MIKE OLDFIELD - Tubular Bells 2003
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Free Music Notes for Tubular Bells 2003
Free Music Review: I Prefer the Original
Hit: 3 Stars
I've been a fan of Mike Oldfield's work since the release of "Tubular Bells" in the 1970's. Unfortunately, I think this 2003 re-recording lacks much of the spontaneity and exhuberance that made the original recording so wonderful.
All the way from the excessively fuzzy sound of the rock guitars to John Clease using his best "Fawlty Towers" voice to call out the various instruments in the Part One Finale. This version of "Tubular Bells" is just too studied; too aware of itself; too cute; too over-produced.
I'm going to continue listening to the original recording - warts and all. It's alive in a way that "Tubular Bells 2003" is not.
Free Music Review: Get the original
Hit: 3 Stars
If I had never heard the original, I probably would have liked this more. Just as I hate movie reviews which talk about the book it was based on, I tried to hear this on its own. As such it is OK, but it has no feeling and does not connect with the history of the original.
One interesting thing you can do with this since it is broken up into 17 tracks (which is otherwise annoying) is you can play it on randomize and listen to it all out of sequence. Very odd.
Free Music Review: Mike Oldfield & John Cleese
Hit: 3 Stars
It's the 4th version of 'Bells' in last 11 years, seems to me that Mike is in the deep idea crisis right now. His manner of playing guitar saves the thing though, it sounds nice.Ah, almost forgot! Hiring John Cleese, Monty Python guy, as a conzertmeister is the most great idea I could even imagine Mike would implement!
Free Music Review: the song remains the same
Hit: 3 Stars
This poor man keeps releasing the same thing. It makes me wonder if he's really a robot. I am waiting for Tubular Bells 3008!Free Music Review: Now this is where he's gone too far
Hit: 2 Stars
On this album, he is trying to re-record, as closely as possible, to the original 1973 release. Why the hell does he want to do that? If he had released this performance live, his efforts may have been more justified. I'd rather see him and his other performers try and reproduce the original album this tight instead of just hear it being redone as a CD only release.
Now, I know everybody who likes Mike Oldfield is criticizing him for re-recording and re-packaging Tubular Bells over and over, and over again these past 30 plus years. But, if it wasn't for the 1992 release of Tubular Bells II, I would have probably just let myself forget all about him. I really didn't follow Mike Oldfield's music much after Crises (1983) and The Killing Fields (1984). I didn't care for how Mike Oldfield was doing less long played projects and started to perform pop sounding ditties with other singers. Sometimes, you wouldn't know if you were listening to Mike Oldfield or ABBA. Simple pop songs like "Family Man", "To France", "Moonlight Shadow", etc. And when I saw "Discovery" (1984) and seen that it had more short pop songs with vocals, I just sort of gave up on Mike Oldfield, altogether. So I think, TB II was a smart move for Mike Oldfield to re-introduce himself to the music world. "Tubular Bells" (1973) was considered a Progressive Rock achievement back then, and so TB II of 1992 had to compete with the modern day New Age music market. I don't think TB III was a great disappointment, and I certainly I won't give it a miss either. To see it performed live now (on his very hard to find PAL region only DVD release of TB II and TB III live) actually makes me appreciate that album so much more.
And why shouldn't Mike Oldfield try and keep Tubular Bells alive? When we go to see any singer or band in concert, we are usually not too concerned about hearing some of their new material. We want to see and hear the hits, of course. Especially from bands who's past is much more glorified than where they are today.
However, If he tries to re-record this album just once more, he really should seek some therapy. I think by now, he's beat this horse enough. Please Mike, give it a rest!