Best of House of Love

House Of Love (London)

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 1, 1998)
• Original Release Date: September 1, 1998
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Island / Mercury
• ASIN: B00000AF99
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #185,294 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
"I Don't Know Why I Love You," from the House of Love's second self-titled album, was the kind of swirling, pounding, hooky noise that could have been produced in 1968, 1981, or 1990, which is when it actually appeared. A guitar-drenched gloss on the Psychedelic Furs' Talk Talk Talk, right down to the "Pretty in Pink" melodic quote near the end, it also assayed that record's delirious ambiguity: "Your face is a foreign food / I really don't know if I should." This generous (15 cuts) collection brings together that high mark with other classics by the Guy Chadwick-led band, including "Christine," "Shine On," "Beatles and the Stones," and "You Don't Understand." Even more valuable with some of the original albums out of print in America, this is a remembrance of a vital, sadly unsung act. --Rickey Wright

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most underrated band ever, July 22, 2001

By	hbomb (asia) - See all my reviews

Criminally underrated, The House of Love wrote achingly beautiful music that contained a mixture of shiny ringing guitars, pseudo-psychedelic melodies and bursts of noise. A revolving door of guitarists, an uncaring british public that was more interested in a club-conscious pop scene and poor record sales doomed the House of Love by late 1993. The loss was ours indeed. Although not as comprehensive as I would like, this compilation does include most of HOL's best songs. Omitting material from their last album, it focuses on their first three outings. All the big ones are here: shine on, I don't know why I love you, Christine, and the georgeous Safe. Do yourself and favour and find out where bands like Coldplay got their inspiration from.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BRING THIS "HOUSE" INTO YOUR HOME!!!, October 25, 1998

By A Customer

IN THE LATE 80'S/ EARLY 90'S, WHEN THERE WAS SO MUCH GREAT MUSIC COMING FROM ACROSS THE ATLANTIC , I REMEMBER HEARING A HYPNOTIC TUNE CALLED "I DON'T KNOW WHY I LOVE YOU," AND FROM THAT MOMENT ON, I INSTANTLY BECAME A "HOUSE OF LOVE" FAN. THIS "BEST OF..." ALBUM IS DEFINITELY WORTH PURCHASING! THE TURBULENT GUITARS ON SONGS SUCH AS "I DON'T KNOW WHY I LOVE YOU", TO THE SOMEWHAT MELANCHOLIC, AMBIENT SOUNDS OF "SHINE ON" AND "CHRISTINE", TO THE MELLOW "BEATLES AND THE STONES", AND "THE GIRL WITH THE LONLINESS EYES" MAKE THIS CD AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR ALL" HOUSE OF LOVE" FANS (AS WELL THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THEIR MUSIC). BELIEVE ME. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED... HEARING THIS CD MAKES ONE WISH THAT THE BAND HAD NEVER BROKEN UP.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars gone but not forgotten, November 21, 2002

By A Customer

This review is not about this album, but about the band. Without HOL, there would be no Radiohead, no Blur, no Coldplay, etc.... Simply one of the most underrated bands of all time. Moody, introspective, poetic lyrics. Simple yet stunning musicianship. Almost impossible to compile a "Best Of," from this band. I would highly, highly recommend the Peel Sessions (if you can find it) and Spy in the House Of Love. A late-80's collection of singles and b-sides. All defy accurate description.