Cocteau Twins - Garlands
List Price:
Our Price: $8.14
You Save: $3.84 (32%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $5.98 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: Cocteau TwinsEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Import, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 2003-06-03
Music Label: 4ad
Soundtracks:
- Blood Bitch
- Wax And Wane
- But Im No
- Blind Dumb Deaf
- Shallow Then Halo
- The Hollow Me
- Garlands
- Grail Overfloweth
Music reviews of Garlands
Music Review: Hell came before Heaven.
Rating: 4 Stars
How ironic it is that I find myself exploring this band. Several years ago I met a man online who enjoyed the so-called Old School Gothic music scene. Bands of the likes of Sisters of Mercy, Bauhaus, etc, though none so obsessively as his two favourites, Siouxsie and the Banshees and the Cocteau Twins. While I introduced him(and converted him) to Depeche Mode, he introduced me to SATB, which has since become a coveted favourite in my music collection that has helped shape my opinion of art rock and goth rock, as well as forever alter my own twisted musical tastes. However it was different with the Cocteaux, I was utterly unimpressed and uninterested in their whimsical, dream-pop offerings, nothing against them but they simply wern't attune to my preferences.
The so recently as last week I happened to notice the BBC sessions live at Barnes and Noble and, having found nothing else of interest to listen to, I decided to sample the CD. Boy was I pleasantly surprised with the sounds I heard. It inevitably led me here, to the bands' maiden and astoundingly twisted roots. I am under the understanding that this album is NOT a popular favorite among fans of the band...understandable if it's those soothing dreamscapes you're craving. However GARLANDS happens to be a very satisfying, very GOTHIC sounding experience for me which has left me tickled...gloomy =)
Some say that they can't understand the comparisons between CT singer Liz and Siouxsie. I can't understand how they can't not. The glaring similarities were quite evident to me mere seconds after first hearing Liz's deep howling voice with all it's distortions and neighing and heavy abrasiveness paired with heavy monotonous synths and absolutely devastating guitar riffs that sound quite reminiscent of another album that came out around the time of this( Can anyone say JUJU? ) But don't get the notion that this is a by any means a copy--it isn't, and for as many similarities there are to SATB, there are differences. Liz's voice, even at it's most disturbing, always retains a certain degree of feminity and innosence, as though you could tell that she would eventually become destined to sing soft and angelic songs further down the road. Also, Liz is much more comfortable and at ease with her impressive musical range as compared with Siouxsie, who I always felt had to strain to hit those deep high notes. Also, don't expect to sing along comprehensively, most of Liz's singing is pretty indecipherable, but unless you're a stickler for great lyrics being at the forefront of a song, this isn't a problem. But anyway, enough of this, onto the album...
If ever there was a song that clearly defined the grim darkness and menacing tone of the whole album, or anything grim for that matter, "Blood Bitch" would be it. As indicated by such a title, this song is not for the faint of heart. It has a brooding pace and absolutely screeching guitar riffs that pierce through you like daggers. I could easily imagine this song playing in the background of a Friday the 13th during a murder or chase scene. Yes, it's just that twisted and while it's not one of my favourites of the album, it's definitely a statement piece that will baffle you on how they ever went from this to such tamerworks as "Milk and Kisses".
Next up is "Wax and Wane", which started it all for me when I listened to it at B&N on the BBC sessions CD. It's a straightforward song with a nice Mid Tempo beat to dance to and perhaps chance a guess to sing along to. "But I'm not" is one of my favourites, quite possibly THE fave of the album for all it's gripping tension in the chords paired with vocals that fluctuate from low and detatched to screechy and as frantic as the music itself. Just delightful and makes my skin crawl! "Blind Dumb Deaf" continues with searing chords and lightens the mood ever so slightly with a more complex melody that I'm sure filled the dancefloors of many goth clubs back in the 80's. This is really very reminiscent of SATB's "A Kiss in the dreamhouse" or "Tinderbox", which means that this sounds a little bit ahead of it's time. "Shallow then Halo" is my other fave here and is the most restrained of them all here. It's a dark moody ballad that cuts back on all that dark guitarwork that creates a feel that is both haunting and beautiful. "The Hollow Men" and "Grail Overfloweth" also continue this more subdued pace but with more dark grimness and chantlike vocals. "Garlands" is actually the brightest sounding and most accessable of the bunch, which explains why it was the featured single off this album. But don't worry, it's still pretty dark and yet another great song.
