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Florence + the Machine’s Ceremonials won’t be in stores until Nov. 1, but fans can stream the album in full nearly four days early by clicking here at 12am tonight, Myspace tells EW exclusively.
EW has heard the record, and we’re big fans; find our straight-A review (also in the issue on stands today) after the jump:
Ceremonials (2011)
Florence + The Machine
by Kyle Anderson
She’s already sung Aretha Franklin at the Grammys and provided the luscious soundtrack to Julia Roberts’ onscreen gelato binges in Eat Pray Love, so what does Florence Welch do next? She crafts Ceremonials, a confident, unflinching tour de force. If her acclaimed 2009 debut, Lungs, was a scrappy shrine to survival and empowerment, its follow-up is a baroque cathedral, bedecked with ornate tapestries made of ghostly choirs, pagan-rhythmic splendor, and a whole lot of harp. And though that sounds like a mess of New Age goop, Ceremonials genuinely rocks: Jagged violins erupt into a chugging prog shuffle on ”Breaking Down,” while ”Lover to Lover” makes funky use of a Springsteen-size arena-gospel backbeat.
If you’ve got a godly house, you might as well fill it with some religion. Welch’s soul is constantly in peril here, forcing her to dance away from devils (”Shake It Out”) and fight snakes in her bed (”No Light, No Light”), ultimately discovering a higher plain on the luminous ”All This and Heaven Too” and escaping her earthly form on the spry album closer, ”Leave My Body.” Even confirmed atheists will stand in awe. A
Download These:
Claustrophobic anthem “Heartlines”
Swinging, jubilant single “Shake It Out”
Will you be buying the album come Tuesday? Let us know in the comments below.
More on EW.com:
Kelly Clarkson, Mary J. Blige, Florence Welch, and Jennifer Hudson to headline this year’s ‘Vh1 Divas’
Jack Johnson’s new Christmas song ‘In the Morning’: Hear the EW Exclusive premiere
R.E.M. invite Kirsten Dunst to their farewell party in ‘We All Go Back To Where We Belong’ video: Watch it here!
Really, was Friendster not available?
LOL!!!
I write a lot about Italy in my blog since I’ve been there about 10 times, over 46 years. I know Florence is crowded but for me, being the cetnre of the Renaissance makes it something you can’t miss. Just be very careful about pickpockets there. Well everywhere.I think Siena is wonderful, but we stay with friends when we are there.I love Venice too but it is crowded and expensive. Still it is very special. No other place like it. Most of these places need a few days at least, so just concentrate on a few places and their surrounding areas.If you have a car and go to Pisa stop off at Lucca.Cinqueterre is great but if this is your first trip save it for another time. No I don’t like Milan either.I just wrote a post about Assisi and the Umbrian hill towns. But they may be out of your way. Rome is an amazing city, although noisy, dirty and crowded. But it’s the cetnre of the Roman world and the Catholic church with the Vatican Museum one of the best in the world. There is so much to see. Lucky you, it’s five years since I’ve been I need to go again.By the way, you didn’t say how long you were going for. If you go to Venice then Verona is a wonderful city and Lago di Garda is a beautiful lake nearby. You really need a car for this.I’ll be looking forward to hearing about your trip. Italy, my favourite destination. I’ve even been there three times to attend Italian language schools .
Alread pre-ordered on iTunes … I’ll just wait.
I’m already obsessed with “Shake It Out” and “What the Water Gave Me”. Can’t wait to hear the entire album. I still listen to “Lungs” and “Lungs – The B-sides” all the time.
No light, no light- the next single is the standout on the album for me. So good! she did not dissapoint with the new album.
I was surprised at the nubemr of men I’ve seen who suffered from chronic diarrhea. What a horrible way to go!Ha! My husband’s parents live outside of Lawrence, KS not too far from Kansas City, but I’ve never really done anything in KC before.
I LOVE IT SO MUCH! I can’t wait to get the album. I didn’t listen to it, only the previews and I love it. No Light No Light, seven devils, are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I love them all though
and spectrum, love that one
I have listened to a few of the tracks from the new album, and it isn’t as exciting or new as her previous work has been. Too ambient. Too boring.
How much fun it is to read about Sterling NY, the town I visited as a child with my fmliay. My grandfather was Hugh B Dugan and my father was Hugh Carlyle Dugan and my brother is Sloane Dugan. So many fmliay names! Such fun we had hopping in Grandpa Dugan’s old car where we could peek through the floor boards and see the ground on our way to to Uncle Allen and Aunt Francis’s farm. Good stuff for a little “city girl” living in Nutley NJ.Thanks for such fond memories,Susan Dugan Burgermaster
We are members of the Sterling Historical Society and rednustand that you will be discussing our house, the Ha Ha, located at 14672 Fancher Ave. during your next meeting on October 24, 2011. We will be sorry to miss that! We have owned the cottage since 2005 and have thoroughly enjoyed our place, many wonderful neighbors, Little Sodus Bay and the Village of Fair Haven. So much to do and so much history-there is no place like it. In three words-we love it! Keep up the good work; we look forward to visiting the museum soon! Chuck and Daria Bour
I adore Florence. She can do no wrong. Everytime I think she can’t top herself she does. I love Shake It Out. I can’t wait to download the rest of the album.
Compared to that drawing on cnocept org.com your definitely making major strides with your work. Good Work! I’ve been contemplating FAA for over 1 1/2 years as a means of transitioning into fine arts from my current job as a graphic artist.What are the approximate monthly living expenses while attending? Specifically rent/roomates ext. supplies? The FAA site isn’t very forthcoming about that practical reality, but in my experience living costs and supplies often outweigh tuition. Also did you qualify for a student loan?
The album is brilliant. I can’t wait to finally hold it in my hands.
Pre-ordered from The Flotique. I didn’t have confidence in the US stores having it right away. This will tide me over.
i pre-ordered the deluxe with poster , and this amazing woman and her awesome music machine stands alone ! i am one in the army of FATM !
Beyonce has done well for her self and the new album fantastic.
Took a chance on Lungs became a huge fan and now will buy next album after hearing 1Song on the radio. Such an amazing voice and soul.
Florence is a muse! I find her to be Britain’s equivalent of Cat Power for some rsaeon. The voice, their influence in fashion Its just fantastic.I never really listened to Florence and the Machine, but I checked out Ceremonials and I fell in love with it instantly and its probably my soundtrack for 2011! Shake It Off gets me all the time. Evie
i’ve already been listening over and over on repeat..AMAZING…I DIE for florence…no light, no light and only if for a night are my favorites
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