Customer Reviews

Born Innocent

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

 

 

Not that they've been away, but it seems a lifetime since the two time pop sensation I'm Gonna Be stirred my spirit. Sure there's been a couple of discs inbetween but nothing seems to stick quite like the undeniably catchy Hate My Love. In fact their are several tracks that keep me pushing replay. When Charlie cries out "You meant it then..." behind Craig I want to run down the street kissing everyone. This album is a gem amidst the slew of corporate muck that we are inundated with during the first half of the year. Not content being a nostalgic act, they write of mid-life woes and joys yet manage to make it sway. I'm grateful they're grateful.

Born in Scotland and raised on Rock & Roll, The Proclaimers are far from strangers to the international music community. The band centers around twin brothers Craig & Charlie Reed, highlighting their forceful vocal harmonies with acoustic guitar and accordion and drawing influence form traditional melodies. They shout and wail from the bottoms of their souls, vocals intertwining with their intimate connection to the audience. "Born Innocent" is the product of extensively touring Europe in 2003, capturing the Reed's charged live and shows; in London in April and May, and the Glasgow Carling Academy in October. Currently on another international tour, they will be promoting the album in the U.S. and Canada in March and April of 2004. The Proclaimers are known to the first generation of MTV followers as the brothers who wrote "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" in 1987. Brett Lemke

The Proclaimers fifth cd "Born Innocent" continues to showcase their strong brand of Scottish folk and roll music. The highlights being "Born Innocent", "Should Have Been Loved", "Blood On Your Hands", "He's Just Like Me", "Role Model" and "Dear Deidre". The brothers are at their best on those songs because they make a great mix of folk and uptempo rock music with sometimes insightful and humorous lyrical observations on relationships, politics and religion. The rest of the disc is serviceable, but "Born Innocent" does not surpass previous successes like 1988's "Sunshine On Leith" and 2001's "Persevere". Proclaimers fans should enjoy this one.

I'm lucky. I got into the Proclaimers just two years ago so I 've had plenty to catch up on. This album came out last fall in England (so I had to order it from Amazon UK) and it's one of their best. Their sound has changed little over the years except to get a little edgier as they have gotten older. There are fewer songs with the light touch of "I'm gonna be (500 miles)" but there's full range over the course of the album.
There were 4 new songs on their "Best of" album a few years back and were some of the best on the album so I was looking forward to an entirely new album. Some songs that are worth the price of the album include "Should have been loved" and "You meant it then" and "Blood on your hands" the last which could be their best. Although the topic of terrorism is not the greatest topic - the music, the beat, the singing are top notch. It even sounds as if it were recorded on poor equipment that gives it an incredible sound.
On the Best of album, it mentions that they were an opening act for The Barenaked Ladies a few years ago - I can't imagine a better combination. When people who don't know of the Proclaimers ask what they are like - I say they could be a Scottish BNL. Both use great music, inventive lyrics and have a wide variety of musical influences that make their music so listenable.
If you are new to the Proclaimers, I would recomend starting with the "Best of" album - you'll quickly move onto this, "Perservere" and the earlier ones. If you are already a Proclaimers fan - you won't be disapointed.

Got a copy of this at Proclaimers' recent show in Chicago. This is a band you should never pass on seing live if you get the chance, their shows are consistently great. Initially I was not as impressed with Born Innocent as with Persevere. But while Persevere smacks you like a left hook with its gutsy brilliance, Born Innocent comes across more subtle but more pleasing with each listen. The Proclaimers come across with depth in their witty, poignant commentary on society, relationships etc. and throw in a lively cover of "five o'clock world". Their music never grows stale.

There has typically been a wait of between five and seven years between new albums by The Proclaimers. When this album came out a scant two years or so after their last full original effort, Persevere, I was apprehensive about their ability to put out a quality product in such a short time frame. I needn't have worried. The material on this album is as good as anything they've done; it has the primal feel that their best material has--it is pointed, informed by a singular view of the world and blessed by a sound that can only come from siblings (see: The Roches, The Everly Brothers, etc.). And it gets better each time you hear it. The Proclaimers should be huge everywhere; they seem to be in Europe, but have slipped through the cracks here. A treat awaits everyone who has yet to discover them. And, Vin, you should forgive them!!!!!

In a world full of manufactured pop and forgettable songs, the Proclaimers give a refreshing injection of life into the world of music. Like all Proclaimers albums, this is raw, honest, energetic and sympathetic. Where it fails for me is not in the songwriting as there are some real gems in here but in the production. Edwyn Collins' production seems noisy and gritty and distorts the distinct vocal sounds of the brothers Reid. You will enjoy it and some songs are so tongue in cheek, they will make you smile but the production is a little irritating for me..

I bought this CD because I so enjoy The Proclaimers music. "Born Innocent" is another winner. One of the great things about Craig and Charlie Reid is their ability to write some songs that are hilariously sarcastic ("Hate My Love" and "Role Model") and others that are genuinely touching ("He's Just Like Me" and "No Doubt"). This is a must-have whether you already know and love The Proclaimers or just like really good, original music. I wish the group was more popular in the States, but I'll happily settle for purchasing any CDs they release. FYI, I saw them live in San Francisco two or three years ago, and they were great!

There has typically been a wait of between five and seven years between new albums by The Proclaimers. When this album came out a scant two years or so after their last full original effort, Persevere, I was apprehensive about their ability to put out a quality product in such a short time frame. I needn't have worried. The material on this album is as good as anything they've done; it has the primal feel that their best material has--it is pointed, informed by a singular view of the world and blessed by a sound that can only come from siblings (see: The Roches, The Everly Brothers, etc.). And it gets better each time you hear it. The Proclaimers should be huge everywhere; they seem to be in Europe, but have slipped through the cracks here. A treat awaits everyone who has yet to discover them. And, Vin, you should forgive them!!!!!