New Album in 2012 - "Curve" April 3rd

[RileyLewis]

Our forum's review:

"Curve is a good album. If This Is It is both the album's best track, and also its least interesting. Mettle is a worthless song, but also fits the CD very well. And Fire in the Henhouse is good, but also not good because of another song that was heard before. In conclusion, OLP is good and this CD may or may not be ok, but is better than Burn Burn but maybe better than Gravity and worse than Naveed. Or not."

[Tattooed Angels]

Best promo of band from cd.. With George now..



from this article.
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry ... 8752.story

[Tattooed Angels]

some comments on the review Todddowney found.

1)Not even if I hated him would I ever, ever compare Steve's guitar playing to CREED's.. Say he was SOULLESS..
I saw Creed in the 90's. OLP even opened for them in 1999. They are not the greatest live band or greatest rock band. They are so so in my book. Though I do like the song MY OWN PRISON..

2) I am a huge U2 fan and you all know it. Heaveyweight( ending part) I can see Steve resembling Edge-but that is so slight I would not say this cd is U2ish or choruses are. Has this guy listen to U2 lately?

3)This person has been hitting the bottle if you think CLUMSY Sounds anything like WONDERWALL or this cd sounds anything like past OLP record

and for the record I was well past my formative years when OLP first released their cd's..

So apparently Allowance is a Jimi Hendrix-inspired national anthem song, which also sounds like classic rock? And he says Raine is the strongest part of the album?

Something's not right with that guy.

alot is not right with this guy

[MindsOnLoan]

So far most of the negative reviews seem to be reviewers wanting their older sound, instead of looking at this album on its own.

I'll look forward to reading AllMusic's review though. They seem to like OLP, but not so much they come off as biased. Gravity and Healthy got 2/5, Burn Burn 2.5/5, Naveed and Happiness 3/5, and Clumsy and Spiritual Machines 4/5.

[Tinman]

Mettle one of my favorite songs on the cd : P

[todddowney]

http://www.universitychronicle.net/inde ... s-a-curve/

Our Lady Peace has grown and changed as a band – from their late 90s distinctive sound to their recent twist to the slightly more mainstream rock – it’s a band that’s moved with the times while trying to keep their signature style.

They’ve worked hard to hold on to, and showcase, Raine Maida’s unique vocals and their songs’ distinguishing lyrical imprint throughout their active years. Sadly, their newest album “Curve” seems to be throwing everything out the window.

“Curve” isn’t the return to their late 90s sound, even though that may have been Maida’s intention. And it certainly isn’t as mainstream and accessible as their 2009 album “Burn Burn” either.

Instead, their latest album sounds like the embodiment of a mid-life crisis in music form. It’s a curveball much like the title of the album. The entire album sounds like a disjointed mess of indecision between their early work and their recent approach.

Released earlier to the public as a single, their song “Heavyweight” perhaps comes closest to their earlier work. The lyrics of the song are reminiscent of their classic hits – emotional and powerful with a tinge of sadness laced around it.

But even then, much like the rest of the album, Our Lady Peace seems to have opted for heavy instrumentalization and layering on their songs. Maida’s vocals don’t shine much – if at all – thanks to the aggressive and almost drowning emphasis on the music itself.

From the fast-paced “Allowance” to the slower “Window Seat”, the rapid and almost disturbingly strong focus on fast beats and loud music just distracts from Maida.

It may try to be a spiritual successor to their first album “Naveed” but the heavy mixing lacks the raw yet polished sound of that album. “Curve” is fast-paced and aggressive but that isn’t to be mistaken for a return to their earlier spirit of powerful, emotional rock.

Maida mentioned this album is their “most experimental and ambitious” album. Well, Oasis was experimental and ambitious as well, but that didn’t play out that well for them either. Jokes aside, “Curve” isn’t terrible, but it’s far from the spectacular comeback either.

Some songs show the potential of the album and the band still, such as the song mentioned earlier “Heavyweight”, “If This Is It” and “Will Someday Change”.

They’re songs that try to paint a musical story, songs that Maida’s characteristic voice truly sings, songs that say “Our Lady Peace.”

Even though they still feel far different from their earlier albums, and a large change from their 2009 album “Burn Burn”, those songs show potential and hope for a band to meld both sounds.

