Take Fountain [Enhanced]

Amazon.com
Somewhere it’s raining, and a heartbroken teenager listens to the Wedding Present on headphones while staring out at the raindrops sploshing against the earth outside. Formed in Leeds in the mid ‘80s, this "miserabilist" pop band was huge in the U.K. back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, though they never approached the charts here. In 2005, the Wedding Present is David Gedge plus whoever he wants in the band. In fact, Take Fountain, the first WP album in 8 years, allegedly started out as a new record by his post-WP orchestral pop act, Cinerama. Gedge has always demonstrated very Catholic indie-rock taste. His band covered Pavement’s "Box Elder" -- a song off their first single -- before most knew who they were. And here he re-enlists versatile veteran Steve Fisk as the producer. There are poppy mid-tempo dirges ("Don’t Touch that Dial") and vaguely detuned, mopey but not emo anthems ("Mars Sparkles Down on Me"). The now-Seattle-based Gedge has made another Wedding Present album filled with pretty songs that gracefully shout to the heavens, "Woe is me!" --Mike McGonigal

Take Fountain,The Wedding Present,Manifesto Records,Alternative Pop/Rock,Indie Rock,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

Take Fountain [Enhanced]

Average customer rating:

I expected more after eight years...
Glorious
Amazing lyrics
nice return
Great Stuff, but file under Cinerama

Take Fountain
The Wedding Present
Manufacturer: Manifesto Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
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Torino
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Saturnalia

ASIN: B0007IO6XC
Release Date: 2005-02-15

Tracks:

Interstate 5 (Extended Version)
Always The Quiet One
I'm From Further North Than You
Mars Sparkles Down On Me
Ringway To Seatac
Don't Touch That Dial
It's For You
Larry's
Queen Anne
Perfect Blue

Product Description

1. Interstate 5 (Extended Version)
2. Always The Quiet One
3. I'm From Further North Than You
4. Mars Springles Down On Me
5. Ringway To Seatac
6. Don't Touch That Dial (Pacific Northwest Version)
7. It's For You
8. Larry's
9. Queen Anne
10. Perfect Blue

Format: CD

Amazon.com

Somewhere it's raining, and a heartbroken teenager listens to the Wedding Present on headphones while staring out at the raindrops sploshing against the earth outside. Formed in Leeds in the mid `80s, this "miserabilist" pop band was huge in the U.K. back in the `80s and `90s, though they never approached the charts here. In 2005, the Wedding Present is David Gedge plus whoever he wants in the band. In fact, Take Fountain, the first WP album in 8 years, allegedly started out as a new record by his post-WP orchestral pop act, Cinerama. Gedge has always demonstrated very Catholic indie-rock taste. His band covered Pavement's "Box Elder" -- a song off their first single -- before most knew who they were. And here he re-enlists versatile veteran Steve Fisk as the producer. There are poppy mid-tempo dirges ("Don't Touch that Dial") and vaguely detuned, mopey but not emo anthems ("Mars Sparkles Down on Me"). The now-Seattle-based Gedge has made another Wedding Present album filled with pretty songs that gracefully shout to the heavens, "Woe is me!" --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews:

I expected more after eight years..........2006-10-02

I have been a Wedding Present fan for years and have all their recordings. Saw them in Long Beach one time. I wished David Gedge had not taken that little eight year detour into Cinerama with his girlfriend, as they were never quite as good as the Weddies as, I can only presume, the gal softened him. It showed in Cinerama's music and lyrics, which were good but didn't have the bite that TWP music had. Too lovey dovey, shmaltzy-syrupy, that Cinerama thing. Yuck. Gedge lost his edge when he went and did that project. Women; what can you do, huh?
Well, I was ecstatic to find that Gedge had come back after eight years. I bought this CD with a nostalgic smile on my face.
Trouble is, it's not up to snuff. After eight years, with all that time to come up with new stuff, I guess I expected a little more. There's a lot of filler here. Gedge came back to the Weddies, but he has not yet brought back his edge. Maybe if he does another release, he'll get it back. Let's hope so.
All that said, it's still Gedge, this cd, even if it is watered-down Gedge. Which is to say, it's better than most other pop music, to be sure. If you can get past the filler, check out track #7, called "It's for You." It is the only real gem here. In times past, Gedge would have filled up an entire cd with gems like that.

Glorious.......2006-06-23

I started listening to the Wedding Present with Seamonsters and followed them through the wonderful Hit Parade CDs but then sort of lost touch with them. About a month ago I found WP on a friend's Top 8 List on Myspace.com and thought I should get out the old CDs and see how they had aged. After listening to them all multiple times I figured I needed to see what Gedge was up to now and ran out to buy Take Fountain.

As Interstate 5 kicked in my first thought was that they still manage to get some of the greatest drum sounds ever recorded. As a musician/producer I live for killer recordings, especially drums, and WP have never dissapointed. The second surprise was Gedge's voice. If I didn't know it was WP that I was listening to I may not have recognized him right away. He seems to have shed a bit of his accent and now, where his voice used to be somewhat buried on previous albums, his vocals are pushed forward in the mix. He's voice has matured wonderfully and the listener can now hang on every one of his excellent lyrics. And speaking of lyrics, I noticed that a previous reviewer here at Amazon was struck by the same line as I - "how can I just shake his hand when it's been all over your skin". When I heard that for the first time it was like a knife in the chest. Even now after the 10th listen it still causes brings an ache.

