Savage Garden Album: “Affirmation”

First of all, nothing will ever live up to their amazing debut, but this album comes very close. That is an accomplishment. This is simply the best sort of pop there is. This is also a much more introspective album than their debut. No, Savage Garden are not a boy band. Just listen to the intelligent songs on this album and it will prove it. Here are the tracks: 1.AFFIRMATION: Boy, twenty life lessons in one rapid fire song! Some people could learn a lot from these lyrics. It's a great kick-off song. 2.HOLD ME: Classic, mid-tempo Savage Garden. This is a really cool, catchy song. The lyrics are very inventive, as they are always on the record. 3.I KNEW I LOVED YOU: A slow ballad much like "Truly Madly Deeply". Although it was a huge hit, it's actually one of the worst songs on the album. 4.THE BEST THING: A wonderful, upbeat song. The verses have a really cool melody and the chorus is really catchy. 5. CRASH AND BURN: An amazing mid-tempo song that reaches out to those in a time of need. Great lyrics and chorus. 6.CHAINED TO YOU: This is a great upbeat song. It's pop, with a little bit of rock elements drawn into it. It was instantly one of my favorites. 7.THE ANIMAL SONG: This was released on a soundtrack before this album came out. It's a great upbeat song with an awesome melody and a lot of drum beats. 8.THE LOVER AFTER ME: This is just a great pop song. It doesn't really stand out, but it just really good. I can't really explain it. The more I listen to it, the more that I like it. 9.TWO BEDS AND A COFFEE MACHINE: Probably my favorite song on the album. It's simply beautiful and the best ballad that Savage Garden has ever done. I will never get tired of it. 10.YOU CAN STILL BE FREE: A haunting ballad that builds up to such a great song. The high notes hit by Darren are amazing. 11. GUNNING DOWN ROMANCE: This song is not instantly likable, and is a change for SG, but after repeat listens it really grow on you. The melody changes a lot and it is pretty creepy. 12. DON'T KNOW YOU ANYMORE: What an amazing, sad ballad. The songwriting and performance are so amazing. I don't understand how anyone can dislike something like this. ~ lyrics included

I waited 8 months to buy this cd. God, I feel stupid. I deprived myself of one of the best things since, uh, maybe the day Starbucks was born. Darren has a beautiful voice and an awesome falsetto. Daniel makes the music perfectly wrap itself around the words,complementing them and, well, making ears all over the world happy. A song-by-song review

1. Affirmation: A really blunt song where the two tell what they believe about life. Frankly, it's the truth to me but even if you don't agree with them it sure makes you think. The intro was really long and I was getting impatient waiting to hear Darren's voice (It's almost a minute long).

2. Hold Me: This is a beautiful mid-tempo song. It's my personal favorite of all the songs because of the music behind Darren's voice. He sings with so much emotion in this song.

3. I Knew I Loved You: There's no need to review this one;everyone's probably heard it at least a million times. I'll just say it gets better every time I hear it.

4. The Best Thing: Another mid-tempo about what I'm guessing is someone obessessed and in love with someone else. The music is beautiful but the lyrics could have been improved (Not that they're bad, they just could've been a touch better).

5. Crash and Burn: My second most-favorite song on this album. This song just embodies true friendship. I really like the music to this one.

6. Chained to You: This one is about a guy who is attracted to a siren(seductive woman for those who know nothing of Greek mythology). Being a girl, I don't get the concept of male obsession too well. It's kinda forgettable.

7. The Animal Song: I don't understand how anyone could possibly hate this song! Animals are free and all they're saying is that they want that freedom. Anyone over the age of 12 or 13 will relate in some way. Darren's falsetto is at its best here.

8. The Lover After Me: This is one, touching, sad song. I love the music and the lyrics convey the sadness and passion for someone lost.

9. Two Beds and a Coffee Machine: A truly saddening song. It's piano driven and the only other music comes from softly cascading strings. The simplicity of the song makes it one of my favorites.

10. You Can Still Be Free: One of those songs which which are sad and uplifting at the same time. The music seems a little harsh for the words but all in all, it's a good song.

11. Gunning Down Romance: This song is kind of sardonic. It's about someone who has lost all faith in love. This is quite different from most of the other songs as it's sung with more of a spitefulness.

12. I Don't Know You Anymore: Sad song about revisiting someone from the past who has obviously moved on. A lot of people can relate, even if the situation is different. This song is also solely driven by a piano.

I am by no means dissapointed by Affirmation. Darren and Daniel have more talent than most of the people in the music industry. How anyone can compare them to the all-surface-no-substance boy bands is absolutely beyond me, other than the fcat that they all do pop music. As long as you have a brain please buy the cd and state your desire to hear real music.

I think this CD is even better than their first, which was excellent. Every song here is excellent, but two of them really stood out for me. "Crash and Burn" was fantastic. "I Don't Know You Anymore" is haunting, heartbreaking, and will ring true for anyone going through a breakup. Savage Garden is a great group, and their songwriting talents are unbelievable. "Affirmation" is an excellent CD.

Although I thought Savage Garden's first album expressed a wider range of music, I absolutely ADORE this album.

By reading the previous reviews, I think I must be very strange because my favorites are "Crash and Burn" (without a doubt) and "Two Beds and a Coffee Machine". I think "Crash and Burn" is a perfect example of true friendship.

This album is definately different than the first one. I suppose overall it is more pop than than the first one, but that is NOT a bad thing. There is not one song on this album that I don't like.

I will definately listen to this album over and over and over again (in fact, I listen to it as I write this). I LOVE it.

One note that I would like to make is that this is an album that I truly would rather LISTEN to than see videos from it. I think we lose the impact of lyrics when we have video producers/directors tells us what we should feel about these song. Personally I cry when I hear and LISTEN to "Crash and Burn". I don't know if that would happen with a video.

I have only a sentense to say to u: JUST BUY IT! :-