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Music : Grave New World
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Rating: 
- Grave New World - The Strawbs
You could argue this is a pretentious waffle of an album but I don't. I can honestly say I'm not a big fan of the Strawbs. I have only one other album of theirs [Bursting at the seams] but Grave New World was a revelation when I first heard it when it came out. So much so that I carefully copied the Strawbs logo complete with fruit and painted it on to my bedroom wall - my dad wasn't too chuffed!
I still play this regularly, whereas BATS gets played for "Part of the Union" and not much else.
GNW's outstanding opening piece - Benedictus - has always been special for me - no particularly esoteric or theological reason other than it's a great tune with wonderful lyrics and for me sums up how you live your life. The rest of the album has some smashing songs that complement each other: some jolly and sing-along, other's thoughtful and reflective, some full of venom. I've always liked the keyboards on this album - they fit in. I was not enough of a Strawbs fan to know how they were with Wakeman instead of Blue Weaver [great name].
Like all stuff from your past it now has an accretion of memories - in this case of a mate who has long since passed away. So, as it was Terry who brought this album to my attention in the first place, I can listen to it, enjoy it and remember him [and his incredibly boring dietary habits] with fondness. For everyone else this is a really good album with which you can sit back and relax.
Rating: - A Classic
The Strawbs entered a golden period with one of my favourite all time albums that showed they could mix stark realism and powerful melodic music with whimsy. In parts this is one of the bleakest albums I have ever heard. Then there are some deliciously lighter moments.
Vocally Dave Cousins had found his niche. Songs like Benedictus and New World are stark and desolate and Queen of Dreams played havoc on my ears when I first listened to it on headphones and was the track I always played to testt out new stereos or speakers. Amongst all the angst and even bitterness Tony Hooper manages to conjure up a piece of vaudeville with Ah Me, Ah My.
This was a band capable of writing stunning material that held the listener enthralled whilst at the same time showing that they were still developing. On the previous album this mix didn't quite work, here it did totally. For me it conjures up memories of a time and place, just where I wanted to be.
Rating: - The Strawbs finally take their music to the next level
I went to go hear the Strawbs in concert when they were on their "Hero & Heroine" tour. I did not own any of their albums, but the FM station I listened to in Albuquerque liked their music and would play "Down by the Sea" often enough that coupled with commercials for the concert highlighting some choice bits from assorted songs I decided to go check them out (besides, Richie Havens was opening for them). In the wake of the concert I went out and got every Strawbs album I could find in town, which included "Grave New World."
I am willing to round up on this one, but I do not think of "Grave New World" as being a first tier Strawbs album (those would be the next three after this one). Part of the reason is that the music a lyrics are a bit too pretentious as times, and if you really get into what is going on here it can be a bit depressing. But that was what was happening in the wake of Rick Wakeman's leaving the group for Yes. Apparently that is the context in which we are supposed to listen to the opening track "Benedictus," in which Cousins sings about blessing "all those who cause us pain." Besides, how many songs have an electric dulcimer run through a fuzz box? This is the best song on the album, while the title track is the second, even though it provides decidedly contradictory sentiments, as when Cousins sings, "may you rot in your grave new world." The post-apocalyptic sentiments are sung out while Weaver provides some of his best work on the mellotron.
Those two songs override everything else on the album, which can make it seem not as solid an effort as we would see on the next album, "Bursting at the Seams." But "The Flower and the Young Man" and "On Growing Older" are both solid songs, showing that Cousins could write effectively for both the electric and acoustic guitar. This digitally remastered reissue contains a pair of bonus tracks, but while "I'm Going Home" is a solid little track, "Here It Comes" is a throwback to the musical period the group was leaving behind. Still, every little blast from the past tacked on is to be appreciated as an effort to clean out the vaults.
The Strawbs remain one of my favorite progressive rock bands of the 1970s, but when this album came out in 1972 the group was still a lot closer to their folk-rock roots. In addition to David Cousins writing songs, the rhythm section of Richard Hudson and John Ford was producing some decent tracks as well. But this would be the last album with Tony Hooper on lead guitar, who would be replaced by Dave Lambert, who brought more rock sensibilities to the group. At this point Blue Weaver had replaced Wakeman on keyboards, but I really define the glory days of the Strawbs by the time that John Hawken was in that role. By that point Cousins was the only one left from the original Strawberry Hill Boys. The verdict might be that the Strawbs were not on the same plateau as Yes and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, or even Renaissance, but if they were a second tier group they were the best on that level.
Rating: - A wonderful "feel good" album
This is one of Strawbs' finest moments, with great songwriting, great arrangements and superb perfomances all round. From the spiritual uplift of "Benedictus" to the acoustic simplicity of "Hey Little Man...Thursday's Child" and on to the riches deeper into the album (particularly the powerful "New World"), this music is pure joy. Dave Cousin's haunting vocals drift in and out beautifully. John Ford gives an impressive "Beatle-like" performance on "Heavy Disguise" and there's lots more to enjoy and cherish here. This is a GREAT album!
Rating:
- Moments of brilliance
This is the first consistently strong prog recording from this one-time folk outfit. Benedictus and New World in particular stand out among some of the finest cuts the Strawbs would create. Strangely, this is the first album without Wakeman on keys and it is far better and more sophisticated than anything they created in collaboration with the keyboard wizard. Where the keyboard work does not contain virtuosity along the lines of Wakeman's it compliments the music brilliantly. The band benefited from a few personnel changes as it was here that they began to sound like a band. They would progress even further with Bursting at the Seams, Hero and Heroine and most of Ghosts...Simon
- Grave New World - The StrawbsYou could argue this is a pretentious waffle of an album but I don't. I can honestly say I'm not a big fan of the Strawbs. I have only one other album of theirs [Bursting at the seams] but Grave New World was a revelation when I first heard it when it came out. So much so that I carefully copied the Strawbs logo complete with fruit and painted it on to my bedroom wall - my dad wasn't too chuffed!
