ALSO GLORIOUS, Mother Earth Maxi CD - Within Temptation
Written: Jan 31 '04 (Updated Jan 31 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A good sample of Within Temptation music
Cons: Not a great sample of Within Temptation music
The Bottom Line: It's on the bottom when you write it but it bounces to the top when you post it! What gives?
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| daumco's Full Review: Mother Earth [EP] - Within Temptation Movies |
Many of you may have read my long winded review of the album Mother Earth by that fabulous Femme Fronted, Dutch Symphonic Metal group known as Within Temptation and my review of the two song single of the same name. If you did, then you probably have a good sense of what this band is like.
Unlike the album, whose original release was August 21, 2001, the Maxi CD was only released on October 13th 2003, along with a two song single and a DVD+, which is a five song video, plus the five song EP.
Mother Earth (the album) is a true masterpiece, that has generated more spinoffs than the old Archie Bunker TV show. There are now a total of ten releases of music (not counting video) from the original blockbuster album and since singles have not been released on my personal favorites, I expect more.
A blockbuster, you say? I never heard of it. Well that's not surprising. Very little import music gets heard on the radio, especially mainstream radio and most import music is not offered in the stores either, therefore, since it doesn't get heard, nobody buys it and since nobody buys it, it doesn't get heard, the old vicious circle.
Surprise!!! Despite the odds, Mother Earth is being purchased. It's not being played on normal radio but "Mother Earth Junkies" (a term from a buyer) are buying the album for big bucks without hearing any song but Mother Earth. See my Conclusion.
I suppose it's rather unusual for an EP to be released 26 months after the album but Mother Earth seems to have a life of it's own. It just won't go away, quietly, into obscurity.
Within Temptation band members are: Sharon den Adel (Vocals), Robert Westerholt (Vocals, guitar), Martijn Westerholt (synths & keyboards), Ivar de Graaf (drums), Jeroen Van Deen (bass), Michiel Papenhove (guitars).
Track List
1) Mother Earth (studio version) 4:02 (shorter than album)
2) Jane Doe (unreleased bonus track) 4:30
3) Ice Queen (live acoustic version) 3:47
4) Never Ending Story (live Acoustic version) 4:16
5) Mother Earth (live at the lowlands) 5:32
There is no doubt in my mind that Sharon den Adel is one of the truly great sopranos in the world and her singing surely adds greatly to Within Temptation's albums but the live acoustic versions do not showcase Sharon in her best light. "Jane Doe" is a nice addition though and between "Jane Doe" and the two terrific versions of "Mother Earth", it is certainly worth purchasing.
"Mother Earth" starts with lush keyboards a flute and the choir, before the guitars, synths and a very timely French horn raise the tempo and intensity. Sharon's incomparable voice joins in @ 1:03 sometimes accompanied by violins and soars above the choir and everything else, not obliterating but enhancing the amazing textures herein.
"Jane Doe" is a medium fast numbrer that begins with an acoustic guitar leading into heavy percussion, orchestration, choirs and finally Sharon's wonderful vocals. Two interesting sidenotes. This is the only song since their debut album Enter to have any male guttural vox but it is so low key and very much in the background and for once it really adds something to the equation. Also Sharon doubles up on the chorus's, a wonderful sound.
"Ice Queen" (acoustic live version) Sure sounds different without the orchestra and choirs. Sharon accompanied with mostly piano with some guitar work sounds an awfully lot like Sheryl Crow and the singing and music have a somewhat country twang.
"Never Ending Story" (acoustic live version) Sharon again is accompanied by piano and guitar but since the studio version of this song is not as elaborate as the other tracks, this version doesn't sound much different. It is a happy, up tempo ballad, pleasant enough but not one of my favorites.
"Mother Earth" (live) as live tracks go this one is superlative. This version is a minute and a half longer than the studio version because of the addition of some instrumentation and some male choir singing @ 3:20. This version mimics closer the version on the original album release.
Conlusion
I think one would be better advised to get the full album in all it's glory but this would be a good place to start if you wanted to see if you liked it enough to pop for the full album. Since three of the five songs are different versions and one is a new song not offered elsewhere, it would not be wasted if you bought the full album later.
How is it possible that Mother Earth is still going strong, NO, growing stronger every day after 26 Months?
I'm sure word of mouth and hearing a friends copy has something to do with it and some have heard it overseas but that doesn't begin to explain this mini juggernaut. So I decided to initiate a mini survey.
Mystery Solved
I found the answer, to this mini mystery, to be surprising to say the least. Here is verbatim, what one of my respondents said.
"A couple of the people leaving comments on Amazon have revealed where all the interest is coming from.
Matt Drudge has a Sunday night show on radio. I hear it on KFI in L.A. For months he has been playing the song Mother Earth as an intro to one or the other of the opening hours.
Every now and then he reveals that the haunting song intro is Mother Earth by Within Temptation. Those of us who have been hooked like junkies then scramble to find a copy.
Mystery solved."
You are invited to join the Mother Earth Phenomenon.
Similar Bands
Therion, Edenbridge, Evanescence, Lacuna Coil, Dreams of Sanity, Artrosis
Here is a link to my original review of Mother Earth by Within Temptation followed by the single:
http://www.epinions.com/content_102189993604
http://www.epinions.com/content_120496426628
MythnankstoShellyonceagainforpostingthiswonderfulCD
Recommended:
Yes
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daumco
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