Customer Reviews

Blue Bell Knoll

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Used to be pop music had lyrics that anyone could sing or hum, and the simplicity of rock & roll was its direct appeal to adolescent emotions. Strange, then, that upon hearing "Blue Bell Knoll" for the first time, I felt pure emotions from such shimmering music, and cared not one bit what lyrics were being sung. Like an opera sung by a virtuoso, Cocteau Twins are best enjoyed for their sound and its ability to touch the heart as well as mind. While so much of their music was passed over on "alternative radio" playlists, they deserve a place as a one-of-a-kind outfit, and BBK is one reason why. Elizabeth Fraser's arabesque vocals showcase whatever mood she's in, and the listener instantly feels it, without benefit of a lyric sheet. My favorite cut is "Carolyn's Fingers", and it has a familiar Twins structure of rambling rhythm guitar, soaring vocals and pealing synthesizers. After savoring this album, I began collecting their other works. I notice a definite progression from harder-edged music "(Pink Opaque") to softer, more tailored efforts ("Heaven or Las Vegas") and it's natural, I suppose, that a group's music gets blended, like old scotch. But "Blue Bell Knoll" crystallizes for me what is best about Cocteau Twins: their other-worldly sound that always makes emotions soar, and never fails to elicit the question from my friends, "what kind of music is that?"

This is a really beautiful album! It brings back a LOT of memories of being a complicated and introverted teenager, and needing music that paralleled those trappings. For me I identified with the longing and theatrical musings of Elizabeth Fraser's voice, which is definately one of the most recognizable in music. The music is equally lush and multi-faceted, with their usual fazey guitars, drum machines and introspective melodies. But I think this is definately some of the best music they made in their long career, second only their first LP Garlands, which is darker and more post-punk sounding. The song "the Itchy Glowbo Blow" is totally rivetting (and somewhat unsettling in it's beauty). It's definately my favourite song they ever wrote. The droning guitars and Fraser's overlapping vocals are just stunning. And I remember "Carolyn's Fingers" as being quite the little club hit at teen nite at the Shelter in Detroit. It's definately the most upbeat track on Blue Bell Knoll, an album full of meloncholy and tenderness. It never really mattered to me that her lyrics are completely unrecognizable as anything resembling English. I think that was part of the experience, that i could feel comforted and elated by music that was sort of other-worldy in a way. Also check out "For Phoebe Still A Baby" and "A Kissed Out Red Floatboat." Im sorry to hear this album is only available on import, seeing as it was originally on Capitol. Either way you get it, it is a totally beautiful and cozy stroll through the mysticism that is the Cocteau Twins.

This album made a storm in my soul! i couldnt understand a word but the music and the singing took me to another world of exotic islands and tropic visions .when i first heard the album i was 15, and it felt like heaven. I couldnt open my eyes when i heard it, I was in total extazy. its a "must have!" and so is "Victorialand" i love those 2 albums and i'll treasure them forever.

I thought it could not get any better than Treasure. Well.. I don't know if it did or not, but my second Cocteau Twins full length (35 mins? oh well :-) 'Blue Bell Knoll' is probably the most indulgently beautiful thing I've heard! It has a different vibe than Treasure, but no less interesting. Though Treasure had a couple of less thrilling tracks, this album seems more coherent and consistent in that EVERY track is wonderful! The first four tracks are unrivaled in their sheer gorgeous genius! The title track (probably the first CT song I ever heard) begins as a harpsichord epic which gains momentum and ends up as a juggernaut of screaming guitars and driving drums: a wonderful taste of what's to come. 'Athol-Brose', with it's charming 808 blips and heavy bass, meanders along with resonating and breath-takingly gorgeous phases and vocal lines until it wraps itself down after just under three minutes. No words can describe the beauty of 'Carolyn's Fingers', as uncontrollable guitars and mesmerizing vocals blend in with perfect bass lines creating a three minute mind-trip so dense with glistening fragments and layers it's a wonder it doesn't collapse under its own weight. The album rolls along without a fluff in sight.. each track a work of genius. One of my favorites is 7, 'Suckling the Mender'; it builds and builds its sparkling guitars and light drums until it falls apart into a lucid dream of etherbliss. Absolutely delicious stuff!! Same case with the last track, as it builds to a positively exquisite but calm climax that pulls you gradually into a trance. I'll stop raving, I just have to say that this is an excellent purchase.. one of the best I've ever made, I got it for half the price, but it is definitely worth the money! This is a top five CD in my list! Buy this album and let the Cocteau Twins take you to another plane of reality! I can't wait to buy the rest of their stuff!!

A blissful blend of charming hooks and warm instrumental ambience, the sound of the Cocteau Twins is as gorgeous as it is hard to describe. It sounds as if they mastered the art of crafting the perfect three-minute pop song, but forgot to add the cheap singalong lyrics that make pop songs so often disposable. The guitars and keyboards are like a sensual massage for the ears; Liz Fraser's voice shines with a rainbow of radiant colors all its own. Never mind that I've played this disc more dozens of times than I can count and I have yet to recognize a word in English. Her vocal musings are achingly sweet and as elusive as a fading dream. Just check her high fluttering through "Carolyn's Fingers" or that dreamy cooing through the uplifting chorus of "Cico Buff," to name two examples of many. Even with an occasional riff in a minor key, the feeling of sublime joy never really fades throughout this too-brief 35 minutes. It's like sliding into the most familiar, comfortable T-shirt you own.

