Below you will find a track-by track review of "Music for Elevators". This is my personal view of the album … so don't go expecting some kind of pretentious NME kind of review! Well, may as well get straight to it:
Lyrics-Anthony Stewart Head, Music-George Sarah and Anthony Stewart Head
I always think the first track on an album is important - sort of sets the tone. You know you're going to enjoy the album itself when your feet start tapping along and you start singing to the first track. That's exactly what happens here. Listen to this track once and you simply won't be able to help yourself. I love this and I was quite concerned at first when I saw that this track was 6 minutes long - I thought it may start to get boring and repetitive but it doesn't! In fact, the track seems shorter than it is - mainly because it's such an enjoyable, foot-tapping song.
Lyrics and Music-Anthony Stewart Head
If, like me, you're suffering from "Giles Withdrawal Symptoms" and find yourself watching episodes and thinking, "why did he have to go?", then simply listen to this track. All the explanations you need are right here. This is a quite beautiful song and Tony sings it with such feeling, such emotion that you can't help feeling a tingle along your spine as you listen. It's become a favourite of mine - and believe me, I've got quite a few favourites on this album - mainly because it's such a moving song. Don't be misled into thinking this is some kind of sloppy ballad because it's not - it's catchy and you'll find yourself singing along. If I had to face the old "desert island" and could only take one song, then this would be the one - it's simply beautiful.
Lyrics-Anthony Stewart Head, Music-George Sarah and Anthony Stewart Head
When I first heard this song, I really didn’t know what to make of it. There’s a difference to this track that I still haven’t been able to really pinpoint. I think it’s probably something to do with the fact that there is so much going on here, that each time you listen to it, you notice something else. It’s seems fresh and new every time you play it. It’s a track of paradoxes - complex, yet simple; original yet familiar. It’s a good track - a really good track and, yep, you’re going to find yourself singing along. As a brief note, on this track Tony is credited with vocals, synths, casio, sitar and guitar … talented chap!
What can you say about a 28 second brief musical "interlude"? Not a lot really!
Lyrics and Music-Lennon & McCartney - based on an arrangement by Joanna Monro.
To be honest, I don’t like the Beatles - never have done. Therefore, I was not looking forward to this track! The arrangement however will blow you away. I’ve never heard a version like this before and I don’t really expect to again. It really is quite marvellous and the guest vocals of Holly Palmer are an absolute delight. I don’t know what those used to the original version of this will think but, to allay any fears, the basics are all still there it’s just been brought up-to-date. There are so many little things in this track that merge together in a delightful and completely original way, that I fail to see how anyone will dislike this.
Lyrics-Anthony Stewart Head, Music-George Sarah
This is the one: the well-documented Tony Head "Tingle Effect" is certainly in evidence on this track! This will give you tingles and cause the hair on the back of your neck to stand on end … your knees may even give way as well. You think he’s sexy singing in English? Wait until you hear him singing in French, then! His voice is quite simply stunning in this one. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know what the song means ("What have I done?"), just close your eyes and let yourself drift away on a wave of pure emotion. I think I’d have to smuggle this track onto the "desert island" as I don’t think I could be without this for long! I’m just grateful this is in French because, believe me, if he’d sung this in Italian I would never have recovered!
Lyrics-Anthony Stewart Head, Music-George Sarah and Anthony Stewart Head using lyrics and melody from an original song by A Head and I Bartholemew.
Additional vocals in this track are provided by Justina Machado and Amber Benson. Their voices blend with Tony’s in a quite delightful way. Tony almost seems to take a back seat in this one - it’s the ladies who have the spotlight. He does, however, provide a wonderful "background" and keeps the track nicely grounded. There’s a lot happening in this track, from the mix of voices to the quite inspired musical arrangement - and, yes, it’s another singalong, foot-tapper! There is a message in this song but it’s subtle … you can take it or leave it. Seriously good stuff.
