Customer Reviews

Just Enough Education to Perform

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In February, 2002, a small group of us traveled to Ireland. Although Stereophonics hadn't been getting airplay in the U.S., I had heard a lot of them on a British Internet station, and liked what I heard. Once we arrived in Dublin, I soon realized how huge they were in the U.K. and Ireland. Several songs off their new album, 'Just Enough Education to Perform,' were being played alot on the radio over there.

As the end of our trip approached, I started scouring music stores, looking for the version of the CD with the bonus track (the terrific Rod Stewart ballad, 'Handbags and Gladrags'), since I doubted that I could get this version back in the states. Finally, I found a copy and brought it home to Boston with me.

What I can't understand is why this band hasn't been more of a success in the U.S. Even though the band is British, Stereophonics has a truly American sound. The opening track, 'Vegas Two Times,' is a crunching number that brings to mind The Black Crowes, while the beautiful 'Step on My Old Size Nines' is something you might hear while driving past the wheat fields on a warm summer night in the Midwest. One note: Don't miss the hidden track after 'Rooftop.' It is a soaring piece of guitar rock that is actually one of the best songs on the entire CD. The hook at the end of the song is truly memorable, and is a great way to end a great album.

Sure, there are a few forgettable tunes here, most of which are toward the end of the album. 'Everyday I Think of Money' and 'Maybe' are clearly not of the same quality as the first seven songs on the CD. Overall, though, this is an album that should alert American radio stations that rock is not dead; indeed, it is alive and well. You just have to fly across the pond to hear it.

-Marc Hurwitz

J.E.E.P. is a softer, mellower album from the Sterophonics. Kelly Jones's voice is just as powerful--raspy in that earnest way of his--and the lyrics are, for the most part, just as compelling (except for the lyrics of "Mr. Writer" where Kelly says he wants to shoot all his critics--that was a bit much). I usually skip the first and last songs of the album and play the rest of it through. Particularly good are "Lying in the Sun", "Step on My Old Size Nines", "Nice to Be Out", "Everyday I think of Money" and "Caravan Holiday". Of course, that's almost the whole album right there!

Some people have been disappointed with this album because it doesn't have as much "energy and rawness" to it as their previous two. While that's true, these critics must think that any change is a bad one. I disagree. This is a slower more thoughtful album, and it shines because of it.

JEEP is, without doubt, the best effort yet from the Stereophonics. It's a gentler album than their previous one, "Performance And Cocktails", with the emphasis here more on melody than on the fairly boring hard rock that characterised PAC, (with the exception of "Just Looking" and the outstanding "Pick A Part That's New").

It doesn't open brightly, though. "Vegas Two Times" would've fitted quite nicely on "Performance And Cocktails", launching into a boring tune after a ridiculous 50 seconds of warming up sounds. Worst song on the album. "Have A Nice Day" should have been the opening track.
However, things start to look up quickly. "Lying In The Sun" is soft and beautiful, with exceptional lyrics from Kelly ("But you burn me up you paint my skin/In bad designs that ain't even in", etc.)
The first single, "Mr. Writer", has a pretty good chorus with cool backing vocals. The rest of it is just okay.
The third single, "Step On My Old Size Nines", is the second best song on the album. Great melody, lovely harmonica playing, a beautiful ending.
The highlight of JEEP is "Have A Nice Day", the second single. It's one of the best songs ever, no question. I don't care if people think it's sappy and that the cab driver in the song has nothing interesting to say, it's excellent!
"Nice To Be Out" is okay, "Watch Them Fly Sundays" is another of the album's strongest tracks, and the remaining ones are pretty good, except maybe for "Everyday I Think Of Money".

Overall, this is a solid recording from a great Welsh band, who have proved with this release that their music is maturing a great deal. Keep up the good work!

If you had to buy only one CD this year - this is it!

Remember when there used to be great "Records" - as in, the entire colection of songs were amazing. Well, this CD is one of them! There are a lot of great bands who produce great songs (Travis, Oasis, Manic Street Preachers, etc) but so few bands carefully craft every song on a CD any more to make a great CD. But that is exactly what the Sterophonics do. Buy the CD and you'll love every track.

I honestly had never heard of the Stereophonics until a month or two ago. (especially living in the US) Having listened to this CD, they are, by far, my favorite band. What are they like? Mix together Travis and Oasis, and a hint of the Beatles - only add more talent, well crafted songs and truly thoughtful lyrics...and then you have the amazing Stereophonics.

Amazing band, amazing CD. Quite simply, buy it...you can thank me later.

Stereophonics are one of my favorite bands.

I pre-ordered the album. I saw the acoustic tour. I couldn't wait to hear the album. It arrived, and I'm not sure what to make of it.

