Customer Reviews

HMS Fable

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Michael Head has knocked around the British music scene for 15 years. After a couple albums from his band The Pale Fountains in the early '80s, he dropped out of sight and, apparently, into a debilitating drug habit. A few years ago, he reappeared with his brother John in the guise of Shack. The import-only "Waterpistol" showed that, during his exile, Head developed songwriting talents that were totally dormant during his stint with The Pale Fountains. Then, last year's one-off with The Strands was yet another leap forward into a countrifed rock style with piercing lyrics and subtle, imaginative arrangements. And now, "H.M.S. Fable." Where to begin? It's yet another quantum leap in songwriting confidence, singing strength, musical accompaniment, and just plain first-rate tunes. "Streets of Kenny" details his drug woes with scathing honesty. And, for my money, "Cornish Town" is the song of the year. Hopefully, this won't be the last that we hear from the underappreciated yet undeterred Michael Head.

This is a fantastic album from one of the most under-rated bands of the last 20 years. Michael Head, chief architect of the Paleys (slang name given to The Pale Fountains), together with brother John, started the group 18 years ago. In between releasing three beautiful albums, the brothers became addicted to Heroin. So much so that the band disintegrated, and their habit continued through the emergence of new band Shack. So much so, that the band was often called Crack, or Smack...but in between those dark times they released two landmark albums.

The first was Waterpistol, thought lost but recovered and released through a tiny German label. The second, known as The Magical World of The Strands was becalmed in a luminous, mysterious fog, affected by Head's years in the junkie wilderness. No surpries for what X in the song X Hits The Spot could be eh? Both widely acclaimed, but failures commercially.

So we come to this, a new album from a newly reformed and junk free Michael Head. Here is an album that is SO alive it is difficult to comprehend (I guess the closet thing was Oasis' arrogant debut Definitely Maybe, and Liam Gallagher's disdain at everyone around him). Just listen to the anthemic Pull Together, the beautiful tear-jerker Comedy, and the album's magnum opus, the drug influenced Streets Of Kenny.

Indeed, I present to you, the finest song writer to come from Liverpool/England/Great Britain/ since John Lennon. Michael Head, take a bow. Nice one.

This album is a lot like cotton candy. It really doesn't have much substance, but somehow the more you eat the more you want. My real problem was the lyric content. After listening a few times, I just didn't get it. So I did some research on the group's history and put things together. That's the problem. New listeners won't get the vague and inside metaphors of the Brothers Head. It's like listening to two old friends who keep winking and jabbing each other. If you stick around long enough, you pick up their lingo. That being said, the more I listen to the album the more I ... well, LISTEN to it! I've tried not to like it, but I just can't escape the fact I really enjoy their sound. For older listeners, there are many familiar '60s British sounds (from the Beatles to the Hollies) with contemporary sensibilities and production. The harmonies are rich. Lead instrument play is steady if unspectacular. Most impressive is a tight rhythm section. They are much better at chording than at lead work, which works well with some solid drum and bass work. Lest I be too harsh on the lyrics, there are moments of general clarity -- especially "Pull Together." Bottom line: If you're looking for deep social commentary, it won't be here. If you want interesting background music while bouncing down the highway with friends, it's outstanding!

This is a fantastic album from one of the most under-rated bands of the last few decades. Michael Head, chief architect of the Paleys (slang name given to The Pale Fountains), together with brother John, started the group in the 1980's. In between releasing three beautiful albums, the brothers became trapped in a life of hard drugs. So much so that the band disintegrated, and their habit continued through the emergence of new band Shack. Heroine's influence on the band was so great that they were often called Crack, or Smack...but in between those dark times they released two landmark albums. The first was Waterpistol, thought lost but recovered and released through a tiny German label. The second, known as The Magical World of The Strands was becalmed in a luminous, mysterious fog, affected by Head's years in the junkie wilderness. No surpries for what X in the song X Hits The Spot could be eh? Both widely acclaimed, both failures commercially.

So we come to this, a new album from a newly reformed and drug free Michael Head. Here is an album that is SO alive it is difficult to comprehend (I guess the closet thing was Oasis' arrogant debut Definitely Maybe, and a certain sneering Liam Gallagher). Just listen to the anthemic Pull Together, the beautiful tear-jerker Comedy, and the album's magnum opus, the drug influenced Streets Of Kenny.

