2WO

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2WO
2WO (Strange Advance album) coverart.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedFebruary 1985
RecordedPhase One Studios, Toronto, Britannia Row, London, UK, Mushroom Studios, Vancouver, BC, ESP Studios, Buttonville, Ontario
Genre Rock, new wave
Label Capitol
Producer Drew Arnott
Michael Kamen ("Nor Crystal Tears" only)
Strange Advance chronology
Worlds Away
(1982)
2WO
(1985)
The Distance Between
(1988)
Singles from 2WO
  1. "We Run"
    Released: 1985
  2. "Running Away"
    Released: 1985
  3. "The Second That I Saw You"
    Released: 1985

2WO is the second studio album by Canadian new wave band Strange Advance released in February, 1985. It featured two hit Canadian singles, "We Run" and "The Second That I Saw You". Along with their first album, this was a Canadian gold record for the band. [1]

Contents

Background and writing

This recording features heavy use of keyboards and synthesizers including the Fairlight, Yamaha DX7, and Jupiter 8.[ citation needed ]

Recalling the inspiration behind the hit song "We Run", Drew Arnott said it was "one of those 'wake up sweating' dreams. I just described what I saw. The smallest things can be the most inspiring. Ed Shaw added a delay to a sound in "We Run" which made the whole track come alive for me. Major bow to Michael Kamen for the strings and Scott Litt (REM) for the mix."[ citation needed ]

One song written during the 2WO sessions but left off the record was "Lady with a Blade", which would later appear on the 1995 compilation album Worlds Away & Back.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]

Tomas Mureika of allmusic calls 2WO "A seriously overlooked album". [3]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Drew Arnott, except where noted [4]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."I'll Be the One to Cry"Drew ArnottDrew Arnott3:56
2."The Second That I Saw You"ArnottArnott3:20
3."We Run"ArnottArnott3:59
4."Prelude"ArnottArnott2:02
5."Home of the Brave"ArnottArnott6:34
6."The Sounds of Life"ArnottArnott4:00
7."Blue Fire"Darryl KrommArnott4:14
8."Just Like You"ArnottArnott5:41
9."Running Away"KrommArnott4:15
10."Nor Crystal Tears"Kromm Michael Kamen 5:06

Album credits

Personnel

with:

Production

References

Citations
  1. "Artist: Strange Advance Biography". jam.canoe.ca. Jam!. 7 December 2004. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  2. AllMusic Review
  3. Tomas Mureika. "Strange Advance > 2WO > Review". AllMusic . Retrieved 19 February 2011.
  4. Library and Archives Canada. "AMICUS No. 5482513". collectionscanada.gc.ca. canada.gc.ca/main_e.html. Retrieved 19 February 2011.
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