There's a sunny, upbeat 1970's a.m. radio vibe to about half of the tracks that is totally unprecedented in their earlier efforts. There's a lot less Stereophonics, the rock group. And a lot more Kelly Jones, heartfelt songwriter.

Standout tracks include Mr. Writer, Lying In The Sun, and Size 9s. But I feel the lightweight, laid back arrangements will alientate many fans. People who fell in love with the ragged exuberance of Word Gets Around and Performance & Cocktails will feel shorted.

The songwriting, as always, is there. But I feel the producer misfired. It's fine to evolve your sound. But this is total abandonment. I hope this record grows on me. Otherwise, screw it. The first two records are classics.

JEEP is good. But from a band this talented, you expect greatness.

This is the Stereophonics third album and it was always going to be sifficult after the massive success they had with their previous two albums (Performance And Cocktails and Word Gets Around). Just Enough Education To Perform is slightly slower in tempo throughout the album with a few up beat songs. The first single to be lifted from this album is Mr Writer(top five in the UK) which shows that this album has already got a good start. Some of the key tracks on the album are the fourthcoming single Have A Nice Day, Nice To Be Out, Step On My Old Size Nines and Lying In The Sun. The whole of their album is upto their usual standard and i love it, i havent stopped listening to it since i bought a week ago(released on 9th in the UK), and i have even taped it to listen to in the car. Well Done Lads

Just because a band is successful and is reflecting on that success and the world they live in doesn't make this album any less enjoyable. This Stereophonics disc has beautiful melodies and reflective lyrics that I play over and over. It may be more polished than earlier discs but it maintains its own charm and beauty, and is well worth adding to your collection. The lyrics present an insightful look at the world and the melodies are truly beautiful. It's also the perfect poolside/beach disc.

I tend to really enjoy stuff that comes off of V2, and I did enjoy this, but at times it felt just a little too trendy for me. I say this only because I wonder if the band generates this type of music because they feel like this is where their creative journey is taking them, or if their goal is commercial success.

The band has an upbeat pop/rock feel going with some subtle classic rock inflections. If you like Pete Yorn, Jukebox Junkies, or old Matchbox 20 you'll probably get into this. Their songs are up beat, and "happy" sounding for lack of better definition. Lyrically they are good, but I wouldn't say extremely profound or inspiring. It's worth checking out, give them a listen. Maybe they will make it big.

Allright, perhaps some of the songs on this album are a bit different from those of previous records (the song in my mind the defines stereophonics is Thousand Trees...) but it isn't that big of a let down. Kelly Preston (god, i hope i got the name right! ) still has his awesome voice, and the lyrics are genuinely intelligent. I really like how he left a little blurb inside the cover book w/ the lyrics describing how he came up with them... that's always been a question in my mind!

After the first listen, I didn't like this CD at all but it grew on me. 'Vegas Two Times' is a fantastic opener but not as epic an opening as 'Roll Up And Shine' was on the last album. 'Lying In Sun', in my view is the best one on the album. The lyrics are superb and the basis behind the song is very moving. With a beautiful melody behind it, this one is my favourite. 'Mr Writer' is the most technical Stereophonics track to date, with keyboards and backing vocals, this is a new, and interesting road for the 'Phonics. 'Step On My Old Size Nines' and 'Have A Nice Day' are two of the best tracks on the CD and they both look like being contenders for singles. I especially like the story of the taxi driver which inspired the latter. Some of the best Stereophonics lyrics ever come in 'Nice To Be Out', however the tune is somewhat basic and repetitive. 'Watch Them Fly Sundays' is another good track and 'Everyday I Think Of Money' is one of the best 'Phonics tracks of all time, sounding more like something off 'Performance & Cocktails' ('I Stopped To Fill My Car Up' / 'T-shirt suntan' from a lyrical point of view). 'Maybe' keeps the album going that little bit longer but by now you've got the feeling that its dragging on too long and 'Caravan Holiday', the bands worse song to date, ruins the album. 'Rooftop' begins a revival (and what a revival) and it does the album justice, ending on a high. Overall, probably not quite as good as 'Performance & Cocktails' and no where near as good as the 'Word Gets Around' debut. A more mature sound perhaps but I still prefer 'Word Gets Around'. A brilliant album all the same. I am editing my review now I have just seen the band play live at Donington here in the UK and they were absolutely amazing, the best live concert I have ever seen. Having seen them play some of these songs from this new album live, they have grown on me and I now love this album. Previously I wasn't too keen on 'Rooftop' but it is now one of my favourites as it was absolutely breathtaking when they played it live to close their set, in a word, brilliant. Admitedly I still prefer the other two but this is still a classic.