The Days of Our Nights

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Founded by former members of alt-rock godhead bands the Feelies, Galaxie 500, and the Chills, Luna manages to fold the best elements of those bands into their own batter: the Feelies' crazy rhythms, Galaxie 500's roomy, rainy-day vibe, and the Chills' spaced-out jangle. Beside the best of Luna's oeuvre (Bewitched and Penthouse), The Days of Our Nights is a fairly innocuous affair, with Luna's trademark lilting tunes, ambling, melodic bass lines, and metronomic drums adding nothing to the conversation. That said, there is no denying that Dean Wareham has developed into a fantastic, quirky, and completely original guitarist; indeed, his guitar, at times blistering, at others whispering, supplies Days with its finest moments. Funny to think that Wareham, who is most infamous for his wry, witty, and sometimes bratty lyricism, turns out to be a guitar hero. On "Words Without Wrinkles" he lays a searing and heartfelt solo above a Sterling Morrisonesque rhythm shuffle and a whistling melody. On "The Rustler" he trades a wavery-delicate guitar run with a souring cello. At times he reminds one of Peter Frampton, whose expressive, conversational guitar lines are entirely underrated. However, The Days of Our Nights will probably be most remembered for its cover of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine," and it really is an inspired cover, delving to the tender core of the song that Axl Rose's histrionics completely overshadowed. --Tod Nelson --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

The Days of Our Nights
Average customer rating:

Please Excuse My Eyes

Most of you are not worthy to even listen to Luna

classic

Another good bad that didn't know when to quit

Pleasant Surprise

The Days of Our Nights
Luna
Manufacturer: Jericho
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
Dream Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | Rock | Styles | Music
Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000021XSA
Release Date: 1999-10-26

Tracks:

Dear Diary
Hello, Little One
The Old Fashioned Way
Four Thousand Days
Seven Steps To Satan
Superfreaky Memories
Math Wiz
Words Without Wrinkles
The Rustler
U.S. Out Of My Pants!
The Slow Song
Sweet Child O' Mine

Amazon.com

Founded by former members of alt-rock godhead bands the Feelies, Galaxie 500, and the Chills, Luna manages to fold the best elements of those bands into their own batter: the Feelies' crazy rhythms, Galaxie 500's roomy, rainy-day vibe, and the Chills' spaced-out jangle. Beside the best of Luna's oeuvre (Bewitched and Penthouse), The Days of Our Nights is a fairly innocuous affair, with Luna's trademark lilting tunes, ambling, melodic bass lines, and metronomic drums adding nothing to the conversation. That said, there is no denying that Dean Wareham has developed into a fantastic, quirky, and completely original guitarist; indeed, his guitar, at times blistering, at others whispering, supplies Days with its finest moments. Funny to think that Wareham, who is most infamous for his wry, witty, and sometimes bratty lyricism, turns out to be a guitar hero. On "Words Without Wrinkles" he lays a searing and heartfelt solo above a Sterling Morrisonesque rhythm shuffle and a whistling melody. On "The Rustler" he trades a wavery-delicate guitar run with a souring cello. At times he reminds one of Peter Frampton, whose expressive, conversational guitar lines are entirely underrated. However, The Days of Our Nights will probably be most remembered for its cover of Guns N' Roses' "Sweet Child o' Mine," and it really is an inspired cover, delving to the tender core of the song that Axl Rose's histrionics completely overshadowed. --Tod Nelson

Customer Reviews:

Please Excuse My Eyes.......2006-09-16

Luna's oeuvre is solid from top to bottom--so much so that their consistency became a point of criticism. The band arrived fully formed with its 1992 debut "Lunapark" and kept plugging away steadily and single-mindedly for seven albums. Their sound underwent subtle variations from album to album, of course, but those new colors and shades were basically cosmetic. Luna's strengths were constant: great songwriting and spine-tingling guitar interplay. That said, of all the Luna albums, "The Days of Our Nights," their fifth offering, is the shortest on those two elements.

You know how certain albums take time to sink in and reveal their charms? It's a cliché, but there's truth to it. The problem is figuring out which albums deserve that extra effort from the listener. Sometimes, albums that are difficult to grasp initially will "click" after several listens, but this phenomenon is not a simple matter of giving an album enough time. Some albums never "click," and, unfortunately, "Days" is one of them. It's short on melodies and hooks, and its songs blend into an unwieldy, unmemorable mass. On the other hand, the performances and production are beautiful: the guitars sound typically sumptuous, the rhythm section is on the mark, and the vocals are on par with the rest of Luna's albums. But nothing stands out.

"Superfreaky Memories" might be the best song here, but it sounds like at least three other, better Luna songs from previous albums. I'd be hard pressed to be able to sing a line from any of the album's other tracks, and I've listened to the darn thing several times, hoping for it to sink in. It never did. The G'n'R cover that closes "Days" is pretty and languid in the same way that all of Luna's best songs are, but it comes off as nothing more than novelty, sounding exactly as you'd imagine it would. Worse, its phoned-in performance seemed to hint that the band was running out of ideas.

