Customer Reviews

The Beautiful Lie

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been listening to Ed Harcourt since I recieved "Here Be Monsters" as a promotional disc about 4 years ago, and have bought every album since. Ed Harcourt is one of the best musical talents of the new millenium and,sadly, has yet to find any sort of recognition in the US. Unlike "Strangers", where he tried his hand at a few poppier tunes, Ed finds himself back where he started and embraces his dramatic flair turning out a very complete and utterly satisfying album. Like "Here Be Monsters", Ed orchestrates elaborate ballads complete with horns and strings, and maintains his brooding style in even his most upbeat songs resulting in perhaps his most well rounded and mature sounding album yet. He takes his songs in all the right directions, and strays from the pitfalls of predictable songwriting keeping his sound fresh and giving the album incredible replay value. "The Beautiful Lie" is like a good novel with all of its chapters joined by a unifying theme. Each song flows from the first to the last and leaves you wanting to replay the album as soon as it's finished. If I had to pick a favorite song(--seriously--every song is great)I would probably pick one of "shadowboxing"/"until tomorrow then"/or "good friends are hard to find". On every track Ed Harcourt emotes his lyrics with genuine passion and binds his words and his music together to paint images that are sometimes haunting and sometimes whimsical, yet always sincere . This is his best work definitely and deserves much more attention than its going to get.

Why isn't this recording available in the US now? Why is it that impossibly talented, remarkably prolific, and wholly magical artists like Ed have such an impossible time of it in the US? It can't just be American Idol and the drug-addled dinosaurs that pull the levers in the anorexic, decaying, cadaverous halls of the once powerful music industry. Or can it? If you are here, you know you are going to shell-out hard-earned money for this priceless treasure. But you must have friends, you must know people, share this music with them (in whichever way best suits your own conscience). If you are new to Ed, you are in luck! There are three deserving masterpieces (and an early glimpse at genius) available to you (and they can be had at bargain prices in the used bins)! Maybe it is just us, you, me, and Ed. If that's the situation, then we (you and me) are very fortunate souls indeed... Ed deserves more.

I find it unbelievable that after nearly a full year, this disc remains undistributed in America. Ed Harcourt is one of the best singer/songwriters of our generation, and he's only getting better with each successive album. He released an online-only double album of demos and throwaways called "Elephant's Graveyard," whose quality puts to shame most artists' official releases.

"Beautiful Lie" is Ed's latest and greatest effort. It contains his most heartbreaking ("Until tomorrow then," "Late Night Partner") and uproarious ("Shadowboxing") songs yet. Songwriters everywhere should be taking notes on how to craft melodies like these, yet Ed Harcourt remains in relative obscurity. Although it is well worth the 20 odd bucks you will spend for the import, I officially chastise record companies everywhere for not releasing this in the states. CONSIDER YOURSELVES CHASTISED!!!!!

This is the album I have been waiting for Ed to write since "Here Be Monsters"....I knew it would come down the pipe eventually, and it was well worth the wait. Ed Harcourt could be described as the UK's answer to Rufus Wainwright; a talented singer/songwriter who tends to be the critic's darling, yet has always lacked the attention of the mainstream.

Fans of Ed Harcourt know him to be a quirky and very talented artist, although the type of artist whose talents by their nature produce uneven and unpredictable results....following his last two tepid and oddly restrained releases, "The Beautiful Lie" fully fleshes out the deeply textured, baroque sound only hinted at in Harcourt's landmark album "Here Be Monsters", with varied and lush instrumentation enhancing rather than detracting from his always clever and poetic lyrics and subdued, husky vocals. This wonderful album is the definitive culmination of the elements which mark his singular style. Highest recommendation!

What a gem... I discovered Ed two years ago - his album Strangers (2004) floored me, and I'm forever grateful to the friend that introduced me to his music. His songs are melodic, the lyrics thoughtful, and his raw vocals are a joy to listen to.

For me, one of the most rewarding aspects of being a music fan is developing an intimate understanding of another human being through the music that he or she makes. Listen to "The Beautiful Lie" and you will feel that you are getting to know Ed Harcourt - his passion, his humour, his arrogance, his self-loathing... and after a few listens you may feel as though you've made a friend.

So basically it's Ed being Ed. Don't get me wrong, I love it and think it's great...but it's like strawberry ice cream. After a while you just want to try something different, but you'll always love strawberry!

Ed Harcourt has made many a good album leading up to this and this album doesn't change a thing. Once again Mr Harcourt creates tunes in the style we as fans are accustomed to, which is to say...a standard of tunes done very well. I'd rank this third out of his 4 albums but honestly, you cannot go wrong with anything you get with Ed. He makes great meloncholic tunes which always hit the spot. If you are a fan, don't hesitate, IF this is your first Ed album than i'd say go for it. It's not a bad place to start at all.