Catherine Wheel - Adam and Eve

Import edition of the UK alternative act's 1997 album for Mercury (now deleted in the U.S.). For this their fourth album, the band focused more on atmospherics which drew them comparisons to Pink Floyd & Talk Talk. 12 tracks (#12 is untitled and hidden) including, 'Future Boy', 'Ma Solituda' & 'Thunderbird'. EMI. Album Description

I love this album, but it's just not their best..

I even rebought this recently, as I had loaned it out, never got it back, and found myself badly missing it. It's worth having. But by comparison with the rest of their catalog, it ranks the lowest in my opinion.

Why? Some of the songs meander (like "Broken Nose", which starts out promising but has an annoying limp chorus). Some of the lyrics are great--and some just make no damn sense, at least to me. I have a real problem with how this album sounds, as well; whether I'm listening at home on my decent stereo, my computer or in my car, the album has a curious flat quality (esp. compared to their others). It marrs a lot of the songs (witness a great song like "Delicious" ruined by said production, buried in total NOISE and truly lacking CW's trademark sonic dynamics). All the more shocking considering it was co-produced by the famous Bob Ezrin (but maybe not that shocking seeing as how singer Rob Dickinson shares a producing credit).

Which brings me to the Pink Floyd thing; I love Pink Floyd too, but to see this band slavishly crib from the Floyd is a little surprising (the repeated "Hey You"'s at the beginning of every line of "Broken Nose"; the line "now there's a look in you eyes / like black holes in the sky" in "..American Mother" lifted wholesale right out of Floyd's "Shine On"; the instumental break in "Goodbye" that clearly references Floyd's "Any Color You Like"; the presence of Floyd producer Bob Ezrin; the Storm Thorguson artwork, which granted they always had). Most of these offensives are mere homages, I get it. But c'mon, this band was never like Pink Floyd and it's a little jarring, if not unnecessary.

What this album gets right, it really gets right. "Thunderbird" and "Future Boy" are the high points for me. Also in evidence here is songwriter Rob Dickinson's (and the band's) ability to constantly shift the moods in their songs and make it work. I don't hear a lot of rock acts of today that are able to do that very well, and these guys did it in about every song. Top notch writing and arranging.

So really, this is a four-star album, song-wise. I love this band and enjoy this record, but for the awful production, I remove a star with prejudice. Being now out of print, this one is a prime candidate for a remaster/reissue. July 6, 2007

Unheralded Champions of the 90's

Adam and Eve is a remarkable album that should have made a major splash but didn't for whatever reason. I loved this album the first time I heard it , it just flows like any classic album from any era. I am VERY fussy with doling out 5 stars for an album but this one totally merits 5 stars. There are some anthems on here that just blow the doors off of anything that came out in the 95-98 era of post grunge soundalike bands. "Delicious" is a playful little Rock and roll classic, "Broken Nose" is like a Train barreling down the tracks on the advent of the Appocalypse , "Ma Solituda" is a ballad of utmost beauty. My fav of favs on this album is "Satelite" which to me is on of the greatest rock anthems I have ever heard. I can't bounce high enough nor pump my fist in the air long enough when listening to this gem, it brings out so much emotion in me its hard to explain.

This was it for The Wheel unfortunately, tired of getting rooked by the industry, they called it a day in 2000 following the pathetic "Wishville" album.

Anyone who saw them live I totally envy , those of you who bought and loved there albums like I did keep forging on with great memories of CW and fact that they deserved to be Giants in a really messed up affair known as the Rock music industry.

ML May 31, 2007

...still, a really good CD

I consider myself a big CW fan like others that have written these reviews. While probably not thier best CD, A&E, by modern rock standards, is still a really good CD. Broken Nose, Ma Solituda, and Satellite are my favorites, and are worth the purchaes price alone. There is not a bad song in the disc. January 7, 2006

Still Resonates

I vividly remember seeing Catherine Wheel perform Adam & Eve in its entirety at The Metro in Chicago one warm August night in 1997. The sound was pure and visceral. It was the best sounding concert I have ever attended. I didn't mind the ringing in my ears the day after.

Years later, this CD still resonates. Adam & Eve doesn't so much grow on you as collect in your subconscious and change your soul. At first listen, the songs don't appear to go anywhere. They seem to ebb and flow like the sea. But, the next time you listen to Future Boy, Ma Solituda or Phantom of the American Mother you may just stifle a tear for no apparent reason. The music is just that good.

[DW] November 5, 2005

(three and a half stars) average, other than "Broken Nose"

Let's recap Catherine Wheel's work, so far: "Ferment" was superb; "Chrome" almost as good; "Happy Days" uneven; "Like Cat's and Dogs" surprisingly good for a "B-sides" album; and "Adam and Eve," well, that's more of a tough one. Other than the spectacular "Broken Nose" (more on this track below), I think it's comparable to "Happy Days." Sure, I like the chorus of "Delicious," everything but the chorus in "Satellite" (part of which reminds me of the far superior "1979" by the Smashing Pumpkins), and the melodic "Ma Solituda." "The Dreaming" could have been a really good four minute song. "Here Comes The Fat Controller" has a clever title, and alot of other reviewers seem to favor this song and "Phantom of the American Mother" ("if Superman and Sonic Youth are Fairy Tales" -- huh?). But, in my opinion, it's all rather ordinary, and blown away by the earlier stuff.

The lone exception is "Broken Nose." In my review of "Ferment," I referred to "Black Metallic" as the band's "Stairway to Heaven." Sticking with the Zeppelin analogy, "Broken Nose" is the band's "Kashmir." First, I love the unique sound, starting off with that deep jangly guitar/bass combination. Along the way, there's a distorted vocal effect, church bells, a wicked guitar solo, a perfectly out-of-tune piano, and an uplifting organ fading out as the song comes to an end.

Second, I relate to the lyrics. Now before you roll your eyes, let me explain. During the summers of 1988 through 1993, I shared in a house located in a well known singles scene in the New York area (Ocean Beach, Fire Island). Every year, the crowd would average about the same age (about 25), but of course I, and others I knew, got older. There were clearly those who shared for way too many summers, into their mid and upper thirties. These individuals would say over and over how the crowd was getting younger, when, in fact, they were just getting older. Of course, the males of this description kept going after females (unsuccesfully) who were a decade or more younger than them. "Broken Nose" reminds me of these guys. ("Hey you stuck in the same old cloths/ you've been in pumas for too long;" "Hey you with the serpent smile/ you've been a creature for too long;" "Hey you with the same old line in bull****/ you've been in business for too long;" "and all our friends are gone").

It wouldn't surprise me if I'm totally misinterpreting "Broken Nose," but even so, I'll always love the song. As I see it, The rest of "Adam and Eve" is fairly mediocre.



September 28, 2005

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