Kicking the National Habit [Import]

Grand National | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 2, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Sunday Best
• ASIN: B00024755M
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #274,964 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The revival for all things early 80s shows no real sign of abating--but as long as there continues to be records made as fine as Kicking The National Habit, the debut LP from Grand National, it's easy to be convinced that a spot of nostalgia is no bad thing. Whereas bands such as the Rapture and Radio 4 resurrect the darker side of post-punk, this north London duo--comprising multi-instrumentalists Rupert Lyddon and Lawrence Rudd--hail back to the genre's more tuneful outfits: think less the abstruse death disco of PiL, and more the melancholy neo-pop melodics of XTC, the Police, and Talk Talk. Still, this is no out-and-out retro piece. Grand National's main skill lies in their ability to twin their fine songs to tight electronic productions, striking the perfect midpoint between live organics and cool digital sequencing: hear how "Playing in the Distance" hooks a weighty club beat to robust live bass and shrieking brass, or "Cherry Tree", which builds its sad rock elegy on a foundation of chic disco beats. --Louis Pattison --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

This is the Grand National's debut album and it is released in the USA as a special limited edition with 4 bonus tracks and 3 remixes! --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Just for Kicks, August 29, 2004

By 

altmalta "www.alternativemalta.com" (Malta) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kicking the National Habit (Audio CD)

I have to admit it, this year I have been thoroughly spoilt rotten with all the great releases that I have had the privilege to review. Just when I thought things would dry up ANOTHER new band has turned up. This time Grand National.


Grand National consist of two very talented multli-instrumentalisits: Rupert Lyddon and Lawrence Rudd and together they create a very exhilarating and refreshing type of music.
`Kicking the National Habit' has all the elements of great British bands. In these brief 38 minutes one can hear New Order, Joy Division, (Coming Round, Daylight Goes) Blur, Happy Mondays (Boner, North Sound Off) and Early Primal scream. Also there is a ska-ish track (Peanut Dreams). `Kicking's...' musical diversity can make someone react to music in different ways. Some bits make you want to dance and some just to chill out to and the great thing is that you don't feel exhausted. I would say that when the record finishes you want to press play again. An album that deserves to be hailed as a classic.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Addictively Kicking, May 8, 2006

By 

Adiro Patten (NY, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kicking the National Habit (Audio CD)

I just heard this album at a friends house. It burrowed into my brain-squirrel like a fresh box of chewties - I couldn't tear my fists away from it. I took the highway home with the windows down going way too fast and I didn't notice the cops chasing me until I sat down to write this. I'll leave it playing on my stereo...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Should be 4.5 stars, more on that in a tic..., September 27, 2004

By 

THE_DUCK "malard21" (Syracuse, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kicking the National Habit (Audio CD)

Alright, what we have here are some genre bending, diverse and absolutely wonderful musicians. It's almost impossible to essentialize just what kind of music this duo plays; some say it's the Police if they made it out of the 80s, while others compare it to about every English rock band of the last 20 years. I'm not even going to try to compare them to anything, the only thing of substance that I can bring to the table is that on a track to track basis Grand National never has trouble delivering. There is song for every mood, whether you want a crazy ska like horn section (Boner) or some bass laden mellowness (Peanut Dreams).
My only complaint is that in total the 10 tracks add up to about 38 minutes or so, which isn't enough, I would like to see some more length, and that's the only reason I can see not to give it 5 stars, because these blokes are top notch and its worthy of anyone's hard earned buck.