Balboa Island

The Pretty Things | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 7, 2007)
• Original Release Date: 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Zoho Music
• ASIN: B000QXDJFE
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,642 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Emotions", August 21, 2007

By 

S.F.Sorrow "S.F. Sorrow" (Indianapolis) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Balboa Island (Audio CD)

Too bad the Pretties already used "EMOTIONS" as an album title,as it perfectly describes the music contained on this,their 11th disc.They are a band that has,figuritively,been to hell and back in a 44 year career of (mostly)downs-some ups.It's all revealed here in these 13(oh no) tracks-brutal tales of: experiencing firsthand the madness of the British invasion,circa 1964-65(The Beat Goes on),the tortured psyche of gonzo Phil May(Livin' in My Skin),almost being arrested for promoting the use of cannabis in song(at the tender age of 55!)(All Light Up)and finally(we hope)nearly being killed in a horrible car crash just a few years ago(Balboa Island).If you can get through the entire record without having yourself committed,there are a wealth of wonderful songs contained here.It opens with not one,two,but three rockers the quality of which hadn't been heard(to these ears)since 1980's CROSSTALK.But what makes this a pure masterpiece is the abrupt change of tone,and sentiment,on track 7-the brilliant Dylan cover,THE BALLAD OF HOLLIS BROWN.Though I've never heard the original,I would guess this is one of the few covers that matches the Masters own version--simply blood curdling.The rest of the cd continues with gut-wrenching autobiographical profiles.My only complaint;they include the a and b side of their 1999 single-ALL LIGHT UP and PRETTY BEAT,however they seamlessly fit the theme of the record...cool.People always want to know if a record will cater to old fans or create new ones--I would guess both!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars grows on you, October 12, 2007

By 

Mr. Chitterwick (Maine- USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Balboa Island (Audio CD)

Wow- some surprisingly negative reviews here.
I've listened six or seven times and, other than the "Robert Johnson" song which is so-so but goes on way too long,or the boring Dylan cover which I skip, it's great. Yes, quite a somber mood overall, but lots of great stuff here and beautifully done. I do miss the harmonies and more pop oriented stuff because these guys can do anything, but I guess they just weren't feeling it. A shiny pop song or two would feel out of place here anyway, the mood is quite consistent. To put it in 60's terms, more like the Animals than the Hollies.
Anyway, I love it and recommend it.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars reviews are all over the place, February 13, 2008

By 

Jim Z "music aficionado" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Balboa Island (Audio CD)

I too have followed the Pretty Things since their first release. The one thing consistent about this band was their inconsistency in musical paths. That's what made them , and still makes them , so darned interesting. The first couple albums sounded nothing like the middle few . S.F. Sorrow was unlike anything at the time , Pretty Things or no Pretty Things. And their sparse but great late career discs sound refreshingly new. I enjoyed this album alot. It finds it's way into the changer monthly , and that is more than I can say for a bunch of discs taking up shelf space. If you're a true Pretty Things fan , you too will enjoy this simply for the fact that it DOESN'T sound like a Pretty Things disc. But then again , what does ?