The advance cd came with only a tracklist. Since I don't have a lyric sheet I'd rather not quote too many lyrics (but I can't help it) so as to not distort too much of what is actually said with my interpretative reconstructions. But the singing is usually very clear, so I'll proceed with caution. Understand that the lyrics I quote may not be exact.
The opening song is "War of the Worlds". Whatever it is about, it gives off a feeling that misery and hate are so very unimportant, and that global benevolance is very much appropriate and possible. It's a great way to start off a Sense Field album,
"Tonight the fire descends (?) It's a countdown to the year 2000 Armageddon, Hell or Heaven, MORE CHAMPAGNE THAN YOU COULD EVER IMAGINE"
The second song "The Horse is Alive" is one of the most beautiful songs I've ever heard. It comes back to a common theme with Sense Field, the beauty of dreams. It would fit very nicely with the music from thier earlier days,
"In my dream I found you sleeping right next to the poison that I drank to be with you, now I want to live live with myself and now all things are possible I know we'll rise in the sun The horse is alive Darling, were gonna arrive home in a beautiful chariot Darling, were gonna ride The horse is alive"
The third song "Are You OK?" is a strange sort of classic pop rock power ballad also like nothing I've ever heard before about losing someone close. It sounds more like it fits in the genre of more serious Genesis and Yes songs but more powerful and captivating. It is such a great song that it's worth $12 by itself as a single. Incredible singing and innovative guitar, this song is a classic.
"Just think of us together whenever you're down, Are you OK? Are you alright? Do you count down the days like I count down the nights? Baby I wait and I wait and I wait Baby I wait and I wait and I wait all night."
The next track "Emergency Exit" is a more spacier sounding song with entrancing vocals and distortion effects that is surprisingly beautiful. Something very new sounding.
Track five "One more time Around" is a little more energetic than the previous songs but still retains a sense of calm sensuality. (This song is also on "Part of the Deal". You can listen to it in the Audio/Video section)
"Now I think it's safe to say there's a place were we all stay there's a time when we all know it's a place where we all go it's where we all come from we play in the warmth in the light of the sun laugh so hard we cry writing our names across the skyyyyyyy just one more time around the world before I leave this place forever so I can see your face again."
The 6th song, "Open Heart Surgery" I believe is set to be the first single from this album and is so beautiful that some have reported being brought to their knees in tears listening to it. Its lyrics describe a man contemplating about some important beautiful girl before he is about to receive open heart surgery. Whether or not the lyrics are intended to be metaphorical, the essence of this scene deals with someone who is deathly afraid of losing all that which he considers sacred in his life. This beautiful girl seems to be his most important value, so much so that she is what gives his life meaning, and what is troubling this man is the knowledge that if he dies, he will lose her. This song is different from Sense Field's earlier stuff due to its dominant acoustic guitar and more soulful singing. (This song can also be heard in the Audio/Video section)
"A dead boy can't look into the eyes of such a beautiful girl A dead boy can't smile at the face of such a beautiful girl A dead man can't fall into the arms of such a beautiful girl A dead man can't crawl into the bed of such a beautiful girl Your smile lights up the hospital room Please help me please during open heart surgery please stay with me during open heart surgery please stay with me A dead man can't dance all night with such a beautiful girl A dead man can't dress dress up with such a beautiful girl"
The 7th song "To End a Letter" starts off with classic rock sounding guitar and fades into something very powerful and driving, able to give inspiration to any activity you're about to do.
Most of the songs on the album have a happier, more uplifting tone except for the darker, edgier, and ironically titled "Love Song". It starts off with some heavy metal drumming and moves into the most aggressive guitar work on this album. I'm sure there will be some that like this song the best. It's about a guy who falls in love with a girl whose "got problems with her mind". It's my least favorite song on the album, but then again I can relate to the lyrics very well,
"She would lose control take it out on me but I'm not the hurting kind Oh pretty girl I didn't want to loooooooooose yooooooooou."
The 9th song "Welcome Me" is another blend of the light hearted with the intensely serious and it shows a rare example of a man who's admitting he's wrong and is willing do whatever's necessary to make his relationship work.
"I want it to work I want us to feel it I want us to live to learn to trust each other again I don't want it to end I still believe we can trust each other again I can't run anymore I can't hide anymore please I can't lie anymore I can't pretend anymore please"
The next song "In Election" has a spacier alterna-pop sound that reminds me a lot of the group Lusk but with the Sense Field edge. Very interesting music on this one. I can't make out all of the lyrics that well, but I think this song is about saving the world.
The album ends with the pleasant slight 50's Motown sounding "Am I a Fool?". It's another rare occasion where a guy pleads when he has done wrong.
"But will you still show me how much you're in love Darling please I know I lost my head but don't turn away Am I a fool? If you see my love tell her I love her still Am I a fool? If you see my love tell her I... tell her I lover her still."
I know that this album isn't set to be released for another three months but mark your calendar for February [March] of 2000. If the world still exists come the new millennium, this would be a good album to purchase to celebrate that fact. I haven't heard any other upcoming albums to be released next year, but Sense Field's upcoming album already has my vote for best album of 2000.
However, there are already some fans complaining about the new album. The problem that I think most fans have with the new album is that its sound is too accessible. When it comes out, it could make them very popular. I can't think of one song on there that can't become a radio hit. Unlike their previous cds it's also VH1 acceptable. Which means that many of the punks who used to love this band may observe their parents enjoying the music as well. For most teenagers who try so hard to be cool, this just wont do. This album will certainly cause some fans to curse the Sense Field name precisely because it's more passionate and pleasant sounding. Never the less, this album should take off. And I hope it does. If they could sell out stadiums with screaming fans, they would certainly deserve it, and I would certainly have much more respect for the world of modern music.
I do not mean to imply that Sense Field's music ever was or is mainstream. While their sound may have fit right in with mainstream music (especially building), their tone is antithetical to everything you see on MTV or hear on the radio, because Sense Field is too passionate and holds life with too high a sense of importance for most to relate to them. The mainstream would rather be walking on the sun or doing it all for the nookie. Sense Field is a needed addition to the limited alternatives available in the mainstream today. Sense Field is rare and different partly because they present thier happiness with such unyeilding cool confidence, because they are unashamed to flaunt thier enjoyment and passion for life in thier music, because they are unafraid to make themselves vulnerable by displaying to the world the things that they hold so deeply important, and best of all they do it all in such a way that isn't superficial and tacky, but intelligent. These characteristics aren't just anithetical to much of the mainstreem, they're aggressively hated. Their music isn't mainstream but I believe it is accessible to parts of the mainstream, meaning that this is something that could really pick up. The album is excellent. There's no good reason why it shouldn't bring them superstardom and fists full of cash. They can expect music critics to be harsh, they can even expect fans to be harsh, but I believe that this band will prevail above it all. I think Sense Field said it best in "To End a Letter":
"Sweet dreams filled with hope NOTHING CAN STOP US NOW NO ONE CAN TOUCH US NOW"