Heksolson wrote:
Well... I´ve heard Alone with AdA and far beyond of my feelings about that I have to admite that this version really Rocks it all the way. Maybe that´s how she really imagine this song from the beggining, to be more rock orientated.
Personally, my favourite version of "Alone" (by
far) is the pre-album one on the Sound Relief DVD. Just the dynamic shift, from where the song goes from the verse part into the chorus, is
really powerful (to my ears, anyway). And around the 3:00-minute mark, where Anneke just starts singing her ass off? Wicked stuff. Gives me chills. Hearing that DVD version of "Alone" at the time,
really made me look forward to the new album!
I've noticed some folks on this board are quick to shit on anyone who offers even the
slightest critical opinion of their dear Gathering (and more specifically Anneke). It's unfortunate that some folks are
that sensitive and/or defensive. I value when people present genuine, honest opinions and thoughts on here; more so than just being robotic cheerleaders, eager to praise anything and everything that The Gathering (and again, more specifically Anneke) have ever done. But that's just me... *shrugs*
That said, I have to admit I was bummed by how disappointed I felt when I first heard the final, recorded result that was their last album (Home). I remember I put the CD in, and immediately went to "Alone", just 'cause I was really eager and curious to hear how the studio version of that wicked, powerful song from the DVD sounded.
Instead, what I heard was this very two-dimensional, "grey-ish"-sounding, song (as opposed to the vivid, colourful,
living & breathing one on the DVD), that seemed--again, to
my ears--to be only a ghost of its former self. *shrugs* I don't know if it was producer Artie pushing them in a certain direction... But what happened to the "life" in the song?! The musical performances sounded surprisingly stiff/robotic and un-emotional; and the
powerful vocals, had been replaced by ones that sounded like they had been recorded by a half-asleep Anneke.
And as a matter of personal taste, I didn't think the addition of the second verse with new lyrics ("now's the time for being humble...") worked very well either. I still don't. The lines sound
contrived--rather than "organic" and natural--as if Artie (or someone) told Anneke that they needed
different lyrics for the second verse (for whatever reason). So she had to sit at a desk, pen in hand, and try to come up with more words; when in reality, repeating the first verse twice (as in "You Learn About It", for example [!!!]), worked perfectly to begin with! Ah well...
So MAYBE, Anneke too, was "disappointed" with the stiff Home version of "Alone" and wanted to re-invigorate it? (The Gathering
did liven it up some, when they would play the song live...) Bring back some of the life that the "original" had. *shrugs* If that's the case, I can understand her perspective a bit.
ANYwho... Just being honest here. Not trying to be a basher. The Gathering will still always be my all-time fave band. Just would have liked to have seen them go out on a high-note, as far as the Anneke-era goes, you know? (As opposed to being like "Home was okay, but I know their
next album will be
awesome...".)
You know how Century Media has been putting out the demos of a bunch of Gathering stuff over the past couple of years... I'd be very curious to hear what the demos of the
Home material sounded like. I have a pretty good feeling I'd much prefer the
demos, over the final, album versions of the songs (before they had their life sucked out of them).
Just my opinion. Am I "alone" in thinking like this?