I came home earlier and amongst the post was my SIGNED copy of Florence’s album that isn’t out until Monday. I’m pretty sure you can imagine how happy this has made me. Today has pretty much been the best day ever. Anyway, here is my review. I feel I haven’t done the labum justice…but we all know that Lungs is a masterpiece and is the best album of this year. Oh, and it’s pretty much one of the best debut albums ever.
Here it is…after a long time waiting…here it is 🙂 :
They say good things come to those that wait….and wait I have. For nearly two years I have waited for this album. For nearly two years I’ve been in love with Florence And The Machine. The harps, the drums, the lyrics and her enchanting voice are just so powerful and like no other. Everything about her album, Lungs is just perfect. Before I go into depth with this review, I just want to tell you now dear reader that this is THE album of the year. No other record matters apart from this one. No other singer matters apart from Florence. Right, with that cleared up- here we go!
Dog Days Are Over opens up the album, the track which most people became a fan of Florence by hearing this. Understandable.
Old fan favourites such as My Boy Builds Coffins and Girl With One Eye are on the album, and although compared to the other tracks are “old” hearing them on a full length album with new material doesn’t make them seem out of place. They sound just as new as all the other tracks.
I’ve heard Howl is the next single, but I have no idea how true this is. If it is true then it will do just as well as recent single, Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)
Her live show always opens with Between Two Lungs, but on the album it is nicely placed in the middle. The live version of this track is just stunning.
Cosmic Love is the most precious track on the album, and it’s also quite heartbreaking. You can sense a lot of hurt and vulnerability on Florence’s album, which is understandable really as she was dumped just before the record was made. As if you would break up with Florence!
My personal favourite track off the album is Hurricane Drunk. I’m not exactly sure what it is about the track that I adore, all I know is that is truly remarkable- like the whole album. Lyrically it’s the most painful on the album, and everyone loves dark lyrics every now and then! Quite amazing that the whole song was written and composed in ten minutes, heartbreak sure does wonders for the creative mind (and soul).
The album closes with You Got The Love, which is better than the original. The live version of this is just electrifying. Hearing everyone sing a long and a sea of hands all in the air is one of the most beautiful things you can experience. When I saw her in May, after what seemed forever (most of her gigs were in/around London) she came back on stage with You Got The Love as the encore. The crowd went mental and I’m pretty sure the majority of us shed tears of happiness. The way Florence sings this gives off a feeling of freedom, that nothing matters at all but that moment. She also brings fans on stage to sing Kiss With A Fist on stage with her and dances in the crowd when the support act are on (she danced right in front of me!) How many bands do that now?!
When I first listened to Florence a few years ago, I played a song of hers to a friend and they said “She sounds like Kate Nash.” NO! There is no comparison at all to Kate Nash here. None at all. The other Kate Florence has been compared to is Kate Bush, which in some respect, you can accept. But, I choose to believe that Florence sounds like no other. Who else uses a harp on their songs?
This album will no doubt mean a lot to a lot of people, how could it not? Every song is beautiful and powerful in its own right. Every track could easily be a single.
See you down the front in Brum!
Beat In My Bones. 