This CD is a gothic masterpiece!
"Creatures" combines all of Clan of Xymox' best characteristics onto one CD. The melodies are beautiful, yet at the same time haunting. . .seemingly calling you from across the room for another listen! This album has become a drug for me, as the more I listen, the more I need to hear. I have listened to it everyday since its release, and I have no plans to stop! "Crucified" is my favorite cut off of this one, and could quite possibly be the best song ever recorded. This CD is a gothic masterpiece!
new sound, still a great band
I bought this one at a bargain of 7 dollars. I was expecting it to sound similar to Medusa, or Xymox. When i put it in i was caught off guard by their different sound, and blown away by the entire cd. This is one of the few cds that i can put in my player and not skip any tracks. Even if they are sounding like alot of the new goth bands, they still carry the torch from their earlier albums. I suppose this album isnt for everyone, if you're into bands like London After Midnight, or Rosetta Stone, i would recomend it. But if you prefer the older bands like Sisters Of Mercy, or Joy Division, then maybe this wouldnt be the best thing to spend 15 dollars on. But if you do manage to find it at a low price like i did, go for it.
Strong Comeback By Once Mighty Band
'Creatures' marks the return to prominence of the legendary though somewhat faded band Xyxmox/Clan of Xymox. They started with the "Clan of" tag making very dark, very Goth music. They began combining more electronics and crafting more accessible music; at that time they dropped the long name and went with "Xymox". The first effort with the new name, 'Twist of Shadows', was masterful. Subsequent releases were not as the band basically sold out to pop, techno, or the flavor of the moment. They lost nearly all of their fans appropriately so.After a long hiatus, they re-emerged with the original name intact. More importantly, the original sound was back too. 'Creatures' is a very strong Goth effort hearkening back to their early days. Standouts include "Jasmine and Rose" and "Consolation".
It's not that bad!!
It has been quite some time since i bought this album.I was just on hear looking at reviews about my favorite band.I keep hearing alot about how this is a Sisters rip-off and what not.Well if you guys remember Sisters may have had the first gothic sound but what do you expect when other bands try to follow in those footsteps?Of course bands that are gothic are all going to sound like the Sisters in one way or another.I happen to love both bands and don't mind at all if Creatures reminds me of Sisters.Hell two for the price of one!!
All I have
I am a relatively new fan to Clan of Xymox. The only other cds I have is their live cd and their more recent album "Notes From the Underground". I came across "Creatures" over the weekend in the used cd bins at my favorite record store. I immediately bought it when I saw that one of my favorite Clan songs was on it, "Jasmine and Rose". I have my friend who got me into The Sisters of Mercy and VNV Nation to thank for getting me into Clan of Xymox. I loved "Creatures" from the very moment I put the cd into my stereo. Unlike a lot of reviewers here, I can't compare "Creatures" with Clan's earlier albums. I will admit that the music on this cd reminds me a little of The Sisters of Mercy but overall, I think Clan has their own sound. If anything, I think "Creatures" sounds more like The Cure's "Pornography" album than The Sisters of Mercy. Favorite songs? I had a hard time picking out favorite songs since I enjoyed them so much. The songs that really stood out for me is "Jasmine and Rose", "Crucified", and "Consolation". Solid album. Not a single song I did not dislike.
Clan of Xymox made two albums for 4AD Records in the mid '80s, the label's heyday--and, it turns out, the band's as well. Clan of Xymox (1985) and Medusa (1986) were perfect slices of moody, lovelorn gothic pop--reminiscent of New Order, only more morose. But the band fragmented shortly after, shedding members, reducing its name to simply Xymox, and releasing halfhearted plays to the dance floor that failed to make an impression. Creatures is an attempt to recapture some of the Dutch band's past glory. It's not a comeback album (that was 1998's Hidden Faces) but rather a we're-serious-about-coming-back album. Sole original member Ronny Moorings leads a fairly tight ensemble through 11 tracks that echo in style the muscular gothic rock of Sisters of Mercy and the emotive balladry of Diary of Dreams. Standouts include the catchy, retro-gothic dance tune "Jasmine and Rose," the industrial-tinged "Crucified," and the dirgelike "Creature." It's definitely not the Clan of Xymox of old, but fans of straight-ahead gothic rock will find a lot to like here. --Steve Landau
1999 album from the popular Dutch alternative rock group led by Ronnie Moorings. 11 tracks, all written by Moorings.
