Customer Reviews

Blue Is the Colour

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There were only two major hits off the album, namely "Don't Marry Her" and "Rotterdam (Or Anywhere)". The rest is surprisingly good, with tracks like "Little Blue", "Artificial Flowers" and the witty and dark "Liar's Bar" really make this a worthwhile buy. However, overall this is not as good an effort as what their previous work is - a little melodramatic sometimes, perhaps there are too many ballads. On the other hand, production is excellent, and really makes your sound system come alive. Go and get it if you're already a fan.

If you are new to the band, then this may just not be the best place to begin. I would definitely get their best of compilation "Carry On Up The Charts" first. Alternatively, check out some of their earlier releases, such as "0898".

This is as biting and sarcastic and beautiful a masterpiece as --South has put out. I've neglected to review it here because I've been too busy listening to it. It's extremely melodic from start to finish. Maybe it's too polished for some of their fans. The gift is their ability to sing about prostitution,alcoholism,unfaithfulness,and loneliness without being maudlin or preachy or really very humorous. It's almost more...mean spirited in a nice sort of way. No other band could put the f word in a soft pop number but issue the word with the same emphasis as you would use the word duck or apple. Classic South if you ask me.

I love the Beautiful South to death, but this is not a good introduction to their music. There are too many ballads, and not enough musical variety. "Little Blue," "Rotterdam" and "The Sound of North America" are the highlights here. To get a better idea of how great this band can be, get "0898" or "Quench." This particular disc shows off the band's sarcastic lyrics and perfect pop touch, but a lot of it sounds too forced. Not bad, but please start with something else if you're a BS newbie.

I have seen this record being blasted by many reviewers and I am standing up for it because I happen to be that little boy depicted in the front cover of the album. But seriously, how can you find faults with a great album such as this? It's crime is probably being too catchy and at times the lyrics are borderline crass and wit.

It is not fair to compare this to Beautiful South's other albums as everyone of them is rather unique. If you expect them to make every album like 0898, then perhaps you should have bought more copies of 0898. This is a five-star record without any doubt. The tunes are incredibly catchy and the lyrics are still nothing less than amusing. Is this a good first album of Beautiful South to purchase? I don't see why not although I would have to say 'Welcome to Beautiful South' will be more appropriate as it is one of the best compilations around.

I have yet to get sick of "Rotterdam," and my friends in my car still wince when they listen to "Don't Marry Her." I still hum to "Little Blue" when I am stuck in boring corporate meetings. So how can I give this album anything less than five stars? (...)

For the most part a good album with a blues/folk feel and some rather angry and cynical lyrics.
The best known songs here are the saucy `Don' Marry Her' and the social commentary - `Rotterdam'. There are several songs about social ills from the mind and emotions of the afflicted, exploring themes from the mind of a prostitute - `Mirror', an alcoholic-`Liar's Bar', the homeless - `The Sound of North America', the lonely -'Alone', the abandoned orphan - `Artificial Flowers' and others. These are sometimes good, sometimes too melancholy , cynical and bitter. My favourite songs on this CD are `Rotterdam', `Mirror', `Foundations, and `Have Fun' all fantastic pieces that I can listen to over.
But there are other parts that bogged down however.

Anyone that is a true Beautiful South fan knows that this CD is one of the bands best recordings. If you're from the U.S. and you thought the last release was "Carry Up On The Charts", consider yourself lucky to have stumbled upon this gem. "Little Blue", "Blackbird On The Wire", and "Liar's Bar" are as good as any track on "Carry Up..." Most U.S. listeners have heard of The Housemartins and know a few Beautiful South early releases, but aren't familiar with their later material because of weak airplay. If you have enjoyed their previous recordings, you're gonna love this CD. If you are a new listener, you may want to start out with "0898".

Relatively obscure here in the USA, The Beautiful South, of Manchester England, record wry, acerbic pop that skewers contemporary culture under cover of deceptively beautiful, sometimes orchestral, arrangements.
This CD contains "The Sound Of North America", a laser sharp look at contemporary american culture and capitalism; "Rotterdam (or anywhere), a weary travelers take on one more port; the incredibly brilliant "Don't Marry Her" with it's alternative offer that's not printable here; "One God", in which Paul Heaton tells us that the "world won't end in darkness, it'll end in family fun, with Coca Cola clouds behind a Big Mac sun". Eleven of the twelve cuts here are not only good but great. The exception is an inexplicable cover of Bobby Darin's "Artificial Flowers" that even the South's talents and cynicism can't rescue from it's basic banality.
Listening to The Beautiful South one can only conclude that they wrap bitter pills in sweet coatings. And, man, do they go down easy!

The voices in this group are beautiful (different members sing different songs) but I find the songs sung by Jacqueline Abbott to be the strongest. "Don't Marry Her" is catchy and I *adore* "Rotterdam." But pieces like "Foundations" and "Little Blue" are a little too wishy-washy for my tastes. One cool thing about the liner notes--the lyrics are written in English, then each is translated into a different language (Russian, Portuguese, Arabic, etc.) This is a good album for Beautiful South fans, but I wouldn't recommend it as an intro to the group.

I love, love love this band. Believe it or not, my dog chewed the first one. I still love them both.....my dog and The Beautiful South!

The Beautiful South are getting better with time - their music easy to catch and their lyrics sharp. "Don't marry her" is 100 % truth but who dares to say it. I know where that voice on "Liar' Bar" comes from - but how does he recover?