now available through OMD's official website!! Just go to the website store and click on the link to Muzic2burn (Malcolm Holmes record label)and you can order it direct!! I can't say the web address for OMD's site, but if you type in OMD in your search engine, you'll be able to find it easily enough. As for this album, it's great--everything you'd expect from the former members of OMD. It actually sounds pretty much like a lost OMD album---it is very hard to come by, and you'll be happy that you're able to add this to your collection!"