Like their song “Find Our Way Home Again” in the album, Our Lady Peace needs to find its way home again.
Instead the album’s a discordant, jarring and wildly deviating sound often just seems like a mess.

The album “Curve” is, like its name implies, a curveball. It’s nothing its fans would have expected, and not the best introductory album to the band, but it has its gems – somewhat.

A fan that can look beyond its first few songs and start off with its later tracks will find something to be hopeful about. A newcomer might want to do the same – or purchase their 2009 album “Burn Burn” which is far more accessible. Of course, they could head all the way back and listen to “Naveed” or even this reviewer’s personal favorite album “Clumsy”.

Amusingly, their last song in the album “Mettle” seems to summarize this. A slow, almost haunting, song that plays out as a polar opposite to “Allowance”, the abum’s first song, has Maida singing about agreeing, exceeding and atttempts at failed experiments.

Perhaps as a message to its faithful fans, it ends with former heavyweight boxer George Chuvalo saying:
“One of the most important things in life is just to have people that care about you – love is the magic word and if it isn’t for love I wouldn’t be here today.”

[NCdudeN2K4]

really like the new album. raine really steps his game up on this one. felt like he was going through the motions on the past two albums, with a few exceptions. musically, it's an awesome album. really felt the band coming back musically with burn burn and they only expand on that with this album...window seat is the only song that isn't really stellar, imo...

[todddowney]

really like the new album. raine really steps his game up on this one. felt like he was going through the motions on the past two albums, with a few exceptions. musically, it's an awesome album. really felt the band coming back musically with burn burn and they only expand on that with this album...window seat is the only song that isn't really stellar, imo...

[faninor]

“Curve” isn’t the return to their late 90s sound, even though that may have been Maida’s intention.

Oh, was it?

And it certainly isn’t as mainstream and accessible as their 2009 album “Burn Burn” either.

Good.

Instead, their latest album sounds like the embodiment of a mid-life crisis in music form. It’s a curveball much like the title of the album. The entire album sounds like a disjointed mess of indecision between their early work and their recent approach.

Disjointed? Maybe if you listen to the whole thing instead of pressing skip after 10 seconds?

Released earlier to the public as a single, their song “Heavyweight” perhaps comes closest to their earlier work.

Got something right.

But even then, much like the rest of the album, Our Lady Peace seems to have opted for heavy instrumentalization and layering on their songs. Maida’s vocals don’t shine much – if at all – thanks to the aggressive and almost drowning emphasis on the music itself.

HEAVY? It's one of their furthest from that.

From the fast-paced “Allowance” to the slower “Window Seat”, the rapid and almost disturbingly strong focus on fast beats and loud music just distracts from Maida.

Disturbingly strong focus on fast beats? This album is unarguably the least beat-driven OLP album. It's their first ever to include songs without any percussion -- and it has not just one, but two if I'm recalling correctly (Will Someday Change, Mettle). And Window Seat ranks right up there in its sparse use of percussion/beats.

It may try to be a spiritual successor to their first album “Naveed” but the heavy mixing lacks the raw yet polished sound of that album. “Curve” is fast-paced and aggressive but that isn’t to be mistaken for a return to their earlier spirit of powerful, emotional rock.

Wait, was Naveed raw or polished? This one's over-polished? In that case maybe they can just keep polishing it until it's raw.

Maida mentioned this album is their “most experimental and ambitious” album. Well, Oasis was experimental and ambitious as well, but that didn’t play out that well for them either. Jokes aside, “Curve” isn’t terrible, but it’s far from the spectacular comeback either.

Yeah, any time a band does something experimental or ambitious it's a BAD thing. The Beatles? Radiohead? Maybe they don't all start that way, but all the greatest acts are risk takers, experimental, and ambitious.

Some songs show the potential of the album and the band still, such as the song mentioned earlier “Heavyweight”, “If This Is It” and “Will Someday Change”.

If This Is It is ok? Because that one's extremely layered and very beat driven. Its beats have layers.

[SpiritualJunkie]

These reviews are depressing me, but again, not surprising if someone is wanting another repeat of post-grunge OLP.

I review music myself quite a bit and it's hard to write a good, objective review since music is so subjective. I think reviewers who review musical styles/bands they don't know need to do some research or at least keep an open mind. i'm not a heavy metal fan myself but have reviewed some heavy metal records in the past. Personally, I think most heavy metals is noise but I've had to push myself to think about the musicality and what's worth acknowledging.

