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A LOVE OF SHARED DISASTERS

Crippled Black Phoenix

Psychedelic/Space Rock


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Crippled Black Phoenix A Love of Shared Disasters album cover
3.26 | 75 ratings | 3 reviews | 16% 5 stars

Good, but non-essential

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Studio Album, released in 2007

Songs / Tracks Listing

1. The Lament of the Nithered Mercenary (2:36)
2. Really, How'd It Get This Way? (4:49)
3. The Whistler (9:45)
4. Suppose I Told the Truth (5:03)
5. When You're Gone (5:35)
6. Long Cold Summer (10:34)
7. Goodnight, Europe (6:08)
8. You Take the Devil Out of Me (4:23)
9. The Northern Cobbler (7:32)
10. My Enemies I Fear Not But, Protect Me from My Friends (6:34)
11. I'm Almost Home (5:32)
12. Sharks & Storms / Blizzard of Horned Cats (8:19)

Total Time 76:50

Line-up / Musicians

- Andy Semmens / vocals (1,3,6,10,12)
- Joe Volk / vocals & acoustic guitar (2,4,5,7-9,12)
- Justin Greaves / guitar & drums, saw (6)
- Nial McGaughey / guitar (2,5,7-10,12), drones (7)
- Kostas Panagiotou / piano (2,5,7-9,12), keyboards (3-6,10), accordion (2,6), harmonium (1), Hammond (10-12), glockenspiel (11)
- Dominic Aitchison / bass

With:
- Stuart Matthews / percussion (1)
- Mark Ophidian / electronics & Fx (6)
- Dave Greaves / lead guitar (7), dobro (8), acoustic guitar (12)
- Max Milton / violin (9-12), viola (10,12), trumpet (11,12)
- Charlotte Nicholls / cello (9-12)
- George Edward Campion / narration (9)

Releases information

Artwork: Brendon Palmer-Angell

CD Invada ‎- INV-035 (2007, UK)

2LP Invada ‎- INV-035 (2007, UK)
2LP Kscope ‎- KSCOPE901 (2015, UK) New cover

Digital album

Thanks to Damoxt7942 for the addition
and to projeKct for the last updates
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CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX A Love of Shared Disasters ratings distribution


3.26
(75 ratings)
Essential: a masterpiece of progressive rock music(16%)
16%
Excellent addition to any prog rock music collection(34%)
34%
Good, but non-essential (36%)
36%
Collectors/fans only (14%)
14%
Poor. Only for completionists (0%)
0%

CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX A Love of Shared Disasters reviews


Showing all collaborators reviews and last reviews preview | Show all reviews/ratings

Collaborators/Experts Reviews

Review by Chris H
PROG REVIEWER
2 stars This debut album from Crippled Black Phoenix runs into the same problem that many other debut albums do, it is released at a point when the band is still trying to find their sound. After countless listens, this album still has me wondering to myself "What is trying to be accomplished here?" There are some straightforward rockers, there is a good 20 minute stretch of ambient noodling, and there are some vocals, chants and rollicking choruses.

Actually, looking past all of the mismatched sounds, this album is technically well done. Its saving grace, really. If you are a fan of all the different styles presented, you may find yourself taking a lot more enjoyment from this than I did. There is no denying the individual talent of each musician, and once they can all come together and agree on a direction the releases to come have the potential to dazzle. The track "Long Cold Summer", however, just has no business being on the album. The reason that it is so hard to make a fantastic album over an hour long is because there is always the possibility of wasted space, and that is all this track is. The worst part is that it is situated in the middle of the record and it really does suck the life out of the listener and make them not want to carry on with the ending.

Technically masterful, but essentially a poor debut from Crippled Black Phoenix with no direction and too much grey area. Look to the future for their brighter moments.

Review by Mellotron Storm
PROG REVIEWER
3 stars 3.5 stars. This is the debut album from this band released in 2007. I noticed they've released a dozen studio albums over their careers including a new one this year(2022). I have their first four and I feel that the companion records "The Resurrectionists" and "Night Raider" both from 2009 are the best by far of those four. The debut here is 77 minutes long and it's like they tried to squish all their ideas into this one album. I would still say they are a Post-Rock, Psychedelic, Folk band overall but too many misses for me to go 4 stars.

A six piece but with many guests so each track has pretty much a different lineup from 4 to 9 performers. We get plenty of samples which are cool but man so much sad music on this one with "When Your Gone" maybe being the toughest one of those to get through. We get the funny "The Northern Cobbler" with that thick accent as he talks about marrying his sister then getting into the drink and so on. Reminds me of that WIGWAM song "Pride Of The Biosphere" or Roger Waters "Small Furry Animals..." song. I skip it unlike those two. "Long Cold Summer" is something I've never experienced here in Canada. Always short and hot but this song is a favourite. Post Rock guitars, vocals then it turns trippy.

That opener is tough with that choir with the deep slow vocals and samples to open. Harmonium too in this lament. "Suppose I Told The Truth" is like a relaxed pop song. My overall favourite might be the closer "Sharks & Storms/ Blizzard Of Horned Cats". Some emotion in this one and it's been interesting because I've given this at least 3 pre-spins before I decided to spend time with it this week and each of those pre-spins had me having a different opinion of this long recording. In the end 3.5 stars seems generous and this certainly has it's moments. Such a talented band but I find "A Love Of Shared Disasters" to be hit and miss.

Latest members reviews

4 stars Crippled Black Phoenix's debut had everything to be a tremendous effort... however, it is has such clear flaws that it becomes really hard to fully appreciate a full listen to this album. My major complaint about this album is "Long Cold Summer", which is a 10:35 long ambient piece, and if I can ... (read more)

Report this review (#260342) | Posted by JTP88 | Monday, January 11, 2010 | Review Permanlink

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