Necrotic, Erotic & Blissfully Noir: Type O Negatives Summer Breeze Makes Me Feel Fine ...
Written: Aug 30 '04 (Updated Dec 23 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Four great tracks, two versions of Summer Breeze.
Cons: Only four tracks, no perks, lyrics or photos.
The Bottom Line: If you call yourself a Type O fan .. this better be in your collection.
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| Freak369's Full Review: Summer Breeze [single] - Type O Negative Movies |
When it comes to Type O Negative, there are some songs that I love with a true passion – songs that I can listen to over and over again without ever getting sick of them. Outside of Love You to Death, Summer Breeze has to be one of my all time favorite songs from the group – it’s so rich and aural that you can’t get the full scope of the song by listening to it just once. No, this is something that you definitely have to listen to over and over again to get the most from it. Regardless of the fact that this is a cover version of a huge 70’s hit, it has a unique feel to it .. something that is so erotic and powerful that you can’t help but feel hypnotized by it. When Bloody Kisses first came out this was one of my least favorite songs and as much as I hate to admit it, I based that on the first few seconds of the song and never really gave it an honest chance. That changed when I was down with the flu and so dead tired that I couldn’t lift the remote to fast track through the song – I rolled my eyes when the heavy guitar intro started and though “It’s only six minutes, maybe it will put me to sleep”. Nothing could have been further from the truth – yeah I closed my eyes … but not to fall a sleep but rather to soak in the music, vocals and little intrinsic qualities of the track. Years later it’s a song that I can honestly say still makes me squirm when I hear it … take that at face value or read into that statement what you wish …
The Tracks
Summer Breeze – studio version
Summer Breeze – full length
Blood & Fire – new but edited version
Christian Woman – edited
The Music
This single features two versions of Summer Breeze but before I go any further I need to set the record straight about something. There is an alternative version of Summer Breeze floating around; it goes by many different names including Summer Girl, Summer Breeze Girl, Summer Breeze Banned .. you get the point. This was something that was recorded yet never released by the group due to some legal issues but ‘somehow’ it managed to show up on some file sharing sites [wink wink] and was passed around like a bottle of vodka at a fraternity party. The lyrics are a bit more suggestive then the original version and Peter’s voice, while as haunting as usual, seems a little grainy and sloppy in some parts. Even so, this is a nice twist on Type O’s cover of the Seals & Croft track and is well worth trying to track down online. Now, back to the CD single … both versions are awesome but unless you are a die hard fan of the group, chances are you won’t be able to tell much of a difference between the two songs unless you listen to them simultaneously.
Sweet days of summer - the jasmine's in bloom
July is dressed up and playing her tune
If you’ve never listened to the song, it is completely different from the original version – so much so that unless you listen to the lyrics the only thing that might tip you off is the subtle beat and guitar intro. If you are familiar with the groups works to date, you’ll have a clue of what to expect from both versions of the song – dark, haunting, melodic and of course, layered music. For those what have never listened to Type O – here’s the skinny. A vast majority of their music is heavy; most of the time you have to listen to songs over and over to get the most from it and this one is no exception – there are so many different things to absorb from the music that even now, after years of listening to it, I still find new things tucked away. Most of these are discovered when I play it on a different stereo or on my portable CD player when I get a new set of headphones – these little treasures are what make the group so damn appealing – well, to me at least. Everyone has their own take on what the song is about; voyeurism, lust, obsession … take your pick. Sometimes it’s better to just not analyze things and just freakin’ enjoy them.
See the smile waiting in the kitchen
Food cooking and the plates for two
Feel the arms that reach out to hold me
In the evening when the day is through
Blood & Fire, also off the Bloody Kisses CD, is a song that really grew on me over the past few years. It’s got an old school rock feel to it, especially during the intro, but once the song starts to unfold it’s 100% Type O Negative. This really shows off a lot of Peter’s vocal range as well as giving the group a chance to depart from their “goth” music reputation. A lot of fans really trashed this song when it was released on the parent CD but I am sure that if they check out the CD single they’ll have a different view of it. A lot of the filler was trimmed away to leave it a little darker with some dropped in keyboard work. For me, the best part of the song is towards the end when Peter starts talking … that deep erotic voice still manages to bring me to my knees and stop me in my tracks … but that my friends, is a completely different review.
Love eternal, lust eternal
Bleeding, burning, needing, yearning
I see your face in every flame
With no answers I have only myself to blame.
Of all the women I have known - they're not you.
I'd rather be alone … no more nights of blood and fire
The last song on the single is one of the groups most popular songs, Christian Woman. Type O has always pushed the envelope when it comes to creating controversy and this song is a great example; delving into the realm of temptation, indulgence, religion and walking the fine line between good and evil, it’s a poignant and erotic track that is both dark and light, sweet and decadent … something that is so above par that it stands out as one of the best songs on Bloody Kisses. This version of it has a lot of the good stuff cut out to make it more appealing for radio airplay – almost a full three minutes lopped off the nine minute CD version. Thankfully the best part – mid way through the song where things slow down a bit and you get to really hear the music shine. The references to Jesus Christ [Jesus Christ looks like me…] were cut out as well as the lines regarding Corpus Christi [body of Christ] – again, this was done to make it a little more mainstream … but to me .. it’s just selling out and something that really irked me.
Before him beg to serve or please
On your back or knees
There's no forgiveness for her sins
Prefers punishment?
Would you suffer eternally or internally?
The Bottom Line
For me, this was something that I had to purchase however if you are just a casual fan of the group, stick with Blood Kisses. As I have said so many times, when you are a fan of a group you collect anything and everything that relates to the group and CD singles are a big part of that. I liked getting two versions of Summer Breeze and checking out the edited version of Christian Woman but like I said, unless you are a real fan of the group, this will be a waste of money since you can essentially get everything featured on the single off the original release. There aren’t any perks with this – no lyrics, no liner notes … no photos. It’s a bare bones CD single but for me, it’s something that I simply had to buy.
As always, thanks for the read!
~^V^~ Freak ~^V^~
© 2004 Freak369
Singles
Black No. 1, Summer Breeze, Love You To Death, Christian Woman, My Girlfriend's Girlfriend, Everything Dies, Cinnamon Girl
CD's
October Rust, Bloody Kisses, Life Is Killing Me, World Coming Down, Slow, Deep And Hard, The Least Worst of Type O Negative, Life Is Killing Me – Import Version
Video
Type O Negative: After Dark
Symphony For The Devil
Editorial
Blood. Sex. Fire. Lust & Immortality
The Best of Type O: Peter Steele Naked
Special thanks to lambchops for adding this to the database!
Recommended:
Yes
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