Customer Reviews

Beautiful Mess

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Twenty one years after their irresistible smash hit Breakout, Swing Out Sister again proves their staying power.
Beautiful Mess is another glorious addition to a rich catalogue and is a treasure trove of beautifully crafted and performed material.
Like a fine wine Corinne Drewery's luscious tones develop with time and are pure enjoyment.
Every track is a winner: catchy pop, cinematic sweeps, lush orchestral sounds, dreamy melodies, clever key changes. Butterfly, All I Say & Do, Out There, Secret Love & Beautiful Mess are the standouts.
Long live Swing Out Sister and here's to another 21 years!

I've been a "Swing Out Brutha" ever since my senior year in 1987 when I heard the tune "Breakout". Then I heard "Twilight World" and that's when I said I had to get the album titled "It's Better To Travel". Since then, I've purchased all of their recordings. Swing out sister is one of my favorite music groups of all time. I love how they re-invent themselves on each of their albums. One minute it's 60's chic,then it's 70's black action cinema meets burt bachrach,along with 60's/70's candy colored jimmy webb/jackson 5/sesame street vibes that "Shapes and Patterns" CD had produced.
The new CD titled, "Beautiful Mess" is one of swing out sister's best recordings ever. I cannot stop listening to this CD. Every song has a place in my heart. The song "I'd be happy" has a positive vibe with it's early 70's motown/dusty springfield/isaac hayes sound. "All I Say, All I do" puts you in the mind of early 70's lonnie liston smith(the sounds of lonnie's brother, vocalist donald smith , would probably come to mind),mixed in with burt bacharach and a splash of late 60's motown lounge. The song "Out there" is a "james bond/fifth dimension" type of ballad. "Out There" made me literally shed a tear cause it was so beautiful.The song "My state of mind", well, let's just say that Roy Ayers will be proud of Corrine and Andy with Roy's "70's polydor years" groove. Shame on the U.S for not promoting this great music instead of this fast food music that they are trying to shove down our throats. May God bless swing out sister for making great music and to let us know that there is a positive light in this cruel world. But anyway I highly recommend this CD.

I got this from cdjapan.jp couple weeks before amazon had it available and for better price too! What can I say about SOS? Another splendid work of art put forth by the swing duo! A different version of 'Secret Love' that is better than the original, 'Beautiful Mess', 'Butterfly' and 'Something Every Day' are all great! The little wizard mix may take getting used to (at least for me), but hey, they can't all be gems can they? Otherwise, what would you have to look forward to? And I love the retro 'do Corinne is sporting on the CD cover (circa 1986 all over again!). This CD has some of the horns of old, some of that 60's Motown feel, and some of funkadelic SOS experimental sounds - lush, sophisticated, melodious, SOS! That this has no play whatsoever in the States is a sad commentary on music (and this society in general for that matter) in America. We get the same ol' same ol' here that it is a real treasure to hear one of these every 4 years or so! I recently discovered Kate The Cat (from Germany - 2005's Love CD). It was a very nice filler between SOS releases, and had some SOS elements to the songs, but this is the real deal!

WOW!!! Another fantastic CD!!! Each song gets better as the CD plays on. My favorites are "Out There", "Butterfly Lullaby", and the title song "Beautiful Mess." The CD has a mix of Smoothe Jazz, sentimental sixties and soul music from the past with a little sound of "Somewhere Deep in the Night." I love this CD...SOS gets better with each new creation. And I agree with my fellow SOS fans. This music needs to be played on the radio stations instead of the garbage they are playing at present. Go out and get this CD if you like superior music!!!

From the first time I heard Corinne Drewery's sublime mezzo soprano/alto-range voice, I was a fan. Ms. Drewery's control is truly amazing and she demonstrates this playfully: just when one believes she is going to flat, her voice smiles with a "gotcha," and from underneath the note is rendered in near perfect pitch.

Most modern singers try to impress the listener with their range and ability to do scales--over and over again. An example of this style is pop singer Mariah Carey, whose voice, despite her enormous talent, can quickly become tedious and even grating. (She should practice on her own damn time.) However, Corinne's voice reminds one of a beautifully crafted and well-maintained woodwind instrument, warm and mellifluous, yet still haunting.

Combined with Andy Connell's sophisticated arrangements, Swing Out Sister delivers a contemporary jazz sound that is consistently polished. It is a welcome balm to the never-ending assault on one's ears.

So, after making an end-of-day martini, find that favorite chair and let the urbane sound of Swing Out Sister's Beautiful Mess wash away the ugliness of contemporary life.

SOS fans know that Corinne and the crew change musical flavors every so often, while not losing their distinctive sound. That's one of things we like about them and what makes their music consistently fresh.

