Comments for Oldfield, Mike, Crises

I beg to differ. The only song on here I don't like and actively avoid is "Shadow on the Wall". The rest, to me anyway, is great definitely better than Islands. Contains his biggest commercial success (single-wise) in Moonlight Shadow. Brian Smith

I beg to differ ,too. I find this album completely satisfying from both points of view : the instrumental side and the commercial one. I think it contains his best rock song , Crises, and his best pop song, Moonlight Shadow. The other songs are also valid, expecially the hard rocking Shadow on The Wall ...

And I too beg to differ. I personally think that the vocal side of this album outshines the instrumental side, which seems plodding and without much substance. "Moonlight Shadow" must be his greatest pop song, "Shadow on the Wall" is a good listen also, especially the extended version with the extra vocals and guitar solos. "Taurus III" shows us how versatile Oldfield can be; this sits along side anything a flamengo guitarist can produce.

With his straight approach to pop, Crises would not like to ortodoxies. The long piece contains an explosive keyboard-drum part, and a very inventive keyboard section (intro). Moonlight Shadow has to be the best pop piece Oldfield has written ever. (Carlos Martinez).

A strong, commercial-sounding album throughout: this album seems to be trying to capitalise on Mike's instumental strengths, while forging ahead in the pop/rock song direction. His lyrics still haven't hit their best (apart from "Moonlight Shadow") but function rather as rhythmic devices, repeating words and phrases (but with much more melody than rap). "Crisis"(/Crises?) is very catchy and the instrumental build- up to it is perfect; it's only in this track's second-half drum along with my sequencer, Simon) that it lags a bit. All the material is listenable even if some tracks are pretty brave ("In High Places"). This is very concepty: the title track, a personal crisis, a religious crisis, another personal crisis, some stunning acoustic work and a political crisis to finish. Nice. Ian Thomas

A good album with comercial songs. Itīs not a typical Old- field album, but a very good album

I love this album. This album got me through some tough times. The last 7 minutes or so of Crises reminds me of Sibelius's fifth symphony (last movement). Check it out and see what you think.

An inspiring piece of drumming on side 1 , total perfection.

"Shadow on the wall" is a truly great song! Otherwise, I also like "Moonlight shadow"; it's just a catchy song, so what does it matter that it's commercial? Kim in The Netherlands.

I guess this album isn''t any kind of artistic breakthrough, but it''s very enjoyable. Mike Oldfield sings alot more on this album than on his earlier efforts, and that''s nice, because he''s got a good rock voice (IMHO).

Yet another pop attempt from M Oldfield that fell flat on itsface. Although, Crises is a pretty decent song and Jon ANdersondoes vocals on the horrendous "In High Places". This alongwith Islands are probably his best pop efforts, althoughthey fall far short of his instrumental works.