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Ok, so we've all had a little while to absorb New Blood, extra tracks, live versions and all. Just wondering which track you would all pick as your favourite? Current favourites: RotH, San Jacinto (boy that yellow eagle flies like never before), Intruder, Darness, Red Rain, Blood of Eden (should have been on the main album) But in the end, if I'm going for one, the version I like most over the original, it has to be Wallflower. So lovely, so moving. How about you guys?

So many great choices. Right now, Intruder is the track whose power is astounding me more than any other. This is how Intruder is meant to be heard, or so it feels.

San Jacinto, Rhythm Of The Heat and Wallflower, well impossible to make a choice since Blood Of Eden and Mercy Street are also my favorites. And Secret World, of course!

Every time I listen I change my mind but San Jacinto and Wallflower must be at the top - both so moving. Intruder and Darkness though are fantastic arrangements - well aren't they all? They all have a different take on the songs and Downside Up - especially when Melanie and PG sing together - such an elegaic quality. I keep saying it but I like to hear the whole thing in one sitting. I'm hearing the lyrics afresh too.

You're right Duddy, everything is so good, except maybe "A quiet moment" which was not necessary in my opinion.

I agree AgentSage, Intruder is difficult to imagine any other way, good call! I actually don't mind A Quiet Moment Sammy, as much as Solsbury Hill sitting there at the end. If it had been followed by Blood of Eden, StN or Father,Son (or preferably all three!) the album would be pretty much perfect. solsbury Hill still doesn't really fit the overall mood. I must just add that I know there's been some debate about the shortened Downside Up, but to me it's the perfect intro to San Jacinto as it stands, I love the end chords and voice (the full length version on Live in London doesn't really work for me)

My favorite New Blood track is San Jacinto. I can't stop listening to it. Sammy The Slug . . . . . Secret World? I can't find a New Blood version of Secret World on any of the CD . . . . . OR . . . . . DVD packages. Where is there a New Blood version of Secret World?

Dagobah - Secret World was not prepared or recorded for New Blood, but latterly it was arranged and played live on the US tour after "Live in London" was filmed. PG also played it at the Mermaid Radio 2 concert recently, but it was not broadcast it seems. I'm sure it wil surface at some point!

I like the whole main thing.It's perfect in it's musical sequence. But first for me:Wallflower. Intruder is too good musically. I wonder, if this is not one basic confusion in more than some songs: that the music makes you feel something else than the text. And: music goes straight in your heart....someone already noticed.

Good point Rise - I seem often to have a pounding heart after listening to New Blood. I do like the end of the cd with Nest that sailed the Sky and A Quiet Moment. They change the tone perfectly and then Solsbury Hill comes along. It is a sort of coda but it leaves more to come I think. Or am I imagining it? Plus I also have New Blood Signal to Noise zizzing in my ears - wonderfully dramatic.

I think we have to face the fact, that the last pieces on the album are a tribute to his peergroup-The Elders! Maybe a curious medicine told him, that these kind of dynamic is too much up from 60plus!! But- I believe, Mandela and Tutu are well-trained dancers, the coda must be for someone else... I could talk for hours about this, Duddy! BtWn this album Intruder is the only piece, where I feel confused, with the others I don't have it. But sometimes I find myself singing 'Mother of Violence' with it's lovely melody .

Funny you should mention Mother of Violence. Was thinking I'd love to hear an orchestrated version of that. Oh, and White Shadow. I reckon John Metcalfe would hit a home run on that one, it's so dramatic already...

I've head the record on in the car all week now. My thoughts so far: Top Rankin: Intruder Rhythm of the Heat San Jacinto Red Rain Solsbury Hill Nest A Quiet Moment (Utterly flawless performances all round) all of which are pretty flawless - beautiful, soaring, menacing, wonderful vocal performances, great arrangements... In joint second: Mercy Street: really enjoyable, but just something lacking slightly, not quite sure what - I think I'm missing the textures of the vocals on the original too much In Your Eyes: Lovely in parts, but the ecstasy of the original and subsequent live versions is not matched here - just not quite enough yearning urgency Wallflower: brilliant, but very slightly tarnished by the female vocal at the end Darkness: I like the walking through the woods sections, but not the other bits Don't Give Up: Great vocal performances but it's just not quite as stunning as the live version. Production on Ane Brun's voice leaves her sounding a bit thin.. Finally, not working for me: Digging in the Dirt: The orchestra trying to recreate the groove of the original doesn't work for me and as with Mercy Street the layers of the vocals in the original I really like, so miss them on this version Downside Up: Never been that keen on the song, so not really surprised that I'm not enjoying this too much.

Nice overview Sculduggery, I kind of agree about Digging in the Dirt. I LOVE the instrumental (especially the 2nd chorus part 3mins - 3mins 30s.) but it clashes with the vocals, which I think are mixed too high. In fact, that's probably why they are mixed too high! Anyways, it's ok. I think Rise makes a great point, the album is almost a SUITE. For the most part the songs work great together. I can't stop playing it right now

I must say, i loved red rain but it had goten a bit old for me. so now i listen to this one, probably better than the original. The Live Blood version of Solsbury is also the only other version that comes close to the Car version. Signal seems odd without Nusrat. Downside is a great song, but the HIt/Growing up version remains the best. IYE is nice however my favorite remains SWL.Mercy Street is probably best here. Wallflower is beautiful in both versions. Eden sadly doesn't fit well, my favorite version is the Us one by far.

Amazing album, i bought it 2 days ago and blown my mind up. Anyway, I knew that there is a bonus track (Father, Son). I wanna know where can I get that version. I really would like to have that track.

I've finally had time to sit down and listen to this properly and have been blown away all over again! Having now been able to see these songs performed twice with an orchestra being able to have a 'portable' version of these songs is just brilliant and will ensure those amazing live memories remain fresh! I'm having trouble picking a favourite because I really am loving it all. One thing I will say about A Quiet Moment, thought my itunes had broken and had one hell of a shock when having turned the volume way up, Solsbury Hill burst forth! Loving it and such an emotive album.

Darkness Instrumental