ListenUp.02: Our Lady Peace
01. i ♥ olp
Our Lady Peace was the anthem for my bus route home in high school. I, admittedly, only own one of their albums and a smattering of their singles (as well as some generously burned CDs), but if I had more money to drop on CDs, I would drop it on these guys. That said, the CD of theirs that I had at the time (Happiness...Is Not A Fish That You Can Catch) was like my own little happy place. I was one of the sad few who had to take the bus, since I live out in BFE, but through Raine's crazy voice and their random music, I got through smarmy bus drivers and smelly adolescent males.
Being a normal human being, I was depressed often in High School about a number of things, almost all of which felt like less of a burden after a round of this CD. Of course, my problems were still there, but my whole being was so much lighter that I felt sane enough to deal with them.
I'm almost pretty sure that in Jr. High, when my then-boyfriend and I would swap CD cases and leave little folded notes for each other all over the inside, this was one of the CDs I would leave in for him to listen to. I don't remember whether he commented on the album or not, as those notes were long ago up and thrown away, but he's not around anymore so. That should tell you something.
02. ℞ for awesomesauce
Maybe I just have a thing for bands whose male vocalists do falsetto - Third Eye Blind's Stephen Jenkins is known for it - but Raine Maida's is different. When he uses it, it is far more frequently and in more of a sort of wave pattern than anyone I've ever heard before. He'll sing normally and go down or up and then do the opposite. It makes for this frantic, schizophrenic feeling (I refer you to the song "One Man Army" at this point) in his voice so that even when the music isn't kicking things in to high gear or anything, it doesn't feel flat. Somehow, I feel like he can do this even when he's not singing in falsetto, so I feel good in knowing that it's not some gimmick for the band to survive on. Their lyrics are a lot more straightforward than Third Eye Blind's, I think, and I would consider them a bit more hit and miss after they switch Producers. Nonetheless, they put out some tasty music, especially in the early albums, so definitely grab the mp3s.
My opinion? They need to toss out this new producer and go back to their old freak-flag waving ways.
They have six albums, one greatest hits and one live collection at the moment. I will only go over the albums:
- Naveed: Has the amazing song "Starseed" on it, and apparently serves as a sort of showcase for Raine's crazy vocals more so than any other album.
- Clumsy: Our Lady Peace's second album supposedly tones down the background music for Raine's vocals, but I don't own it so I really have no idea how it sounds.
- Happiness: This would be the album that I've owned since it was first released, the one that manages to find a bit of hope in all sorts of situations, or put things in a light that makes you conscious of your own actions.
- Spiritual Machines: I have heard literally nothing about this album, which is sad. Supposedly it is the last in which Raine uses his falsetto prominently.
- Gravity: A mediocre CD for all it's commercial success - in fact, you'll probably know it for having "Somewhere Out There" on it. I kind of liked this album and bummed it off my friend too many times to count back in the day before mp3 ripping was an easy process. Sadly, it's one of those albums where maybe every other song is worth listening to. The ones worth listening to, though? Fabulous.
- Healthy In Paranoid Times: The next album I plan on buying. It has the amazing song "Angels/Losing/Sleep" on it and is supposedly more of a compromise between the nice mainstream feel and the old falsetto'd Raine. Hopefully they can keep bringing back their old sound, because it was love.
03. ♫ listen up ♫
One Man Army. Download. Lyrics. This song is one of my favorites and manages to showcase Raine's falsetto nicely, as well. Win/win.
Unbutton your clothes
Undress your soul, show them your vigor
Are those inhibitions easiest to fear?
C'mon, Take this gasoline tin
Head up high - walk like a winner
Let the bare feet be the last sounds that they hear
Starseed. Download. Lyrics. This song is epic and so, so alive.
When I find out, what went on,
We'll bring it back, but it won't be easy,
You won't believe, how many could drown in a
Starseeed, starseeed!
Angels/Losing/Sleep. Download. Lyrics. It was either this song or "Clumsy", but I felt like I should give you guys at least ONE new song. This one is actually pretty fantastic, the best yet since they switched producers.
Over your shoulder you have to watch
Heaven fall into hell
Looks like your boat's about to sink
So it's time to prepare
Even the angels are losing sleep
And the sidewalks are bare
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