Perhaps Luna was in a creative rut when writing and recording "Days." The album certainly sounds like a rather joyless affair. In his liner notes for the posthumous "Best of Luna" collection that was released this year, Dean Wareham hints that the "Days" era was a rough stretch, one that almost claimed the band. Remember, Luna had been dropped by Elektra, consigning "Days" to the realm of the dispossessed, and Justin Harwood hung up his bass not long after the album, which was mercifully rescued by Jericho Records, had run its course. Whatever was going on behind the scenes, something wasn't right in Lunaland. Thankfully (and perhaps surprisingly), "Romantica," the follow-up to "Days" that was released in 2002 found Luna back on form, with a new energy and sense of purpose.

Most of you are not worthy to even listen to Luna.......2005-08-11

I enjoy reading reviews by folks who say Luna is 'interesting', or 'really good'.

The deal is this: Luna is, or were, one of the top 5 working bands in this here USA, period (along with Los Lobos, Wilco, and a couple others).

Don't even talk about their music, their lyrics, whatever. Just cool it. Buy their music. Stop writing. Don't even compliment Luna. Stop writing. Buy it. Listen. Share it.

Sidebar: cuz I know you are rapt by now: I first saw them opening for Lou (and don't ask 'Lou who?' yahoos) in '95, and they were transplendent. Ridiculously hypnotic. Dare I say, better than Lou? Mayhap I do, child, mayhap I do.

classic.......2004-12-02

this album is out of print now. what a deplorable shame. i didn't ever have a copy and rocked out to the music via tape i made four or five years ago. until i lost it. ouch. whatever you do, bless yourselves and try to find a copy somehow. this album is absolutely amazing and can't be ignored. right when you think there are no simple and yet gorgeous riffs left to be discovered on the guitar and that the repetitive nature of rock and roll music has run its course, luna comes along and restores your faith in the universe. their sound is totally original and the lyrics complement the music flawlessly. brilliant. do yourself a favor, check it out.

Another good bad that didn't know when to quit.......2001-11-27

As a big Feelies fan and a big Galaxie 500 fan, Luna would seem like the perfect band for me. And they were, for 2 releases anyway. This band has run out of things to say. Dean Wareham's lyrics grow more inane with each release. Ex-Feelie Stanley Demeski is gone, replaced by a rather indistinguished drummer. Buy Lunapark or Bewitched instead...Penthouse is okay, but the decline started there.

Pleasant Surprise.......2000-10-06

I work at a music store, and I have to admit I only picked up this album because I thought it had a cool cover. I had never even heard of them before. When I put it on the overhead, I was immediatley drawn into the layered guitars and the shadowy vocals. Luna is an interesting brand of pop unlike anything I've heard before. They blend mysteriousness and melody very nicely, and the album is a smooth listen from beginning to end. The highlight of the album is "The Old-Fashioned Way," which will stay humming around in your head for an endless period of time. I do, however, think that the cover of GN'R's "Sweet Child O' Mine" does not belong on this album. I dig Guns N' Roses- it just doesn't fit here. Although I must say Luna's version outdoes the Sheryl Crow version by leaps and bounds. Overall- a great surprise; you should check it out!

Average customer rating:

Inspirational!
hymns we sang in church

Abide With Me

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Hymns | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music
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Praise to the Lord - Hymns From St. Paul's Cathedral
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ASIN: B000024236
Release Date: 1996-06-10

Tracks:

Praise, My Soul, The King of Heaven - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
All Glory, Laud and Honour - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
When I Survey the Wondrous Cross - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Day of Resurrection - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
O God, Our Help in Ages Past - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Dear Lord and Father of Mankind - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Praise to the Holiest in the Height - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Praise to the Lord - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Church's One Foundation - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Crown Him With Many Crowns - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Love Divine, All Loves Excelling - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Holy, Holy, Holy! Lord God Almighty - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Now Thank We All Our God - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Abide with Me - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
O Praise Ye the Lord - Choir of King's College, Stephen Cleobury
Drop, Drop, Slow Tears - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
Glory Be to Jesus - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
There Is a Green Hill Far Away - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
According to Thy Gracious Word - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
Holy Father, Cheer Our Way - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
Glory to Thee, My God, This Night - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Is Ended - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
Hark! A Thrilling Voice Is Sounding - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks
On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry - Choir of King's College, Sir David Willcocks

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Onward, Christian Soldiers - Huddersfield Choral Society, Wyn Morris
Lord's My Shepherd - Huddersfield Choral Society, Wyn Morris
Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah - Huddersfield Choral Society, Wyn Morris
All People That on Earth Do Dwell - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
Forty Days and Forty Nights - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
Christ the Lord Is Risen Today - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
Head That Once Was Crown'd With Thorns - U.S.A.F. Protestant Chapel Choir, West Ruislap, England,
Rock of Ages - Choir of King's College, Maurice Vinden
Eternal Father, Strong to Save - Choir of King's College, Maurice Vinden
All Things Bright and Beautiful - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
Be Thou My Vision - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
Be Still, My Soul - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
King of Love My Shepherd Is - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
Let Us With a Gladsome Mind - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
For All the Saints - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
O Worship the King - Choir of Paisley Abbey, George McPhee
Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus - Choir of King's College, George Guest
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence - Choir of King's College, George Guest
Spirit of Mercy, Truth, And Love - Choir of King's College, George Guest
Lead Us, Heavenly Father, Lead Us - Choir of King's College, George Guest
Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise - Choir of King's College, George Guest
Jesu, Lover of My Soul - Choir of King's College, George Guest
Jerusalem - Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Choir of King's College, ,