If any of that sounds like an exaggeration, you probably haven't heard the Twins weave their magic for yourself; pick up one of their albums and discover what you didn't know your life was missing. I suggest Heaven or Las Vegas, but it seems that everyone has a different favorite. In any case, I haven't heard one yet that wasn't worth its cost several times over. While this group was together, they were truly like no one else.

After carefull listen of everything the CT's ever put out, this is the album that shines above the rest, and in the musical universe as a whole, it is a solitary gem only accompanied by one or two similar gems (CT album Victorialand and Loveless by My Bloody Valentine).
The Cocteau Twins have a kind of special magic running through them that they are able to put into music, and on Blue Bell Knoll that magic is at its peak, totally non-commercial, geared purely I think at a kind of personal mystic sonic pleasure, it is a piece of fine art.

Deep feeling fans of impressions, poetry, sopranos and drones: look HERE. This is dream music at its finest. I love The Cocteau Twins. I didn't discover them until ten years ago! They are one of the rare bands that will ultimately NEVER sound dated! Their music is so unusual that most listeners would consider them to be in a genre of their own (despite their niche in "alternative" (whatever THAT means anymore!) Every fan seems to have a favorite time period for the band, but these middle years when they maintained their raw wail but began to refine it in smarter compositions are my favorite (the other five-star disc being Heaven Or Las Vegas). This music is emotional, soaring, strange, mysterious, fanciful, glorious, inspiring ... WOW! Elizabeth Fraser is one of the best vocalists of the last century! I've never listened to music that has "taken me so many places" as an indecipherable Cocteau track in three minutes can. Blue Bell Knoll, Athol-Brose, The Itchy Glowbo Blow, Suckling the Mender (wow!) are my favorites on this one. The only one I don't really care for is Carolyn's Fingers, which found its way onto alternative charts back in its day. Imagine that.

Just listen to this band! It doesn't have to have 'shock value', in order to be compelling. The songs don't have to be long, and the lyrics don't have to have meaning (it is extremely difficult to decipher the Cocteau Twins' lyrics). It is possible to be artistic and make a point with good melody and excellent instrumentation in a matter of 'three minutes'.

I really don't think music has ever been as compelling as this after the band broke up. If you ever hear this band, you might understand why artists like Bjork or Tori Amos perform their music the way they do (they probably took a lesson or two from this band).

When it comes to discussing the greatest bands of all time, every media points to The Beatles, Rolling Stones, etc. What about the Cocteau Twins? Their music is very much up there (if not, better) than that of The Beatles. If you have never heard the Cocteaus, you might disagree with me right now as you read this review. I urge you to try out "Blue Bell Knoll" or even "Heaven or Las Vegas". You just might change your mind very quickly.

This album is total bliss. Like "Heaven or Las Vegas", it is packed full of euphoric melodies and tripped out vocals. Its no wonder a Trip-Hop band like Massive attack would choose the lead singer, Liz Frazer to sing on their record.

Anyway, I cannot go into further description of the genius of this band and this recording. It's something you have to experience for yourself. All I can say is..."Best 12 bucks I ever spent".

I have appreciated this album like very few things in life. It is intertwined with my, let's say exuberant, youth, when I would listen to it all the way through daily in '98 and '99 and just couldn't get enough of it. There were so many times when I would start to play it, and the harpsichord loop and expounding vocals would build momentum and spellbind me in my seat, and I would start thinking about how can this music match the impressions of the grey light from the window so well? And then song after song, it's just the same thing- the artistry of what these three musicians are doing, but also the strength of the melodies and all other aspects of music.

It seems that Liz is bearing out her soul in all of these songs. Listen to her singing the high notes at about two minutes into Athol-brose. What is making her feel this ecstasy and longing? Or at the close of the album on Ella Megalast Burls Forever- it's almost like she goes into a trance state, letting it all out. Or listen to Spooning Good Singing Gum, when her three vocal tracks interweave with each other so delicately and exquisitely. Sort of the same harmony on Itchy Globo-blow. It was wonderment driving down to my ex-girlfriend's house listening to this song- the blue sky became one with Liz's swirling vocal push, right before Robin's magnificent guitar solo. You just never want to lose the impression those moments gave you. Every song gave me moments like this. There's the opener, Blue-Bell Knoll, where she displays never heard of vocal gymnastics, or the bliss of Kissed Out Red Floatboat and For Phoebe Still a Baby. But my favorite, and actually my favorite song of all time, is Cico Buff. It transports me into a dream state, it is so beautiful, especially when her second vocal phases out with her first, 1:23 into the track. And what's great about this song, besides the emotions and textures and enveloping chord swooshes, is the incredible rhythm guitar playing. I've never heard this before, where he strums up when the drum rhythm is down- I don't know the musical term for this.

Well, in my mind, I'd rank Cocteau Twins up there with the greatest artists of all time. So many great songs, so prodigious with the EPs, always true to their art. I am in the camp that thinks this is the pinnacle of their music, where they knew exactly what they wanted. Blue Bell Knoll is just an astounding album for anyone who wants to feel their passion and artistry. This is my favorite album of all-time.

Amazingly enough I agree with both the good and the bad reviews. At the time of this release CT were obviously starting their move towards an easier poppish sound almost bordering on - dare I say - "new age". This album pales - in my opinion - when compared with both "Treasure" and my beloved "Head over heels".

Yet it's quite listenable, and as I'm aging (I am roughly the same age as the CT themselves) I find myself following a similar path as a listener, moving towards a more relaxed kind of sound and enjoying "pop" tunes more and more. And, despite the horrible time CT's were allegedly having back then, they sound as pure as ever and Liz's voice is - as always - fantastic.

Anyway this album was well worth buying for "Carolyn's Fingers" alone.