Quiet Is the New Loud

Quiet Is the New Loud

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Although Kings of Convenience are keen to play down any blatantly self-evident similarities to Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel, and Belle and Sebastian, the winsome and placidity-favoring Norwegian duo of Erlend Oye and Eirik Glambek Boe have probably already got the subway buskers of tomorrow lining up to lend an ear. Studentlike in appearance (one of them has a duffel coat and John Major specs) and unashamed to softly impart such nonrock lyrics as "put the kettle on" and "using The Guardian as a shield to cover my thighs against the rain," the weightless and airy acoustic guitar muse of Quiet Is the New Loud isn't a million miles from Radiohead's "Nice Dream" or Pink Floyd's "If" with a subliminal swish of bossa-nova rhythm. A contentedly purring cello, a plaintive touch of piano, and the muffled sound of a trumpet add necessary sonic depth, and the results are as pleasant and civilized as a little light conversation over tea in the drawing room. But what a shame they chose to name themselves after a lavatory. --Kevin Maidment

Product Description
Recently signed by the UK office of Parisian label Source (Air,Phoenix), Kings Of Convenience are Erik Glambek Boe and Erland Oye from Bergen, Norway. Favoring simplicity and melody over big production, they write emotive, intimate music that will connect instantly with fans of Nick Drake and Belle and Sebastian. Standard jewel case. 2001 release.

Tracks:

Winning A Battle, Losing The War
Toxic Girl
Singing Softly To Me
I Don't Know What I Can Save You From
Failure
The Weight Of My Words
The Girl From Back Then
Leaning Against The Wall
Little Kids
Summer On The Westhill
The Passenger
Parallel Lines

Amazon.com

Although Kings of Convenience are keen to play down any blatantly self-evident similarities to Nick Drake, Simon and Garfunkel, and Belle and Sebastian, the winsome and placidity-favoring Norwegian duo of Erlend Oye and Eirik Glambek Boe have probably already got the subway buskers of tomorrow lining up to lend an ear. Studentlike in appearance (one of them has a duffel coat and John Major specs) and unashamed to softly impart such nonrock lyrics as "put the kettle on" and "using The Guardian as a shield to cover my thighs against the rain," the weightless and airy acoustic guitar muse of Quiet Is the New Loud isn't a million miles from Radiohead's "Nice Dream" or Pink Floyd's "If" with a subliminal swish of bossa-nova rhythm. A contentedly purring cello, a plaintive touch of piano, and the muffled sound of a trumpet add necessary sonic depth, and the results are as pleasant and civilized as a little light conversation over tea in the drawing room. But what a shame they chose to name themselves after a lavatory. --Kevin Maidment

Album Description

Recently signed by the UK office of Parisian label Source (Air,Phoenix), Kings Of Convenience are Erik Glambek Boe and Erland Oye from Bergen, Norway. Favoring simplicity and melody over big production, they write emotive, intimate music that will connect instantly with fans of Nick Drake and Belle and Sebastian. Standard jewel case. 2001 release.

Customer Reviews:

A favorite..........2006-12-21

"Quiet is the New Loud" was my first exposure to the Kings of Convenience. A few summers ago I was subletting a room in Iowa City, and found the disc carelessly left out and exposed on top of the stereo. As a music director in college I am familiar with various record labels and the general quality of music they tend to release. So it's no surprise that I immediately noticed the Astralwerks logo on the bare CD. For those of you unfamiliar with the label, they've published the music of great bands such as: Phoenix, Sondre Lerche, Air, and many others. I was later excited to learn that somehow I had overlooked the fact that Erlend Øye-- front man for Kings of Convenience-- was also the mastermind behind the DJ Kicks album and his solo dance-tronica debut "Unrest", which was host to some great guest collaborations including Prefuse 73.

Naturally I was curious and so I popped the CD in, expecting to hear some kind of electronica or IDM. This was during the day and I was trying to get myself motivated to be productive. I must say I was disappointed upon first listen. Here was these two Norwegian guys, singing soft melodies about the future, experiences, people, etc, and I couldn't wrap my head around it, and it certainly wasn't getting me up moving around. I decided to give it a second listen later that evening while relaxing with a book.