So now I intend to buy more CT albums though I know that they wont be quite as distrubing as this one. I intend to stop after "The Pink Opaque", which supposedly marks the end of CT's early dark period sound. Liz's voice is beautiful and I'm sure that her later works are stunning, but just simply not my cup of tea( But we'll see ). As for the man who turned me onto Siouxsie as well as now this band, I cannot thank enough. For he has enriched my life immensely by turning me onto these great bands that you simply don't hear about in the the mainstream. I lost touch with him a long time ago but maybe one day he will stumble across this review and know that he finally ended up converting me afterall, So...Thanks =)
Description of Garlands
2003 4AD reissue of 1982 album remastered by guitarist Robin Guthrie.Alternative Rock CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Alternative Rock CDs
Bouncing Souls - Maniacal LaughterRelease date: 1996-01-26; Music CD
Best price: $30.00
Blondie - Parallel LinesRelease date: 1994-07-29; Music CD
Best price: $149.98
Doors - L.A. WomanRelease date: 1993-04-09; Music CD
Best price: $99.99
Amon Duul - Phallus DeiRelease date: 1997-04-08; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Tangerine Dream - MelroseRelease date: 1990-10-02; Music CD
Best price: $74.98
Tangerine Dream - Private Music of Tangerine DreamRelease date: 1992-11-10; Music CD
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops:
![Ska Explosion [VHS] Image](/images/Ska-Explosion-VHS-6303381014-X.jpg){kind=small}
Ska Explosion [VHS]Cleopatra; Release date: 1995-02-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $14.99
Price in other shops:
![Little Earthquakes [VHS] Image](/images/Little-Earthquakes-VHS-6302488664-X.jpg){kind=small}
Little Earthquakes [VHS]Atlantic / Wea; Release date: 1992-11-10; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $12.50
Price in other shops:
Exileby Geoffrey Oryema
Music CD
Best price: $4.95
![Louder Than Live [VHS] Image](/images/Louder-Than-Live-VHS-6301627865-X.jpg){kind=small}
Soundgarden - Louder Than Live [VHS]A&M Video; Release date: 1991-07-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $192.68
Similar CDs
Cocteau Twins - Four Calendar CafeRelease date: 2006-07-31; Music CD
Best price: $6.56
Price in other shops:
Cocteau Twins - Lullabies to Violaine: Singles & Extended Plays 1Release date: 2006-03-21; Music CD
Best price: $10.42
Price in other shops:
Cocteau Twins - Milk & KissesRelease date: 1996-05-14; Music CD
Best price: $24.98
Moon & MelodiesRelease date: 1999-10-05; Music CD
Best price: $7.63
Price in other shops:
Cocteau Twins - Heaven Or Las VegasRelease date: 2003-06-03; Published: 2004; Music CD
Best price: $7.82
Price in other shops:
Cocteau Twins - Blue Bell KnollRelease date: 2003-06-03; Music CD
Best price: $6.80
Price in other shops:
Cocteau Twins - Head Over HeelsRelease date: 2003-06-03; Music CD
Best price: $6.85
Price in other shops:
Cocteau Twins - VictorialandRelease date: 2003-06-03; Music CD
Best price: $7.16
Price in other shops:
Cocteau Twins - Lullabies to Violaine: Singles & Extended Plays 2Release date: 2006-03-21; Music CD
Best price: $10.99
Price in other shops:
Cocteau Twins - TreasureRelease date: 2003-06-03; Music CD
Best price: $7.13
Price in other shops: