Driving to Damascus

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Limited edition pressing of the 1999 & eighth studio album by the Scottish rockers with two unmarked bonus tracks added, 'Shattered Cross' & 'Too Many Ghosts', both of which feature Blue Heeler. 14 tracks total, also featuring the singles 'See You' and 'F

Tracks:

Driving to Damascus
Dive in to Me
See You
Perfect World
Somebody Else
Fragile Things
President Slipped and Fell
Devil in the Eye
Trouble the Waters
Bella
Your Spirit to Me
Grace
Loserville [*]
This Blood's for You [*]
I Get Hurt [*]
John Wayne's Dream [*]

Album Details

First Limited Edition to 15, 000 Pieces. Features Four Unreleased Bonus Tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Gets better the more you listen to it.......2007-03-09

It's nice to see that Big Country drifted away from their "Crossing/Steeltown/Seer" type of sound and ended up evolving in lots of different ways. I love the classic material and those other albums are among my favorite cds. This one took me a few additional listenings to really get into. "Fragile Thing" and "Perfect World" really started to stand out to me over time (and especially after seeing the videos). Great album and excellent if you liked Big Country in the 80s and want to see how they evolved without ever really "selling out".

'Desert Island Disc' pertinent! Incredible and moving!.......2005-02-16

It is especially poignant and sad to have to listen to this overlooked masterpiece given the untimely and sudden sad ending to the great Stuart Adamson's life. I guess in the end, no matter how talented and loved you may be, personal demons can snatch you from this earth. I can't pretend to know Stu's mind and what was going through it. That said, this release is a helluva 'swansong' for the band. It is truly an example of 'best of the best' melodic songwriting prowess and passionate vocals, and I try and celebrate and honor the band's musical contributions when I listen to this magnificent CD. The songs are tight, passionate, and hooky! As excellent as Big Country was previous to 'Driving To Damascus', they really 'took it to the next level' with this one. Please do yourselves a favor and get your hands on this one... it's THAT GOOD!!!

Powerful, beautiful, and sad.......2003-05-20

I'm rediscovering Stuart Adamson and Big Country after many years of having forgotten them. As brilliant and unique as The Crossing was, it seems that Adamson was really just getting rolling artistically when he decided life wasn't worth living. The last project he worked on, The Raphaels, yielded a fabulous debut.

But the final Big Country recording, Driving to Damascus, is just stunning. It retains the best qualities BC and Adamson always possessed: fabulous playing, unique sounds and song structures, and poetic lyrics. But it's all distilled into a ferociously powerful and seemless package.

The influence of Nashville on Adamson results in a couple of great songs that sound nothing like anything BC has done before ("See You" and "Fragile Thing" in particular). Two collaborations with Ray Davies work beautifully ("Somebody Else" and "The Devil in the Eye"). And the rockers should be rocking arenas everywhere (especially the stunning "Dive into Me").

I find all this late work by Adamson enormously moving. In "Dive into Me" he sings, "Sometimes swirling waters drag you down/Knowing how to swim doesn't mean you never drown/Come the storm you hold in fear whoever's by your side/Sometimes you're just drifting on the tide." If that doesn't rip you up, you need therapy.

bury me where the rose is sown.......2001-12-31

Unfotunately, Stuart Adamson took his own life and this album is the last Big Country recording he gave it his all to. What is most evident is the influence of his new home, Nashville, on the sound. Instead of a blast of Scotland, we get a much more country feel, which is fine. Fragile Thing is one of the finest songs recorded by this band. This album is a fine swan song.

Best BC Album in Years!.......2000-12-12

If you have forgotten how good Big Country are/were, pull up a chair, put this in the CD player and turn up the volume.

Driving to Damascus is full of strong material from the eponymous opening track to the haunting 'Your Spirit to Me' (Think of 'One' by U2, but better). The songwriting is undoubtedly influenced by Stuart Adamson's domicile in the USA, as it has been since the 'No Place Like Home' album, but that is not necessarily a bad thing. 'The President Slipped and Fell' is a barnstorming track and surely deserved major radio airplay and 'John Wayne's Dream' should have made the original cut for the album.

