Amazing Grace

Spin - "...AMAZING GRACE finds redemption, uplift, hope, all in the moment, rather than in the grand gesture..." - Grade: A- Entertainment Weekly - "...Pierce erects stately constructs...using swelling string sections, bleating horns, and distorted guitars for deep-space crescendos..." - Rating: B+ Mojo - 4 stars out of 5 - "...As a display of natural grace, and yes, natural rock'n'roll, it remains untouchable, another act of devotion from a true believer..." CMJ - "...One of the most confident-sounding albums yet from the consistently changing band....the disc balances bluster with gospel-tinged balladry..." Uncut - Ranked #52 in Uncut's "Albums Of The Year 2003" - "[T]his is another epic, maximalist outing..." Spin (10/03, p.112) - "...AMAZING GRACE finds redemption, uplift, hope, all in the moment, rather than in the grand gesture..." - Grade: A- Entertainment Weekly (9/12/03, p.153) - "...Pierce erects stately constructs...using swelling string sections, bleating horns, and distorted guitars for deep-space crescendos..." - Rating: B+ Mojo (9/03, p.101) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...As a display of natural grace, and yes, natural rock'n'roll, it remains untouchable, another act of devotion from a true believer..." CMJ (9/15/03, p.4) - "...One of the most confident-sounding albums yet from the consistently changing band....the disc balances bluster with gospel-tinged balladry..."

Fifth album from notorious Brit psychedelic/trance rock outfit follows 2001's 'Let It Come Down'. Moving away from the epic, heavily orchestrated approach of that album to embrace a straightforward, stripped-down rock 'n' roll sound, this neverthless retains the repetitive, minimalist jams and the religious and drug imagery on which their best work is based.|

地の底から沸々と湧き立つようなカタルシス、天空から舞い降りてくるようなメロディー、酩酊と覚醒が螺旋上昇するようなスピリチュアライズドの音楽は、主犯ジェイソン・ピアーズの頭の中の現実をぶちまけたかのような鬼気迫るものであった。なんと3週間!　しかも一発録りで制作されたニュー・アルバムは、〈バンド〉というフィルターに依拠したためか、よりドライでラウドで潔いロック・サウンドとして響く。新章突入か!?
bounce (C)木村 優宏