Customer Reviews

Gold Diggas Head Nodders & Pholk Songs

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3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have been listening to 'The Beautiful South' on and off and when I read, that they will come out with an all 'cover versions' album, I was really looking forward to it - and what can I say - this is definitely one of the most beautiful albums of 2004. The Brass and String arrangements throughout the whole CD are wonderful. They really know, how to make a 'cover' their own and there is not a single low point on the whole CD. It's hard to pick my favorite tracks, but I really enjoy 'You're the one that I want', 'Livin' Thing', 'This will be our year', or 'Blitzkrieg Bop'. Highly recommended !

The south have had ups and downs with music in the past few years. Gaze was o.k., but Painting it Red was a masterpiece. This album will go down as a very big risk. But it really works. They took songs we either loved or hated and made them their own. This old skin, the best track is most likely the only "new" song on the album even though it is credited as a cover. Buy it at the uk site of Amazon and save some cash. It is worth it.

From what I can read of other Beautiful South album reviews, many people share different opinions as to which album is better than the other. I was shocked that it seemed few liked Gaze, an album I thought was flawless from beginning to end...except for the fact that they left the b side Cheap off of the album, it's a brilliant song. I however found Painting it Red lifeless and dull. Was more like Painting it dead, the b sides from that era were much more likable than the humdrum songs on it. This new album of covers is without a doubt my most favorite cd of 2004 (next to the Trashcan Sinatras new one). I'm amazed how they took these songs on Gold Diggas and made them so...Beautiful South like. If I hadn't known of some of the originals, I would have just assumed they wrote all the songs. "This Will Be Our Year", "Ciao" and "Til I Can't Take Anymore" are my favorites, true gems. Sounds very much like older Beautiful South. I didn't realize how much I missed the brass instruments in their music. They really need to use more brass, like on the first two cd's. I'm simply amazed that this group continues to put out classic after classic. I hope they never go away! This is a must for any beautiful south fan, or a newcomer!

A bit of a disappointment when compared to the humor of previous albums, although some of the covers are amusing simply in the way they're performed, the album just falls short of expectations. If you're a fan of songs like 36D, Mother's Pride, Good As Gold Stupid As Mud this isn't for you.

of the Art (and beauty) of writing the perfect pop song then The Beautiful South's music (not just this particular cd) will be that experience. These artists have taken on developing themselves as the best writers of pop vocal music and discovering what their best really is. That is what I hear when I listen to them......(i'm sure sometimes, their songs were a result of probably being hungover... lol

I have all of their CDs and to reduce them to a star-rated system or to judge one cd from another would be an insufficient measure. I would say that if my life(over time) had a soundtrack or background music playing, it would be the Songs these guys have created. I say they are masters not only because of the massive number of songs written BUT because of a proven track record of consistently delivering songwriting brilliance cd project after project.... I also know they are masters because their songs have morphed with my musical brain..... they come up on my jukebox brain to sing when I haven't listen to music in a while.

Buy their music, buy all their songs if you can.... I had to... I just couldn't chance short changing myself by not exposing myself to all that they had to create... and this cd, is a covers cd......1st song from "Grease" (a-la TBSouth sense of humor).... PRICELESS!

I've been a fan of Paul Heaton since I first heard The Housemartins in the mid 1980s, and own every full-length Beautiful South CD available. I was looking forward to see how they'd handle a cover album. Unfortunately, I was extremely disappointed. If I hadn't received this as a gift, I would most certainly have returned it. Most of the tracks just didn't work for me. Only "Blitzkrieg Bop" found its way onto my MP3 player - compared to virtually every track of their original work. I can not in good conscience recommend this to anyone.

If you're new to The Beautiful South, I'd suggest starting with "Carry On Up The Charts" to hear what a great band they truly are.

I had no idea what would be on this album when i purchased it and didn't even look at the song titles. As soon as i heard the first song "you're the one that i want" i fell in love. THIS is the only way to listen to this song as a different version of the original. It is so pretty i would consider playing at my wedding. It's not just the fun Greece version but very serious with great words. So, when i realized that one of my very favorite bands, the beautiful south, had remade songs that i also loved it made me feel even better. Maybe we have the same taste? Buy IT! Crista Curtis

This covers CD from England's acerbic popmeisters The Beautiful South is a mixed bag. Golddiggas, Headnodders & Pholk Songs features radically reworked versions of tunes made popular by Blue Oyster Cult ("Don't Fear the Reaper"), ELO ("Living Thing"), and, uh, John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John ("You're the One That I Want"). The further from the original conception, the more successful the remake. "Living Thing" is a music hall shuffle. "Don't Fear the Reaper" is a sophisticated salsa that would have fit on Joe Jackson's Night and Day. The Ramones' "Blitzkrieg Bop" is just shy of a country rave up. And "You're the One That I Want" finds the dark side of Grease while still celebrating the enduring power of love. After that, it depends on how much cheek you can stomach. I've got a stronger gut than most.

What ever happend to the people who wrote "Rottardam" and "Perfect 10"? Have they grown tired of writing excellent verse in a sharp musical package? Did they take the final plunge into the very world they were writing about from a cynical distance and turned themselves into gargoyles with red underwear?
I don't know, maybe other people can listen to this album and smile pleasntly from under a warm blanket with a cup of tea, but me, I expected a little more acid in my cup when it comes the Beautiful South...

It's hard to believe how far some bands can fall. Part of me keeps hoping that this collection of covers is a joke. Many of the tracks sound like they are being performed by the gang in the movie "A Mighty Wind," which mocked bad folk singing. I know bands need to move on, but listen to early Housemartins and then listen to this, and it's hard to believe there was ever any connection between the two.