Customer Reviews

International Velvet

5 star:		(36)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

By releasing a track entitled 'Mulder and Scully', they knew that they were going to be noticed by a wider audience. And this was how I found out about Catatonia - through an interest in 'The X-Files'. Who knew that something that had all the trademarks of a novelty single would be so good, or that the album would top the U.K. charts, receiving public and critical acclaim? Several years down the line and Catatonia have split up after putting out only four albums ('Way Beyond Blue', 'International Velvet', 'Equally Cursed And Blessed' and 'Paper, Scissors, Stone'). Obviously this causes me to over-sentimentalise the first album of theirs that I bought. Yet it really is fantastic.

Cerys Matthews on vocals, singing the words penned by her former lover in the band, makes each song raw with emotion, and her raw voice works to great effect. There are some real anthems here, especially 'Road Rage' and 'Mulder And Scully', although the slower and more heartfelt songs are the real surprise. There are few indie bands out there that can really touch you with their music - The Verve's 'Bittersweet Symphony' is the only one that comes to mind - but Catatonia are certainly one of them. Tracks such as 'Don't Need The Sunshine' and 'Strange Glue' are not only intelligent and interesting but you never tire of them.

However, the trials and traumas of Cerys have always ran parallel to the group, as she became almost like the British equivalent of Courtney Love in lifestyle. This meant that they have always been in the limelight and maybe this is one of the reasons why Ceryss quit the band. It's just a shame that we'll never get to hear more than four albums by them.

International Velvet is the import to listen to! Since hearing the single "Mulder and Scully" on Zone 105's "Across the Pond" specialty show I have waited impatiently for this cd to make it to the States. "Mulder and Scully" is the perfect song to blast out of my car while waiting on freeway ramps (although "Road Rage" comes a close second!), "International Velvet" has me singing the chorus everywhere and I'm American! and "I Am the Mob" would have been the perfect theme song to the "Godfather" series. Ceryss has the most beautiful voice I've heard in a long time. As one of a few privileged Americans to live in a city (Mpls)that has a specialty import radio show that plays such outstanding bands as Catatonia, I feel it is my civic duty to encourage everyone to buy this disc and make it a hit over here.

Cerys Matthews has an amazing voice.

Is it clear as a bell? Sometimes.
Is it growly as gravel? Sometimes.
Is it girlish as a nursery rhyme? Sometimes

Is it strong as steel? Always.
Is it sexy? Invariably.

I consider this a slightly less mature effort than "Dead from..down" but this is a notable warming up thereto. I very much enjoyed the singles "Mulder and Scully", "Road Rage", and "Game On." It's good britPop.

An absolutly brillant album from, Moulder and Scully ( you don't have to be an x-Phile to listen to this) to My Selfish Gene.

The amazingly original sound of this music and the inthrauling scrachy voice of the lead singer means that if you play this album once you'll be hooked on it for life.

"You don't need the sun shine, don't need the good times, don't need anything anyone's giving, and I don't mind your lies so keep on talking"

I didn't like this album much at first, and I found all the tracks after Johnny Come Lately a bit impenetrable. After a few listens, though, I really got into the entire album. While 'Game On' and 'Road Rage' grabbed me right from the start, my favorite tracks now are 6, 7 and 9.

Cerys Matthews give the initial impression of being some spaced-out, unsophisticated Welsh country girl. This is mostly due to the garbage lyrics in 'Mulder and Scully' and especially 'I am the Mob'. I am the Mob is particularly awful - I would give the album 5 stars if the track was left off. Many of the later tracks are complex both lyrically and musically, however, and Cerys shows she has a unique and excellent style of her own.

My friend Dani from Ireland sent me a tape of Catatonia last month, and ever since I've been listening to them almost constantly. With a Portishead/Kranes/Bjork - ish feel, their music is lovely, powerful, fun, and beautiful all at once. "Mulder and Scully" was just played on Seattle's 107.7 the End last Sunday night (7/5/98) for the first time, and Cerys's voice was imprinted on the ears of millions of listeners. The creative and heartfelt lyrics flowed from her lovely high voice, which has an appealing rough edge to it at times. This band is from Wales and is the next huge thing to hit America! The UK already knows about and loves them, and Seattle, America's best music scene, is aware of their art! Put this CD at the top of your 'buy' list!! (Right next to Far's "Water & Solutions" and Radiohead's "OK Computer".) Some of my favorites? Mulder & Scully, Johnny Go Lately, My Selfish Gene, Don't Need the SUnshine

How they could take this classic pop album out-of-print is beyond me.

Though I prefer Equally Cursed & Blessed, fans of that album need to find this album anyway possible. Buy on import, or used, but be sure to buy this one. The same great spirit of that album is evident on this one as well. There definitely is much more to love than just M&S and Road Rage.

This album is worth the money to get the 4 extra tracks (Live Versions of International Velvet, No Stone Unturned, Mulder & Scully, and Strange Glue). Catatonia is really good live-if you liked the studio versions of the songs I said above, you'll want this album.

very good cd. it's probably good just because of road rage. i'd buy the album for that cost just for road rage. it's my fave fave song!!!! it's the best. cerys is the most awesome singer. very very talented. the first couple tracks are awesome also. maybe i don't really like the other tracks because i never really listen to them because i'm only listening to road rage. get it!

This CD has to be one of my favorites of all time- I bought it just because of all of the critical and commercial success in the UK and Australia, and I was suprised to hear such a good album. Probably one of the things that sets International Velvet apart is the accent, which most bands drop once they start to perform. I'm suprised that more Americans haven't found out about this band-once they do, Catatonia CD's will rise up the charts