Customer Reviews

Beverley Atonale [Vinyl]

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

 

 

I cannot figure out why more people do not have this CD in their collection. It had everything going for it. Maybe it's because it came out before Belle and Sebastian had built its army of doe-eyed followers. Maybe the waning neo-lounge set found it too earnest and intellectual. Maybe the Papas Fritas people were too busy listening to Papas Fritas. Whatever the reason, I have yet to meet another soul who owns this CD, and very few who have ever heard of the band. Along with The Swirlies' "They Spent Their Wild Youthful Days in the Glittering World of the Salons", Belle and Sebastian's "Tiger's Milk" (yes our station was one of the lucky ones that got the original vinal pressing--I was the first person to take it out of the jacket and play it), and anything by Yo La Tengo or Johnathan Richman, this was my favorite album to play from on my ultra-hip weekly college radio show in 1997, and it's still one of my favorites now that I'm a very un-cool corporate drone with a paunch.

This record is the secret indie masterpiece of the 90's. Haunting lyrics, lilting melodies and genuine yearning permeate its tracks and take the listener to a melancholic yet strangely happy place. Powerful.

The haunting, meloncholy, upbeat, smoothe, relaxing and obnoxious are what my friends have said. If you are a Velvet Underground fan, you'll love this album. Track 1 gets your attention before going into a queasy mood before Rushes of Pure Spring relaxes and gives you that warm fuzzy feeling. One of my favorite lyrics - "I want to get stuck outside in the rain with you"

Maybe I was spoiled by the brilliance of "The Albemarle Sound," because when I bought "Beverley Atonale" I was disappointed. This is a rather rough, sloppy album compared to the Ladybugs' later releases. The songs do not always complement each other. There are a couple of great moments, though, namely "Rushes of Pure Spring" and "This Order Is Tall." Both tracks are based around hypnotic organ riffs that remind me a bit of Pink Floyd's "More" soundtrack.

"This Order Is Tall" may be my favorite Ladybug Transistor song, so the disc was worth buying just for that. Some of the other tracks, however, are little more than musical fragments, and later on the disc our delicate Ladybug ears are assualted by (gasp!) ELECTRIC GUITARS. What were they thinking? Maybe at the time this record was made it was just too uncool for indie rock bands to make an entire album that did not have loud electric guitars on it somewhere. In the context of this album, the sound is unwelcome, as it shatters the delicate mood in favor of Pavement-style grunge. There are, however, indications of the excellence that was soon to follow for this band, so "Beverley Atonale" may be worth picking up if you are a serious fan.

this album i think should be in any real music lovers collection.the music speaks for itself.a modern day 'Forever Changes"............buy this c.d.,now.......