I finally got this album recently. I have not felt the need to post on any of the album threads before, since everything pretty much has been said, but I have to add my voice on this one. Like some others, I can't believe that some people (esp. Church fans) don't like it. It is very melodic, and the fact that the melodies don't bludgeon you over the head means that it will age gracefully. Often the albums that take the longest to grow on me are the ones I end up liking the best. However, I liked this album immediately, and it just keeps getting better with every listen. I brought it over my friend's apt. this weekend and he agreed it was great (it helps that the person in question is from Buffalo, and the fact that the Church have a song about that city is most unbelievable, but actually he kept wanting to hear Tranquility). Maybe being American helps, since two song titles are American places, but the songs on this album are superb.

As far as the songs go - Louisiana, Buffalo, and No Certainty Attached are my immediate favorites (all three easily better than anything since P=A) with Tranquility and Ricochet not far behind. Even the weaker tracks are not bad, just not as good as the others. To me there are no real clunkers or snoozers (even "This is It" has grown on me, and now that someone mentioned it is about Michael Hutchence I am intrigued).

There are a couple of "moments" I really like as well:

In Louisiana - "That's my story - nothin' SPECial" - sounds almost sort-of punk in its cynicism, like "that's it, nothing great, but its my life - take it as you will". Slightly bitter, slightly defiant. I've been to New Orleans a few times and this makes me think of Bourbon Street at 5 am when everthing is closed and the sun is just starting to come up, with empty streets and the occasional drunken staggerer. It could also be a Sunday morning "out on the veranda". (Good to see Steve succeeded in using 'veranda' on a real album this time around, besides the discarded Anna Miranda!)

No Certainty Attached - The most energetic they've sounded since Starfish. Great harmony vocals toward the end (I think its this song with the harmonies - don't have it handy)

Melodic, yes, but no way is it "fluff". If this is "fluff", I don't see how you can be a Church fan. I like some dischordant, abrasive music, but I don't turn to the Church when I am in the mood for that. If this is "fluff", what is Heyday, Starfish, Blurred Crusade...? I guess there are those who only like the moody, slow MATS and P=A stuff, and if so, this should be noted when slamming the melodic stuff. (By the way, P=A is one of my favorites). Lush guitars everywhere, great songs, great atmosphere, and concise with 10 quality songs.

If only they could have come up with a better name. I have to admit, the name made me think it might be filled with long "experiemental" slow tracks (like a whole album full of "..Great Machine"), which would not necessarily be bad, but its just not the case. What the hell does the title have to do with the album at all? Its not even a line from a song, like P=A. ("Hey Marty, what's this in your notes - 'Hologram of Allah'? That's Great! - we'll use it for the album title! - what? - OK we'll change it to, um... Baal - fantastic! - doesn't mean a fuckin' thing, no one will remember it, has nothing to do with the music - yup, that's the one!! Hey, by the way, why can't we get more people to buy our albums?) It would make a good song name, maybe. The title should give some hint to the melodic, easy to swallow music inside.

Anyway, that's my feelings - nothin' special (But the album IS)