Album Review: Florence and the Machine: Ceremonials

Florence and the Machine
Ceremonials
2.5/5



There are two ways to look at this album, as a revival and celebration of the underappreciated 90's and 70's movements in indie pop music, or as wailing pretentious piece of gosa. I take the wailing pretentious piece of gosa route.

Now before you go all Kaylee on me hear me out. Don't get me wrong there are a lot of bits of the 90's and 70's indie movement I like, but while this tries to invoke their sound, this is not as good as them.





One of the problems I have is that I don't really like Florence Welch's voice. It's harder to tell on the album than on live performances, but she doesn't really have the voice to wail the way she does. On the longer notes her voice cracks a bit.

Also the album takes itself entirely too seriously that I kind of have to point and laugh at it. Like I said it's kind of pretentious.



I can take Amy Lee seriously because she has the voice and the presence. Welch doesn't.



All that said, look this isn't an album designed for me. After the first three songs I knew this wasn't my bag. I'm only reviewing it because after the slew of albums I did last week this one has been a slow one as evidenced by me reviewing a month old album. Now let those limey invaders die. Wait. What? The Prodigy are English! Goddamn it! The Rolling Stones too? What about Adele? She has to be Amer_. No! Okay. Alright. At least, Iron Maiden was born right here in the good ole U.S. of _. My God! By Lincoln's beard! Minute Men get your riffles and pack in the earthworks this is going to be a long war.



And while we're at it boys we're taking Madonna back across the Atlantic.