Anwyay, I can't be too hard on reviewers since even OLP fans themselves disagree about the band. Personally, I'd rank Curve ahead of Naveed but again, they're completely different records and even genres that it's not fair to compare.

[faninor]

Oh, I don't mind if a reviewer doesn't like it, but like you mentioned a little research would be in order. If I were a music reviewer... well, I'd put a great deal of effort into making sure I have my facts straight and I'm not taking any quotes out of context or putting my own words into an artist's mouth before I put forward an opinion and risk embarrassing myself or losing credibility with my readers.

[Tattooed Angels]

another interview etc.. This one is Jer talking.

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/entertai ... story.html

oh and on that last review from TODDDOWNEY>.


What is all the comparisons to OASIS?. In a million years that is not one band that comes to mind when I listen to any OLP songs. Is it just me or does anyone actually see an OASIS comparison?. Just curious

I agree with Josh. You do not have to like the cd. Lord knows I do not like everything OLP has released but do the research. I do not think this is beat driven either. Yes there are some heavier guitar riffs then past cd's but for most part I say this cd is more melody driven. More vocally driven. It has a nice flow to it.

I thought Happiness was Polished..

[katshimmers]

Is there a plan to release in Australia - I would like to direct my friends to purchase

[DudeLove721]

http://www.universitychronicle.net/index.php/2012/04/08/our-lady-peace-throws-a-curve/

Our Lady Peace has grown and changed as a band – from their late 90s distinctive sound to their recent twist to the slightly more mainstream rock – it’s a band that’s moved with the times while trying to keep their signature style.

They’ve worked hard to hold on to, and showcase, Raine Maida’s unique vocals and their songs’ distinguishing lyrical imprint throughout their active years. Sadly, their newest album “Curve” seems to be throwing everything out the window.

“Curve” isn’t the return to their late 90s sound, even though that may have been Maida’s intention. And it certainly isn’t as mainstream and accessible as their 2009 album “Burn Burn” either.

Instead, their latest album sounds like the embodiment of a mid-life crisis in music form. It’s a curveball much like the title of the album. The entire album sounds like a disjointed mess of indecision between their early work and their recent approach.

Released earlier to the public as a single, their song “Heavyweight” perhaps comes closest to their earlier work. The lyrics of the song are reminiscent of their classic hits – emotional and powerful with a tinge of sadness laced around it.

But even then, much like the rest of the album, Our Lady Peace seems to have opted for heavy instrumentalization and layering on their songs. Maida’s vocals don’t shine much – if at all – thanks to the aggressive and almost drowning emphasis on the music itself.

From the fast-paced “Allowance” to the slower “Window Seat”, the rapid and almost disturbingly strong focus on fast beats and loud music just distracts from Maida.

It may try to be a spiritual successor to their first album “Naveed” but the heavy mixing lacks the raw yet polished sound of that album. “Curve” is fast-paced and aggressive but that isn’t to be mistaken for a return to their earlier spirit of powerful, emotional rock.

Maida mentioned this album is their “most experimental and ambitious” album. Well, Oasis was experimental and ambitious as well, but that didn’t play out that well for them either. Jokes aside, “Curve” isn’t terrible, but it’s far from the spectacular comeback either.

Some songs show the potential of the album and the band still, such as the song mentioned earlier “Heavyweight”, “If This Is It” and “Will Someday Change”.

They’re songs that try to paint a musical story, songs that Maida’s characteristic voice truly sings, songs that say “Our Lady Peace.”

Even though they still feel far different from their earlier albums, and a large change from their 2009 album “Burn Burn”, those songs show potential and hope for a band to meld both sounds.

Like their song “Find Our Way Home Again” in the album, Our Lady Peace needs to find its way home again.
Instead the album’s a discordant, jarring and wildly deviating sound often just seems like a mess.

The album “Curve” is, like its name implies, a curveball. It’s nothing its fans would have expected, and not the best introductory album to the band, but it has its gems – somewhat.

A fan that can look beyond its first few songs and start off with its later tracks will find something to be hopeful about. A newcomer might want to do the same – or purchase their 2009 album “Burn Burn” which is far more accessible. Of course, they could head all the way back and listen to “Naveed” or even this reviewer’s personal favorite album “Clumsy”.

