Lazer Guided Melodies

#270 Heard Before? Yes, but not in forever. I've always thought "Floating in Space" to be the only Spiritualized album worth a re- listen. Notes: - the melodies may be lazer guided (or not), but it's the timbres that make the album worthwhile. many interesting sounds keep me engaged even when the songwriting fails to, as it mostly does. - I've devoted a lot of time to hearing and making music like "Symphony Space" but I've never heard better. - vocals are servicable, but other similar acts (Starflyer 59 comes to mind) do the same thing better, with more structured songs. - yes it's too long, but that's kind of the point. either soak it in or skip it. Verdict: Gorgeous sound design does not an album make, but it comes close enough. Listen Again? I still think "...Floating in Space" is the only Spiritualized most people need to hear, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed hearing this again. It's not good, but it feels good.

Three Jason Pierce records in, I am reconciled to his sentimental, pastoral, smooth style of motorik psychedelia, his authentic mode that just hangs around.

I loved this when it came out; my copy still has the tracks arranged as 4 conjoined suites. Although the influences seem pretty obvious now, and the middle sags a bit, I still think it's a bit special. [EDIT: I really thought I might end up downgrading this given our recent (quite poor) Spacemen 3 album. However, it still hits hard; the high point of their catalog. You could argue there's too much pointless looped phasing/drone, but - hey, it was the '90s! CDs had a lot of space to fill.]

4.5

Cool album, very relaxing. Vocal mix and lack of vocals do result in the albums weaker side; not really a lot of memorable moments. Great for when you’re having a walk, less intresting if you want to stay ingaged and realy pay atention during the whole album

This is the music that I imagine when I float in a hot tub with my ears under the water, jets blasting, and eyes closed.

92. What a great year for music. That said, feel like this album was ahead of its time. This felt like it would have fit better in the 96-98 era. Either way really enjoyed this. Bit of slog at the end as you could’ve ended it with Angel Sigh but all in all a great album.

Pretty forgettable. Listened to it last night during homework and didn't realize when it had ended. Their space rock doesn't feel very spacey or rock. One of the songs sounded like a ripoff of the outro of space oddity. 2/5

Fav: Shine a Light L: I Want You, Take Your Time 2.5 Overall just kind of dull and annoyingly repetitive at times. I think the band was just too in love with their own sound or something. Maybe if I found it more engaging I could get on board, but it just wasn't there. Cover: 5 In the way it represents the music this is perfect down to the lack of sophistication and depth. As a work of art on its own probably like a 3 Name: 2 Can't have a name like that without the music backing it up Minecraft Parody: 64 Chunks (200 Bars)

ok

Holy shit what an atrocity.

Lofi beats to help you sleep, 20 years before the genre existed.

Just too ambient for me

vibes!!!

This was a blast from my past. Not long after I discovered Spiritualized's magnus opus, Ladies and Gentlemen... I looked through the rest of their discography. At the time, now 7 or 8 years ago, this was a close second, but I quickly forgot about it while the former album remains an all-time favourite. Re-listening to it for the first time in 4 or 5 years, I've come to the realization that there aren't really any "songs" on this album as much as there are extended suites separated into movements. I can only compare it to a spaced out, listless reinterpretation of Yes' Tales from Topographic Oceans. It suffers from the same issues as that album: overlong suites that focus so much on atmosphere and ambition that it forgets where it put the songs somewhere along the way. Lazer Guided Melodies has a few catchy moments, like "I Want You," which is the closest thing to an earworm this album has, but these "hooks" are used only sparingly throughout. I think one of the main issues an uninitiated listener will have is that Spiritualized is simultaneously neither spacey nor rocky enough to be considered either of those genres proper. Their sound exists in this weird middle of the two, and on this album, there's potential for both sides to coexist perfectly, but it's fully realized on only a few songs. The other thing they might notice is that this is a surprisingly BACKloaded record, as the best moments, the most energetic, honest-to-God space rock moments are in the back half of the album. In essence, the first half of songs - where one is likely to get their biggest impression - are the preamble to what's really worth the price of admission. I really do recommend this album if you want to find that almost-perfect medium between spacey ambiance and alternative rock, but just be advised that it takes some getting used to to the cosmos-meets-guitar-meets-gospel beast that is Spiritualized. Key Tracks: If I Were with Her Now, I Want You, Step Into the Breeze, Shine a Light, Sway

Perfect 90s rock. A variety, imposible to predict, both hot and cool. 5/5

200 bars is the perfect ending to an album that also happens to be perfect all the way through..

