Giddy

Pugwash | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 27, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ape
• ASIN: B002KBBGFA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #138,873 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Giddy As All Get Out, October 29, 2009

By 

armenianthunder (los angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Giddy (Audio CD)

Yes, this Irish band's name is ridiculous and awkward, but the music is first-rate power pop with hooks aplenty and melodies that just don't quit. This CD selects some of the choicest cuts from the band's four official full-lengths and adds a couple of new tracks for good measure. However, the earlier compilation Earworm, which compiles tracks from their first two Ireland-only CD releases, is just as fine a place to start, though it may be harder to track down.

Yes, it is a musical genre that tends to celebrate imitation; in fact, you would be hard pressed to believe that the opening track "Apples" is not a long lost Andy Partridge/XTC/Dukes of Stratosphear nugget, what with its jangling guitars, burbling mellotrons, and sighing background vocals. But to most power-pop fans, this is not a bad thing, nor should it be. Fans of like-minded artists such as Jason Falkner, The Apples in Stereo, Brendan Benson, Jellyfish (not to mention the 60's/70's pop originals that influenced those artists, be they the Zombies, Beach Boys, Squeeze, 10cc, ELO, etc.) will probably enjoy lathering up with some Pugwash.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Rough Guide to Pugwash, September 13, 2010

By 

M. Bowen - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Giddy (Audio CD)

Truth be told, you could stick the four Pugwash albums into your player, hit shuffle and the first dozen tracks that play will make an excellent compilation. Doesn't matter what songs come up, they're all great. But Andy Partridge of XTC fame picked this baker's dozen as an introduction and to commemorate the signing of Pugwash to his label, so that makes this compilation a bit special. All songs have been remastered, and at least "Two Wrongs" seems to be remixed as the panning effect of the psych-freak-out bits has been eliminated.

The Breakdown:

2 songs from the debut "Almond Tea...As Served By"; the aforementioned "Two Wrongs" & "Finer Things In Life". I'll ignore the fact that my ultimate favourite Pugwash song "Shine On Norvell Jefferson" was passed up (!!!), not to mention the other 9 brilliant songs...but OK, I understand, time restraints, can't pick them all...

The second album "Almanac" had the most songs culled, five; "Apples" kicks off Giddy and is a well loved single by Pugwash fans, as well as "Anyone Who Asks" which really puts the power in power-pop. "Monorail" is also a big fan favourite and included - but the real gems chosen are the reflective pairing of "Sunrise Sunset" & "The Season Of Flowers And Leaves" - both of which capture an autumnal emotion and translate it into beautiful song. OK..my complaint of the passed-over vote goes for "Omegaman", but I have to remind myself this is a sampler album and if you purchase Giddy, and then decide to purchase the original 4 albums, there's still plenty to discover - the fruit from these four albums has not been picked clean, that's for sure.

Third album "Jollity" is represented by "It's Nice To Be Nice" which isn't a Beach Boys copy, but uses the same Beach Boys language and as a matter of fact, Brian Wilson himself is a huge fan of this song! "Black Dog" and "Anchor" were also chosen, both of which feature impeccable trumpet and flugelhorn contributions from the amazingly talented Eric Matthews.

And the most recent Pugwash album, "Eleven Modern Antiquities" has three songs culled for this release; "My Genius" (an Andy Partridge co-write) and "Cluster Bomb" are both magnificent choices, but it's "Song For You" that gives a taste of just how profound his songwriting can be. It's an incredibly moving composition that, since it's original release, has had a growing and compounding effect on me. After Giddy, you'll probably want to purchase Eleven Modern Antiquities next - "Limerance" (with an incredible Michael Penn guitar solo) and "Your Friend" are not to be missed from that release.

So..if you don't have any Pugwash in your collection (and that must be remedied immediately!), this is an excellent introduction that will certainly spur you to get all four of their albums. But what if you already have the Pugwash albums, why would you need this? Well, besides the excellent remastering, the way this CD is packaged is mind-blowing. I have thousands of CD's, but none like this! A sort of double slip-case, fairground toy-puzzle - it's really very cool plus you get a full lyric book to boot! But as I've been playing this over the past year, I've grown accustomed to the track selection and sequencing. It does work as an album on it's own...but, like I said at the beginning, you could pick any Pugwash tracks, put them in any order on a CD and you're going to have a fantastic listening experience.