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April 2001 Vol. 5 No. 5
 
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Artist Our Lady Peace
Title Spiritual Machines
Label Columbia Records
Reviewer Vinnie Apicella
Rating
With a title derived on the suggestion of machines eventually exceeding human intelligence and displacing a human race bent on doing the job themselves it seems, Our Lady Peace did not take the conventional route to arriving here. Having written the entire record before slapping the title, it all just seemed to fit into place -- judging by the material, it certainly does, but don't get the idea that we're not dealing from a wholly humanistic ideal here, we are. This is not a robotic offering by any means. But the "concept" goes well together as the songs, featuring brief interludes of mechanized narration delivered by one Ray Kurzweil, who's "The Age of Spiritual Machines…" book lay at the stump of their current ideology, echoes forth before a dazzling array of fuzz-toned Rock guitars blaze their trail across a lush landscape of melody and blue sky textures.

The Canadian rockers were last heard seemingly years ago for their "Happiness is Not a Fish You Can Catch" release and while they'll never be confused as Pop-stricken teenage romanticists, theirs is a modern maturity put to song where musical growth is a foregone conclusion. Having made great strides on their home turf, securing favorite Canadian video and group awards, the band could be found touring the world incessantly bringing their passion to more fans than ever before in their decade long existence.

"Spiritual Machines" will undoubtedly be another hit on the modern Rock and Alternative charts -- "Right Behind You," "Life," "Made To Heal," "If You Believe," (among my faves for sleeper "hit" prediction overall)-- as Our Lady Peace continues to stride forward confidently, creating somewhat mind-bending visual images (the entertainment value in the lyric booklet alone is worth the price of admission!) to complement their usual outpouring of catchy, slightly edgy and passionate music for the new age and beyond…


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