Ninth

I've been a huge fan of Peter Murphy's since I saw him in concert in the 1980s. He's a mesmerizing performer live and a fascinating and complex musician.I was underwhelmed by Dust and Unshattered - the energy that had captivated me on earlier recordings seemed to be missing.I heard the first single from Ninth - I Spit Roses - and was immediately hooked. The energy and complexity that I'd enjoyed before was back. When the full album was available, I downloaded it.Things start off well Velocity Bird. Seesaw Sway sounds like an old school Bauhaus tune. Peace to Each is a straightforward ass kicking guitar song. Ninth has found groove and has great forward momentum. The next few songs are consistently interesting. I can't say what happens exactly but somewhere in Slowdown, Peter slows down too much. Secret Silk Society and Creme de la Creme are pale imitations of is earlier songwriting - an attempt to recapture something that was never really his strength.If it weren't for those last two songs, I could give this five stars. Don't let the weak ending keep you away from an otherwise great release.

As his first solo album since reuniting Bauhaus for 2008's Go Away White Murphy recaptures some of the steelier sounds of Bauhaus on Ninth (2011). After hearing I Spit Roses I thought "Ahh, that's a welcome sound." Ninth has a consistency to it also. That's a plus and minus. In this case it means it's a very solid album that sounds like a return to form after Unshattered. But it also means there aren't nearly as many highs and risks that he put into his next album Lion. Still, it's a solid album with a sound, like Go Away White, that much of his fanbase has long been waiting for.

I can admit when I'm wrong. I dissed this CD in the comments of a negative review, essentially affirming the criticisms based on brief clips. I had said that Peter's voice is tired, that this music is bland, that it lacks the anthemic power of "Deep" (the favorite among Murphy fans).Well, I couldn't resist Amazon's fantastic price and bought it anyway.BOY, was I wrong. About everything.Let me start over: Peters voice is not only NOT tired, it's really freaking STRONG. Listen to the refrains of "Prince and Old Lady Shade" and that raging, psychotic howl in "Uneven and Brittle." This is Peter at his prime, not at his end.The music is exceptional--Murphy rocks on this one. Guitars cut and claw through the songs, and the whole thing is beautifully produced--there's a depth of sound here. Play this one on good speakers.I'm still not always sure what Peter's lyrics are about (what the heck is "Shick Shack" in "I Spit Roses"? The song describes Murphy's feelings about a schism that formed during the recording of Bauhaus' "Go Away White," when he actually confronted his bandmates and, well, spit rose petals at (on?) them. The lyrics describing a mutiny and the ship he'd though had sunk are metaphors to Bauhaus' final demise). "Secret Silk Society" throws a bone to his goth fans with a gorgeous, creepy, sinister, stalking minor key melody and Murphy at his growling, dark best. Heck, I'll come right out and say it: "Ninth" is what the final Bauhaus album OUGHT to have sounded like. Normally, I favor the Love and Rockets side of things, but in this case I gotta give it to Peter--in any dispute about where the quartet's musical direction ought to have gone, "Ninth" closes the case.

I have had a love/not love relationship with Murphy's solo releases over the years, (never "hate" mind you...just an occasional "not love"). His solo work ranges from brilliant to good-but-a-little-too-precious. Some longtime fans will catch my meaning; others will vehemently disagree, but we all have our unique tastes, don't we? On this disc, however, PM nails it. Every note is in place and nothing is there that shouldn't be there. The thing about Murphy is not just his great voice but his unique way of using it: Velocity Bird, the opening cut, demonstrates this beautifully. To the non-Murphy connoisseur, it can almost sound like he's "scooping" the notes, unable to land on the pitch properly. But oh no...a closer listen will show this to be no mistake: it's there on purpose and it's perfect. A lesser singer could never pull this off. And his lyrics here are pitch-perfect too: he hits the beauty and the darkness, often in the same phrase. "I spit roses" conjures up some great poetic imagery in three little words.On a semi-related note: to anyone who is reading this and has yet to pick up the newest and final Bauhaus CD "Go Away White", you should know that it too is an amazing recording. They got it right; bringing back the old magic while not becoming parodies of their 1980s selves. Buy both. You will thank yourself.

Just recently I've been going back over a lot of my favourites from the 80's (husband says regressing...) and after having a bit of a Bauhaus session on YouTube came across some of Peter Murphy's solo stuff that I hadn't heard for a while and started playing that too. I'd forgotten how much I liked his voice and how distinctive it is.Having heard only a couple of tracks off "Ninth", I thought I'd buy it anyway - and I'm glad I did. In typical Murphy fashion, there ain't just one style on here. There's a hint of everything from crooning to the good old punk/goth/rock sound, and nothing sounds out of place. I don't think there's a single track on this album that I don't like (which is unusual for me), and I had to play it a few times in a row to let it all sink in. "I Spit Roses" is excellent, but my (current) favourite is "The Prince & Old Lady Shade" which has beautifully meandering lyrics and which I think sounds just about perfect. But that's just me...Certainly my best impulse buy for some time! Try it...I don't think you'll regret it....

I am fairly new to Peter Murphys solo stuff having found this album due to the guitarist Mark Thwaite also being an ex member of The Mission.This is a pretty heavy rock album but it is done with real intelligence and is simpy gorgeous in places. The long drawn out shreak during Uneven and Brittle is just one of the highlights.The backing music sounds very much like the Missions last underrated album God is a Bullet and gives a real kick to the songs. Since buying this I have also purchased Peter Murphy's previous album Unshattered and its just as good although more laid back but with the same lovely melodies and that voice.I loved Bauhaus way back but never followed up on Mr Murphy's solo stuff, this guy is a class act.

Peter Murphy is criminally underrated by the world. Like many of its predecessors, "Ninth" is full of choruses that you want to sing out loud..."I spit Roses!" and also unique tunes and turns of this great singer's gravelly voice. Every song could be a single in its own right and there are heavy roaring anthems alongside mellow soulful wails. My best "buy before I have heard it" purchase for years! 'Seesaw Sway' and 'I spit roses' are particularly good.

what can I say....better to listen to Peter Murphy then see the dodgy video for first trackit just gets better after each listen

Great album. If you like his other stuff its a must have!