And then I fell in love.

This is a beautifully complex album. By the second listen, I was hooked. Each time I hear it, I pick up new subtleties, and the album itself is produced in such a way that the tracks really transition seamlessly into one experience. The songs can stand alone, but the album is really best enjoyed in one listen.

This album is especially refreshing amidst today's pop music, chock full of fashion-whoring, emo kids, pop-punkers who've lost touch with their roots (The Clash, Ramones, Sex Pistols), boy bands... and all of the other over-produced garbage that floods our senses out there. To find something so simple that it can be enjoyed effortlessly, but still so intricate that it's good through and through and time after time is exceptional. It's a rare album these days that you will find yourself wanting to play straight through from first track to last. I can only think of a few that come to mind ("OK Computer" being one of them).

This is a thinker's album. Great for Sunday mornings in bed, relaxing with books or crossword puzzles, or just general lazing around. Whenever I play this album for a friend, it's an immediate hit.

Recommended if you like: Simon and Garfunkel, Phoenix, Nick Drake, Belle and Sebastian, Yo La Tengo, L'Altra, the One AM Radio, Ben & Jason, the American Analog Set.

Truly kings of convenience, and my personal favorites........2006-10-31

As a music producer myself, I've turned wholeheartedly to Kings of Convenience for inspiration over the last few years. Seeing their video "Misread" on TV while on a trip to Italy started it all. The only album available to me at the time was Quiet is the New Loud ("Misread" is on their second album, "Riot on an Empty Street"), their first album, and I thought I'd give it a shot. Off the plane from Milan, I dug in and became a fan over the next week. Here were two guys (similar to me in appearance/demeanor) from Norway performing what should be a rather dated style of acoustic music, but doing it with such relevance, rhythm and soul that I was hooked instantly. The bossanova elements and convenient chordal progressions on "Quiet is the New Loud" are modestly produced yet accented perfectly by the vocal harmonies of Eirik and Erland, two casual Norwegian pals in their early thirties. Comparisons to other 'similar' groups don't hold much water as I've tried to find similar artists (hungry for more!) and haven't found the same exotic quality in any other to date.

Other Guitarists have created somewhat complex tablature for their songs but often overlook obvious ways of playing their songs rather credibly; Truly "Kings of Convenience," this duo often find the easiest yet most fulfilling way of performing their progressions, revitalizing acoustic guitar music with layers of understated strumming, fingerpicking, and soft Gilberto-esque vocals. Understated is the key word here; nothing about KOC is over the top. And the sheer simplicity (a phrase used in their second album in harmony with guest vocalist Feist) of their songs is deceiving. These two know how to play guitar but they want you to pay more attention to the emotion than the production.

While some may take the softness of KOC's music at face value, it is important to look past it to an almost ironic strength hidden in the layers. Very rarely do such beautifully blended melodies offer this level of relevance, carried between the notes in the tone of the voice and the words they sing. I've never been much of a fan of acoustic guitar but Kings of Convenience speak to me as a peer. Their songs are easy to remember, fun to play, and packed with subtleties that will keep your musical tastebuds busy for a very, very long time.

Quiet is the New Loud and KOC's second album (Riot on an Empty Street) hold a joint slot in my top 10 favorite albums of all time. And I can't say that for any other folk/acoustic group. Buy this album; you won't regret it.

Beautiful and Original.......2006-05-27

Firstly I would like to disagree, with both amazon and some of the other reviewers on here claiming their sound to be unoriginal and comparable to Belle & Sebastian. I have an enormous music collection that is beyond excessive and yet I have declared Kings of Convenience as my favorite band of all; and rightly so with the most play counts in iTunes. I never write music reviews, but I've made an exception for this.

No matter what mood I'm in Kings of Convenience feels right. Whether going to sleep, feeling low, chilling with friends, or doing homework it doesn't matter, once you put their album on you are automatically in a relaxed and reflective mood. You will think of past loves, you will think of your cat, curled up in a ball on the couch, you will think of happy times, sad times, you will think of how much longer that candle will burn for, you will think.