Lyrics-Anthony Stewart Head, Music-George Sarah and Anthony Stewart Head
A change of pace with more of a "blues" feel to this one. It gives you a brief insight into how depressing it must have been for Tony to be so far away from home for all that time. Each time I hear this song, I conjure up a mental image of Tony in a hotel room gazing out at a bleak, gray, rain-soaked, concrete wilderness. Once again, it’s not just the lyrics that make an impact - the music matches the tone perfectly and this, together with Tony’s emotional vocals, gives this song a beautiful overall feel. Another of the many good points about this track is the rain you can hear in the background as it makes the whole thing that much more realistic. A quite wonderful track.
Lyrics & Music-Anthony Stewart Head, string arrangement-George Sarah
This has got to be the result of Tony spending many hours talking on the phone to his family. I think we all know who the song is for and it makes it that much more special that it’s on the CD for the whole world to hear. This is a remarkably beautiful song that doesn’t need any over-analysing. All I will say is that it’s a definite favourite - you’ll have to listen to it for yourself because I almost feel that to say too much about it will reduce it’s impact. Sighworthy.
Music-Helen Shingler
Another brief musical interlude and this time it’s a quite wonderful piece of music that you will find yourself humming for days. I know from personal experience!
Lyrics & Music-Joss Whedon
The Buffmeister himself has contributed this track and it fits in perfectly with the rest of the album. Justina Machado and Amber Benson provide background vocals this time and Tony is well and truly in the spotlight on this track. I know I keep mentioning the quality of his vocals but he’s such a marvellously emotional singer - you feel as though he’s living the song. This is delightful and you’ll definitely be singing it! My favourites list is growing…
Lyrics-Anthony Stewart Head, Music-George Sarah and Anthony Stewart Head
Now, this is another definite favourite! You all remember Michael Jackson’s "Earthsong"? Well, this track has the same message but delivers it in a much more effective way. This is a quite extraordinary track and, once again, you notice different things the more you listen to it. I will happily swear that I can hear raindrops and, at other places in the song, you get the impression of a sun drenched desert. It starts slow and then the pace picks up. I seriously love this song - I found myself singing to this whilst doing an impromptu jig across the living room! Quite remarkable song.
See track 4!!
Lyrics-Anthony Stewart Head, Music-George Sarah and Anthony Stewart Head
Now this is really something. The music on this track simply captures you and draws you in whilst Tony’s vocals seem to insinuate their way into your mind. He sings this … almost softly (and yes, I’m well aware there is probably a proper, technical term for this!) and it’s surprisingly effective. You find yourself really listening to the lyrics, which are simply marvellous by the way, whilst at the same time feeling that you could almost reach out and touch the music. Lovely track - simply wonderful. Watch out at the end of this song though, because there’s about 2 minutes of dead air. This probably has something to do with the 2 "hidden tracks" that follow … but actually I find it a bit annoying because I have to fiddle about trying to find the forward button!
Lyrics-Anthony Stewart Head, Music-George Sarah and Anthony Stewart Head
The pace is slowed right down now. This is a slow, haunting track, made even more impressive due to the fact that Tony seems to almost whisper the lyrics. An echo is added to great effect and really makes an impact. This is about the only song on the album that I haven’t been singing - mainly due to the fact that it’s a track that you don’t want to spoil by attempting to warble it yourself! Haunting and seriously beautiful.
Lyrics-Anthony Stewart Head, Music-George Sarah and Anthony Stewart Head
Another slow track and yet another favourite! Alyson Hannigan provides the occasional spoken voice during this but Tony is absolutely centre-stage here. The music is utter perfection, blending in quite brilliantly with Tony’s epic, emotive vocals. As the final track, it is particularly effective as it immediately makes you want to listen to the whole album again. It’s another track that certainly benefits from more than one play and, although you will find yourself noticing small background effects, it’s Tony that has the serious impact here. Quite a remarkably beautiful song. Unfortunately, once the song has ended, you get yet more dead air - this time around 7 minutes of it! If you keep listening however there is a little bonus in a small speech by James Marsters - forward to about the 12 minute mark!