Customer Reviews

I Love My Friends

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

 

 

I've been a big fan of Duffy since his "Tin Tin" days when the single "Kiss Me" was released. Following him with The Lilac Time has been very enjoyable. If you have never heard Duffy before then get this disc!! Duffy's sound really has not changed all that much from his early days in the eighties, he just uses less synths now. The disc starts off perfectly, like someone searching on the radio dial, only Duffy songs are on all the channels. It the goes to "Eucharist" which is a great song. It has a bit of an edge to it, which is a little different for him. The song "You are" is my favorite. There is some good guitar work on this CD as well which gives it a strong power pop feel which was a pleasant suprise. This cd is a perfect cross over from the Lilac Time and has just enough of a twist to have a distinct Duffy solo sound to it. This is definately a keeper and one I will listen to for years to come.

Stephen Duffy has a history of writing pristine, hooky pop music--in the eighties as "Tin Tin" and "The Lilac Time" and more recently under his own name (as well as co-writing songs for Barenaked Ladies). "I Love My Friends" continues where his previous effort, "Duffy", left off. On "Duffy", Duffy moved away from the shimmering production and bucolic instrumentation of his Lilac Time period and added some distinctly rock elements (helped by producer Mitch Easter). On "I Love My Friends", he bridges the gap between the two. This album is bristling with melody and introspection. It seems like Duffy raided his diaries from adolescence through adulthood. And he sets it all to brilliant power-pop instrumentation--a cross between Matthew Sweet and Andy Partridge (the latter of whom produces two tracks here). Lots of sing-along melodies, hand claps and "ooohs" and "la's". Other guests in! clude Justin Welch (Elastica), Alex James (Blur), Rick Menck (Velvet Crush) and Aimee Mann. Fans of these folks can expect to love this album!

Is there no end to this man's talent and creativity? Fortunately for us, it seems as if there isn't. Having been a fan of Stephen's folk-pop mastery in The Lilac Time since the late 80's, I must tell you that this (and all of his) edgier guitar pop sounds just as natural, as organic, and as beautiful as any of his TLT work. No songs will be skipped on this CD, I assure you....if you are a fan of XTC, Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, Matthew Sweet, etc. you must own this album. Like the aforementioned artists, Stephen's work takes a perfectly modern stance while firmly shaking hands with the more "vintage" sounds of previous eras. If you need it in Beatlespeak, think Rubber Soul/Revolver. Just get it, and anything else of his you can get your hands on. OK?

For anyone wanting to get into music that is extremely accessible and yet vastly underrated, this is an album for you. It has been way too long since the release of Music in Colours, and I was wondering what happened to this 80s wunderkind...but he has produced a very balanced album with some great tracks, and the hallmarks of Lilac Time (great lyrics) and catchy Britpop melodies are stronger than ever. It was certainly gonna be difficult to follow up on Music in Colours given the great combo of Duffy and Nigel Kennedy, but there is no doubt in my mind that this album is as good, if not better. Certainly recent involvement in writing songs for Canadian band Crash Test Dummies shows through. A definite buy.

Duffy is the Big Star of the current generation. soon, we will hear how bands were influenced by this little-known genius. Any other Duffy fans out there?!?! Everytime i see something like Korn on MTV, i wonder if melody and brillant lyrics are "out". I guess so.

Wow, five star reviews all around for this disc. I have to join the club.

This time around Duffy's joined by Aimee Mann and Andy Partridge on several songs. There's a great mix here of dark self-observation (usually by Duffy, his six string, and little, if any, accompaniment) and buoyant pop. "What If I Fell in Love with You?" is a standout track that fades out in a smoky haze of guitar effects and hippychick vocals. (Get out the lava lamp!) Then the disc segues into "Something Good," a jaunty, Beatles (It's Getting Better), Small Faces, Blur (circa 1996) number with a brief a capella ending.

It's not all Sugar High, though - "The Postcard" and "Autopsy" ground the album in dark moodiness.

Clever lyrics, great arrangements...a masterful and criminally ignored recording.

This is an amazing album, from start to finish, full of melodies, hooks, and some darkly beautiful moments. Duffy remains one of the best singer/songwriters of all time. Buy this.