Customer Reviews

Gorgeous George

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

A Girl like You" gave Edwyn Collins a hit single of the likes of which he had never seen(despite "Rip it Up"s top ten status in the UK back in 83)but no artist could be more removed from the dreadful one hit wonder label than Postcard's proudest son.

Edwyn Collins started his musical career as the driving force of the charming and trailblazing Orange Juice that foreshadowed, in an era of post punk gloominess, a gentler,and groovier kind of pop from which the Smiths would later build upon.

With the demise of Orange Juice after three albums and an EP Edwyn kickstarted his solo career with a couple of flawed yet rewarding records leading up to his most fully realized album:Gorgeous George in which all his personas coalesced ranging from the crooner(Low Expectations),the popster(Make me feel again),the rocker(Out of this World)and the vitriolic songwriter he always had lurking below the surface(The Campaign for Real Rock)to form a trully representative sample of his craft and one of the 90's best recordings.

<u>Gorgeous George</u> is a master piece. Released in 1993, <u>George</u> was Scottish singer Edwyn Collins' third solo effort after six years leading the successful post punk band Orange Juice. This album produced Collins' biggest hit to date: "A Girl Like You" heard on the soundtrack to <u>Empire Records</u>. "Girl Like You" combines a hard edge and pounding bassline with Collins' lounge lizard-esque vocal quality to create a song that could be a Rat Pack re-mix. This is no where near the best of the album which opens with "The Campaign for Real Rock" a blistering take on the 90s alternative scene:

'Yes, yes , yes its the summer festival/ the truely detestible summer festival...'

Fast forward a few tracks to "Low Expectations": 'You've been down this road before/ which is not to say you're bored/ or that you shouldn't want for more/ it's just your expectations should be lower...'

Are all of Collins' songs this cynical? For the most part. However their wry, dark tone fit perfectly with Collins' extrodinarily sardonic voice. The album is rounded though with up tempo numbers, "A Girl Like You" and "Make Me Feel Again", making the album a rocker. Ballads like North of Heaven and "If You Could Love Me" are clever AND torch worthy. <u>Gorgeous George</u>'s parting shot however, a secret track, reminds you which side of the sentimental fence the masterful Edwyn Collins truely falls on.

I reccomend this album to -- EVERYONE! no, really, I do. However I especially reccomend <u>Gorgeous George</u> to those of you who are riding the Franz Ferdinand wave. Continue with your Scottish theme, but don't go all Proclaimers on me:>P

Edwyn Collins showcases his wit and his wonderful singing voice on this 1995 release. "A Girl Like You" is just the tip of the iceberg--Collins' sly sense of humor comes through on songs like "Low Expectations", "North of Heaven", "Gorgeous George" and the bonus track "Moron". The music is wonderful all the way through switching from the guitar-driven to more soulful, groovy tracks. I had the pleasure of seeing Edwyn live in Austin recently and he was fantastic--just him and a guitar. He played many songs off this CD and they were just as good without all the fancy studio effects--a true testament to Collins' craft as a songwriter. And yes, his voice is just as great live. Note: Apparently "A Girl Like You" is being picked up for the next Demi Moore movie which will bring the song to a whole new audience.

Sadly, i bought this album at a pawn shop. This is one of those albums that should never see the bargain bin. The hit song "A Girl Like You" is still a good song, even after you listen to the whole album, which is even better. Edwyn Collins had a reputation for being a perfectionist, and i believe it.. except, you don't get the same sense of boredom one gets from other 'perfectionist' bands. He has a knack for creating anthem-style repeat'd lines, that you enjoy hearing over and over, and can't help but sing along ("yes yes yes it's the summer festival, the truly detestable summer festival", "this music don't take you higher,...From start to finish, a truly fantastic album.

A friend of mine showed up at my door a couple of days ago with this CD. He'd bought it several years back and thought I'd enjoy it. I'd heard A Girl Like You before and liked it so I figured why not?! The entire CD is great! I can't stop listening to it. His vocals sound like David Bowie and some of the music sounds alot like Pink Floyd's Wish You Were Here album. From the opening track until the end, Edwyn takes you on a rollercoaster and the ride is far from dull. It's a really good listen and I'd recommend this to most everyone.

This is the first Edwyn Collins I ever heard (apart from Orange Juice's 'Rip it up', back in the Eighties), and I actually found the CD in the road with no cover. I believe that fortune was smiling down on me that glorious day for this is a wonderful work of art! It is a shame that 'Girl like you' was so overplayed on UK radio in 1995, because that put many people off buying this record. So, if all you have heard is 'Girl like you', and you think, "Oh, no, not THAT song, again!!", don't worry. That song is not representative of the album as a whole. The album is full to the brim with interesting, funky, soulful, and ultimately, cool songs. It's easy to admire Edwyn's daring, soul-bearing style. Highlights are 'Campaign for real rock', 'North of heaven', 'If you could love me', and the title track has a really groovy melody. He is at his best when it is just him and his acoustic, when he is really free to croon away. In short, I like it a lot!! I just! ! hope Edwyn isn't reading this, cos he'll think I'm a real crawler!

I loved a Girl Like You,but wondered if the album was any good, so i Finally got to hear this cd in a listening station at a big-block type store. The track that hooked me was If You Could Love Me.The brilliance and vocal skills on this track are unmatched.It sounded like a Love Unlimited Orchestra groove with David Bowie on vocals, not alternative at all!! That is what attracts me to artists-when they are unpredictable, and dont play like they look!!!Also extremely great are Low Expectations (a little depressing, but true!)North Of heaven, and Gorgeous george.If you love this cd as much as I do, you also MUST get Bernard Butler- People Move On cd from 1998!!

I listened to Edwyn Collins for an entire year, non-stop, and this was the album that got me hooked. His albums never end in their riches, and regardless of how much time passes, his work is so dense and thoughtful that it constantly offers new meanings and food for thought. The Campaign for Real Rock has a coda that after several thousand listens, still leaves me breathless. Low Expections, If You Could Love Me, and track 10 are pinnacles that the majority of bands never achieve in an entire career. I have never been too concerned with lyrics, but Edwyn's are unparalled, resonating with an intelligence and relevance to the frustrations and concerns of those people who feel overwhelmed by the mediocrity of the world at large, frequently leaving me depressed that I cannot impart more thanks to him for this experience than the measely fifteen bucks I paid for this masterpiece. On a separate note, his albums are fantastically engineered and produced. All of his albums are tens, but I think this is my favorite. I have seen many, many bands live, and I would trade half of my experiences to see this man just once. He is that good.

Bajo mi punto de vista, este álbum de Edwyn Collins es su obra maestra. Aunque también creo que "losing sleep" va por el mismo camino.
Edwyn Collins representa elegancia, sabiduría, contundencia, aporta ideas propias, arropa su música con unos arreglos soberbios nada recargados, y tiene una magnífica voz.
Chapeau.

Despite this album being a few years old I found the music to fit well with contemporary music. Easy to listen to, either alone or as background music when with friends. Really like it!