it's sexy, it's soft, it's hard, it's jazzy, it's rock, it really is a complete package. however, i understand why a lot of people don't like it, it really isn't for everyone. morphine is a unique sound that incorporates a lot of different moods and music types into one album. give it a listen, or three, and it'll grow on you. i promise, you wont be disappointed.

Being from Boston, and being friends with Mark, i can say that i thought he was a man with a vision...well...anyway... I loved this album, and actually found it to be my favorite. Yes I do like all of his albums, but i especially like Like Swimming, for his haunting lyrics and saxaphone sounds. I thought it was a brilliant balance of jazz and rock with poetic verse to bring this album to a life of its own. I love every song but my favorite is Empty Box for its words, they're very meaningful, and whatever one person thinks, another thinks something completely different which brings perspective, that is brilliant... I don't think i have anything more to say except for the people that found it monotonous and boring, or so drawn into the "Morphine Style" get a life, because you completely miss the point Mark wanted and so you just think about what sounds good rather than what's interesting and different and how it continues on as such....

as i alluded to in the title, cure for pain and yes have more standout tracks, and flow as albums better than like swimming. 'swing it low' is a nice touch on the end, very low and mellow, but also melodic. 'like swimming' was originally going to only be a cd5, with the title track, 'early to bed,' 'french fries with pepper,' and a live version of another song. glad they decided to release these sessions as a full album. not their greatest, but still much better than 95% of other groups' best albums.

I am still a huge fan of "Yes" but I do like this one too...Morphine's sound is bluesy and jazzy...cool and calming...you will love them...once you heard them you're hooked!! A great band from Boston!

on first listen i was disappointed with most of the tracks (except "early to bed" and "murder for the money" and "eleven o'clock" ) ... since the majority of songs aren't "instantly accessible" like they are on Cure for Pain ... perhaps i was expecting a sequel of sorts to "Cure for Pain". But I persisted and gave myself the chance to appreciate the subtle irregular "perfectness" of the whole set. And slowly let myself fall further in love with the album after each listen. My most surprising favourite is "I know you III" has a swingy cool mellow groove that is irresistible. The tracks fit perfectly together to form a nice aural journey down the dark mysterious alleyway that is morphine. If you're new to the band I recommend trying "Cure for Pain" or even "Good" for a better introduction to the experience of morphine.