deepthroat101's Full Review: Naveed by Our Lady Peace
Canadian alt-rockers Our Lady Peace took the music world by storm with their smash-hit debut album Naveed in 1994. Part of their success stems from the simple fact that there just isn't any other band like them. Much of that is a result of their love him or hate him vocalist, the incomparable Raine Maida. His nasally voice draws nearly as much loathing as applause, but it certainly gives every song a cutting emotional edge, an element that many of his competitors lack.
Naveed certainly tore up the sales charts in Canada, selling over one million copies. That's an impressive feat, considering Canada only had a population of 29 million people in 1994. The band went from obscurity to superstardom almost overnight. While OLP has never garnered as much attention in the U.S., they still have achieved modest critical acclaim.
Without a doubt, Naveed is the band's grittiest album to date. Recent OLP albums have a far more polished and commercial sound. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but the angry, no-holds-barred approach on their debut CD is the band opening a wound for everyone to see. There is definitely no shortage of big time hits. Starseed and the title track both continue to receive steady radio play to this day, a testament to their staying power. There are moments when some songs don't quite mesh the way they were intended to, but that is to be expected with a new band that is just beginning to apply their trade.
The Birdman opens the album in a big way. All the classic OLP ingredients are present and accounted for, including Maida's trademark squawk, the grinding guitar licks, and peppery percussion. Supersatellite follows hot on the heels of the last track, with more of the same up tempo rocking, topped off by Maida belting out the title line, "Supaaaaaah satellite."Starseed begins with Mike Turner's steady guitar plucking until it ramps up to Maida's "yeah-eee yeah-eee" line in the pre-chorus. When Maida's not howling like a maniac, he manages to deliver a vigorous and unpredictable performance. Part of the fun is not knowing what he's going to do next.
The band's first mistake comes in the form of Hope. It's a brooding song that never really finds it's footing, despite an admirable effort by Turner. The chorus just doesn't click and the five-minute run time seems excessive. The band rebounds nicely with Naveed, one of the album's shining moments. Ex-bassist Chris Eacrett gets it started with a murky bass line, but the knockout chorus is the real selling point. Like a cold beer on a hot summer day, it hits the spot. Too bad the momentum doesn't carry over to the next track, the aimless Dirty Walls. The verses trudge along listlessly but the equally vapid chorus can't shake this song out of its daze. Fortunately, the rest of the album doesn't sink this low, which is some consolation.
Turner is again front and center on Denied, another certified hit. The jangly hook gradually morphs into an all-out aural assault by the end. Maida does his part, barking out the lyrics with a rarely seen volatility. Is it Safe? instantly grabs the listener's ear with its slinking intro and Maida's cryptic lyrics, "I saw something there, much too familiar/ A butterfly with broken wings." The song can't sustain this catchy combo during the more raucous second half, so it settles for a middle of the road designation. The disc's most purebred rocker is Julia, an underrated gem appearing late in the album. The chorus grabs the listener by the throat and Maida's screeches keep the pace bristling along until the soaring finale, which is sure to leave you breathless. The album fades out with two average songs, Under Zenith and Neon Crossing, neither of which should be dismissed entirely, but they won't be etched into your memory either.
As it stands, Naveed is a debut album that features a handful of powerhouse rockers offset by several capable but unspectacular songs. Still, most bands could only dream of putting out a debut album that is this good. The key stumbling block for most people will be Maida's voice, which has the potential to turn off some listeners. Too bad, because they'd be missing out on a tremendous album. Thirteen years after its release, Naveed still remains a force to be reckoned with. Alt-rock fans should not go another day without this album in their collection.
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