Wakening

Product Description
WAKENING is Julie Larson's 2nd release for Artmuse Records that showcases a left-hand turn in her artistic and songwriting evolution. Ten rocking numbers layer the formidable talents of Tal Morris (Huey Lewis & The News) on lead guitars, Bill Laymon (David Nelson Band, NRPS,etc.) on bass, and the legendary Pete Sears (Hot Tuna, etc.) on keyboards & accordion, with Julie on rhythm guitars, vocals & flute, and Don Bourne on drums.

Culled from songs written primarily after "Apotheosis", WAKENING captures in the studio the conflicting energies and juxtaposition of strong emotions prevalent in our times. A concept album that shifts energies from negative to positive, WAKENING is exactly what we need in our world-at-large today. Rooted in a myriad of classic rock influences, and combined with rock-solid backing, WAKENING is a shamanic journey to higher energy. Influences ranging from Eric Clapton to Traffic, Neil Young to The Who, early Jefferson Airplane and many others can be heard here.

From the clever invitation of "Someone Like You", through the hot proposition of "Sweet Thing", the timely honesty of "Killer Go Home" to the unapologetic anthem "I'm Not Sorry", WAKENING is a great representation of Julie's rapidly evolving talents. Her style has been compared to artists ranging from Ani Difranco to Joan Baez, Phoebe Snow to The Roches, but WAKENING puts her in a class all her own.

Wakening,Julie Larson,Artmuse Records,Classic Rock influences invoke Clapton, Traffic, Neil Young, The Who, Jefferson Airplane. Featuring performances by Bill Laymon (NRPS, David Nelson Band) and Pete Sears (Hot Tuna),Rock/Pop

Average customer rating: Surprising Blend Of All Things Good WOW !!!! a musical treasure best cd of the year War of the wakening phantoms

War of the Wakening Phantoms The High Dials Manufacturer: Rainbow Quartz 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 Similar Items: A New Devotion Our Love Will Change the World The Trials of Van Occupanther Fields in Glass Fox Confessor Brings the Flood ASIN: B0009R1A1C Release Date: 2005-06-13

Tracks:

1. The Holy Ground
2. Soul In Lust
3. Our Time Is Coming Soon
4. Strandhill Sands
5. Winter Ghosts
6. Sick With The Old Fire
7. Master Of The Clouds
8. The Lost Explorer
9. The Drum
10. A River Haunting
11. Higher And Brighter
12. Lucifer's Dream
13. Your Eyes Are A Door
14. Dust In The Sun

Amazon.com

Although hailing from the francophone Montreal, the High Dials sound like pure first-wave British invasion with their close breathy harmonies, dreamy pop collages and intelligent wordplay. In fact anything on Wars Of the Wakening Phantoms, their mystically-titled second album could have been lifted from some lost Kinks sessions, if they morphed into the late career Flaming Lips without anyone being the wiser, right down to the high-minded philosophy couched in deceptively beautiful psychedelia and the smart, sardonic asides. This time out the Canadian quintet abandoned both their mod retro aesthetic and the concept album approach of 2003's New Devotion" for a more enigmatic song suite where the phantoms of the title aren't the kind that go bump in the night, but are the ghosts of lost love and innocence. If nothing else, this record is a compelling journey through heartbreak. --Jaan Uhelszki

Album Details

The High Dials Are Back with their Second Album "War of the Wakening Phantoms. This is a Brilliant Recording of Jangle Psychedelia and Colorful Melodies with a New Romantic Touch, Reminiscent of the Flaming Lips (Soft Bulletin) with Cure-esque Guitars that Move Throughout the Album to Give it a Big Mercury Rev Feel with More Synths. "War of the Wakening Phantoms" Takes the High Dials a Little More Into the New Wave Then their First Effort "a New Devotion".

Customer Reviews:

Surprising Blend Of All Things Good.......2006-04-06

caught the high dials opening for neko case recently, and was quite surprised by how good they were. often opening bands are dull and you simply wait for them to finish, but i found myself really enjoying this band's blend of psychedelic new wave.

bought 'war of the wakening phantoms' the next day and it's been in steady rotation. the combination of influences and styles on display in these songs is intriguing: a blend of 60's psychedlia mixed with liberal dashes of 80's new wave and 90's britpop. with nods to bands from U2 to ride to the stone roses to echo & the bunnymen all coming onto the canvas to provide a welcome and familiar colour, the high dials filter it all through a melodic filter of stylings ranging from the early mod leanings of the who to the jangly psyche-pop of the byrds.

all of which is not to say that the album is derivitive or immitative -- it is quite an original pastiche, have no doubt. but like many young bands these days, the high dials don't shy away from a love of music from the 80's. it makes for a very interesting blend, the melodies and harmonies sitting nicely against the keyboards and the ocassional sitar (!). the end result is an album that feels like an old friend, one that sits quite comfortably on the cd shelf next to it's forebears and amongst it's contemporaries.

