Customer Reviews

Looking for a Day in the Night

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

 

 

Have you heard that new song by blah-blah-blah? I haven't. Incredible music like this comeback CD is the reason I feel it necessary to program my own music instead of listening to yodeling divas, ex-mousketeers and W.A.S.P. Menudo knockoffs. This incredible lineup of songs shows that Lilac Time is still some of the sweetest music available, but the execution has grown up--this isn't sugary, it's genuine and heartfelt. A wonderful return to Euro-folk roots combined with Euro-pop sounds, this album is a pinnacle achievement that showcases all the sounds Lilac Time and Tin-Tin Duffy have mastered.

This album was a real find for me. As a lover of melodic music, I'm always looking for the perfect pop album. Since I grew up listening to the Beatles, my standards are high. It's almost a curse. And let me tell you, this album easily meets those standards. If you like Bookends/Simon & Garfunkel, then you'll probably enjoy this disc too. Steven Duffy has this wonderful soft, clean voice that lends itself to repeated listenings. The music is wonderfully melodic, shifting from minor chord verses to full realized choruses. "I won't die for you" is a perfect example of this. So simple, and so elegant. The production and musicianship is flawless. The utilization of steel guitar and banjo in unconventional ways is particularly appealing. The minute I pressed play, I was startled by how the clarity of the voice and acoutic guitar demanded my attention. It's just too bad that you have to be a musical detective to realise these groups exist.

I bought this album after reading a mini-review in a record store about it being "underappreciated." Since I tend to like a lot of underappreciated music, that was enough of a call to action! I am not disappointed. Beautiful music and lyrics. Melodic and melancholic, clever and wry. Really a great album, and I seem to listen to it non-stop. It has seeped into my consciousness and won't got away...

The Lilac Time weren't fully appreciated when they released their four near-perfect folk/pop albums of the late 80s/early 90s. Well, this album tops their earlier achievements. You will be hard pressed to find a better collection of songs released this or any year. If you like pop music and beautiful songcraft, you owe it to yourself to buy this album.

Comparisons are useless, but if you like Nick Drake, the Smiths, Simon & Garfunkel, Belle & Sebastian, or the Sundays, you will really love this album.

All of the Lilac Time/Stephen Duffy albums are worth acquiring. If you need a good starting place I'd suggest here as this particular selection is unmatched - it'd be a pity to miss out on the rest by a less immediate introduction and subsequent loss of interest! Fantastic songwriting, singing, playing, production et al. This guy is really special and those in the know appear to be dedicated fans for life. Look cool and turn your pals onto this mastery - you'll be thanked!

PS This appears to be out of print and once the diminishing and cheap used copies get taken, the price is likely to skyrocket - unless it gets reissued of course...

PPS The US expanded version is probably better but the original vanilla issue is possibly more cohesive as the bonus tracks (all uniformly excellent) are obviously recorded at other times and places and for some tastes may detract from the pure undiluted concept ... ENJOY!!!

The songs are acoustic, yet so well strucutred that they are always interesting. The drums and guitars intertwine to keep this cd gently chugging along. The vocals have a Cohen-esque quality. The lyrics are sometimes joyous and sometimes bitter, but not self-centered. Being a big fan of early 90's Manchester pop, I am surprised I like Lilac's gentle pace. I wish more indie artists were putting something this original and well crafted out. The best part is . . . they are the best kept secret around. Like Echo and The Bunnymen in the US during the early 80's.

This album is full of new, innovative tracks (is that a pump organ in Reunion Ball?), but is still classic Lilac Time. I've really missed them since & Love For All, and I'm glad they're back. There are tracks on this album that I am certain to choose to listen to again and again.

Beautifully crafted pop/folk from a veteran British band many had forgotten about (or, in my case, never knew). Witty lyrics, lush instrumentation (great use of pedal steel), strong emotional starch and, above all, great melodies. Belle and Sebastian fans will love this.

This is a great, sprawling work of pop/folk. It's packed with hook-filled songs, very innovative. My faves are Reunion Ball & A Day In The Night, but there's really not a bad song on the album. Duffy's voice is superb as always.

This CD has made the long wait worthwhile, more than making up for the years of waiting...waiting for a new LT effort. It is as moving and clever as any of their earlier works. A CD that will stay in your CD player for a very long time after it arrives...and the songs will stay in your head even longer! The song "A Dream that We All Share" is a classic for all time, but I must say that "Mayfly too" is perhaps the most catchy.