Exile

My review is called "What is the deal America" because there are only 6 reviews here as of 5/25/13. Hurts is an incredible band, so I'm trying to figure out why so few people are talking about "Exile", released in March 2013. I guess it's because there are no 30 second samples here that people try to review songs from (That's a bad idea to begin with) Maybe it is because some people are too cheap to buy an import CD, and are waiting for a domestic release. Maybe it is because they can't get a "quick fix" at Amazon with a MP3 download on this release. This is one of the best albums of 2013. They have changed styles a bit from "Happiness" This one has a harder rock edge, and if you don't see the Muse influence with "Exile" then you don't know who Muse is. They fill arenas around the world , but only six people have anything to say about this album? It's puzzling! Here are my picks (favorites) on "Exile"EXILE (The Muse influence/style is found on this track more than any other song. I wonder what Muse thinks about this song!)SANDMANBLINDONLY YOUTHE CROW (A huge tip of the hat to Chris Issac)THE ROPESOMEBODY TO DIE FOR (Roy Orbison and Bono come to mind here)HEAVENHELPGUILT (and the fantastic hidden track When I'm Gone) I hope the folks at Sony will release this disc in the USA. With all the crappy indie releases getting exposure , why not let an established group get the attention it deserves here in the states?? Is there anybody out there Sony?

If you liked the first (and if you didn't why are you here?) you'll love this. The second half of the album is more like Happiness- smooth catchy pop with some really astonishingly brilliant numbers (just release "Help" as a single, Hurts, and conquer the world), the real interesting stuff is at the front of the album. Love where these two are going and only wish I knew where they buy their clothes!

I love these guys! Theo Hutchcraft and Adam Anderson of Hurts have done it again. The band, as well as the music of Exile, have evolved to a higher level. I have been listening to them continuously since I discovered their music and the hit Stay from the album Happiness. In Exile, Elton John accompanies Hurts on the song called, Help, which brings tears to my eyes. My favorites songs are The Crow, Somebody to Die For, The Rope, and Help, but I actually I love them all.

Every song on this album is amazing. The vocals are impeccable. I'm surprised that Hurts is not a more world renown band. I heard "Wonderful Life" in a club, yet never on the radio (which I don't understand why the song never received airplay-that I'm aware of?). Nonetheless, I was pleasantly surprised and pleased with both purchases. For those of you who've heard some or none of their music, I would say take a gamble, if you would be inclined to enjoy a fusion of easy listening, pop, and electronic blends.

Amazing band, beautiful music, amazing videos.... why they are not famous in the USA is such a mystery to me!

It is refreshing to hear pop music that is made to sound good, instead of being made to appeal to the current taste of the mass collective. While I prefer the first album from Hurts - Happiness, this is still an outstanding album and far superior to anything that's high on the popularity chart. If you like Mumford & Sons, fun, Nicki, Maroon 5, Bruno Mars and One Republic, then avoid this and go on being part of the collective. If you want to hear some crisp, slick pop, then buy this.

The vocals, orchestration, production and the many many instruments they use in such a beautiful way is amazing! The Crow is a great song and very haunting....you won't be disappointed if you are a Hurts fan!

I love this CD. It is darker than the previous one, deeper. But it doesn't lose anything to it. Hurts has the ability to do perfect music, it never changes. Of course, you have to like the kind of music they make, not everyone is into this sort of "dark pop", as Theo and Adam would say. But if you're a fan... It means the world having this.

Happiness was always going to be a hard album to follow up, it was perfect from start to finish. Hurts were cited as a revival 80s synth pop duo, like Tears for Fears, Soft Cell, Yazz etc.I was head over heels when I discovered Wonderful Life and Better Than Love back in 2010, the album and tour had drawn me in and left me thirsty for what was next. A long 3 years later we got Exile, a darker, heavier album than Happiness (which was already a dark album). I don't know what it was but it just didn't click.With them back on the scene with the new album with Desire I couldn't help but revisit this album, and I'm glad I did, it's actually a great album, with only one song I don't care for (The Road).The title track / opener is a fantastic slice of synth / industrial dark pop, it's now my favourite Hurts song, Miracles is a fantastic single which didn't resonate back in 2013, but is now a staple song, with a great pre-chorus.Other favourites include Sandman (which I hated at first), Blind, No Mercy and the heart breaking Somebody to Die For.I now consider Happiness and Exile to be essential Hurts album, Surrender is good, but doesn't match the quality of the first two, and Desire... I'm having hard times with this, but let's see where we are in 4 years time.

I already owned hurts exile but wanted the exile deluxe cd for the songs that dont appear on the other cd and love it and more so wasnt expecting it to also have a short film on a dvd included too,love hurts music and would reccomend to any electropop music fans or hurts fans itself

I bought Exile on the back of only 2 weeks previously purchasing Happiness. I`m a 50 year old male and even though the first album seems to favour teenage girls, i was totally blown away by the retro 80s electronic sound and lead singer Theo`s excellent voice. If for any reason you decide to purchase Happiness I would suggest buying the copy with the dvd. It features a live concert and videos of their released tracks. Now to Exile. A brilliant follow up album which shows the boys have matured. It doesn't instantly gell like their previous cd but if you spend a little time playing it, like myself, you will come to appreciate as being a better listen. A lot of the tracks I feel owe some inspiration to the likes of Depeche Mode,U2 and especially track 9,The Crow which sounds like a famous Chris Isaacs song. Those lovers of the 80s will know what I mean. I cant praise this album enough and since purchasing ive not found anything better to replace it with in my cd player. The most unfortunate thing is only people who have already purchased this album will probably be reading this review. Such a shame that they hav`nt been recognised by the masses yet.

It's always a hard job releasing a second album, when first one is so highly acclaimed, but Hurts have done it and I am pleased to say that it equals, if not surpasses, the brilliant Happiness. Like the first album, there are many influences - the title track Exile has shades of Muse, while Cupid is pure Depeche mode, circa 'Music for the masses' - but again they are just influences. Hurts are their very much their own band. In comparison to the first album, the overall feel is of an album which is a little reigned in, with less of the over top histrionics, but this is in no way is this a watered down album.- indeed, I would say that it has greater depth than Happiness. Now all I need is to see them live, and I'm sure that they will become firmly entrenched as my current favourite band - apparently, they are brilliant. A superb album and no mistake.

Loved Happiness and thought I'd finally found a new band I liked (I'm usually stuck in the 70s and 80s). I don't understand why people like this so much; I don't think it's a patch on Happiness. Happiness had great vocals, tunes, stories but Exile has annoying background vocals and lacks melody. Such a shame.