good question, Raich.

I must admit a preference for the traditional review. the song-by-song thing makes it easier, and I appreciate that people have taken the time to post their incisive opinions in this format. but I tend to think of the songs in the context of the album, not as independently existing articles (alas, I am a dinosaur. soon there will only be the song-unit and the album-unit will go the way of the 8-track tape). therefore, it's nice to hear about the album as such, with common elements and themes from multiple songs woven together to make points and to point out weaknesses and strengths. this also allows for a more thorough discussion of the new album in the frame of black lab's larger career, first album, b-sides, etc. etc.

I think that, after some listening, some who were eager to make their song-by-song impressions heard might be ready to pursue the above, which would of course be welcome. the only thing better than writing a review would be writing a second review. how has the album held up? do you hate it now? have certain songs grown on you, etc.

I'm interested.

thx
p

Alas, the nebulous intertextuality of this, as any, universe is beyond my scope of understanding. The only way I know to ward off panic and provide an (illusory) sense of maintaining control over spiralling fractals of meaning is to deconstruct and compartmentalise. This is how I exercise power as a consumer - the only power I am permitted.
You have my attention for three and a half minutes exactly. Beyond that the hungry dogs start howling and I'm tired, so tired...

I am generation soundbyte, I am generation random selection, I am generation space capsule launched into oblivion far from the maddening din, I am generation cocoon. I am generation MTV.

I tried hard to write a comprehensive review of the album as a cohesive mesh of colorful strands. But as I rode off into the blizzard all I could think about was

That was cynical.

Another challenge would be to review the album without making reference to the previous, since a compare and contrast would be too easy. But that's a challenge I'm not ready to undertake at 1AM.[/b]

I'd say more ADD than cynical.

geez Miles.... you're going to miss out on some great music if you can't stretch it for more than most pop music durations.

Not very good at expressing how I find music with words, but I'll try.

The word I think describes the new album is anthemic. There's something about certain tracks - esp. "lifelike" and "tell me why" - where the chorus is just really built up and powerful (in contrast to the less-overwhelming sounds of YBAM). If I knew more about the mechanics of songwriting I'm sure I could pinpoint it as a specific change in the arrangemnts or the style, but the best I can do is say that most of the songs here have a very classical, montagues and capulets type of buildup in them. It reminds me of those old "classical thunder" CD's I used to listen to.

The first song that really caught my attention was circus lights, and as I listened more and more to the album Lifelike and Tell me Why caught on too. I absolutely love the chorus of Tell Me Why, simply as poetry even independent of the music.

Living up in Canada though, I'll probably never get to see the band perform live. So that sucks. But nonetheless, See the Sun is a great album and very enjoyable to listen to. Hopefully the next one won't take 8 years!

A Canadian! Welcome!!!

What part of Canada are you from?

Currently living in Ottawa, doubt there will be any black lab concerts up here!

I didn't even know that Black Lab had a second album until a few weeks ago, a facT that I couldn't quite get excited ENOUGH about once i realized that one of those hail mary wishes you make could actually come true. I suppose you guys no longer get to be the Best Band That Only Made One Album Ever, but I'll gladly take the alternative.

Overall, the first impression I got from the album was a surprising lack of what I expected; a jaded, sometimes melancholy tone that seemed all but guaranteed after the first album seemed almost desperately melancholy at times. I figured if you added the band's struggles to get another album pressed and available, there would be lots of content to mine. So I have to say I was pleasantly surprised that this road wasn't taken, if only because it seems like an easy way out. There's new content, and it's not just frustration.

I'd heard an alternate version of "Perfect Girl" in the period between albums, and I have to say that this version delivers phenomenally. The original impact of the cut I heard was muted at best, but thus far it's my favorite track on the album. One of my favorite aspects of YBAM was how right beside the powerful songs like "Time Ago" were songs that got a little crazy, like "Can't Keep The Rain." This kind of energy here and there was something I really liked then, so getting it full force in "Perfect Girl" was great. I think the way you guys rock when you choose to is great; there's a nice pacing to it. It just seems to roll right. The inclusion "Learn To Crawl", which I'd already had from the Spidey album, was a great choice. It creates a partner piece to the aforementioned song that gives the work as a whole some teeth. That "Wide Open", a song in a similar vein, follows "Crawl" creates a nice level of the kind of tone I've found so entertaining on repeat listens of BL's previous only work. Still, I would have liked a bit more of this sound than is present on the album.

Which, I'm going to admit, I felt at times the album lacked. Without these two songs, I'd probably be a bit disappointed. Not so much over melodic quality or anything like that, but for balance purposes. I like the brand of pop/rock present here; it's a style of music you just don't see anymore. In the mid to late nineties it was a sound that was popular, with little takes on it from a lot of different bands, but the current way rock is moving is away from this sound for sure. The way Black Lab's sound borrows a few synth elements but maintains the type of straightforward sound that YBAM laid out is something I was glad to hear. I like the sound.

As a whole, the work flows well form one song to the next; See the Sun is a good opener, Ecstacy opens up the middle of the album with a great hook, and the 1-2 of "Crawl" and "Wide Open" leading into the album's denouement works well. As someone who very much pays attention to how an album "works" front to back, I think there's a good layout to the organization of the songs, and there isn't the sagging middle so typical among other works in the medium.

My only real complaint (aside from the anthem over rock balance) is not being able to own a Black Lab album with "Keep Myself Awake" on it. We got "Tell Me Why" (which benefits greatly from the remixing it underwent) and "Crawl"; I would've loved to get the trifecta. Though I suppose I understand if the choice to not go with "Black Lab's Best Soundtrack Songs" was intentional. I can't really fault for that.

