I am loving this as well I've always been a huge fan of Jo's poetry and to finally hear it blend in with his music in such an epic manner is the greatest thing imaginable! I can't even remember how many times I've listened to live versions of Almost Blue just to hear Yer Only Job (not to mention other songs which feature Travel As Equals.) We're such a blessed bunch of fans that can't ask for much more.

I second the above posts! Truly wonderful, amazing, absorbing release, I've been waiting for him to do more with this kind of music and then he goes and releases 24 songs! Instant faves: Travels As Equals, You're Not The Only One, Touched... but actually all of them are great, it's still so much to take in!

I agree !!
"you're not the only one" is a really good song.

Someone on facebook said he thought this was "the return of old JA" and "a worthy follow up to Shadows" or something like that, but I think this is more like the evolution of The Invisible Parade. The sound is quite similar... and while I haven't fully concentrated on all the lyrics yet, I get the feeling that it's more positive like the stuff that came from Nuclear Daydream onwards, speaking more about general freedom than about a "tortured soul".

I love it, but after listening to it in its entirety twice (with one small break the second time around), i'll agree that one should not necessarily listen to all of it in one sitting, even if it does work.

I love how the live sample backings return in the studio version in some kind of way. The disco beat Yer Only Job was fun, but didn't have the depth the song needs to truly work. And seeing how Joe also did Travel As Equals between Call and Love Never Asks You To Lie, it's interesting to have the second version based on Love Never Asks...

I've had the download version since a couple of days after it appeared and was planning on ordering the vinyl edition and have it delivered to where I'm going to be staying in New York in a couple of weeks time, but I've heard news today of a CD edition with 4 bonus tracks.

Has anyone else heard this?

I don't need a vinyl copy particlarly (unless that is the only physical release planned) so if its coming out on CD I can wait for that.

Love the sound of the album BTW - a deep lyrical record where the music however good is really just a base on which the words are supported.

2012 is already feeling like a great year for music.

Mic

"If the bonus tracks get included in the vinyl release it's gotta be quadruple vinyl! We are looking into it. How many was Sandinista ?" Quote from Jo on FBook

Think someone inferred there wold be a cd release but I've not seen anything substantive. I've pre ordered the vinyl - anybody got a record player haha!

Charlie

I asked Joe about the plans for a physical release when I met him in NYC and he confirmed that the bonus cuts would be with an iTunes release initially - when I pushed him for news of the physical releases he said that he was committed to the vinyl version "because we've already sold some" (the pre-orders apparently) repeating the suggestion that the bonus tracks would be included but with the need to add a disc to the set. He also added that a CD version was very likely. He also said that he was considering including the lyrics to the album as this is very much a 'wordy' album.

When I asked him what the bonus tracks would be - similar style to Redemption City or quite different, he confirmed they would be in the same vein.

Mic

My copy of the vinyl arrived yesterday - triple gatefold, 3 beautiful red records, lyrics printed inside - special!!

Looking forward to seeing a few old friends in Paris!!

Charlie

An expanded version of the album is available in iTunes, with 2 bonus songs :

- Coffee With Napoleon
- Breathe Freedom