I still play this regularly, whereas BATS gets played for "Part of the Union" and not much else.
GNW's outstanding opening piece - Benedictus - has always been special for me - no particularly esoteric or theological reason other than it's a great tune with wonderful lyrics and for me sums up how you live your life. The rest of the album has some smashing songs that complement each other: some jolly and sing-along, other's thoughtful and reflective, some full of venom. I've always liked the keyboards on this album - they fit in. I was not enough of a Strawbs fan to know how they were with Wakeman instead of Blue Weaver [great name].
Like all stuff from your past it now has an accretion of memories - in this case of a mate who has long since passed away. So, as it was Terry who brought this album to my attention in the first place, I can listen to it, enjoy it and remember him [and his incredibly boring dietary habits] with fondness. For everyone else this is a really good album with which you can sit back and relax.
Rating:
- A ClassicThe Strawbs entered a golden period with one of my favourite all time albums that showed they could mix stark realism and powerful melodic music with whimsy. In parts this is one of the bleakest albums I have ever heard. Then there are some deliciously lighter moments.
Vocally Dave Cousins had found his niche. Songs like Benedictus and New World are stark and desolate and Queen of Dreams played havoc on my ears when I first listened to it on headphones and was the track I always played to testt out new stereos or speakers. Amongst all the angst and even bitterness Tony Hooper manages to conjure up a piece of vaudeville with Ah Me, Ah My.
This was a band capable of writing stunning material that held the listener enthralled whilst at the same time showing that they were still developing. On the previous album this mix didn't quite work, here it did totally. For me it conjures up memories of a time and place, just where I wanted to be.
Rating:
- The Strawbs finally take their music to the next levelI went to go hear the Strawbs in concert when they were on their "Hero & Heroine" tour. I did not own any of their albums, but the FM station I listened to in Albuquerque liked their music and would play "Down by the Sea" often enough that coupled with commercials for the concert highlighting some choice bits from assorted songs I decided to go check them out (besides, Richie Havens was opening for them). In the wake of the concert I went out and got every Strawbs album I could find in town, which included "Grave New World."
I am willing to round up on this one, but I do not think of "Grave New World" as being a first tier Strawbs album (those would be the next three after this one). Part of the reason is that the music a lyrics are a bit too pretentious as times, and if you really get into what is going on here it can be a bit depressing. But that was what was happening in the wake of Rick Wakeman's leaving the group for Yes. Apparently that is the context in which we are supposed to listen to the opening track "Benedictus," in which Cousins sings about blessing "all those who cause us pain." Besides, how many songs have an electric dulcimer run through a fuzz box? This is the best song on the album, while the title track is the second, even though it provides decidedly contradictory sentiments, as when Cousins sings, "may you rot in your grave new world." The post-apocalyptic sentiments are sung out while Weaver provides some of his best work on the mellotron.
Those two songs override everything else on the album, which can make it seem not as solid an effort as we would see on the next album, "Bursting at the Seams." But "The Flower and the Young Man" and "On Growing Older" are both solid songs, showing that Cousins could write effectively for both the electric and acoustic guitar. This digitally remastered reissue contains a pair of bonus tracks, but while "I'm Going Home" is a solid little track, "Here It Comes" is a throwback to the musical period the group was leaving behind. Still, every little blast from the past tacked on is to be appreciated as an effort to clean out the vaults.
The Strawbs remain one of my favorite progressive rock bands of the 1970s, but when this album came out in 1972 the group was still a lot closer to their folk-rock roots. In addition to David Cousins writing songs, the rhythm section of Richard Hudson and John Ford was producing some decent tracks as well. But this would be the last album with Tony Hooper on lead guitar, who would be replaced by Dave Lambert, who brought more rock sensibilities to the group. At this point Blue Weaver had replaced Wakeman on keyboards, but I really define the glory days of the Strawbs by the time that John Hawken was in that role. By that point Cousins was the only one left from the original Strawberry Hill Boys. The verdict might be that the Strawbs were not on the same plateau as Yes and Emerson, Lake and Palmer, or even Renaissance, but if they were a second tier group they were the best on that level.
Rating:
- A wonderful "feel good" albumThis is one of Strawbs' finest moments, with great songwriting, great arrangements and superb perfomances all round. From the spiritual uplift of "Benedictus" to the acoustic simplicity of "Hey Little Man...Thursday's Child" and on to the riches deeper into the album (particularly the powerful "New World"), this music is pure joy. Dave Cousin's haunting vocals drift in and out beautifully. John Ford gives an impressive "Beatle-like" performance on "Heavy Disguise" and there's lots more to enjoy and cherish here. This is a GREAT album!
Rating:
- Moments of brillianceThis is the first consistently strong prog recording from this one-time folk outfit. Benedictus and New World in particular stand out among some of the finest cuts the Strawbs would create. Strangely, this is the first album without Wakeman on keys and it is far better and more sophisticated than anything they created in collaboration with the keyboard wizard. Where the keyboard work does not contain virtuosity along the lines of Wakeman's it compliments the music brilliantly. The band benefited from a few personnel changes as it was here that they began to sound like a band. They would progress even further with Bursting at the Seams, Hero and Heroine and most of Ghosts...Simon