Lateness of the Hour

Eric Matthews | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 26, 1997)
• Original Release Date: August 26, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sub Pop
• ASIN: B0000035J0
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #185,770 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Ideas That Died That Day

2. My Morning Parade

3. Pair Of Cherry

4. To Clear The Air

5. Yes, Everyone

6. Everything So Real

7. Becomes Dark Blue

8. The Pleasant Kind

9. Gilded Cages

10. Dopeyness

11. Since The Wheel Free

12. Festival Fun

13. No Gnashing Teeth

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You Need This Album, March 14, 2001

By 

"prangthebentley" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lateness of the Hour (Audio CD)

Let's get this straight - this is one of the best albums of the 90's from a MAJOR talent. And fans of Left Banke style melodicism will swoon to Matthews' superlative Baroque songwriting/compositional mastery and sensibility: he is the true inheritor of their worthy heritage. Vocally Matthews is reminiscent of Colin Blunstone: breathy, fey and with a subtle, sensual delivery quite unique: I would suggest widely unrecognised as one of the finest vocal stylists in contemporary pop. He is not yet another doom laden, self indulgent, brooding navel gazer: indeed the lyrical content is too enigmatic to be merely contemplative though driven by the courage of Matthews' convictions. There is a craftsmanship and maturity here all too lacking amongst what might be considered his contemporaries, though this is not to suggest any lack of vivacity or exuberance to his material. This is seriously life enhancing pop magic, if of a darker hue than the orchestrated 60's school, such as Mystery Tour Beatles, the Banke or the Zombies, which informs it. You also get to hear wonderfully clanging electric rhythm guitars and some exquisite post Richard Lloyd guitar solos. And if you want to hear the most sublime, understated trumpet [another of Matthews' talents] blown to make Miles Davis proud, look no further. Of the 2 albums this is the most consistently strong, songwriting wise, though his debut 'It's Heavy In Here' is worth buying merely for his killer pop opus 'Fanfare', a glorious 'Penny Lane' styled modern classic.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dark, Tortured, Beautiful, October 25, 2000

By 

"ooshie" (North of Crazy) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lateness of the Hour (Audio CD)

Coming out of the weakest decade of pop music ever, this record should shock anyone in search of great songwriting. Maybe after the current artistic hangover ends, Eric will be recognized as one of the most beautiful songwriters alive. Unfortunately, by the time people realize his greatness, he'll probably be old and broken. Or dead. This record is up there with Richard Davies-There's Never Been A Crowd Like This, Supergrass-In It For The Money, Tahiti 80-Puzzle, and Oasis-(What's the Story) Morning Glory?. If Eric's third record is ever released, it will be better than all of those.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best Psych Pop Releases of the 90's, June 14, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lateness of the Hour (Audio CD)

The track "Everything So Real" gives me chills down my spine. For me, that's about all it really takes, but the rest of the CD is great also. One of the only CD's I've purchased after reading glowing reviews, and not been dissapointed. If you like Roxy Music, Love, The Church, XTC, or Robyn Hitchcock, Get IT!

Mike B.