Now I do not say all this out of a biased worship, I am simply sharing my own personal experience with this music, everyday I listen to new music, and I have yet to find anything comparable. It may take a while to grow on you, but once you realize what you've been missing, you too will be glad you added it to your collection.

Out of all three albums my favorite is "Quiet is the New Loud", and if you do become a fan the "Versus" cd is a must, while I didn't appreciate it at first it is essential and actually quite good after a few listens.

acoustic alchemy.......2006-03-13

From the guitar intro and vocals of 'Winning A Battle, Losing The War' from their debut album 'Quiet Is The New Loud', I knew Kings Of Convenience was the band for me. I haven't listened to a record this good since Belle & Sebastian's first 3 recordings, and that's saying a lot. Jangly, acoustic folk guitars combined with heartfelt lyrics delivered from angelic, fey vocals are the perfect formula for Erlend Oye and Eirik Boe. Think early Red House Painters or Simon & Garfunkel circa 'Bookends.'

'Quiet' is filled with both slow and upbeat tempo tracks, with some of them accompanied by drums, piano, electric guitar and muted trumpet. 'Toxic Girl' is a good example of upbeat and 'Leaning Against The Wall' has a Brazilian vibe to it, but by way of Norway. However, it's the 'quiet' tracks that pull the listener in. Probably the best example would be the last track, 'Parallel Lines'. The way that Eirik Boe sings the lyric 'I awake in tangled covers/to a sash of snow, you dream in a cartoon garden,/I could never know' evokes an image of him waking up to the beauty of some snow-covered landscape on a white Norwegian morning as his significant other continues to slumber and dream on without him. It's beautiful songwriting that you just don't find anymore in today's music , sorry to say.

If you're looking for a record to relax to, to write in your journal to, to sip a cup of coffee to, to listen to on those long rides home, or to even reflect upon, then listen to 'Quiet Is The New Loud' by Kings Of Convenience. You won't go wrong.

Kings of Convenience.......2006-02-28

A work of art that will be in my speakers for years to come.

The Boy From Oz (1998 Original Australian Cast)

Average customer rating:

Re-listening to OZ from Oz
OH BOY, WHAT A JOY, THE SHOWS A HIT!!
Fantastic!
Almost Great
BRILLIANT - A GREAT CD

The Boy From Oz (1998 Original Australian Cast)

Manufacturer: EMI Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Australia & New Zealand | International | Styles | Music

Movie Soundtracks | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

General | Soundtracks | Styles | Music

Contemporary | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Vocal Pop | Pop | Styles | Music

Traditional Vocal Pop | Broadway & Vocalists | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00000B8WV
Release Date: 2001-12-11

Tracks:

Continental American - Lisa Callingham, Todd McKenney, Deb Mitchelmore, Cherine Peck
When I Get My Name in Lights - Robyn Arthur, Murray Bartlett, Lisa Callingham, Marcus Eyre, Deb Mitchelmore, Cherine Peck, Jill Perryman, Mathew Waters
Pretty Keen Teen - Robyn Arthur, Murray Bartlett, Lisa Callingham, Marcus Eyre, Todd McKenney, Deb Mitchelmore, Cherine Peck, Garry Scale
All I Wanted Was the Dream - Christina Amphlett
Only an Older Woman - Christina Amphlett, Todd McKenney
Don't Wish Too Hard - Robyn Arthur, Murray Bartlett, Lisa Callingham, Marcus Eyre, Deb Mitchelmore, Cherine Peck, Garry Scale, Ni Warnford
Sure Thing Baby - Angela Toohey
Quiet Please, There's a Lady on Stage - Christina Amphlett, Murray Bartlett, Lisa Callingham, Marcus Eyre, Todd McKenney, Deb Mitchelmore, Cherine Peck, Angela Toohey
I'd Rather Leave While I'm in Love - Lisa Callingham, Todd McKenney, Deb Mitchelmore, Cherine Peck, Angela Toohey
(I've Been) Taught by Experts - Christina Amphlett, Todd McKenney
Not the Boy Next Door - Lisa Callingham, Todd McKenney, Deb Mitchelmore, Cherine Peck
(When) Everything Old Is New Again - Todd McKenney
(Arhtur's Theme) Best That You Can Do - Todd McKenney, Angela Toohey
Love Don't Need a Reason - Lisa Callingham, Todd McKenney, Deb Mitchelmore, Cherine Peck
She Loves to Hear the Music - Lisa Callingham, Deb Mitchelmore, Cherine Peck
I Honestly Love You - Murray Bartlett
I Still Call Australia Home - Robyn Arthur, Murray Bartlett, Lisa Callingham, Marcus Eyre, Todd McKenney, Deb Mitchelmore, Cherine Peck, Garry Scale
Don't Cry Out Loud - Robyn Arthur, Murray Bartlett, Lisa Callingham, Marcus Eyre, Deb Mitchelmore, Cherine Peck, Jill Perryman, Mathew Waters
Tenterfield Saddler - Todd McKenney
I Go to Rio - Robyn Arthur, Murray Bartlett, Lisa Callingham, Marcus Eyre, Todd McKenney, Deb Mitchelmore, Cherine Peck, Garry Scale