Pretty chill

Trippy. Although this is from the 90s it leads me to think of all the present chaos.

Good

Bland at it’s core. I agree what some people say about questionable album choices of this challenge, or maybe it’s subjective, I don’t know. Sometimes mood can interfere with the final review as well. Sorry

I'm not sure there's enough pyschadelics that I could take where I would be in a good spot to enjoy this album. It's not that the music isn't good - don't get me wrong it isn't - it's that it isn't thought provoking or enjoyable in any way, shape or form. Most of the tracks sound like they would be looped on a DVD menu screen that just plays while its waiting for you to make a selection. I would like to meet the person who likes this album so that I could pick their drug addled brain to see what makes them tick, but I assume I will find some fungus controlling their brain. 1 star

It was boring, but tolerable. I expected more from Spiritualized and "Lazer Guided Melodies". Maybe I simply don't get it. "Step Into the Breeze" was nice, along with the other shorter tracks on "Lazer Guided Melodies" Another good thing I'll say about the album is that it was ahead of its time. 2 stars for "Lazer Guided Melodies ".

Really enjoyed this shoegaze album. The beginning was just fine, but it slowly built over the course of the album and crushed it at the end Favorite Songs: Take Your Time, Angel Sigh, Sway

It was very ambient

Low 4

A very strong shoegaze debut. Heard floating in space earlier this year and really enjoyed that one. Production is solid and this is a fair second best album from Spiritualized.

lowkey nice

I don't care about special packaging - I rate the music. The first half is an almost pleasant listen without anything remarkable, but the second half is quite lame. I wonder what qualifies them to have two albums on this list!!! 2,5

Well-composed contemplative background music.

Always stayed away from this band without having any good reason. Not the genre I was expecting. I had them mixed up with a scream-core band. Pleasant surprise this was.

zzz

Very solid debut, spacey sounds that have lots of room to spread their legs.

decent, some nice songs

I really liked this! Dreamy!

Vaagheid is weer troef, het werkt niet bijzonder op de zenuwen, maar opvallend goed is het ook niet. Iemand loopt krasgeluiden te maken terwijl de band kalmpjes doorspeelt, dat werk. Verder wat gemummel erbij, je zou er goed bij in slaap kunnen vallen.

Spiritualized kreeg eerder een 5 van mij en werd twee albums terug nog door mij aangehaald als een fijne mix tussen de psychedelische zestiger jaren en de chemische negentiger jaren. Wiki noemt het bij onderliggend album 'space rock' of zelfs 'dream pop'. Die combinatie geeft prima weer wat je van dit album kan verwachten. Dit album is net iets minder chemisch en net iets dromeriger dan het eerdere album dat we kregen. Maar heeft op andere momenten juist weer iets meer radio-klanken in zich. Bij nummers als Run knik ik toch automatisch mee met met het ritme. Als ik zou moeten kiezen ga ik toch voor het meer moderne Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space. Maar ik hoef niet te kiezen en geef dit album ook lekker 5 sterren.

We hebben natuurlijk net nog Spacemen 3 gehad, wat eigenlijk de voorloper was van Spiritualized (lees ik nu pas op wiki) en daar was ik al niet kapot van. Ook nu hoor ik hier veel te veel Stone Roses in en daar krijg ik enorme jeuk van. En dan is een uur echt teringlang. Dit is door die madchester-vibes niet aan mij besteed, alhoewel ik de spacerock/shoegaze/postrock onderdelen best goed had kunnen vinden. Al gaat het hier vaak meer richting het trage en dromerige, ipv het opzwepende. Het latere album wat we al eerder kregen, is wat dat betreft beter geschikt voor me. Aangezien dat dus een net iets moderner sausje heeft gekregen en ik die 1990 sound niet meer hoor. En daar dus ook geen jeuk van kan krijgen. Ik heb ter vergelijking dat album "Ladies And Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space" nog voor een deel teruggeluisterd en dat is absoluut een stuk beter voor mij. Het doet me denken aan Steven Wilson en Porcupine Tree, al zou ik dat weer moeten luisteren om te horen of die associatie klopt. Op zich wel weer leuk een ontdekkingsreis, maar voor nu hou ik het voor dit album op een magere 2 sterren, waar dat andere album nog op 4 sterren mocht rekenen. Een debuut is nu eenmaal niet altijd beter.