Indeed, I present to you, the finest song writer to come from Liverpool/England/Great Britain/ since John Lennon. Michael Head, take a bow. Nice one.

I never heard of these guys when I bought their CD. It was in the "Good" section of a small, local record shop I frequent. As soon as the first song played, I was a fan. As the album progressed, it becomes harder to get in line with them and you may as well be a cynical first tiime listener. But after a few rounds with the CD in my player, the latter part of the albums hums just like the first, to become one cohesive sound. Yeah, they sound a little like Oasis, if Oasis weren't snobby or so grandiose. Shack is a perfect album for those who hunger for a band who appreciates the Beatles but is too proud to rip them off outright.

Everything Michael Head sings comes from his soul. His hard-bitten take on life reminds me alot of the themes Alex Chilton addressed in Big Star. Each song on this CD is a different world created, in that way the CD reminds me of the Beatles. The music is definitely filtered through Micheal Head's love of the sixties rock group Love. Strings and horns and distorted guitars appear here and there always adding to the song. When so much music today echoes the past sonically but has nothing to say, Shack has alot to say.

Well Its got great reviews in the mags and after I heard Comedy I decided that I had to buy it. So...yes its chock full of brilliant guitar pop songs..kicks Oasis and Embrace et al all over the gaff. However it loses a star because it fails to display a musical vision worthy of the melodies. At the end of the day its just another catchy English guitar pop album. Having said that, for its unpretentious pop moments over 12 flawless tracks I strongly recommend it.

This is a classic album from the little-known Shack. The album's opener Natalie's Party is a completely poptastic song with an incredibly catchy chorus. It's one of those songs with a neat storyline which makes you come back for more. The rest of the album is more serious with songs like 'Streets of Kenny' referring to the drug taking days of band members(The Head brothers) The rest of the songs are well crafted and again refer to experiences of the songwriter Michael Head).

'Reinstated' and 'Pull Together' are two of the stronger tracks on a really strong album. HMS Fable makes me come back for more as it's so good. Buy it now...please - you won't regret it. This is a 'must have' album, if you don't purchase this then it'll be the best album you've never heard.

This is the record you knew Shack could make, and it's about time. After kicking around since the early '80s in his former band The Pale Fountains, singer/songwriter Michael Head (along with his brother John) have finally recorded a gorgeous record filled with brilliantly written and produced pop songs. A little bit Brit-pop, a little bit quiet folk, "HMS Fable" has it all. The first single, "Comedy," is immaculately gorgeous. Anyone who likes intelligent pop music should try and hear this, and definitely buy it.

No album 'deserves' success or profile. I'm sure Michael and John Head wanted nothing more than to take the product of several years hiatus from the studio, and make sure it was committed to vinyl how they wanted it. And the result is really quite striking. Its a combination (if one can honestly be created) of Simon and Garfunkel, Arthur Lee, and Schumann. HMS Fable has no disappointing aspects, and must have the other 'popular' songwriters of the last few years scratching their heads in a combination of jealousy, awe and frustration. Michael Head is, first and foremost, a songwriter. He's said as much himself in several recent interviews. And the extension of his previous mews (love, loss, freedom and, frankly, drugs) are here in even greater clarity, and rendered with even more passion. This album marks the coming of age of Michael and John Head. Its pop sensibility is direct, its finesse in recording gives the group greater depth than they have enjoyed before, and the strength of the descriptive poetry is in places almost painful. Highlights include 'Captain's Table', similar in some ways to 'Queen Matilda' from The Strands, and 'Streets of Kenny', a desparate tale of urban landscapes, open grey skies and the pain of addiction. But its unfair to highlight tracks one by one - this album deserves to be listened to as a whole, and bears many repeat listenings. Shack, The Strands, and The Pale Fountains are products of a musical bortherhood which combines bravery with effort, poetry with reality and deftness with power. This is one of the outstanding albums of the year, and one of the best albums of the decade. They don't 'deserve' success (I'm sure they wouldn't expect it)- but you deserve the opportunity to hear this album. I might boldly promise that you would not be disappointed. And if you are - email me!