Album Description

Australian stage show about the life of Peter Allen. Features all his international hits and an amazing performance from Chrissie Amphlett (of the Divinyls) as Judy Garland! 1998 EMI.

Customer Reviews:

Re-listening to OZ from Oz.......2004-01-28

I've been relistening to the original original cast recording of this show. I'm really starting to enjoy it and find it quite entertaining. It has its own wonderful quality and well worth listening to over and over again.
It definitely would NOT have worked on Broadway with these arrangements because it retains too much the quality of a lounge act; not nearly 'big' enough for Broadway. BUT the performances are really terrific and the period arrangements are true to form.
I wish PRETTY KEEN TEEN, SURE THING BABY and TAUGHT BY EXPERTS had been kept in the Broadway production
Enjoy!

OH BOY, WHAT A JOY, THE SHOWS A HIT!!.......2002-12-11

The Boy From Oz had its world opening at HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE Sydney in 1998. As a theatre lover and seen over 70 shows, this musical stands out as #1 around Australia and soon to hit and rule the world.
The music is outstanding.
The cast is the best.
The show PHENOMINAL!!!!

The songs lift your spirits beyond belief. They just make you feel you are up there on that stage with the cast. You would understand why the songs are on this cd and the order they are in as they happen in the show if you saw it first, but trust me you can listen to the cd before you see the show.
The cast featured on this cd are Australias best!
TODD MCKENNEY (Singin'In the Rain, Crazy for You, 42nd Street, Strictly Ballroom{movie})just to name a few, Plays Peter Allen.
CHRISSIE AMPHLETT (The lead singer in the band "The Divinyls", plus several shows) plays JUDY GARLAND.
JILL PERRYMAN (Austarlias lady of the stage and screen {small and big} Hello Dolly!, Funny Girl, Annie, to name a few) plays Peter Allens Mother MARION WOOLNOUGH.
ANGELA TOOHEY (Cabaret, Jesus Christ Superstar) plays LIZA MINNELLI. A very scary fantastic roll. You would think you were watching Liza on stage she has the role down so well.
Robyn Arthur (Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables, Cats, Cosi) plays several roles.
Murray Bartlett (4th season of Sex and the City, Australian tv & theatre shows)plays Greg Connell. Peter Allen's partner.

The music that features in this show is outstanding and moving. There are moving/love songs: All i wanted was the dream, Sure thing baby, Quiet please, there is a lady on stage, I'd rather leave while i'm in love, Best that you can do, Love dont need a reason, I honestly love you, Dont cry out loud, Tenterfield Saddler
Fun and enjoyable songs:Continental American, When i get my name in lights, Pretty Keen teen, Only an older woman, Dont wish too hard, Sure thing baby, Taught by experts, Not the boy next door,everything old is new again, she loves to hear the music, I still call australia home, I GO TO RIO!!

The stage, the music, the fun and the life of Australias and the worlds most out there and amazing enterainer comes to life in this musical and cd. When it comes to a stage near you, you have to buy tickets. And if your anything like the millions of Aussies that have seen it you will see it again and again. With the likes of the Phantoms, Les Mis etc.. around and gracing our stages after 20 or so years, i know THE BOY FROM OZ will still be around gracing our stages and our childrens stages for many many many years.

