Join With Us

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Having achieved the improbable by redeeming traditional soft rock as a chart-friendly genre, are the London quintet challenging their audience a touch too much by titling their second album Join with Us? After all, wasn't recasting the terminally unfashionable likes of Supertramp and other so-called 'guilty pleasures' already a rather big ask? But it transpires that Dan Gillespie Sells and band, probably the first and only successful band to have perfected their chops as après-ski Alpine entertainers, have eschewed the vulnerability of 2006's hugely successful Twelve Stops and Home. Instead Join with Us is an unashamedly loud record, confidently full of stadium fillers in the best British tradition of Queen and Electric Light Orchestra. The thumping disco-rock of opener "I Thought It Was Over" leads the way, but "Without You", wetter than a waterfall, and the hysterical title track with its long build to a fearsomely slick chorus are similarly singleworthy. Less predictable are the downright odd "Don't Make Me Sad"--imagine a dream team of Chas'n'Dave'n'Brian May--and the lush, rueful ballad "Conor" where a string section and ethereal Beatles-esque harmonies add depth. "The Greatest Show on Earth", rather reminiscent of Kate Bush's bleaker moments, fails to live up to its title, pretty much the lyrical intention. But it's only the jaunty hidden track "We Can Dance", presumably aspiring to McCartney at his most jovial but in fact nearer to Chris De Burgh, that misses completely. The Feeling's brash new style may lack some of their previous charm, but Join With Us is undeniably effective. --Steve Jelbert

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Customer reviews

review by: Frendly Nabourhood Theatre Technician date: 2008-07-06 rating:
ELO on Crack
As a fan of there first album I bought this album when it first came out, listened to it once and said "What is this? It sounds like ELO on crack. RUBBISH!!" And so didn't listen to it for ages. However i found it again the other day so listened to it once again. My reaction this time was "What is this? It sounds like ELO on crack. GREAT!!" I always find the things that take a while to like usually stay with you for longer. Good Album!

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review by: pineapples_hurt date: 2008-06-16 rating:
Good, but not as good
An album probably isn't a masterpiece when you keep playing it to convince yourself it's good, but I didn't think a lot of 'Twelve Stops and Home' the first time I heard it and a month later I loved every track. However I'm listening to this on repeat and so far my initial opinion remains the same. It's nice easy listening, but there are no 'Blue Picadilly' or 'Helicopter's on here. In fact, at least two songs don't actually progress. Their chorus sounds like a verse and when it returns toward the end of the song you realise you didn't care if it came back or not. Songs like 'Everyone' sound like they came from the first album and more of that vibe would have been welcome. Another problem is that almost every tack reminded me of something else. 'I Thought It Was Over' contains riffs similar to 70's Genesis, 'Without You' is essentially a Wings track and 'Won't Go Away's resemblance to David Bowie's 'Modern Love' is blatant.

I'm not ruling out that it may yet grow on me to the point I consider it a four star album, but I see it as The Feeling getting their difficult second album out of the way so that they can make a third that picks up on the fun and catchiness of their debut.

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review by: colliedogs date: 2008-05-21 rating:
Excellent
After reading lots of the reviews already posted I nearly didn't buy this CD. But as I like the two singles released from it I decided to buy it. It is excellent, a good mix of songs.

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review by: date: 2008-05-09 rating:
Say cheese!
Where's all their charm gone? The irresistable cheesy songs of the first album have turned cringey and tired on their second one.

The tunes are still catchy but the lyrics are appalling! Using the word escalator to rhyme with later..! ..No!- and what about the inane words "loneliness, mm mm mm, what is the point of it?" I mean what is that suppose to mean? Is that meant to be deep?

I've listened to it a few times hoping it would be a grower,but nothing doing, just can't get past bland and irritating.

There are two songs that are lovely, which give you a glimmer of how good it could have been (and had been on their debut) if they had worked harder and not churned out this tepid offering.


review by: date: 2008-05-08 rating:
My first experience of The Feeling
Not having bought or heard any Feeling music before and based entirely on a recommendation by a friend, I bought "Join With Us" and was surprised to find proper music for a change. I'm so fed up with all the RAP and repetitive junk that is today's pop, I haven't bought anything since "Life is a Roller-coaster", so I was a bit unsure of The Feeling, but not any more. Unlike some other reviewers, I love all of the tracks, but they took a while to sink in and at different rates. The second track was the first to get to me, and still does. I can't find fault with any of the tracks. I also like the fact they have some friends and relations (including 3 yr old Sonny, who is now 4) helping out. My friend says that the first album is not to be missed, so I am just about to order it from this lovely website!

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