Where We Land - tracklist and cover art?

[dmac]

At least his name is on top this time....and......I love him in black. Really look forward to this album. Thanks to all the lovely ladies who found and confirmed it all

[Andy, the soccer Mum]

Agree that the cover could have been more imaginative,it doesn't tie in with the
mood/ title of the album. One of those forest photos would have worked for me.
But I am loving the track listing, fantastic , can't wait. I will be lining up at Big W for a few copies.

[astrokath]

I don't mind the cover, having his name in large print is the most important thing IMHO.
Track list is great...............waiting, waiting for August 18th.

*ducking and running*
Am I the only one who doesn't like Who You Are? A bit too 'heavy' for my taste, and not fond of the loud/soft thing either

[erin]

I shall buy the album even if it costs $32.99 because I think Damien is worth it.
Danny Boy? Now that's a surprise inclusion on the album? I wonder what the thinking was behind this. Maybe it's because Damien appeals to all ages and Danny Boy is an all-time favourite with most people. I can't wait to hear all of the other songs on the album and hope they are as good as 'I Still Miss Us' which I am playing over and over again, because it is just gorgeous.

[Trilly]

eep?? Danny Boy??? Nooooo!! Yes, he sings it beautifully, I heard it in Mel, but it is so cliched and if an original has had to make room for it, it is a mistake IMHO. I can understand why Sony would want to keep the portion of D's audience who prefer this, but it doesn't help his musical credibility one bit.

[Mysterri]

trilly said:

eep?? Danny Boy??? Nooooo!! Yes, he sings it beautifully, I heard it in Mel, but it is so cliched and if an original has had to make room for it, it is a mistake IMHO. I can understand why Sony would want to keep the portion of D's audience who prefer this, but it doesn't help his musical credibility one bit.

I so agree with you Trilly Birthday Girl. I was just about to say the same thing but you beat me to it. I personally love Danny Boy but I really can't understand why it has been included on Damien's album, unless of course Damien wanted it there. He mentioned that he had a list of over 30 of his original songs that had been culled to 10 (well 9 in effect) with 22 Steps, Songbird and now Danny Boy making up the 12. Danny Boy should be left as an impromptu live performance at his gigs if he so chooses but I don't think it should have been included on the album.

[shimmery]

I was thinking about this one today, and I can see why there might be a worry with having Danny Boy on because it is not an original and is seen as Irish etc etc...

however

it's a brilliant timeless song, and it's a beautiful song. I don't ever think a beautiful song is a cliche if it is done with respect and with a delicate/thoughtful treatment and presentation, and we know Damien will give it that.

Other artists I admire (thinking of Luka Bloom) blend originals with traditional songs all the time very successfully. Maybe that's not something Damien intends to do again, maybe it is, but I still am very pleased it's on the album. I know it will be getting played a lot by me

[Trilly]

shimmery said:

I was thinking about this one today, and I can see why there might be a worry with having Danny Boy on because it is not an original and is seen as Irish etc etc...

however

it's a brilliant timeless song, and it's a beautiful song. I don't ever think a beautiful song is a cliche if it is done with respect and with a delicate treatment, and we know Damien will give it that.

Other artists I admire (thinking of Luka Bloom) blend originals with traditional songs all the time very successfully. Maybe that's not something Damien intends to do again, maybe it is, but I am very pleased it's on the album and I know it will be getting played a LOT by me

Not disputing that D will do it wonderfully, Shims, and I see what you are saying about Luka Bloom. However, as this is D's first non-Idol album, I would have preferred a greater proportion of his original work and less of a reliance on old standards, in order to establish himself firmly as a singer/ songwriter.

[shimmery]

I think now I would like to hear the way Damien is going to present it before I really make my mind up how it sits with the album as a whole. I know where you're coming from Trilly, I even thought as soon as I saw that it was on the album that it might concern you (see how well I'm getting to know you all! ;D ) and I'm a little torn about my own feelings here.

Personally, I love the song and would love to hear Damien do it and I think so would many others. But yes, it's a traditional song in the middle of a contemporary album. But then again Songbird is not a contemporary song but the way Damien treats it makes it sounds so....

well, you can see I'm all over the place with my thoughts here. So I think the big final test will have to be to hear the album as a whole to hear how they all sit together. I have a feeling though that Damien would be very aware of keeping the album sounding as a cohesive piece. Gets more & more intriguing really and I'm even more keen to hear this album play right through!!!

[hyperrune]

astrokath said:

I don't mind the cover, having his name in large print is the most important thing IMHO.
Track list is great...............waiting, waiting for August 18th.

*ducking and running*
Am I the only one who doesn't like Who You Are? A bit too 'heavy' for my taste, and not fond of the loud/soft thing either

I forgive you, Astro! To each their own. Personally, it's taking me a while to get into I Still Miss Us

[winterlong]

I'm obviously not going to judge D's version of Danny Boy before I have heard it, and heard it in on context...and having heard it live in Melbourne I know its gorgeous...

but personally I would have rather heard one of his own compositions in that album spot

Most other artists would easily get away with covering that track on an album, but most other artists havent competed on Idol.
These Idol graduates, while getting a fast(ish) record deal, have a far harder slog than the average artist gaining credibility in the industry.
Releasing covers, especially timeless classics that are a somewhat predictable choice (in relation to the person covering them, not the case necessarily with Songbird)...well, i would have thought that its the last place you would want to go.

Similar to releasing someones elses composition as the first single, putting a cover like this on the album opens the door to easy "Idol Karoake" criticism..for those wanting to dismiss D as another Idol product, its a little gift. And yes, D's version could be a new take on a traditional classic - but being so well known a tune, people will dismiss and judge it without even listening

Obviously opinions are just opinions and reviews are just reviews...and if Damien is overjoyed to be covering Danny Boy on this first album then thats great - I really do hope he is getting to release the album of his dreams.

[Megan]

Eep! Twelve songs! How perfect!

At first glance I quite liked the cover but then my eyes took in the the way they cut out his picture and placed it on a generic background with a lifeless *shadow*. I haven't seen an album released by a major label with such a plain cover since the early to mid 1990s. Ah well, maybe its one of those cases where the printed version looks a thousand times better than the flat image.

[belinda]

I can't wait to get the album when it's released. I'm so glad most of the songs on it are D's originals. I wish he could make an album of his other songs that didn't make the cut and send it to us LOL. I personally would have preferred another one of D's originals on the album rather than Danny Boy, but I also love the song Danny Boy, so it's all good either way.

Don't hit me *ducks for cover* but I actually like the cover. On saying that though, I agree they could have been more imaginative and made a cover that we would totally drool over LOL, but I still really like this simplistic one too.

[Spud]

kamitsuki said:

I'd rather not have tracks be exclusive to iTunes, thank you very much. If I want to own a song as a file on my computer I'll make one from the proper CD that I own.

*meanders around grumbling about the modern world*

...Er, sorry. Pet peeve, there.

Yes, I agree.

gj said:

Kami you can mp3 and Cd all the itunes stuff!!

It's just not the same as buying it from the shops.

[Spud]

hyperrune said:

Ummm...actually I don't mind the cover art! I love that pic!
I'm just relieved that it's better than the single cover

That would explain why he did Danny Boy on the news!
And Who You Are should be on the album! Everyone should be made to hear it! I may drive around with it blaring out of my car, but I'm only one person, and only in Newcastle! *considering a campaign here*

If I had a car I'd do that too!