Lungs

Rated by streetspiritlondon, London on 28th December 2009

Me and female singers have never really gotten along. I much prefer to listen to the sounds of Thom Yorke or Brandon Flowers or (dare I say) Bono. Whilst my mates fawn over Bjork or Tori Amos or Britney they kind of leave me cold. Then along comes Florence and the Machine. In a year which has been pretty shoddy for decent albums this rises head and shoulders above any other long player. it's so good I could almost imagine Kate Bush discovering this album and sending her minions out to bring this 'florence girl' straight to her. I was fortunate to see her live last month and she's truly a star. When you hear music like this and know that we're still able to discover stars in the world of digital disposal music it makes you sick to your stomach that Simon Cowell is driving the heart and soul out of music. The odd thing is, Florence probably wouldn't have made it past week one of X Factor.

Rated by Toby Staunton, Derbyshire, England on 5th July 2009

When I first heard Florence and the Machine on Steve Lamacq's show I didn't get it. Here was an artist who was being hyped as a live sensation and one of the tips for 2009 and it didn't impress me. I didn't see anything special in the music, the voice or the delivery. It just didn't add up for me. But then recently I heard most recent single `Rabbit Heart (Raise it Up)' whilst driving on a sunny day with the windows down and the radio up. Then it clicked. And so here I am on a Sunday afternoon sitting on the floor of my living room with a beer in hand having just watched the Wimbledon Men's final, and Florence is singing down my ear "I'll cut your little heart out, `cause you made me cry." Florence and the Machine for me is the glorious sound of someone who has sat down with a piano and a drum kit having just listened to too much Tori Amos and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Florence has a strangely ethereal voice helped along by the slight echo in quieter moments of the songs and the layered choral like backing vocals. The sound is deceptive. It is simultaneously demanding and seductive. The drums are relatively simple designed for no other reason than to drive the songs. The piano adds melody in support of Florence's voice and if you listen carefully there are subtle layers an nuances in it that will slowly be uncovered as you listen more. To follow all this Florence and the Machine could not hope for a better debut. It is simply a joy to listen to. The tracks fly by but you remember every beat of them. `Dog Days are Over' is a brilliant start and following this with the most recent single adds a nice bit familiarity. Tracks like `Howl' and `Kiss with a Fist' are then great additions before the rhythmic genius of `Drumming Song'. It then gets a little more widescreen and epic in its sound with the combination of `Between Two Lungs' and `Cosmic Love'. It then relaxes down to a more intimate and personal sound for the final three tracks which round off the whole album nicely. It is a well crafted album that exhibits the quality and diversity of this band and especially Florence's wonderful voice. I feel like I have now found Florence and I don't want to go back. Enjoy!

Rated by U.R.Nice on 8th May 2010

This could possibly be my favourite albulm ever. It includes the famous songs like Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up) and You've Got The Love, and not so famous ones such as My Boy Builds Coffins. They are all equally calming and, well...awesome. I was a bit dissapointed when I first got it, as I had been expecting more tracks, as I had been listening to the extended albulm on Spoitfy, and I hadn't checked this was the right one. But, the other thirteen tracks are so brilliant, it doesn't really matter. If you like Florence and the machine...Buy it!

Rated by Amazon Customer on 22nd July 2010

How anybody gave this one star (or two or three or four) I do not know! I cannot describe how fantastic this CD is. It is my very favourite album in the world and I adore every single song on it.I don't think Florence's voice is not at all screechy, on the contrary I think it is great. The harp is beautiful and all the music in it is super too. I listen to this CD over and over again, I love it! It make me feel happy, even though the songs are based on'guilty' things, as Florence said herself. Perfect - a must buy!

Rated by T. Bryant, UK, West Midlands on 12th July 2010

When I decided to buy this album I had only really heard a few of Florence's tracks, but I decided to take a gamble. It turns out, this is now on of the most worn CDs in my collection, I might have to buy a second copy this one spends so much time popping in and out of my CD player. Not many artists makes it 6 weeks, let alone months in my collection without being moved from the pile by the CD player to the rack, but so far Florence is still sitting proud, top of the pile!

Rated by M. McCabe, Ireland on 6th July 2010

Absolutely brilliant cd. Can't stop listening to it, Im buying it for everyone's birthday :-)

Rated by Helen, UK on 11th April 2010

I bought 'Lungs' last summer (not expanded version) and although I loved Rabbit Heart, Drumming Song & Dog Days almost immediately it took me a while to really appreciate the whole album. Usually I buy an album, love the tracks and listen to them constantly then get bored & the CD ends up on the shelf gathering dust for some time. But this is an exception as I am still listening to it months later and the songs that I wasn't impressed with on first listen have now become my favourites. Although I really recommend everybody giving this album a go, don't buy any cds with live recordings of these tracks expecting something great as I recently did as her voice when singing live is dreadful.

Rated by G. Brookes, Chelmsford EX UK on 20th March 2010

I first discovered Florence and the Machine whilst watching the Glastonbury 2009 highlight's on the Red Button (too muddy for me these day's) and also when they guested on "Friday Night with Jonathan Ross". On the strength of these appearances I went ahead and purchased Lungs completely on impulse. I'm so glad that I did..... Lungs is a terrific album. There are a variety of tracks here which show a great versality and diversity of styles. Florence and the Machine are way out there but still keep their feet both firmly on the ground..... Outstanding!

Rated by Spider Monkey, UK on 24th February 2010

I normally steer clear of most chart music these days after the onslaught of X-Factor and other cheap manufactured music, but when I heard Florence and the Machine on the radio I had to check the album out and I am so glad I did. This offers up a selection of tracks that will raise a smile, get your heart pumping and all performed in Florences's unique vocal style. The album opener `Dog Days are Over' is great and that drum beat is infectious and gets me clapping along with it nearly every time. There are so many good tracks on offer but I love `Rabbit Heart (Raise It Up)' and `Howl', the latter one has a great chorus that will have you singing along to. This album has been highly lauded in the music press and industry (and garnered praise and awards at the Brit Awards) and that is normally a death knell for any self respecting band., but this album manages to live up to the hype and makes for around an hours great listening. Who couldn't be captivated by those vocals on album closer and cover `You've Got the Love'? Well worth a try.

Rated by Robert Bristol, Nottinghamshire on 10th January 2010

How refreshing to hear true "talent" in an era when winning the X Factor or some equally banal show apparently allows you to produce utter tripe and get away with it Well there is none of that here, at last we have a band that can produce real music, the last time I heard vocals as excellent was when Maddy Prior was at her prime with Steeleye Span The entire CD is a pleasure to behold as every single track holds its own special charm Florence and The Machine are simply the best band to evolve so far this millenium