0898

Beautiful South

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 14, 1992)
• Original Release Date: April 14, 1992
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000005ISB
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #138,419 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.co.uk
It's hard to credit now, but when 0898 was released, it seemed as though the Beautiful South's commercial peak might have been behind them. Rave had effectively taken over the airwaves, and with critics salivating over all things baggy, Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray's songs were suddenly finding trouble being heard. 0898 failed to spawn any significant hits and yet all the quintessential Beautiful South hallmarks abound: Heaton's spirited defense of the barfly ("Old Red Eyes Is Back," "The Domino Man"); a bilious castigation of burgeoning lad culture; and the royalty-baiting "We'll Deal with You Later." They're often derided for being middle-of-the-road, and inasmuch as 0898 owes more to Bacharach than the Stooges, it's true. But it takes a melodic nous like Dave Rotheray's to usher a worldview like Heaton's into so many homes. How ironic that "We Are Each Other" chooses as its target the kind of partners who lovingly feed each other at restaurants. Heaton and Rotheray are as near as you'll find to a songwriting equivalent. --Peter Paphides

Product Description
Import pressing of their third album, now out-of-print in the US. It's hard to credit now, but when 0898 was released, it seemed as though the Beautiful South's commercial peak might have been behind them. Rave had effectively taken over the airwaves, and with critics salivating over all things baggy, Paul Heaton and Dave Rotheray's songs were suddenly finding trouble being heard. 0898 failed to spawn any significant hits and yet all the quintessential Beautiful South hallmarks abound: Heaton's spirited defense of the barfly ('Old Red Eyes Is Back', 'The Domino Man'); a bilious castigation of burgeoning lad culture; and the royalty-baiting 'We'll Deal with You Later'. They're often derided for being middle-of-the-road, and inasmuch as 0898 owes more to Bacharach than the Stooges, it's true. But it takes a melodic nous like Dave Rotheray's to usher a worldview like Heaton's into so many homes. How ironic that 'We Are Each Other' chooses as its target the kind of partners who lovingly feed each other at restaurants. Heaton and Rotheray are as near as you'll find to a songwriting equivalent. Universal. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My First Visit to The Beautiful South, August 24, 2005

By	Aaron Blight (Westminster, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews

About a year ago, I stumbled across this disc on the bargain rack of a local CD store. I had never heard of The Beautiful South before, but the name of the band intrigued me; it sounded like the name of a poetic and literate band, so I bought this album on a hunch that it would be something I might like.

0898 has far surpassed my expectations. Over time, I have enjoyed this album more and more, and it now ranks on my list of all-time favorites! The music is catchy, poppy, and melodic; the lyrics are light, satirical, and unusual. The band's performance is superb, and I love the blending of vocals from Paul Heaton and Briana Corrigan. (I understand that after the release of this disc, Corrigan left the band.) 0898 is the first but definitely not the last Beautiful South disc I will own.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hard to pick their best, but this is it, May 4, 2001

By	Christopher Ingalls (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

TBS is one of my favorite groups, and they have so many great discs, but I'd have to call this one their best (with "Quench" and "Painting It Red" tying for second). Every song is fantastic, particularly "Old Red Eyes Is Back," "We Are Each Other" and "36D." If you don't have any TBS, this is a good place to start. Their music is hard to describe. A friend once compared them to Squeeze, but they're a little more refined than that (not to slight Squeeze...I love them too). If Squeeze used occasional orchestrations and listened to some older-period Elton John, they would probably sound a lot like this. Witty, biting (and very British) lyrics, coupled with lush, gorgeous melodies. Paul Heaton possesses one of pop/rock' most beautiful voices. One of my all-time desert island discs.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It truly is BEAUTIFUL!, October 15, 1998

By A Customer

Perhaps the Beautiful South's best-known collection of tunes, "0898" carries their signature stylings of rhythm, melody, and groove. From classics heard everywhere on the radio like "Old Red Eyes Is Back" to the more eclectic "We Are Each Other," this album lets listeners slide in and enjoy some great music while the catchy and poignant lyrics beat a path through their brains. "0898" is a wonderful CD to pop in on road trips, on lazy summer afternoons, or after a long day on the job--it will soothe your frazzled nerves and let your mind wander through landscapes of vivid imagery and imagination. Check out their other work for even more entertainment and endearment...you'll be hooked! =) Simply put, this album is BEAUTIFUL!