Delirious? - The Mission Bell

[dgp11776]

This album comes out 11/7 in the UK, and I went ahead and ordered from a website over there.  I know that at least murlough is looking forward to this as well, so he and maybe others can check out sound clips of all 12 songs here.  Much moreso than World Service, I think I hear some new sounds here.

[murlough23]

NOT AVAILABLE FOR SALE TO USA, DUE TO CONTRACTUAL REASONS

Buckin' fastards. I'm just gonna have to download this one and hope Sparrow (or whatever alphabet soup they're called these days) doesn't jack up the US version when it releases a year and a half later.

[dgp11776]

Buckin' fastards. I'm just gonna have to download this one and hope Sparrow (or whatever alphabet soup they're called these days) doesn't jack up the US version when it releases a year and a half later.

If you want, you can do what I did - order it from Acorn Direct.  It's cheaper on that site, and there is free shipping from the UK.  It comes to about $17 all in.

[murlough23]

If you want, you can do what I did - order it from Acorn Direct.  It's cheaper on that site, and there is free shipping from the UK.  It comes to about $17 all in.

I've used them before (mainly to get Delirious? and Iona albums before their US release date), but if there are legal issues with Delirious?'s label site selling directly to the US before it's released in the US, why aren't there legal issues with selling the album to the US in general?

Why the hell do bands have to pull this crap with different release dates in different countries anyways? What's the point?

[dgp11776]

I've used them before (mainly to get Delirious? and Iona albums before their US release date), but if there are legal issues with Delirious?'s label site selling directly to the US before it's released in the US, why aren't there legal issues with selling the album to the US in general?

Good question - you've got me there.

Why the hell do bands have to pull this crap with different release dates in different countries anyways? What's the point?

From all that I've read, most of the whole Delirious? thing with release dates is Sparrow's doing, not the band's.  But in general, yeah, I don't know why there are different release dates.  Same thing with alot of movies.

 

[murlough23]

From all that I've read, most of the whole Delirious? thing with release dates is Sparrow's doing, not the band's.  But in general, yeah, I don't know why there are different release dates.  Same thing with alot of movies.

I kinda figured it was a Sparrow thing.

I know that it's often the opposite problem - the US gets an album and other countries have to wait for it. Maybe that makes sense for a country like Japan that has an audience for a particular group, but that's not their primary market. But if a group is popular and will sell a lot of albums in a country, it makes sense to sell the album in that country as soon as it's available to sell, doesn't it?

NP: "The Final Move", Chris Rice

[danny316]

I know that it's often the opposite problem - the US gets an album and other countries have to wait for it. Maybe that makes sense for a country like Japan that has an audience for a particular group, but that's not their primary market. But if a group is popular and will sell a lot of albums in a country, it makes sense to sell the album in that country as soon as it's available to sell, doesn't it?

No. Give 'em time to promote the darned thing, plan a tour, release a radio single and stuff, man! They don't just want to make the band's most diehard fans happy, they're trying to make money after all. Strong first week sales are more important to Sparrow than whether or not fans whine about not having the CD right away.

In all countries, they wait until they think they can promote a release and make it sell. CCM is a business, they're in it for the money, regardless of what the band or the fans want.

...but if you're using common sense and not "good business sense", you're absolutely right. Their decision makes perfect sense from their point of view though.  

[murlough23]

...but if you're using common sense and not "good business sense"

Always my first mistake. I would suck as an entrepenuer.

[bdg13disciple]

US Release is 27 December


peace... love... bdg...

[murlough23]

US Release is 27 December

That's not so bad. I won't gripe about it, so long as they don't muck with the track listing (they didn't for World Service or Glo).

[murlough23]

Just listened to this for the first time last night. The two opening tracks were blah, but from there in, it's pretty good. Still a repetition of ideas in the lyrics department - basically we've got another World Service on our hands because of that. It's not as groundbreaking for the band as Mezzamorphis or Glo. But there's some good stuff hidden within - in particular, the ballads seem stronger than they were on World Service. This'll be another good road trip album.

One major complaint - did we really need yet another Toby Mac guest appearance? He's just getting worse and worse when he appears on other people's records.

Nice of Steve Mason to return the favor Martin Smith did for Jars by playing pedal steel on this album's closing track, though. (Even if Martin's "Woo-hoo!"s in that track annoy me to no end.)

[dgp11776]

I got mine in the mail on Monday, and have listened to it about 4-5 times now.  As of right now, I find it nestling into 3rd place on my Delirious? rankings, behind Glo and Mezzamorphis.

I do agree on the Tobymac spot.  Although I am a pretty big fan of his, his guest spot here was meaningless.

Nice to hear some new sounds this go-round, too...even a little Franz Ferdinand thrown in on "Paint the Town Red."