Amusingly, their last song in the album “Mettle” seems to summarize this. A slow, almost haunting, song that plays out as a polar opposite to “Allowance”, the abum’s first song, has Maida singing about agreeing, exceeding and atttempts at failed experiments.

Perhaps as a message to its faithful fans, it ends with former heavyweight boxer George Chuvalo saying:
“One of the most important things in life is just to have people that care about you – love is the magic word and if it isn’t for love I wouldn’t be here today.”

Does this fucking idiot even realize what the point of the album is? He sounds like a douchebag journalism student trying too hard to play "snarky rock critic" and nothing more really. Newsflash, I'm an actual freelance journalist who gets paid for his work and this guy sucks... ugh.

[todddowney]

[Codes]

I hate poppy olp songs like Where are you? End, All you did, ect


But As Fast As you Can is awesome, and is just so different, really hope it catches on and becomes a hit. It definitely is a song that needs to be in movies.

[MindsOnLoan]

I hate poppy olp songs like Where are you? End, All you did, ect


But As Fast As you Can is awesome, and is just so different, really hope it catches on and becomes a hit. It definitely is a song that needs to be in movies.

As Fast as You Can is the right kind of pop.. incredibly catchy and fun without sacrificing artistry.

[OLPManiac]

^Guy's a clown.

Another acoustic Allowance

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByE9dfpLkuA

Also:

Our Lady Peace will release its eighth LP, Curve, on April 17 via eOne Music – a follow-up to 2009’s Burn Burn. The new songs are the same impassioned alt-rock fans have come to expect from the Canadian group, here recorded with co-producer Jason Lader (Rilo Kiley, Elvis Costello). “As Fast As You Can” is the album’s first U.S. single, and it's a boisterous and propulsive rocker that sheds off the pretention of contemporary rock, sounding, ultimately, like it could belong to any recent decade.

I agree with this. This is why I love the song. It sounds really organic.

There is also Clumsy acoustic from the same session http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jon-chatt ... 18159.html
besides there are also Raine and Steve that talk about Curve and also of Whatever and why they don't play live the song!

[todddowney]

Alright, here we go again.

http://www.ffwdweekly.com/article/music ... urve-8985/

Our Lady Peace - Curve
Warner Music
Published April 12, 2012 by Mark Teo in Record Reviews

It’d be delusional to deny that Our Lady Peace is well-loved: In their Carlsberg years, they’re still selling out cross-Canada tour dates. Raine Maida, as far as we can tell, lives a perpetual ’90s Cancon fantasy in being married to Chantal Kreviazuk. For many, myself included, they’re a soundtrack to nostalgia — y’know, “Superman’s Dead” feels like the first time you whisky-dicked out on a mega-crush, took an MDMA poo at Edgefest or smuggled Mike’s Hard into a middle-school dance in your World Famous knapsack. These are all good things, but Raine, dude, was Curve really necessary?

It’s not that Curve isn’t a progression of Our Lady Peace’s sound; it’d be erroneous to compare it to Clumsy or Naveed. Sure, those hard-rock-radio soaring choruses — the band’s primary selling point — are still present, but Maida and co. have discovered pedal boards. Keyboards. Bass distortion. And in press release jargon, Curve might be labelled as a late-game reinvention, a bold artistic foray, a clean break from the past. But here’s a thing: It ain’t.

Anchored by Maida’s familiar vocal wobble, these flourishes — the synthetic handclaps and backup falsetto on “As Fast As You Can,” the angular dance-floor lead on “Fire in the Henhouse,” the robotic shuffle of “Heavyweight” — come across as a half-hearted condensation of a decade’s worth of clichéd musical tropes. At its worst, it sounds like mid-tempo radio rock’s long-overdue death cry; at its best, it sounds like Muse fronted by a Muppet. (Which, in a literal sense, would be kind of rad.)

Which leads us back to the question: Was Curve necessary? Emphatically, no. Let Maida and co.’s legacy remain in the sepia-toned summers of our memories; they sounded much better there. Because for Our Lady Peace, the world’s still a subway; but, as citizens of the band’s native Toronto are discovering — and Calgarians already know — LRTs are the transit solution of the future.

[senseofurgency]

why do so many of these reviewers have an obvious problem with olp still making music? its a safe bet to assume that most of these reviews would read exactly the same no matter what curve sounded like, very pathetic. how dare they keep on making music of any kind after being so good in the 90's!