It's a good example of what makes Black Lab such a unique thing, and why I've been listening to the first album for the 6-7 years that I have. The sound is defined, the melodies are uncomplicated and strong, and Paul's signature voice is exactly the right kind of emotive influence on a song one wants. I love how often his voice goes up a notch on a given line to accentuate it; for the past year or so, musically, it's been something I've been listening for in music but haven't been hearing as much as I want to. Here, it's everywhere, and I love it. Even if I don't like a song in general as much as another, at the end of the day, it's still got Paul Durham's awesome voice, and I feel guilty admitting it, but said voice sure does put the album past most immediately noticeable flaws.

Overall, it's a well-crafted album, well-polished, and confidently put together. It will take time to see if it is up to YBAM's high standards, but even if it's not, it's pretty much what I wanted: more Black Lab. I just hope more people catch on this time around. And I'm replacing my hail mary wish for a new Black Lab album with a Black Lab tour. I won't spill how much money I'd part with to see the band live.

I am searching for a song title for a song that is said to be Black Lab's. I do not know the titel, but I know some lyrics. I'd appreciate it if somebody would identify the song title for me please. Here are the lyrics that I know..............."There's are things, I have done, there's a place, I have gone, there's a beast, and I let it run, now it's runnin my way. So tonight, lay me down on the street, I know I'm not forgiven, but I'm hopin that I find some peace.............."

Welcome to the forum hrdneglcry. That's a new song that is in the promo for the final season of The Shield. Someone has started another thread about the promo. The song hasn't been released yet (aside from the promo), so there isn't much information about it yet on the net. However, Paul (for the new people lurking, frontman and lead songwriter for Black Lab) should be popping in within the next day or so to fill everyone in.

Hope that helps.

Yes thank you it does help. I'll be glad when I can own it.

I like See the Sun best. I just connect with the songs here more than on Your Body Above Me. Circus Lights is my favorite song of all time. I cannot put into words what that song means to me. It is one second the happiest song ever, then the next, the most sad thing i have heard. I am greatful to paul for this record.

I wish I knew him in person. I would like to get a beer or maybe a grilled cheese sandwich and just talk to him. Ask him about black lab and life, etc etc... But Circus Lights and a few others on this record just bless me.. I lay in bed at about 5am when I finally go to bed, LOL, and just listen to my iPod with like 89 Black Lab songs on it, including cake or death, and just close my eyes and think about life.... I am in the military and will be getting a commission in the US Army soon and its just nice to relax and listen to Black Lab and think about life and kinda come down off the military mindset at night... I cant thank Paul enough.... Plus for some reason, when i listen to see the sun, i wanna go abck out to bozeman, montana and ski at big sky, mt. i love that resort!!!!! for some reason i can see myself flying down the slopes just listening to see the sun and ybam and just leaving this world.... see the sun is by far pauls best work, IMO. but then again, time ago may never be topped... circus lights is my favorite but time ago is just heavenly.


-clark tucker

Ok sorry for the necro post, but this has bothered me for a long time since I never posted my review. Perhaps I couldn't put into words how I felt, with a hint of laziness. Either way here's my review of STS:

After a much awaited time, along with many band member changes, Black Lab released their sophomore album “See the Sun”. The album consisted of multiple popular songs previously released on EPs as well as leaked demos. Most of the diehard fans will recognize tunes such as “Lonely Boy”, “Perfect Girl” and the fan favorite “Circus Lights”.

Missing are Michael Belfer’s guitar riffs and solos from YBAM, and the tunes focus much more on a very clean, synthesized sound. You won’t be picking up any otherworldly radio broadcasts with the clean bass lines in this album, devoid of bassist Geoff Stanfield. Instead the driving force of the sound are Paul’s vocals, where the band change is best described as taking a monster V-12 engine and dropping it into a family safe Toyota Camry. It’s fast, partly crazy, and nobody knows how long until the hell on wheels will explode.

The album picks up with a perkier, almost dance feel with 3 of the first 4 tracks. By mid album, the tracks start heading into another territory, with the two heavyweight songs “Without You” and “Dreaming in Color”. STS begins to show its true colors and maturity with a change from YBAM’s darker lyrics. No more lighting cars on fire, but instead blissfully reminding us “No matter what I do / I’ll always be in love with you”. Easily, the tracks, including “Wide Open” are played with the windows down and wind in your hair. Following these tracks with Spider-Man’s “Learn to Crawl” was the perfect way to convince fans that everything was going to be alright, both with the band’s new direction and well, being saved by a super hero. Easily the most guitar driven song and a lesser prominence of synthesizers, we find that the band hasn’t lost its edge.

The album closes out with a polished “Circus Lights”. The sound itself is cleaner, with a change of lyrics. The dirty grungy tent has been polished up and the clowns given fresh face paint. Instead of squealing guitars in the bridge, lyrics are replaced. “Do you need me now?” Durham begs the question as he describes wedding bells. Fans of the demo version(myself included) will argue that revised version with “wedding veils” strips away the mystery and symbolism of the original, where one compared love to a brooding circus. But at the same time the song has an ability to appeal to the old, and draw in the new. I'm not sure if it's a gateway album to get rock fans into synth pop sounds, or the other way around.

In all, this album is excellent for anybody who is a fan of the genre, and fans of YBAM can still appreciate the newer sound, lyrics and vocals. However there are still similarities between this album and what George Lucas has done with “Star Wars”. Too much tinkering with a great thing that people already love, and the subject of artistic expression is blurred.

5/5