OH BOY! WHAT A JOY! THE BOYS A HIT!

THIS MUSICAL EXPERIENCE WILL TAKE YOU FROM NEW YORK TO RIO AND OLD LONDON TOWN! BUT STILL CALL AUSTRALIA HOME!
OR YOU MIGHT WANT TO GO TO RIO!

Fantastic!.......1999-12-15

Well, I saw this play while in Syndey in '98, and loved it then, and the more i listen to the soundtrack, the more i love it. It is amazing, and it totally recaps the feel of the play. I honestly love you, and Tenterfeild Saddler are two of the most amazing songs ever writen, and they are even more wonderful on this fabulous album! All praise Peter Allen

Almost Great.......1999-06-09

The problem with this CD is that it contains only a fraction of the music in the show itself. Admittedly, it contains the major numbers, but a lot of good stuff from the original show is missing. Since it is the only CD available, I recommend it, but if and when this show gets to the London or New York stage, a CD containing more of the entire work will doubtless become available. The liner notes are sparse. The listener who has not seen the show will not have a clue as to what is going on with the story line. This is a real shame, because understanding the story line brings a special poignancy to many of the songs. If you can wait a year or two for another edition to appear, do so. Otherwise buy it now. If it were complete and had better liner notes, I'd give this one five stars plus. The fellow playing Peter Allen and the gal playing Lisa Minelli are dynamite talents.

BRILLIANT - A GREAT CD.......1999-04-17

I must say I have never seen the show here in Australia but after listening to the recording I will have to go see it. The quality of sound is perfect and the track changes are also perfect. Some of the songs on the CD are so well sung it almost brings a tear to your eye for example TENDERFIELD SADDLER, I HONESTLY LOVE YOU and DON'T CRY OUT LOUD The songs arent sung by one person, lines of lyrics are given to characters. Well worth buying to add to your collection

Average customer rating:

Loud Is the New Quiet

Manufacturer: Overcast Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000CA3BK4
Release Date: 2005-03-08

Average customer rating:

Quiet Is the New Loud
Kings of Convenience
Manufacturer: Phantom Sound & Vision
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Folk Rock | Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000A2P062
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Tracks:

Winning a Battle, Losing the War
Toxic Girl
Singing Softly to Me
I Don't Know What I Can Save You From
Failure
Weight of My Words
Girl from Back Then
Leaning Against the Wall
Little Kids
Summer on the Westhill
Passenger
Parrallel Lines

Average customer rating:

ERRRRR..... BUY THIS ALBUM NOW!
it sinks in

Quiet Is the New Loud
Kings of Convenience
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Alternative Folk | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
ASIN: B00005LA2L

Tracks:

Winning A Battle Losing The War
Toxic Girl
Singing Softly To Me
I Dont Know What I Can Save You From
Failure
The Weight Of My Words
The Girl From Back Then
Leaning Against The Wall
Little Kids
Summer On The Westhill
The Passenger
Parallel Lines
Once Around The Block
Manhattan Skyline

Album Description

Japanese edition of the Norwegians sophomore album that has become somewhat surprisingly a post club favorite throughout Europe. Sounding like a Nick Drake / Simon & Garfunkel hybrid, this Japanese version includes two bonus tracks, which are cover versio

Customer Reviews:

ERRRRR..... BUY THIS ALBUM NOW!.......2005-06-09

S'UP BEEATCHES? YOU HAVE TO BUY THIS JAPANESE VERSION OF Q.I.T.N.L. FOR THE 2 BONUS SONGS ALONE, BUT THE REST OF THE ALBUM IS PURE GOODNESS AS WELL.... AND YOU ARE GURANTEED TO GET LAID IF YOU PLAY IT FOR THE LADIES IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN...... BUT DON'T GET IT FOR THAT, JUST GET IT CUZ IT'S SUPAH-FANTASTIC..... THAT'S IT I'M OUTTA HERE, I HEAR THE COPS ARE COMING..... TILL NEXT TIME SWEET PEAS!!!

it sinks in.......2005-01-02

A beautiful album, acoustic but with energy
it sinks into your consciousness and stays
there, in a good way.

Music Review: