SOTW: Shattering Sea
 

My computer is going into the shop today, so I can't do the post I really hoped to do for this, which is a shame with it being the first NoH song of the week. However, I will leave it up to you guys. I will say that I love that the song itself brings no resolve which fits perfectly with it being the beginning of the cycle.

I think there are two main points I need to mention, that when she sing-s 'Shattering Sea, closing my eyes' she is referring both to a denial of her part in what has just happened ('that is NOT my blood') and that as she closes her eyes, she is withdrawing into her mind/delusion, where she basically starts tripping balls. It's the real turning point.

It also outlines the main metaphoric dichotomy of fire vs. water. His temper flairs (as the shattering sea, which she closes her eyes to protect herself from), then hers does the same as a reaction. Even the details of the 'g-rains of sand' being heated to the point of becoming molten, then being cooled to a sea of glass.

If someone would have told me a few years ago that we'd have a song that started like Raining Blood, ended like Bonnie and Clyde, and in between meshed together Hungarian Wedding Song and Ruby, I'd of laughed in their face, but I'm so glad that we do have that now.

Overall I'd say it's the strongest track on the album. I love how the woodwinds punctuate the "every curve/word" etc section. The live versions have been sounding fantastic.

The "every curve, every word" section is stunning. I agree... the instrumentation there is incredible. Some of my favourite since Jackie's Strength (and same effect for me, in the way the instruments provide the percussion).

Best song on the album, imho. I love the string/flute harmonies (is this correct? sorry! http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/laugh.gif) that open and close the song- they really express the feeling of being "hunted". Very arresting arrangement and just a really strong song overall. I hope she continues to be this fierce in the future.

Also, at the risk of being too Fast Horse, I think this song juxtaposes rather well against Hounds of Love (the song, not the album)- both deal with the theme of love as a dialectic of hunter/hunted, in rather different ways. Makes for an interesting comparison.

This song is totally amazing, everytime I see a live video from this tour of her playing it I get chills!!! Its got the drama from the early part of her career with the musical sophistication of something from Pele.

Yes - definitely my favourite from the album. But I love every track of NOH. I always fall for songs like Shattering Sea though - for example - I love Precious Things off LE...

I didn't think she had something like this in her still!

I want a good mix engineer to get his/her hands on SS and fix it. I have no issues with T's voice or lyrics here.

Such a great song and a great way to start the album. Even if you can't past the lyrics, the music is pretty awesome and it's so great to hear the low-end banging on the bose again. I love it when she remembers she's a pianist and piano is a percussion instrument, rather than doing some sweet, sappy, billy joel chords-of-what-you're-singing stuff (which has its place, but tori is better than that). Shenale really enhances her work. I listen to this more than all but a few of the other NOH songs.

I wish the studio recording had the intensity and urgency of these live versions.

TOTALLY agree! That was stunning!!! Everything about it was much more powerful than the album version, including her vocal. Can't wait to see this live...

I love the studio version. The instrument section is mind-blowing. Having Shattering Sea as an opener is spot on, not for obvious reasons but it says hold on, this could be a wild ride!

I think the studio version is great but I can't get into the lyrics. It sounds like she was trying too hard to sound "angry", especially the first line. But other than that it's brilliant, I love what she's done to "Mad Woman on the Sea Shore".

A perfect beginning to both NOH and the tour. It's dark and intriguing. It sets up the narrative well on the record, even though that narrative goes off the rails (imo of course) fairly quickly after that. What I love more than anything is that I feel like she is being challenged a bit. She shows her musical chops again. Something certainly missing over the last couple of album openers, unless of course you find Yo George to be a challenging piece of music. As others have said, I wish it was a bit more intense on the album. I mean your relationship ended, and blood is involved. You can freak out a bit. But I am happy to see her ramp it up live. It deserves and needs it.

yep, this was my problem with the album version of shattering sea from the start-how she almost sounds bored. i knew she would sing it much better live though.