 | Tracklist:
1. Dawna
2. Buena
3. I'm Free Now
4. All Wrong
5. Candy
6. Head With Wings
7. In Spite of Me
8. Thursday
9. Cure for Pain
10. Mary Won't You Call My Name?
11. Let's Take a Trip Together
12. Sheila
13. Miles Davis' Funeral
| Ranking: #30 for 1993 | |
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On 5 Lists
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Morphine created a sound which the world had never heard before and has not heard since. Morphine's debut, "Good" was the perfect album to bring the band's sound into the world. With their second album, "Cure For Pain", Morphine made a classic.
Morphine:
Mark Sandman - Vocals, Bass, Guitar
Dana Colley - Sax
Billy Conway - Drums
Morphine's combination of Sandman's two string slide bass and smooth baritone vocals, Dana Colley's gravelly sax and Billy Conway's excellent grooves on the drum kit, all with large bits of funk thrown in throughout, was a truly unique sound. Morphine's sound was smooth and easy, a band for people to kick back to. The bluesy sax with the bass sliding around it was fun, sexy and most of all, cool. With an excellent album behind them, "Cure For Pain" being a classic, one more classic and two more top notch albums ahead, Morphine were a band capable of churning out classic track after classic track.
It is rare for an album to have nothing but great songs on it. Morphine's second album, however, does exactly this. The tracks of "Cure For Pain" are in exactly the right order, but were any to be swtiched, the tracks would still be in exactly the right order. The album often switches between sadder and more bluesy tracks and upbeat jazzy (but still bluesy) tracks ("Candy", followed by "A Head With Wings"). The chemistry between the band is remarkable. The drums drive the music in conjunction with Mark Sandman's smooth and groovy basslines. On top of that, Dana Colley's gravelly sax parts drive the music along with the bass but also play some great melodies with excellent solos in the majority of tracks. Most of all, Mark Sandman's deep and smooth vocals give the songs their feel and make the album truly great. "Cure For Pain" is arguably Morphine's best record, which says a lot. A classic album, filled with classic tracks, "Cure For Pain" is simply a must own.
Pros
- Great sound
- Excellent solos and vocals
- Morphine deliver great emotional songs as well as great rock tunes
Cons
- Album can become tiring after many listens because of the large number of tracks
Reccomended Tracks
Buena
Candy
Thursday
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
I've heard so much about this band, but literally never anything by them. :-/ It looks like this is something of a good place to start. Typically good review, etc.
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Yeah, get either this or "Yes". Nacho seemed to think in his review of "Yes" that that one is a better starting point, so maybe you'd be better off getting that one. Zappa gave "Yes" a 5/5 so you know it's quality.
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This is the first album I've heard from them and I can't decide whether I like this or "Yes" more. Nice review man.
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Thanks.
I can't believe that only 2 people have commented on this legendary album.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Awesome album, but I prefer Yes.
Digging: Superchunk - No Pocky For Kitty | | |
pretty good album, but i think i'm still into the general jazz. ya'll should check out joshua redman, AMAZING sax player!
| | | Album Rating: 5
Great jazz/rock recording. Soulful and strong vocals, and brilliant saxophone lines. It's indeed a classic.
5/5
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
I just heard this for the first time.
Holy shit. What an album.
Sorry, but this blows Yes out of the water. And I like Yes a lot.
Digging: Shpongle - Ineffable Mysteries From Shpongleland | | | Album Rating: 4.5
I saw them discussing Morphine in the Alt/Indie forum, so I figured I'd take a look at some of their albums. Very nice review, by the way. I have not fully listened to the album yet, but so far it is simply amazing. I won't rate it yet, of course, but if the rest of the album is like this, it's definately got a high rating in my book.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Believe it or not I just bought this a few days ago and it's amazing. In Spite of Me, Buena, and Thursday are my favorites however I don't think there's a bad track on the album. I also dig the bass saxophone combination, what a unique sound.
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Holy fuck.
Great album. I got it based off of this review. Why do I always find out about this stuff after the band already breaks-up/dies? 
| | | Album Rating: 5
this has to be one of the greatest albums ever. cool songs + unique sound + unified mood and theme = my qualifications for classic album.
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