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Sense Field

Living Outside (2003)
Nettwerk

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Scott
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on July 22nd 2003

Something about this release just leaves a bad taste in my mouth. It shouldn't, I know, but I'm just getting this bad vibe about the whole thing. From the absolutely horrendous artwork and layout [which seems to be catering to teenage girls more than anything else] to the incredibly polished eleven tracks on this disc sets my spider sense a tinglin'. This album seems to scream for commercial success, or at least background music for the newest season of the Real World.

Of course, if I was Sense Field I'd be pining for that elusive brass ring, too. Here's a band that in 1996 was on the king of the post-hardcore [or "emo"] heap, touring with Texas Is The Reason, putting out a split 7" with Mineral and Jimmy Eat World [and later *headlining* a nationwide tour with both bands in tow], and just being on the tip of every fanzine editor's tongue. Since then they've had more label troubles than 99% of bands out there today - only Nada Surf seems to share a similar sob story of recording an album completely, only to have their label refuse to release it. Any fanbase the band built up was lost over those precious years in the late nineties, as kids went off to college, Jimmy Eat World released Clarity, and Sense Field was rendered moot.

So that brings us to Living Outside, Sense Field's blatant shedding of any "emo" moniker that might have stuck with them as well as an obvious bid for a gold album. All the trappings are here - the "rocking" opening track of "Burn," the bouncy playfulness of "I Refuse," the straightforward power chords of album single "On Your Own." Not to cater to blatantly insulting stereotypes, but fans of the Abercrombie & Fitch clothing line should eat this shit up with a spoon.

Still, I like the album. It sounds like I'm panning it, and I suppose technically, I am. The percentage of people on this site who might enjoy this band is virtually nil, so in that aspect, I'm telling you to pass. On the other hand, I just gave my promo copy of this to my sister, who will be entering her first year of college in the fall. This could very well be her Clarity [although the instrumentation here is nowhere near as lush].

All in all, it's not a bad album in the grand spectrum of things, it's just rather bland for what it's trying to be.

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Anonymous (January 12, 2004)

While sense field is one of my all time favorite bands, this CD did not draw me in immediately like their others. At first listen, i thought it was quite a weak album. However, over time i really started to like the album. Also it contains the song "the horse is alive" as the secret song. This is probably my favorite sense field song of all time, it is beautiful.

Overall the Album gets a 9/10 Rating
without the horse is alive, i give it a 7/10

Anonymous (January 7, 2004)

clarity = good though

Anonymous (January 7, 2004)

picked up this album for $4.99.. so glad i didnt waste any more money on it.. suckksss

Anonymous (August 27, 2003)

Wow you all are so cruel, shame

Anonymous (July 26, 2003)

"i mean really, who the hell cares
about nada surf?"

I do, quite a bit actually. ~jacobe

Anonymous (July 24, 2003)

its poppy goodness. much better than the last album, now that they're used to being pure pop rock. if my abercrombie and fitch sister would listen to this, maybe there would be some fairness in the world.

wyzo

CaptainCrunch (July 24, 2003)

Scott,

You should just give your sister a copy of Clarity instead of something that isn't as good as Clarity. What kind of big brother are you?

This score is for Clarity

-Captain Crunch

Anonymous (July 24, 2003)

could this be one of those 10 dollar cds that are all the rage with major labes these days? if so then i'd buy, if not there's too many other new cds i want more

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

You're fucking splitting hairs. No, "Tonight and Forever" is not a re-recorded version of "Under the Radar/Sensefield/The Warner Bros Album," but it IS in essence. They re-recorded it, changed most of the lyrics, added/subtracted some parts, threw in some really awful new tunes (Beatle Song) and generally fucked up an incredibly beautiful album.

Oh well, no band stays good forever.
--Cos

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

Tonight and Forever is not a re-recorded version of the album that got dropped by the major. It's an amalgam of a few songs from the unreleased record, new songs, and re-worked old songs. You can still find some songs from the unreleased album online, and it's good, much more like building and the self titled release. It seems like the whole business with the major label ended up with sense field turning into much less of a good band. However the early stuff is great.

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

Sensefield's unreleased Warner album was awesome, and then they re-recorded it as "Tonight and Forever" and it just plain sucked. It seems like in between the recording sessions they decided they were gonna be like a bad New Order and put completely inappropriate washes of electronic sounds and beats. It was like emo-Yanni. Fucking horrible.

I was surprised that they're even still together and still on a major label. Whatever, when I want to hear this, I'll pick it up in the bargain bin for $2.

--Cos

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

it's really hard to dis sensefield. I think they are all in their 30's and have been doing this for years. this isn't a bad emo record at all. what the fuck do you dummies think is emo anyhow? everything i guess. if any band that sings about girls and breakup is emo, well then I guess the following bands are now emo bands - Led Zeppelin, The Who, genesis, grand funk railroad, the beatles, the buzzcocks, the ramones, bad company, Foreigner, pearl jam, and any other fucking rock band on the planet! that's right fools, rockers ALL write about girls! this is a pop rock album, and a decent one. not great but decent. I'm still going to check them out live, cause their old stuff still is good.

funkisdead (July 23, 2003)

wow
i am not such a fan of this shit either
i love the old stuff though

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

scott do you and your sister bang?

you talk about her A LOT!!

soulbleed (July 23, 2003)

i like the cure cover. this album is just an attempt to keep the fans they got from 'save yourself' .. but it's still pretty good.

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

If they have a cover of the Cure.. then I have to respect them for that. I hope they didnt butcher it. The Trilogy on DVD kicks ASS! booyah!

-Ejaculine

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

Im listening to it right now, and I kinda like it. It sounds like a more upbeat Tonight and Forever. Would be nice if they had stuck to the Building era sound, but I like this too.

timis (July 23, 2003)

yeah..this album is junk....not to mention, why waste a track for a cover(the cure)...here's something to chew on-> if the offspring was an "emo" band, you would have sensefield...don't waste your money kiddies

jheisel (July 23, 2003)

"only Nada Surf seems to share a similar sob story of recording an album completely, only to have their label refuse to release it"

uhh, red house painters is a much more famous example of this. i mean really, who the hell cares about nada surf?

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

sense field building is a great song, i was excited when i found out sense field was releasing this but nope, didn't like it.

Anonymous (July 23, 2003)

Fucking no talent, 4/4 time, slow ass, cry baby, my girlfriend was raped, my dad died of an eploding penis, my mom drank too much cum emo!!!

The star is for Scott's testicle ring.

Yes, I've seen it.