Gareth - 12/28/2010

Echo and the Bunnymen stormed back on the scene in the 1997 with the album 'Evergreen' and stunning single 'Nothing ever lasts forever' containing backing vocals from Liam Gallagher. Another great album followed 'what are you going to do with your life' (1999). However in 2001, the release of 'flowers' halted that bands progress with an uninspired and poor album. This album seems to have a point to prove that they are not over the hill and I believe it has succeeded. Every song on the album has great sounding chiming guitar riffs coupled with Ian McCulloch's ever so slightly broken vocals. Although his vocals are not as strong as they were on 'Evergreen' and 'What are you going to do with your life', they, through their experience make for great story telling in the songs.
The first song 'Stormy Weather' is a very catchy tune accompanied by a great vocal from Ian McCulloch that really gets you in the mood for what's to follow, as it sets up the album well. There is a great run of songs that follow, which produce, just what you expect from Echo and the Bunnymen 'All because of you days', Parthenon Drive', In The Margins', 'Of A Life', 'Make Us Blind' and 'Everything Kills You'. If I had to say there were any weaker songs on the album, I would have to say they are probably 'Scissors in the sand' and the title track 'Siberia'. From the off the album gets you in a groove which continues right the way through the album, until the last track, which is a stripped back song called 'What If We Are?', which is a softer sounding finish to album, then the 10 songs that precede it. I would say this album is definitely a return to form for the band without a doubt.