This album is notable for some perfect collaborations, firstly Stuart and Ray Davies 'Somebody Else', an excellent track with too much passion about a messy break-up, not to have some bearing in truth. The second interesting duo is Stuart and Eddi Reader, who provides sympathetic harmony on 'Fragile Thing.'

There are a few surprises, notably 'See You', which had me checking the CD to make sure it was really Big Country. I turned it off on first hearing, but it grows on you.

'Dive Into Me' is more typical of BC anthem rock, although the live version on the 'Come Up Screaming' album puts this recording in the shade.

Tracks:

Driving to Damascus
Dive in to Me
See You
Perfect World
Somebody Else
Fragile Thing
President Slipped and Fell
Devil in the Eye
Trouble the Waters
Bella
Your Spirit to Me
Grace

Album Description

1999 & eighth studio album from the veteran Scottish rockers. 12 tracks, including the singles 'See You' and 'Fragile Thing' (featuring ex-Fairground Attraction vocalist Eddi Reader).

Album Details

Includes Two Exclusive Bonus Tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Gone too soon.......2003-12-17

I was introduced to BC music just a year ago, and have become a huge fan. Stuart's poetry is phenomenal, his music is genius, and I find myself wondering what happened....why someone so against violence with a real message left us through such violence against himself. So far Buffalo Skinners is my favorite CD--excellent rock. Song #1 is one of my favorites of all music, and I consider BC among other greats like "Yes" "Led Zepplin" and "Moody Blues" among others. Stuart was obviously impassioned to a point that many never reach, and I am so grateful he used his gift to express his soul. Amazing.

Phenomenal.......2003-07-19

I'd been a passing fan of Big Country in the 80s; my younger brother eventually bought most of their US LPs, so when I saw the later 1990s recordings I let him know about them just as a courtesy.

To say I was blown away by this album when he gave it to me would be an understatement. It's one of the best things I've heard in the last couple of years, consistently strong all the way through.

If all you've heard is their one-hit material, or even their 1980s output, you probably won't expect this either. No bagpipe-like guitars, no overdramatic 80s-style production (not that those things ever bothered ME). Just a classic rock album that ranges in mood from the countryish ballad "See You" to the spookily spiritual "Your Spirit To Me" to the hard-driving title track to the hilarious rant about media oversaturation, "The President Slipped and Fell," to the beautiful "Fragile Thing."

A keeper.

It is that good.......2001-02-20

You thought Big Country was a one hit wonder and disappeared inthe early 80's? Not a chance. This release would be exceptional fromany band. That veterans almost 20 years into their career couldfashion something so vibrant is phenomenal. A comeback? Hardly. Theywere never gone. You just didn't hear anything off "The BuffaloSkinners" or "Why The Long Face". Ray Davies, one ofthe great ones, co-wrote 2 of these tunes. Not that Stuart needed anyhelp. His songcraft is better than ever. Buy it and enjoy the earthy,passionate music. "Dive Into Me" is a tremendous single. If BCdoes anything for you at all, this release is essential. So many bandsdie a dog death. BC goes out screaming with some of the finest musicthey have ever produced.

Average customer rating:

Gone too soon
Phenomenal
It is that good

Driving to Damascus

Manufacturer: Track
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

New Wave | New Wave & Post-Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Alternative Rock | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00002MUGK
Release Date: 2004-01-06

Album Description

Limited edition pressing of the 1999 & eighth studio album by the Scottish rockers with two unmarked bonus tracks added, 'Shattered Cross' & 'Too Many Ghosts', both of which feature Blue Heeler. 14 tracks total, also featuring the singles 'See You' and 'F

Album Details

Includes Two Exclusive Bonus Tracks.

Customer Reviews:

Gone too soon.......2003-12-17

Phenomenal.......2003-07-19

I'd been a passing fan of Big Country in the 80s; my younger brother eventually bought most of their US LPs, so when I saw the later 1990s recordings I let him know about them just as a courtesy.

To say I was blown away by this album when he gave it to me would be an understatement. It's one of the best things I've heard in the last couple of years, consistently strong all the way through.

A keeper.

It is that good.......2001-02-20