Kind of a cool slow build over the course of the album. Good stuff

Gear: Sennheiser MOMENTUM TW 4 Artwork: 👻💦🙆 Production: 👂💁⛪ Music: 🎭👻🛰️ Ratinng: 🚀🚀/5

Very much enjoyed this. Chill. Trippy. Great covers. 5

So-so

It's a beautiful, floaty, spacey joy. But. BUT! I'm more into Jason's more grandiose, bombastic works, so I can only give it four stars.

There's nothing quite like a band overindulging themselves and dragging out an album for far too long. But the issues don't stop there, though Spiritualized might have some good ideas they go absolutely nowhere and most songs meander along before fading out into nothingness. I didn't hate it, but this has to be one of the most forgettable albums I've ever listened to; at least Captain Beefheart sticks with you, for better or worse.

9.7

nothing striked me but i concede it was calming

The most forgettable able I’ve heard thus far

This album seemed to go on for a very long time, for a very long time, for a very long time... Just ok.

I was initially disappointed, as I was expecting something weirder or more trippy. There aren't actually that many psychedelic elements here. I wouldn't really call this space rock ; it's more like soft, dreamy music with a fuzzy atmosphere and occasional distortions. It slowly grew on me, though, and by the time the album was over, I realized I'd had a pretty good time. The last few tracks have an almost ethereal, hypnotic quality that I genuinely enjoyed. That being said, it feels more like chill background music than something I'd want to sit down and listen to attentively. The songs blend into one another, creating the impression of a one-hour long lucid dream. Despite the album's considerable length, I often felt like not much was happening. I might be biased, though : after yesterday's flamboyant album, almost anything is bound to sound lazy and unimaginative. Not a gamechanger, but I could see myself coming back to this if I'm in the right mood. 6/10

Apparently a foundational shoegaze album, but I find it much less striking than My Bloody Valentine’s legendary Loveless. Maybe I just prefer female vocals and heavier walls of distortion with this kind of dreamy, washed-out music. There’s actually not that much saturation here, but when it kicks in, like on “Step Into the Breeze”, it works really well. This is typically the kind of album I could put on late at night in lo-fi mode and just drift along with. I enjoy it, I like the atmosphere, but ultimately I don’t find it particularly memorable.

Meh.

Kinda fun, mixed it up, at least it's not 90's UK pop rock.

Interesting album, nice discovery

chill asf

Well crafted and dull

I have a lot of friends who like this band and I have never really given them a fair shake. So I was excited to listen to this. And while it was certainly not bad, I’m a little disappointed that it wasn’t better. Ultimately I found it kind of ignorable background music. Bummer.

A bit to weird at times with strange sounds as well as singing that is very muted made what overall is an okay album lose some points with me. The rhythms in a few of the songs was parts I really enjoyed but it got lost somewhere in the mix of stuff I didn't enjoy .

had some songs from this guy before but this album not for me

Not for me but its a bit nice ots like a 1.7 maybe

aliens

This does indeed sound like very dreamy, spacey pop-rock music. Additionally, I would describe the music as strange and ethereal. The songs all seemed to have the same aura running through them, and they never really went anywhere exciting.

602/1089 - It's not bad. A bit frontloaded and repetitive but the instrumentation is cool. Better than that reverb-caked Pachbel Canon in D song they have.

Ok music. Ran on a bit. Good cover.

damn. "vibby"

Great album, music and art. I'm a sucker for this genre.

One of their best .

