Track Listing

1. World Outside
2. Heaven's Wall
3. Waiting
4. Years Could Go By
5. Where Are You Tonight
6. Disappear
7. Surrender
8. Reckless
9. Big Decision
10. Kill With Me Tonight

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83005 in Music
• Released on: 1998-06-15
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

Read the signs - one track album
I heard the excellent Tom Lord-Alge remix of 'Waiting' on the Six Feet Under soundtrack. I was immediately keen to hear more. However, the fact that the album is called 'Waiting', and that the sleeve notes contained the lyrics for that song only says a lot. It would seem that they are banking on that one song selling the album. Unfortunately, even the version of 'Waiting' on the album is not as good as that on the SFU soundtrack.

Increasing the bass can thicken the album a little, as I have done on all but the first listen, but it is mosly bland forgettable pop. Lord-Alge produces some of the other album tracks (not the version of 'Waiting') but all of them seem to need a kick to be at all memorable. Some of the songs aren't bad but they fade into a mire of similar, forgettable fare - especially when held up against the near incandescent version of Waiting that led me to them. This album has gathered dust since the first few listens. Disappointing.

Best Irish album since "The Joshua Tree"!
This album was looking a little lonely without any reviews, so I thought I'd set down some thoughts about it.

The Devlins are an Irish band comprising brothers Colin and Peter Devlin (Vocals/Guitars and Bass/Programming respectively) and drummer Sean Devitt. I first saw them supporting Del Amitri and was impressed immediately.

Their music is best described as "thoughtful". You won't find any big stadium rock crowd pleasers, though "Heaven's Wall" comes close. What you will find is plenty of acoustic guitar and PLENTY of thought provoking lyrics (of which my favourite is "He loves you now cos you are thin / But you'll be spending your life sucking your stomach in" from "Big Decision".)

But that description does them no justice, because thanks to Peter Devlin's inventive use of samplers and loops, it manages to stay away from the Del Amitri/Levellers-like folk-rock label. Even though it is now five years old it still sounds quite fresh and vibrant. New listeners I'm sure will be pleasantly surprised by the constantly sparkling production.

The best songs, for me anyway, are "Disappear" which features a killer piano line and "Reckless" which features the best middle-8 of any song you will ever hear (ever)! "Waiting" is an album highlight and "World Outside" is a great opener.

If it seems to take a while to get into, give it time. It's worth it in the end.

It says everything you will ever want to say
The only other band who can produced such a stunning atmosphere is the Blue Nile. Beautifully performed, deeply moving and wholly uplifting. The Devlins have an uncanny ability to evoke every day feelings in a manner that leaves others at the starting line. This is a truely classic record, they should be massive. The fact that they're not means that this album is one of the best kept secrets of the last few years. You owe it to yourself to let yourself in on this secret.