Nightbird | 
| Artist: Erasure
Label: Mute U.S.
Category: Music
List Price: $11.98
Buy Used: $2.49
You Save: $9.49 (79%)
New (23) Used (22) from $2.49
Rating:  111 reviews
Sales Rank: 25108
Format: Enhanced
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5
MPN: 9260
UPC: 724596926024
EAN: 0724596926024
ASIN: B00070EBO4
Release Date: January 25, 2005
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | No Doubt | | • | Here I Go Impossible Again | | • | Let's Take One More Rocket to the Moon | | • | Breathe | | • | I'll Be There | | • | Because Our Love Is Real | | • | Don't Say You Love Me | | • | All This Time Still Falling Out of Love | | • | I Broke It All in Two | | • | Sweet Surrender | | • | I Bet You're Mad at Me |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
This album arrived shortly after singer Andy Bell's revelation that he had been living with HIV for more than six years, suffering from debilitating pain. It's no wonder the music carries a more somber tone than the sugar-smacked synth-pop of '80s hits "Chain of Love" and "Blue Savannah." But it's hardly a gloomy affair. Yes, there is a more ominous tone to lyrics like "The tears that are falling, there's no room for doubt." And yes, the choruses aren't quite as chaotic. But for the most part this is vintage Erasure, right down to the Casio-sounding keyboards that permeate tracks like "Here I Go Impossible Again" and the ABBA imbued cheek of "Don't Say You Love Me." Erasure is clearly a band too engrossed by life to be knocked down by its mundane realities. --Aidin Vaziri
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| Customer Reviews: Read 106 more reviews...
 Don't call it a comeback.... January 26, 2005
J. Brady (PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC United States)
97 out of 103 found this review helpful
After reading all the pre-release hype surrounding Erasure's "return to form" on their new cd Nightbird, I was torn. The cynic in me thought the finished product would amount to just that - hype. The optimist ( and Erasure lover ) in me was filled with a mixture of excitement and just a little bit of resentment, because I never thought Erasure "went away". Sure, they experimented with their trademark sound and their songwriting, to mostly negative reception from critics and fans alike. But there were MANY sterling moments on their Nineties albums, especially on I Say I Say I Say, Erasure ( my personal favourite ) and Cowboy. They haven't had a Top Forty hit in well over a decade here, and I doubt that will ever change, seeing our radio charts clogged with teen pop, rap, and mindless novelty dance hits. I am happy to say this album is a keeper, despite ( or perhaps because of ) the fact that most of the songs are ballads or have a nice bouncey mid-tempo. One or two songs step up to a bit of a dance beat, but the minor key melodies and somber lyrics keep them from falling squarely into the Hi NRG camp. Although Nightbird is lacking anything as Hi-NRG as STOP! or DRAMA!, that's not necessarily a bad thing. I personally thought those two songs were a bit over the top, the vocals verging on hysterics. This CD sounds great, in regard to the instrumentation, the production and mixing. Nicely layered but subtle. And it thankfully doesn't have that "LO-FI" indie sound that very nearly - literally - sank Loveboat, their last album of original material, which was full of great songs but sounded awful ( I STILL blame producer Flood for that mess ) . The vocals are warm, rich and considerd. Very adult, and not over the top or showy. Lyrically Erasure have never strayed too far from love songs, and Nightbird is no exception. Sentimental, but not sappy. Very well done, gentlemen. And congratulations on your return to the British Top 5 with the first single "Breathe." I'd go over my list of what I consider highlights, but you know how that goes. What I might like or dislike is not necessarily what someone else would like or dislike. But I can say this: If you were a fan of Erasure in the early days but were turned off by their forays into ambient experiments, or their try at simplistic, lo-fi synth and acoustic guitar songs, or the mixed-results covers album, please do yourself a favour and give Nightbird a listen. Borrow a friend's copy. Or just go out and buy it. I think you'll like it.
 Erasure is simply the best! February 6, 2005
Heather Walton (Chico, CA)
41 out of 48 found this review helpful
I have loved Erasure since the 80's and they have always been my favorite group. I adored their 80's pop songs in my 20's, then in my 30's I adored their slower more soulful albums: Chorus, I Say I Say I Say and Erasure. Now I am turning 40 and just got Nightbird last week and I love it too. It took a week to grow on me. My first impression was it was too upbeat and full of too many love songs, but after listening to it for a full week, I really love this album! My favorite songs are song #3 and #5.
There is something inspiring about Erasure's music. I am not religious, and do not know if they are, but their songs touch my soul like no other songs can. Erasure's music is healing, loving, relaxing and moving. This album is very upbeat and will have you dancing. Still it is also deeply moving and touching.
Buy Nightbird, Erasure fans will not be dissapointed.
the maturity of Erasure February 16, 2005
cherubino (Houston, Texas United States)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I'd like to start by addressing the fans out there that have trashed this album by saying that it isn't as good as (insert your favorite Erasure album here). Tell me, can you identify ONE group from the synth-pop era who is making albums as good as 15 or 20 years ago??? Give Vince and Andy a break!
