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Eternal Youth

 
Album Review: Eternal Youth

Review

Eternal Youth sees the Future Bible Heroes hitting a wonderfully compelling and mature stride and never wavering from their romantic electro roots. A cute sleeve and gamey lyric transcriptions are here as on past albums, and the band is still playful through and through, but there's a gravity at work from the album's hazy concept of love and aging to its beautifully dark and rich arrangements. Though Christopher Ewen might be the musical brains of the affair and Stephin Merritt is the witty lyrical mastermind, Claudia Gonson is the heart and soul of the band on Eternal Youth. Her droll but pretty delivery is the band's new trademark. Besides providing every vocal, lead and background, except for two or three background utterances from Merritt on "Kiss Me Only With Your Eyes," her sweet swagger and confidence infuse the album with charm galore. Ewen has really outdone himself here, from his six cinematic instrumental interludes to the electroclash meets new romantic keyboard pop meets Hollywood musical mix of sounds he crafts throughout the album. Merritt is his usual curmudgeonly romantic self, offering up loads of lyrical highlights, such as "I would rather be the queen at the guillotine in a bloody insurrection...than be losing your affection" and "I am neither sweet nor sincere, and I'd rather drink blood than beer, 'cause I'm a vampire." Though Eternal Youth is strong from start to finish, the endlessly clever "Doris Daytheearthstoodstill," the stormingly humorous and catchy "I'm a Vampire," "No River" (Merritt's answer to "Climb Every Mountain"), and the tender "The World Is a Disco Ball" emerge as true highlights. On Eternal Youth, the Future Bible Heroes erase any idea of the band being a side project and work together as a trio striving for the same artistic goals. In doing so, they may have created their masterpiece. ~ Tim DiGravina, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Losing Your Affection Christopher Ewen, Stephin Merritt Future Bible Heroes (4:50)
The Slow Fade Christopher Ewen Future Bible Heroes (:52)
Doris Daytheearthstoodstill Christopher Ewen, Stephin Merritt Future Bible Heroes (4:07)
A Thousand Lovers in a Day Christopher Ewen, Stephin Merritt Future Bible Heroes (2:58)
Bathysphere Christopher Ewen, Bill Callahan Future Bible Heroes (:49)
I'm a Vampire Christopher Ewen, Stephin Merritt Future Bible Heroes (3:23)
From Some Dying Star Christopher Ewen, Stephin Merritt Future Bible Heroes (3:16)
Viennese Lift Christopher Ewen Future Bible Heroes (:42)
Smash the Beauty Machine Christopher Ewen, Stephin Merritt Future Bible Heroes (3:12)
The Control Room Christopher Ewen Future Bible Heroes (:39)
Find an Open Window Christopher Ewen, Stephin Merritt Future Bible Heroes (3:17)
Kiss Me Only With Your Eyes Christopher Ewen, Stephin Merritt Future Bible Heroes (3:51)
Jakarta Scott Henderson, Christopher Ewen Future Bible Heroes (:47)
No River Christopher Ewen, Stephin Merritt Future Bible Heroes (3:29)
Cartoon Christopher Ewen, Dan Murphy Future Bible Heroes (:21)
The World Is a Disco Ball Christopher Ewen, Stephin Merritt Future Bible Heroes (2:41)

Credits

Future Bible Heroes (Engineer), Michael English (Design), Charles Newman (Engineer), Claudia Gonson (Vocals), Stephin Merritt (Oberheim), Future Bible Heroes (Producer), Jeff Lipton (Mastering), Christopher Ewen (Multi Instruments)
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Wikipedia: Eternal Youth (album)
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Eternal Youth
Studio album by Future Bible Heroes
Released August 2002
Recorded 2002
Genre Synthpop
Electropop
Label Instinct Records
Professional reviews
Future Bible Heroes chronology
Memories of Love
(1997)
Eternal Youth
(2002)

Eternal Youth is the second album by Future Bible Heroes. It was sung entirely by Claudia Gonson.


Track listing

All songs written by Stephin Merritt and Chris Ewen.

  1. "Losing Your Affection" - 4:50
  2. "The Slow Fade" - :52
  3. "Doris Daytheearthstoodstill" - 4:07
  4. "A Thousand Lovers in a Day" - 2:58
  5. "Bathysphere" - :49
  6. "I'm a Vampire" - 3:23
  7. "From Some Dying Star" - 3:16
  8. "Viennese Lift" - :42
  9. "Smash the Beauty Machine" - 3:12
  10. "The Control Room" - :39
  11. "Find an Open Window" - 3:17
  12. "Kiss Me Only With Your Eyes" - 3:51
  13. "Jakarta" - :47
  14. "No River" - 3:29
  15. "Cartoon" - :21
  16. "The World is a Disco Ball" - 2:41

Personnel


 
 

 

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Eternal Youth (album)" Read more