Awoo

Hidden Cameras | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 19, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Arts & Crafts
• ASIN: B000H0MMIQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #200,305 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

As growing pain albums go--and third albums are notoriously difficult--this one's a stunner. The lack of a single song as immediately catchy and inspired as "Ban Marriage" is a bummer on first listen, as is the absence of overly sexually-explicit imagery in every single tune. But the Toronto-based indie-pop orchestral group, masterminded by guitarist/painter/singer-songwriter Joel Gibb, is not shooting for mainstream appeal here. After all, the melodies and rhythms are more complex and varied, the lyrics more evocative and oblique, and the group still seems to be very gay. The Hidden Cameras are just a little bit weirder now. The delivery is as joyous as ever, and the whole thing is still vaguely reminiscent of an overreaching Christian band camp's performance of Godspell. "Heji," for instance, sounds like Lee Ranaldo jamming along to the soundtrack to Xanadu. It turns out that it’s not a bad thing at all. The same can be said for the rest of the album, which gets even better with each listen. --Mike McGonigal

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars pop music at its smartest and most delightful level of catchy bliss, October 3, 2006

By 

Aquarius Records (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Awoo (Audio CD)

Are you ready to bounce your head up and down and sway side to side and jump up and down and all around in your bedroom when you are all alone and the new Hidden Cameras is blasting from your stereo. Cause that's what we've been doing pretty much nonstop since Awoo has come out. The third full length from the glorious pop band from Toronto does not disappoint one bit. With an impeccable ability to write hooks that will stay in your head for days and weeks and months to come. This is pop music at its smartest and most delightful level of catchy bliss. While some recent reviews of this record have harped over the fact that the lyrics aren't as dirty or sexual as past releases we think those minds are missing the point. This was never a novelty band about a simple joke or dirty one-liner. Their queer politics are for sure still strong in their heart and more then almost anyone else they have an amazing ability to sing songs that both talk to the body and the heart. Taking some of the best parts of R.E.M and Belle & Sebastian, Hidden Cameras have carved a spot for themselves as one of the pop bands who most definitely matter!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Holy Holy, August 24, 2007

By 

Joel M. Dale (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Awoo (Audio CD)

Are you kidding me? I walked up to the music listening station, tried this album out, and when I heard the first song, realized I was in heaven. Seriously! "Death of a Tune" has got to be the catchiest, sing-song alongiest, most infectious work in years. I can not understate my experience for the first few weeks listening to "AWOO". I was manic. Literally manic. Like I was high on drugs. The songs made me flat out, jaw-dropped manic. I rode an emotional boost every listen. I would share the album and if someone didn't like it, I would get angry. How is it possible people don't just immediately respond to the hooks, the folksy simple melodies.

Now, I never really pay much attention to the lyrics. The fact that they were gay was lost on me till I decided to learn more about The Hidden Cameras. It's just tuneful, immediately accessible, and wonderful. Dance. Drive fast. Bop your head. Bake bread. All while listening to "AWOO".

"Silence from you is like the death of a tune."

Be loud and proud! Hidden Cameras has my allegiance.

2.0 out of 5 stars One song on this CD is terrific, April 24, 2011

By 

Kelly L. Norman "li'l rock & roller" (Plymouth, MI United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Awoo (Audio CD)

I bought this CD after hearing the song, "She's Gone" (which is not a cover of the Hall & Oates song,"She's Gone") on CBC radio a couple of times. It is very good pop. The rest of the recording is rather repetitive and unimaginative. I would suggest at least trying out samples of the mp3s before buying, and even just downloading that song.