I could sit here all night and write praise for Take Fountain. The production is amazing, the songs are fantastic, the musicianship is beautiful. It's a glorious album and I'm sure I will be obsessed with it for quite some time. Do yourself a favor and buy a copy. You won't regret it.

Amazing lyrics.......2005-05-04

Most of the time I dismiss lyrics and focus my opinions simply on the music and/or vocals. Yeah, that's just the way I am, so deal with it. That said, the lyrics on this album are impossible to ignore. "How can I just shake his hand when it's been all over your skin?" Simply amazing. Every song seems to have some line in it that blows me away and when this is all combined with outstanding musical arrangements (I'd say soft and airy) it makes for my favorite album of the year so far.

nice return .......2005-04-30

mon, de first track a mindblower! i love-loved dees guys longtime, mon. i sat and auditioned dis disc at de record store...now i must go-buy (but me cash poor millionaire, mon--some my friends, you buy dis for me? pretty-plea?
i need dis; you need dis. what you also need: NEW ORDER new record waitin' for de siren call; THE BLACK WATCH, very mary beth; PAJAMA HARVEY, uh huh her; SPOON, gimme dat fiction

Great Stuff, but file under Cinerama .......2005-04-27

This of course is a 5 star record, best David has done in ages.
I respect Cinerama a lot and think the idea of coming back to the orignal WP group name is pointless when both bands sound so similar towards Saturnilia to current Cinerama. Maybe it is for the financial attention that he totally deserves, selling his own shirts after every show. I once saw them perform. David saw this one kid sing every word to every tune from the stage. The kid asked for two shirts and David said 'it was on him, cheers'. I'll never forget how in touch he was to his following. In any case, if you like later WP, this is such an easy one to throw on. Very Recommended! I also recommend British Sea Power's Open Season. They have a lot of WP's energy on the slow ones, as well as Julian Cope and early Echo. Cheers.

Roger Quilter: O Mistress Mine; To Daisies; Julia's Hair; Go, Lovely Rose

Average customer rating:

Roger Quilter: O Mistress Mine; To Daisies; Julia's Hair; Go, Lovely Rose

Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

4-for-3 Classical | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music

4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music
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ASIN: B00009WQUH
Release Date: 2003-09-23

Tracks:

It Was A Lover And His Lass, Op. 23 No. 3
Take, O Take Those Lips Away Op. 23 No. 4
O Mistress Mine Op. 6 No. 2
How Should I Your True Love Know Op. 30 No. 3
Orpheus With His Lute Op. 32 No. 1
Hark! Hark! The Lark
Ca' The Yowes To The Knowes
Charlie Is My Darling
Ye Banks And Braes
I Arise From Dreams Of Thee Op. 29
Music When Soft Voices Die Op. 25 No. 5
Love's Philosophy Op. 3 No. 1
Spring Is At The Door Op. 18 No. 4
Passing Dreams Op. 10 No. 2
Autumn Evening Op. 14 No. 1
An Old Carol Op. 25 No. 3
I. I Will Go With My Father A-Plowing
II. Cherry Valley
III. I Wish And I Wish
Go Lovely Rose Op. 24 No. 3
A Last Year's Rose Op. 14 No. 3
Amaryllis At The Fountain Op. 15 No. 2
I Dare Not Ask A Kiss Op. 28 No. 3
Now Sleeps The Crimson Petal Op. 3 No. 2
Prelude
I. The Bracelet
II. The Maiden Blush
III. To Daisies
IV. The Night Piece
V. Julia's Hair
Interlude
VI. Cherry Ripe
Love Calls Through The Summer Night

Average customer rating:

The Real Thing
Fantastic Collection of Favorites!!!

The Mantovani Orchestra

Manufacturer: St. Clair Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dances | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Polkas | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Waltzes | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music

Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Etudes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Movie Scores | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B00005YC5F
Release Date: 2000-04-18

Customer Reviews:

The Real Thing.......2007-01-27

I'm a HUGE Mantovani fan and have had mixed results trying to upgrade my collection to CDs. This collection is the original orchestra arrangements of all the classics. This is the one to buy.

Fantastic Collection of Favorites!!!.......2003-07-02

The Mantovanti Orchestra shows off their "marvelous versatility" in this "wonderful" collection of "8 CDs", with titles that tell you "just what to expect", such as: "The Love Songs", "Memorable Classics", "Itallian Favorites", "On Broadway", etc. You can set the MOOD for practically ANY occassion! There are even some "popular" selections that we all know and treasure like: "Moon River", "Over the Rainbow" and "Autum Leaves"!
You will NOT want to remove these GREAT CDs from your CD Player, once you have listened to them! They make "nice" background music for small get-togethers or "lovely" background music for those "ROMANTIC DINNERS", for you and your "SPECIAL SOMEONE"!!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS SET!!! It is a GREAT DEAL for the money, even at the full price!!!