I don’t think I have ever heard this album before. I have long been a fan of Ladies and Gentlemen We are Floating in Space. I enjoyed this. I read a review tearing this apart. But the thing is, the very thing that the author seems to hate, the “middle of the road modulation” and lack of intensity or daring innovation, is actually what I appreciate. This is a wonderful atmospheric album. And if that’s the mood, it fits it perfectly. 4 Boolean: True

I had not heard of Spritualized or Laser Guided Melodies. Turns out, it wasn't too bad. Very chill.

Shoegaze del 90 de un grupo infravalorado al parecer Si veo la razón del porqué infravalorado, me cuesta un poco adoptarle el gusto completo aún, pero si tiene sus recursos para argumentar su calidad a la hora de ejecutar la obra Tiene momentos instrumentales muy buenos!

3,4 Highlights: If I Were Here With You, Shine A Light

Well they sure are fantastic at taking interesting musical ideas and really dragging them out until they become a seemingly never-ending slog to get to the end of for any given song and then the album itself just seems to drag on and on and on until it finally ends and if you haven't fallen asleep from total boredom you just find yourself relieved that it's over.

I always put spiritualized on when I can’t sleep

gone as soon as it’s over

sounds good occasionally but payoff few and far between s tier alien sperm cover art

Bo-Ring! Not one chorus. It was fluffy and soft focus but that's about it.

Ihan ok jumitusmusiikkia. Ei kauhean mieleenpainuvaa, mutta ehkä ei ollut tarkoituskaan. Tai jotain.

Shine a Light and Angel Sigh were highlights. I've listened to Songs in A&E (and I think Let It Come Down and Amazing Grace), so not unfamiliar with Spiritualized. Now I'm curious about Spaceman 3 and how that project differs. Light 6/10

I didn't hate it but it largely passed me by entirely. Which could well be the point of course. Just................. hard to find any words beyond "fine".

Quite nice, just not quite as strong as “Ladies and Gentlemen”. I’m feeling a 3*, will not return 3/5

It's like ehhhhh, but also like ooooooo

Sales - 10,000 copies in 3 years! On what planet is this album even relevant let alone one of 1001 you MUST listen to before you die?

Ok.

It's got some obvious Krautrock influences, which is mildly interesting.

This one didn't get my attention like their other on the list

if "ladies and gentlemen we are floating in space" is the hypersocial let's-laugh-at-everything stoned, this one is im-trying-to-watch-futurama-alone-but-i-cant-keep-my-eyes-opened stoned. a sort of forced relaxation that's kinda pleasant but not exactly what you wanted out of the experience. 3.5

V good

Floated through this one, really good

Probably 3.5 totally inoffensive

I'm just not a Spiritualized kinda guy

Very mellow.

good

Correcto

Starts out with some nice shoegazey indie-pop; descends into meandering ambient nothingyness. I don't mind a bit of ambient music, but there was practically nothing to some of those later tracks. Really ran out of puff.

Either they need a better laser to guide their melodies or I need to be really stoned to enjoy this. Since I can't ask them to get a better laser, I'll give it another shot next time I'm tripping and see if I like it better.

I fell asleep while the album was one, and then when I woke up the album was still played. I still hated it.

5/10 - the concept sounds good but I expected more, it's just is a bit forgettable

Listened before?: never You Know It's True - 4/5 If I Were With Her Now - 4/5 I Want You - 5/5 Run - 4/5 Smiles - 2/5 Step Into the Breeze - 4/5 Symphony Space - 3/5 Take Your Time - 4/5 Shine a Light - 5/5 Angel Sigh - 4/5 Sway - 3/5 200 Bars - 3/5 Average score: 3.8/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ it's a long album, but its one of the better space rock albums i've heard so far. i haven't really liked what i've heard within the genre so far (like the Spacemen 3 album i heard about a year ago). i still don't think i appreciate it as much as others do, but perhaps i'm coming around to it if my memory serves me right, i think i listened to the Ladies and Gentlemen album by these guys and didn't like it. perhaps my mind will be changed when it pops up on the album generator

I really dig certain tracks in this, it's so spaced out and relaxing... but almost too much so, to the point that I forget about the tracks as individual pieces of music, and the album just sort of forms into this big white space blob.

Warning label. Do not listen while driving. Sleep is a possible side effect of Lazer Melodies.

More like Lazer Guided Nap Time, am I right?