standouts:

the gorgeous opener 'the holy ground', an infenctious rave-up that bears many a repeat listen. 'winter ghosts', which is bowie meets jethro tull by way of genesis -- and that's saying something! check out 'sick with the old fire' where the band conjures the ghost of the ocean blue, which they do as well on 'strandhill sands' and 'a river haunting'.

overall, i'm impressed -- i don't listen to as much rock as i used to as i find so much of it is plodding, stale, or disposeable. but the high dials album is an interesting and diverse collection of songs that keep things airy and wide, never wallowing in the densities and dark that so many bands choose to explore.

a most welcome breath of fresh air. check it out.

WOW !!!!.......2006-01-27

Wow, Cet album est excellent. Le choix du meilleur entre le 1er et celui-ci est difficile car ils sont tous deux formidables. Enfin un groupe au son unique. Vive Québec et surtout la musique du Québec.

Saluto

a musical treasure.......2005-12-22

This album weds melodic guitar parts, mostly in major keys, with catchy yet subtle rhythms. Each song is distinct, although they maintain a warm and consistent vibe throughout. Like any truly great album, I'm constantly changing my mind as to which song is my favorite; unlike many more pedestrian albums, I almost never find myself skipping over any.

They were the best live show (by far) of all the bands I saw in 2005, which must have included at least 30 concerts. If you're lucky enough to have them play in your town, make sure you go see them.

best cd of the year.......2005-10-16

All great songs. Many different sounds, from the sitar to the mandolin. Kind of hard to describe. some of it sounds like it's from the 70's and then it really sounds like it's from the 80's. Definetly worth a listen, best cd I've purchased in a while.

War of the wakening phantoms .......2005-09-29

Best CD I have bought this year. Songs are all excellent.

Average customer rating:

Wakening Julie Larson Manufacturer: Artmuse Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music General | Classic Rock | Styles | Music General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music Rock | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music ASIN: B00068S3HS Release Date: 2004-10-15

Tracks:

1. No More Time 4 U
2. I'm Not Sorry
3. You Blew It
4. Through The Rainbow
5. Killer Go Home
6. No Longer Be My Enemy
7. Send Me A Man
8. Someone Like You
9. Be With Me
10. Sweet Thing

Album Description

WAKENING is Julie Larson's 2nd release for Artmuse Records that showcases a left-hand turn in her artistic and songwriting evolution. Ten rocking numbers layer the formidable talents of Tal Morris (Huey Lewis & The News) on lead guitars, Bill Laymon (David Nelson Band, NRPS,etc.) on bass, and the legendary Pete Sears (Hot Tuna, etc.) on keyboards & accordion, with Julie on rhythm guitars, vocals & flute, and Don Bourne on drums.

Culled from songs written primarily after "Apotheosis", WAKENING captures in the studio the conflicting energies and juxtaposition of strong emotions prevalent in our times. A concept album that shifts energies from negative to positive, WAKENING is exactly what we need in our world-at-large today. Rooted in a myriad of classic rock influences, and combined with rock-solid backing, WAKENING is a shamanic journey to higher energy. Influences ranging from Eric Clapton to Traffic, Neil Young to The Who, early Jefferson Airplane and many others can be heard here.

From the clever invitation of "Someone Like You", through the hot proposition of "Sweet Thing", the timely honesty of "Killer Go Home" to the unapologetic anthem "I'm Not Sorry", WAKENING is a great representation of Julie's rapidly evolving talents. Her style has been compared to artists ranging from Ani Difranco to Joan Baez, Phoebe Snow to The Roches, but WAKENING puts her in a class all her own.

Average customer rating:

The Iowa Compilation: Volume III (3) Third Times a Charm Various Artists Manufacturer: South East Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Jazz | Styles | Music General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music ASIN: B000LWFBDS

Product Description

Tracks are: 1. Blank Expressions - Mmoney Loving Attitude 2. Voodoo Gearshift - Talk About The Weather 3. House Of Large Sizes - Lovely But Deadly 4. Dangtrippers - Painter And The Painted 5. Bernie Lowe And His Orchestra - Into Your Clay 6. Full Fathom 5 - Night Watch 7. Peterbuilt - Davenport 8. Big Drama - Better Than You 9. Stone Wakening - Claws 10. Filler - Wishing Well 11. Movable Feast - Tum 12. East And West - So Far Removed 13. Hanging Tree - Solitary Passing 14. All-Out Desert - Closet 15. The Masque - House On The Hill 16. Puppet Show - Promises 17. Tropical Punch - Heartburn 18. Hairy Carrie - All Barks Dog

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