Amazing Grace

by Spiritualized

Overview

After the arduous process of making 2001's hyper-orchestrated Let It Come Down and hearing the fierce, back-to-basics rock of bands like the White Stripes and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Jason Pierce vowed that the next Spiritualized album would be a departure from the excesses of his previous efforts. In some aspects, Amazing Grace makes good on his word: right down to its cover art -- a photo of a naked arm, free of any ornament (or track marks) -- the album makes a show of its simplicity. The pair of rockers that begin Amazing Grace are just as driven as anything that has come out of the recent wave of garage rock revivalism, but save for some lo-fi affectations, could easily appear on any of Spiritualized's other albums. Indeed, lyrics like "This little life of mine/I'm gonna let it slide" and song titles like "She Kissed Me (It Felt Like a Hit)" are so quintessentially Spiritualized that they border on parody. The album's softer moments also have a slightly rehashed quality and are still fairly ornate. While "Hold On" and "Oh Baby" are more restrained than Pierce's Let It Come Down material, that just means that their excesses are less excessive -- there's only one orchestra and gospel choir per song. However, the processes that Pierce used to craft the album aren't as important as the fact that its songs aren't especially distinctive. Amazing Grace touches on all of Spiritualized's song archetypes: fiery rockers ("Never Going Back," "Cheapster"), gospel-tinged pleas for salvation ("Lord Let It Rain on Me"), ethereal laments ("Rated X"), and forays into jazz ("The Power and the Glory"), but, despite energetic performances and a relatively simple approach, very few of the songs connect. If anything, the stripped-down production magnifies the album's nondescript songwriting. The standout track is "The Ballad of Richie Lee," a bleakly beautiful song that truly does use the orchestra in a restrained and powerful way, making a logical progression from where Pierce's music has been to where it could be going. Amazing Grace is far from a bad album, but it's not an especially compelling one, either. The yin and yang of Spiritualized's symphonies and rock make for a sharp contrast in his work, but they can also settle into a rut, as is the case here. Die-hard Pierce fans may find a lot to like about Amazing Grace, but then again, they may find another spin of Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space more rewarding. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	01/26/2024
Label:	Imports
UPC:	0767981182735
Rank:	90573

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Spiritualized   Primary Artist
Evan Parker   Guest Artist,Saxophone
Kenny Wheeler   Guest Artist,Trumpet
James Adams   Trombone
Kevin Bales   Drums
Tony Woollard   Cello
Tom Edwards   Piano,Maracas,Marimba,Optigan,Timpani,Tambourine,Vibraphone,Sleigh Bells,Farfisa Organ,Foot Stomping,Tubular Bells,Vox Continental
Jonathon Morcambe   French Horn
Doggen   Bass,Guitar,Harmonica,Fender Jaguar,Fender Jazz Bass
Nicola Sweeney   Violin
Spaceman   Banjo,Bells,Piano,Vocals,Farfisa Organ,Fender Jaguar,Fender Rhodes,Epiphone Casino,Hammer Dulcimer,Fender Jazz Bass,Fender Telecaster,Guitar (Acoustic)
Fay Sweet   Violin
Ben Edwards   Trumpet
Dave Temple   Saxophone
Angie Brown   Vocals
Ray Dickaty   Saxophone
John Coxon   Piano,Guitar,Autoharp,Harmonica,Fender Rhodes,Organ (Hammond),Fender Jazz Bass,Fender Telecaster
Lorraine McIntosh   Vocals
Thighpaulsandra   Piano,Fender Rhodes,Kurzweil PC88,Organ (Hammond),Vox Continental
Jonny Aitken   Drums
Mary Pearce   Vocals
Nick Smart   Trumpet

Technical Credits

J. Spaceman   Producer,Composer
William Selden   Photography
Jeremy Gill   Assistant
Spaceman   Design,Mixing,Concept,Scenery,String Arrangements
Bob Ludwig   Mastering
Mads Bjerke   Mixing,Engineer
John Coxon   String Arrangements
Jason Pierce   Arranger,Producer
Phil Ault   Assistant
Ben Crook   Registrant
Nick Marion Taylor   Assistant