[Wildcatblue7]

Every time I hear the title of this CD I think of that one line from "Hotel California" by the Eagles.

Oops.

[murlough23]

Nice to hear some new sounds this go-round, too...even a little Franz Ferdinand thrown in on "Paint the Town Red."

That's the one thing that bugs me about Delirious?... every time I hear a "new sound" from them, I can pretty easily trace it to someone else's sound. But at least there aren't as many U2-isms and Radiohead-isms and Coldplay-isms this time around.

I might retract my earlier statement that this one is better than World Service, actually. I like the overall sound of it, but a lot of the lyrics just aren't sticking. And as much as I like the songs that start out mellow and swell into blazing worship anthems, I could use a few more straight-up rockers here.

[murlough23]

Finally wrote my review. Delirious? albums always take some time to settle into before I can write about them with some semblance of intelligence.

http://www.epinions.com/content_219061980804

[ajyouthguy]

i like the cd a lot more than you do, i think, but i thought your review was very fair.  i think this is their best cd in a good while, but i think they still have better stuff in them, for sure.

[murlough23]

i like the cd a lot more than you do, i think, but i thought your review was very fair.  i think this is their best cd in a good while, but i think they still have better stuff in them, for sure.

That's the problem when I write reviews. I tend to point out all of my nitpicks and come across very critical, and then it's hard to convey that I do still enjoy the album, in spite of the fact that they could have done better.

For me, all of their albums have been "B" range since Glo, which I gave an "A". This new one's slightly weaker than World Service, but not by a significant enough amount (and I could easily see people differing on which is better, for totally justifiable reasons).

So don't take my review as too serious of a knock on the album. My tone wsa meant to be, "I like this, but some things could be cleaned up a little bit."

NP: "We're Trying", Sanctus Real

[ajyouthguy]

That's the problem when I write reviews. I tend to point out all of my nitpicks and come across very critical, and then it's hard to convey that I do still enjoy the album, in spite of the fact that they could have done better.

For me, all of their albums have been "B" range since Glo, which I gave an "A". This new one's slightly weaker than World Service, but not by a significant enough amount (and I could easily see people differing on which is better, for totally justifiable reasons).

So don't take my review as too serious of a knock on the album. My tone wsa meant to be, "I like this, but some things could be cleaned up a little bit."

NP: "We're Trying", Sanctus Real

nah, dude, that's totally how i took it, sorry if my previous post implied otherwise.  i knew what your review was meant as, i just meant that i think i like it more than you do based on your review, and i like it better than WS definitely.  i think Glo and King of Fools are my favorites, but this might be #3 for me.

[murlough23]

I'm every bit sure that you do still like the album more than I do. You could give it an A, and me a B, and I don't think we'd have any real cause to argue, other than minor little quibbles - we both still think it's a good album, just to varying degrees.

If I had to rank Delirious? albums:

1. Glo A
2. Mezzamorphis A-
3. World Service B
4. Audio: Lessonover B
5. King of Fools B-
6. The Mission Bell B-
7. Cutting Edge C+

...

Umpteen. Touch D+
(good music, but the repackaging and exclusion of several songs from Audio: Lessonover really pissed me off)

NP: "Possibilities", Sanctus Real

[starhawk]

Good review murlough, but honestly I'm surprised you don't like this record as much as some of their past stuff. World Service was good, but there wasn't anything exciting about it.  But The Mission Bell is totally exciting.  I think it's their best since Glo.  If there's any problem I have with TMB, it's that it could have used some editing - take out "Stronger" and "Love Is A Miracle", and it's a solid record all the way through imo.  
 

[murlough23]

The problem is that almost every song I'm excited about, there's at least one thing (usually lyrics) holding it back a bit.

NP: "Sounds Like War", P.O.D.

[ajyouthguy]

If I had to rank Delirious? albums:

1. Glo A
2. Mezzamorphis A-
3. World Service B
4. Audio: Lessonover B
5. King of Fools B-
6. The Mission Bell B-
7. Cutting Edge C+

...

Umpteen. Touch D+
(good music, but the repackaging and exclusion of several songs from Audio: Lessonover really pissed me off)

NP: "Possibilities", Sanctus Real

I'd go...

1. Glo
2. King of Fools
3. The Mission Bell  
4. Mezzamorphis
5. World Service
6. Cutting Edge
7. Audio: Lessonover

[TheWanderer]

I'd go...

1. Glo
2. King of Fools
3. The Mission Bell  
4. Mezzamorphis
5. World Service
6. Cutting Edge
7. Audio: Lessonover

I agree with your rankings, except I haven't heard The Mission Bell Yet.  However, it probably will be top 3 along with King of Fools and Glo.