Not only that, they are OLDER now, I mean do you want to see Andy staggering on as a high-camp queen, kicking up his heels and singing falsetto? They are on a different plane now. Don't tell me that you are the same person you were two decades ago! Everyone grows and matures.
Now, about the album. If you are into comparisons, this fits the Chorus mold, meaning an album that is solid from start to finish, as opposed to a pastiche of different styles, like Wild! In that vein, you could also compare it to I Say, I Say, I Say, I suppose.
Perhaps Erasure could have dared more. It is called Nightbird; maybe they could have played more with the concept of a nightbird. But it is nonetheless a very listenable album.
I cannot believe that there hasn't been more adulation for All This Time Still Falling Out of Love. Everyone seems to be raving about Here I Go Impossible Again, which sounded very OMD the first time I heard it. Not to say that that's a bad thing. But All This Time is very uplifting, and heart-rendering at the same time. Lines like "I want it all" and "God help me" really speak to my heart. Besides, it's a high-NRG, turbo track that you want to crank the volume up for!
Let's Take One More Rocket To the Moon should appeal to I Say fans. I Bet You're Mad at Me sounds almost like something from Chorus, a somber, wintry track. I'll Be There is better than what the critics would have you believe. Sweet Surrender has baffling lyrics, but is another uptempo keeper. I Broke It All in Two is an experience we've all lived. And yes, No Doubt is shades of Sarah Brightman.
All in all, despite the occasional track that sounds a bit generic, this is worth buying. You will like it, as long as you accept that it's no longer the mid-eighties or early nineties!
 Which camp do you fall in? April 16, 2005
A. Luna (Austin, TX USA)
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
As a heterosexual male, I have long been ridiculed by my friends for listening to Erasure. I have never really cared since Erasure produces a certain type of pop you don't hear anymore, especially stateside. Beautiful songs verging on the sublime when they are on their "A" game.
From my observations, there are two groups of Erasure fans. The first group is mostly attractive to them for their fun, catchy songs best epitomized with The Innocents and later revisited in Cowboy. The other group appreciates more their complex, ambient, more mature work seen in Chorus and Erasure.
It seems the first group sees Nightbird as the second coming of Christ. Back to their true form. As a member of the second group, I wish the album would have been more layered and ambient. I agree with a previous reviewer who wrote that after Erasure was not received well critically, they panicked and reverted to the old form of catchy pop hits a la Cowboy. Nightbird is a continuation of this trend.
Don't get me wrong. Nightbird is a great album. All the songs have great melodies, Andy's voice sounds terrific, and Breathe is probably their best single since the days of Chorus. But where are the great background vocals seen in songs like "I Love Saturday," "Star," and almost all of I SayX3 that are hallmark Erasure? Where are the clever intro and endings of songs best seen in "Brother and Sister," "Perfect Stranger," "Take me back," etc? Aside from Breathe, none of the songs on Nightbird enter or exit with any level uniqueness.
These might be minor points, but I miss those little things that made the 1991-95 period their best. As a whole, Nightbird is a breath of fresh air and partly puts to rest my fear that Erasure was through putting out quality work. It seems their Loveboat has turned back toward the right direction.
One of their Best! And Improves with Repeated Listening February 10, 2006
J. Moore (Richmond, VA)
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
I avoided buying this album for several reasons. I enjoyed the song "Breathe" when it first came out, but when I previewed the album at a record store, it seemed somewhat slow and melancholy to me. I couldn't remember any of the other songs, and I thought that as a whole, the album was unmemorable. However, a friend convinced me ro reconsider, and since I owned every other Erasure album, I decided to buy it and give it a second chance.
I am extremely glad I did. The more I listened to the album, the more I began to thoroughly enjoy every single song. The vocals have never been more layered or beautiful, and the melodies became more and more catchy with every listen. The album really is a throwback to their best of the eighties--true synth pop at its best. Yes, it's somewhat slower as a whole, but I realized that this doesn't mean it isn't a great album. In fact, I rank it right up there with "Chorus" as one of their best.
Best songs on the album:
1) Let's Take One More Rocket to the Moon--the most catchy song on the album. I've heard some criticism about the lyrics being somewhat silly, but if you're looking for pure synth heaven, then you can't get any better than this. It will stay in your head for days.
2) Breathe-- the first single (should have gotten more radio play!)
3) Because Our Love is Real-- slow song, but listen to the way the vocals overlap each other beautifully. Another one you'll be singing along with!
4) Don't Say You Love Me-- very ABBA-esque, totally fun song (still not the fastest, but does have a beat)
5) All This Time Still Falling Out of Love-- the fastest and danciest song on the album. When this one kicks into gear, you suddenly realize how mellow (but not bad) the rest of the album has been.
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