Beautiful Mess is indeed beauty, but it's not "dressed up" beauty like Where Our Love Grows was. That was a masterpiece in its own right. But Beautiful Mess won't hit you right away. As other reviewers have indicated, the soundscape is more stark along the lines of The Living Return and Filth And Dreams. (It's not nearly as dark as Filth And Dreams, though.)

I also agree with at least one of the other reviewers that the airy, spatial sound we've been accustomed to from SOS is not present. It's closer to mono. It works with this material since the arrangements are not as dense. But this, combined with the sometimes too-loud background vocals, rate this release a semi-notch below other SOS releases for mixing.

That said, the overall sonics are great and while I love every aspect of Corinne's voice, I especially love her lower range (a la Sade). It's back on this release. Those same warm, sexy rich tones really will take you back to their first two amazing albums of the 80's -- right along with her retro haircut, lol.

I think I'm in the minority of SOS fans who love their instrumentals. I never consider them as filler. So I was a little saddened that there's only one non-lyrical track present. But it is a good one. I disagree that it is too repetitive.

Speaking of filler: there is none here. Every once in a while SOS will toss out a track that makes you think they were just tired. Nothing like that is present here on Beautiful Mess. "Secret Love" may be a bit out of place, but it's not filler: it just doesn't flow as well with the rest of the set.

Beautiful Mess is modern enough that it's a good place for new fans to become acquainted with the group, yet classic enough to please most loyalists. That unique mixture is probably why the vets aren't warming up to it right away. (The Living Return and Filth and Dreams polarized many fans, too.) But ask those same people a few months from now what they think of Beautiful Mess and I'll bet they will have changed their tune. Swing Out Sister are masters at what they do, and really are in a class of one.

Is this their best album? No.

Is it more good and/or great music from this fantastic and brilliant band of artists? Yes.

Here's one more piece of genuinely good music which is proof that beautiful soul is alive and flourishing in 2008. Thank you, Swing Out Sister, for remaining true to your vision.

Swing Out Sister is one of the very few pop groups that has developed a style of it's own. You will not find any other group that you can say "Oh, they're like Swing Out Sister!".
Maybe it's the reason why their fans are (as I am) unconditionals.
Through all this years we've become familiar with the sweet voice of Corrinne and with the lush and airy arrangements of Andy. So we will accept all their recordings as our everyday food.
"Beautiful Mess" maybe not the best SOS album, I mean: Will not at first glance cause the same emotion that other albums,but beware: it's so well crafted music that clearly shows an evolution without losing the class and style that we are accustomed to. Also bear in mind that we, as listeners have grown and our musical tastes have evolved too.
I still highly recommend this album as I encourage all newcomers to explore the previous SOS discography. And for the forever fans, like myself, I recognize that we are very demanding with our musical tastes.
Still, if I were to move to a desert island, and have to take only 20 cds to listen there, I will first pick all Swing Out Sister records, including Beautiful Mess.

I'm almost speechless in describing Swing Out Sister. This CD is so wonderful. Every single song. Extremely balanced. If you love pop, R&B
Soul, Jazz and Soundtrack music from the 60's & 70's I'm positive you will
love this CD. I would refer you to Donald Lindsey's review for a more articulate and detailed review of this CD.......

I have loved Swing Out Sister since their first single BREAKOUT. Wow, was that really 21 years ago? They have always provided us with quality music. Some sets have been better than others but usually they strike a true home run. I was slightly disappointed with WHERE OUR LOVE GROWS, their last release but BEAUTIFUL MESS is an amazing and important addition to their vast catalogue.

I have read that when an artist is around for a decade they are considered a true success. SOS has been around 2 decades plus. Often with lengthy careers such as this releases become formulaic and the artist will rest on their laurels. Not Swing Out Sister.

For me this cd begins a whole new reinvention and is as creative and unique as their very best work. As someone else said if you love SOS this cd is a must have but if you are new to them this is the place to start.

The set is amazingly imaginative yet cohesive and is true inventive jazz. Corinne Drewery, whose vocals only improve with age, caresses each note as she emotionally tells each tale with each song. There is no filler here. Sometimes SOS uses too may instrumental pieces but here they do not. Standouts are SOMETHING EVERY DAY, I'D BE HAPPY, SECRET LOVE and BEAUTIFUL MESS.

This cd is a true gift from Swing Out Sister to all their loyal fans. Obviously their heart and sould was put into this excellect set. I just wish their popularity had not dwindled in the US. But that seems to be the way with a lot of the best artists.

One word: Magnificent!
If You're SOS fan You must have this cd. If You're not, give it a try, I'm sure You're gonna love it.
Thanks Andy & Corinne for this excellent work!