Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

JFH Music Review




Kids In The Way
Apparitions Of Melody: The Dead Letters Edition CD/DVD



Artist Info: Discography
Album length: 2 Discs; 13 tracks: 50 minutes, 05 seconds
Street Date: August 8, 2006


By now, I think we're all familiar with how the "re-release" works and how it makes a lot of us feel (for those who don't know, it's a mixed feeling of being ripped off and "Oo! New stuff!"). Kids In The Way's impressive sophomore release Apparitions Of Melody -- click here for Josh Taylor's full review of that album -- is the latest to get this treatment, earning two new songs and a DVD with special content for its second time around. The question that's immediately proposed is: Is the release of Apparitions Of Melody: The Dead Letters Edition necessary? And is it worth double-dipping if you already have the record?

The audio portion of Apparitions Of Melody: The Dead Letters Edition presents two new songs added to the eleven-track original release, opening it up with the first new addition, "Fiction." With "Fiction" in the lead-off position, it surprisingly bumps the previous opener "Last Day Of 1888" to track six, and allows the album's pounding title track, "Apparitions Of Melody" to take the second slot. "Fiction" doesn't quite bear the ferocity of either tracks that were shifted around, but coupled with the other new song, "Getting Over You Getting Over Me," seems to fit well within the context of the original record. "Fiction" takes a serious look into life's choices and the truth found in following God's path for us, while "Getting Over You..." is more of closure for a failed relationship. The only other differences on the album that listeners of the original release will undoubtedly notice is the omission of the unnecessarily long intro for "Last Day..." and the addition of an all-new intro to "The Seeds We've Sown," which now features a lengthy guitar riff.

The DVD portion of The Dead Letters Edition features all three of the band's current music videos, including the larger budget and especially intriguing concept for the title track. The other two videos, "We Are" and "Phoenix With A Heartache" aren't extremely interesting, but serve as a nice look at the band's previous work and a treat for fans who have followed them since their debut. Finally, the DVD portion's sorely brief list of features ends with a featurette about the recording of the album's two new songs in a famous studio in New York City that clocks in just under eleven minutes. The video is fun with its share of silly moments, but feels as if it could have benefited from more depth, whether it be expanding on the writing process, interviews about it, or even just some live footage (with live music, not just live footage set to studio music).

When all is said and done, the Apparitions Of Melody: The Dead Letters Edition just doesn't seem to offer enough to warrant a fan buying the album all over again, but is definitely the definitive version of Apparitions Of Melody. And while the new rock tracks border on 'fitting in' and 'just being thrown into the mix,' they're both good additions to the list, so one couldn't complain there. If you haven't yet grabbed the edgy melodic rock sounds of the original Apparitions Of Melody album, than The Dead Letters Edition is certainly the version to pick up. For those who already own it, you may want to wait until you find this discounted or used somewhere before you shell out the money all over again...

- Review date: 8/07/06, written by John DiBiase



(JFH Sponsor Spot)

Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

 

CD

Buy This CD Online


. Artist Info: Discography
. Record Label: Flicker Records
. Album length: 2 Discs; 13 tracks, 50 minutes, 05 seconds
. Street Date: August 8, 2006
. Buy It: Amazon.com

  1. Fiction (NEW)
  2. Apparitions Of Melody
  3. Safety In The Darkness
  4. Even Snakes Have Hearts
  5. Getting Over You Getting Over Me (NEW)
  6. Last Day Of 1888
  7. Breaking The Legs Of Sheep
  8. The Seed We've Sown
  9. Sad And Guilty Ways
  10. Blind Behind The Wheel
  11. Burt Rutan
  12. Head Over Heels
  13. This Could Be The Song That Will
    Change Your Heart
spacer Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics
Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

Click For Audio Sample   Click For Song Lyrics

 

 

go to main Album review page
go to Album review archive

 


(JFH Sponsor Spot)

 

 

                 
Get the new FREE JFH MP3 compilation -- Vol. 13!

Search JFH




This Friday, November 8, 2024
ALBUMS
Gabby Barrett Carols and Candlelight [Warner Music Nashville]
CXMMXNS CXMMXNS Chapter 1 - EP [Essential Worship]
New Hope Oahu There Is One - EP [DREAM]
Neal Morse & The Resonance No Hill For A Climber [InsideOut]
TAKE Time Bomb [Resuscitation Records]
Lauren Talley A Lauren Talley Christmas [Horizon]

SINGLES
Cory Asbury I Hope You Dance - Single [BEC]
Jordan Kauflin, Laura Story Approach, My Soul - Single [Getty]
Sam Bowman & GLADDEN Misfit Toys - Single [DREAM]
Wavorly Enemies - Single (independent)

VINYL
Michael W. Smith Every Christmas Vinyl [Rocketown]
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Vinyl [Frontiers]
TAKE Time Bomb Vinyl [Resuscitation Records]

DVD
Stryper To Hell with the Amps Blu-Ray [Frontiers]

Next Friday, November 15, 2024
ALBUMS
Dolly Parton & Family Smoky Mountain DNA – Family, Faith & Fables [Owepar Entertainment]
The Lore Family Faith Over Fear [Horizon]
Fernando Ortega For All the Saints - EP (independent)
Earnest Pugh Worth is the Lamb
We Are Messengers Rejoice! (A Celtic Christmas) - EP [Curb]
Paul Wright III Reverie [United Alliance]

SINGLES
Big Dismal Here In My Heart - Single (independent)
Hannah Kerr It Came Upon A Midnight Clear - Single [Curb]
Olivia Lane Silent Night - Single [BEC]
Tasha Layton Wake Up It's Christmas - Single [BEC]
Jamie MacDonald A Million Chances - Single [Capitol CMG]
Ronnie Martin On Christmas Morning - Single [Velvet Blue]
Hunter Plake Daylight - Single [BEC]
Jordan St. Cyr Christ is Here - Single [BEC]

VINYL
Sixpence None the Richer Divine Discontent Vinyl [Word]



For all release dates, click here!
 



Check out the new album from Taylor Holland Armstrong!



Listen to the new Single from Second Adam and the New Creations!

Check out depositphotos for royalty free images