Post by Jules on Feb 12, 2022 21:11:50 GMT
curtsmith.bandcamp.com/album/mayfield
What Are We Fighting For:
I've known this song for a long time now (since it was rather inexplicably included on the "Secret World" live album as a bonus track) and so far it's the best solo song by Curt I've heard. It's melodic, powerful, well sung. Good lyrics too ("My anger's contagious, my wishes outrageous"). A few deviations are perhaps too much - the "I'm revolving" bit doesn't really lead anywhere.
Sorry Town:
That opening highlights Curt's melodic weirdness. Pretty damn dissonant. The song gets quite heavy, especially so in the chaotic middle part, which closely echoes bits on TFF's Raoul and the Kings of Spain album (the grunge-/alternative bits in "Don't Drink the Water"). What sets this one aside is the wah-wah Rhodes, something that immediately makes me think of Pink Floyd.
Not easy listening at all, quite a challenging piece in fact. Ambitious too.
Jasmine's Taste:
A slow song, and my interest goes down... The problem is that whereas the first two tracks were very varied, here the chords repeat too much - even the chorus starts with the same chord sequence that runs through the verse. Typical of Curt's solo work, there are some sublime melodic movements ("and innocence for ecstasy") but they don't integrate into a consistent whole piece.
Reach Out:
A reduced piece of folk-rock. Well, after a while the drums come crashing in. This sounds surprisingly fresh still. Unfortunately the melody is wandering and doesn't really stick, and the lyrics could've done with some cleaning up. Then again, the harmonica is a good choice and I like the middle part.
Trees:
A bit of a Crowded House, "Weather With You" feeling. Acoustic guitars, gentle percussion. It really conjures up a nice sonic, flowing landscape. The melody is good but Curt's voice sounds like it could do with some harmonizing on the choruses. The bridge floats wonderfully!
Mother England:
This is the anti-nationalistic song of the album. The lyrics get a thumbs up from me. The verse melody is unfortunately aimless. Once it picks up steam in the chorus, it gets much better musically but Curt's voice is too thin to hold its own against the Beatlesque backing.
The song seems to aim for a "Hey Jude" ending, but doesn't quite sweep me off my feet.
Snow Hill:
The ode to Curt's origins. And the song that Curt played a lot with Tears for Fears after reuniting with Roland. It's got some nice qualities to it, still I keep thinking "this melody should've gone differently" (same with "Stay"). Case in point: "Watch the rain fall across the rooftops". The way he parses "rooftops" ("roofto-ops") just baffles me.
As energetic as this album started out, we've now had three slower songs in a row. Curt's claims that he likes things rougher don't really get confirmed!
I Don't Want to Be Around:
Nice soundscape opening this, sounding a bit like "The Tipping Point". The guitar that swims in this song sounds very Pink Floyd, as does the electric piano. In fact the whole song has an overt Pink Floyd feeling. Only Curt's vocals mask that to a degree, but he even stacks the harmonies like David Gilmour likes to do.
The middle part dispels the feeling a bit, we now have Mellotron in the mix too.
Sun King:
Co-opting a title The Beatles already used is not a great look. This is the response song to "Fish Out of Water". "Boy you looked so bad" isn't too poetic. The grungy guitars are back, almost comically so. Unfortunately this song proves that Roland had a point - the verse is lousy writing, musically speaking. The chorus also doesn't really achieve much.
Gone Again:
Just vocals and faint acoustic guitar (both played by Curt?) - very naked and exposing. It's one of the better songs but the bridge makes little sense to me.
Trees (feat. Janice Whaley - 2011 bonus track):
An electronically flavored rearrangement that loses all the magic of the original version.
The best moments on this release would've fit nicely on a Tears for Fears album. Unfortunately, Curt doesn't keep up the quality and Mayfield gets a bit average after a while.
What Are We Fighting For:
I've known this song for a long time now (since it was rather inexplicably included on the "Secret World" live album as a bonus track) and so far it's the best solo song by Curt I've heard. It's melodic, powerful, well sung. Good lyrics too ("My anger's contagious, my wishes outrageous"). A few deviations are perhaps too much - the "I'm revolving" bit doesn't really lead anywhere.
Sorry Town:
That opening highlights Curt's melodic weirdness. Pretty damn dissonant. The song gets quite heavy, especially so in the chaotic middle part, which closely echoes bits on TFF's Raoul and the Kings of Spain album (the grunge-/alternative bits in "Don't Drink the Water"). What sets this one aside is the wah-wah Rhodes, something that immediately makes me think of Pink Floyd.
Not easy listening at all, quite a challenging piece in fact. Ambitious too.
Jasmine's Taste:
A slow song, and my interest goes down... The problem is that whereas the first two tracks were very varied, here the chords repeat too much - even the chorus starts with the same chord sequence that runs through the verse. Typical of Curt's solo work, there are some sublime melodic movements ("and innocence for ecstasy") but they don't integrate into a consistent whole piece.
Reach Out:
A reduced piece of folk-rock. Well, after a while the drums come crashing in. This sounds surprisingly fresh still. Unfortunately the melody is wandering and doesn't really stick, and the lyrics could've done with some cleaning up. Then again, the harmonica is a good choice and I like the middle part.
Trees:
A bit of a Crowded House, "Weather With You" feeling. Acoustic guitars, gentle percussion. It really conjures up a nice sonic, flowing landscape. The melody is good but Curt's voice sounds like it could do with some harmonizing on the choruses. The bridge floats wonderfully!
Mother England:
This is the anti-nationalistic song of the album. The lyrics get a thumbs up from me. The verse melody is unfortunately aimless. Once it picks up steam in the chorus, it gets much better musically but Curt's voice is too thin to hold its own against the Beatlesque backing.
The song seems to aim for a "Hey Jude" ending, but doesn't quite sweep me off my feet.
Snow Hill:
The ode to Curt's origins. And the song that Curt played a lot with Tears for Fears after reuniting with Roland. It's got some nice qualities to it, still I keep thinking "this melody should've gone differently" (same with "Stay"). Case in point: "Watch the rain fall across the rooftops". The way he parses "rooftops" ("roofto-ops") just baffles me.
As energetic as this album started out, we've now had three slower songs in a row. Curt's claims that he likes things rougher don't really get confirmed!
I Don't Want to Be Around:
Nice soundscape opening this, sounding a bit like "The Tipping Point". The guitar that swims in this song sounds very Pink Floyd, as does the electric piano. In fact the whole song has an overt Pink Floyd feeling. Only Curt's vocals mask that to a degree, but he even stacks the harmonies like David Gilmour likes to do.
The middle part dispels the feeling a bit, we now have Mellotron in the mix too.
Sun King:
Co-opting a title The Beatles already used is not a great look. This is the response song to "Fish Out of Water". "Boy you looked so bad" isn't too poetic. The grungy guitars are back, almost comically so. Unfortunately this song proves that Roland had a point - the verse is lousy writing, musically speaking. The chorus also doesn't really achieve much.
Gone Again:
Just vocals and faint acoustic guitar (both played by Curt?) - very naked and exposing. It's one of the better songs but the bridge makes little sense to me.
Trees (feat. Janice Whaley - 2011 bonus track):
An electronically flavored rearrangement that loses all the magic of the original version.
The best moments on this release would've fit nicely on a Tears for Fears album. Unfortunately, Curt doesn't keep up the quality and Mayfield gets a bit average after a while.