Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in CDs
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on CDs
Hard to believe it's actually already more than 20 years ago since this album was released, I still remember it like that was yesterday when i read a review of Nowhere in a music mag and inspired by the praise of its guitar wall of sound I went and bought the CD. I don't think you'd needed anything else to convince me I've always thought that the guitar is the best instrument you can have it alone and it still would work, hardly the situation with other band instruments, (except maybe the keyboards). Anyway, although it certainly is that the guitar sound controls the soundscape of Nowhere and Ride, the whole band is making this one to happen. Everything goes seamlessly together and the rhythm section keeps it in check and produces its own distinct sound & drive, not just supporting the guitarists but being a force on its own that gives the band its strength. Eerie, fuzzy and distant vocals work not only as the provider of lyrics but also as an instrument, and while you might enjoy it as such the lyrics in their melancholic, ambivalent, youthful way are also worth of listen, they give the sounds meanings and those can vary from listener to another since they can be interpreted in many ways, and deliberately so, like any good poetry. The visual image of Ride has always been spot on, as well as the name, you can make your own meanings for it and the giant wave on the cover of the album truly connects with the music inside with its majestic and relentless, untamed presence ocean will go on just like Ride's wall of sound. Early 90's (late 80's) was time when it seemed nothing good was happening anymore in music, just pompous hair metal or still born cheesy pop ballads were crowding the lists although - in the underground there was some fresh thing going on, of which Ride among other bands dubbed as "shoe gazing" were responsible of. And they emerged, had maybe a year, max two trying to catch the limelight before the revolution that was Nirvana broke to the charts. During that short span of time quite few bands managed to release an album, or two like Ride, before the tide was changed irreversibly and the great psychedelic pop/rock sound they were crafting died overnight to give room for semi had rock of seattle'esque "grunge" or something in the vein. It's real shame the scene was so short lived and although I'm a huge fan of Nirvana, was then and still am, they did do also disservice to the music because they were the only ones along maybe Pearl am and Soundgarden who had their own distinctive sounds and drive, all others that came in their wake were more or less corporate pushed cashing machines. Not so much the case with "shoegazers" as they always were more underground (and thanks to grunge) died before its time. Ride & their seminal album, the debut, Nowhere still remains as definite testament how good it all was and what could've been. I'm not going to go and evaluate each song I rather say this album with its extras now on this anniversary edition all belong here. Albeit not all were created exactly the same time nor were they all originally included on Nowhere they still do belong together, this was my feeling already back in the day when i got all the singles and EP's Ride put out. The soundscapes are the same, the feeling on the lyrics and songs have same undertone although they do vary both by theme and tempo, still you can feel these all belong together. Adding the live performance is valuable showing what they were about.Read full review