Customer Reviews

Lovegod

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

 

 

Making a positive adjustment to the rapidly changing nature of the "Alternative" scene in Great Britain was perhaps the greatest talent of the Soup Dragons, whose first two releases ("Hang Ten" and 'This Is Our Art") were deft explorations of aggressive post-punk and punk-pop music, respectively. Whether intentionally casting about for the "Next Great Thing" or not, the band soon emerged as a poppier, hook-laden spear-carrier of the "Madchester" scene, and began their third incarnation as a guitar-driven band selling the scene's big stinky grooves with catchy percussion, clever sequencer programming, superficial yet shout'em back lyrics, and the warm, deep richness of lead singer Sean Dickson's vocals.

And lest you think I'm some sort of elitist urban sophisticate mourning the death of college radio and its emphasis on the insularity of its scene (rather than the all-embracing universality of Modern Rock stations replacing them as Corporate America warmed up to the potential for some pioneering, previously independent bands to shift major units), let me make it quite clear that I am not dismissive of what the Soup Dragons accomplished with this release; this is at least the second time in the past 20 years that I've replaced a worn-out copy of "Lovegod". Even without the ubiquitous "I'm Free" in heavy rotation during the early fall of 1990, this CD contained a number of other supercharged dance-floor tracks ("Drive the Pain", "Backwards Dog", and "Sweetmeat") that made it a flagship release of the nascent Modern Rock Radio Scene here in the US, with "Softly", "Mother Universe", and "Lovegod" all getting airtime as well. 'Lovegod" is loaded with melodic, psychedelically-tinged tunes that are well-formed, highly danceable, and pleasing to listen to, and I'd stack any of them up against the death-laughs-forever, world won't listen, fashionably alienated pseudo-heavy-metal masquerading as modern rock today. If you're even thinking about getting this, don't think; just buy. You will not regret it.

The Beth Massa review is dead-on when it comes to this album and the brief music scene it was part of. For long I cherished this time when you could dance to rock music. But, thank god, it's all coming back. What was then Primal Scream, The Stone Roses, The Farm, EMF, Happy Mondays, Jesus Jones, Inspiral Carpets and the Charlatans UK is now Kasabian, The Killers, The Dandy Warhols, Muse, Franz Ferdinand, Hard-Fi and Kaiser Chiefs. If you like any of those bands and that brief period of Baggy music, gone too soon before grunge took over, you should give this album a try. The cover of I'm free -I dare to say- is better than the Stones original. Too bad this album is not available for download because that song alone is worth having.

I'm no expert on this band's history. I basically wanted their version of "I'm Free" to upload. Everything else is decent. It keeps you moving with a back to the 60's (that really happened in the 70's) beat, and my 14 yo kids like it.

Not sure where the two negative reviews come from other than that the other songs on this album are not straight imitations of I'm Free. Every single one of these songs is superb, to the point where you can't believe so many great songs might go on one album. It amazes me that they never hit any greater popularity in the US than their well-known single, and I urge you to pick it up (bargain bin if you're lucky, despite what one reviewer wrote) and give it a full listen. It's brilliant.

Nobody I know has ever heard of the "Soup Dragons", but I'm sure glad I did. This is really fun to listen to, and holds up well after 13 years. One of those bands you would see late night on MTV, before grunge took over. They really do have that "Madchester" sound, and are similar to "Happy Mondays", "Jesus Jones", and "Charlatans UK". Though I think they're Scottish. Anyway, it's trippy, very catchy, and you can dance to it if you want. Me, I just crank "I'm Free", and hit the road.

Powerful dance beats, with inntelligent lylics. I think it's very retro sounding of the days of blues fusion rock as in rolling stones, the Who,Hendrex,classic rock and roll at it's modern best.

Looks to be the Scottish alternative / indie band's third CD. From the appearance of the CD's cover - some might mistake this title to be a psychedelic title. But it's not, it's actually a worthy alternative / indie rock piece. Tunes I liked best were their album opener - a Rolling Stones cover, mind you of "I'm Free", "Mother Universe", the inspiring title cut "Lovegod", "Kiss The Gun" and "Beauty Freak". Line-up: Sean Dickson - guitar, programmer & vocals, Sushi Dade - bass, Jim McCulloch - guitar & vocals and Paul Quinn - drums. Should draw in fans of Ned's Atomic Dustbin, Primal Scream, Jesus Jones and The Buzzcocks.

"Lovegod" is a fun album with no bad songs. Everything is catchy and everything rocks. I like the addition of found sounds and voices between the songs. By those points, it's a four-star album...

But I gave it three stars instead. Call me a wuss, but I find "Lovegod"'s lyrics disturbing. I don't mean to cast aspersions on the songwriter, and I know there's a difference between a songwriter and his characters, but a good chunk of these songs sound like they've been written by a psychopath. "Softly", "Kiss the Gun", "Lovegod", and "Love You to Death" all make references to killing, and "Sweet Meat" seems to be sung from the point of view of a shameless rapist ("And the world is on fire/I'm lost in desire/I'm on the corner/And she says no no no na na no. . .").

So if you're the kind to be easily bothered by violent lyrics, then be warned. Otherwise, "Lovegod" is a good buy.

I bought this because I used to listen to it in high school and have great memories associated with it. My wife's class song was this version of "I'm Free," if you believe that.

For that reason, I love it. But if I look past the memories and really listen to it, it's mediocre and fairly repetitive. Once you've heard "I'm Free" and "Sweetmeat," you've heard the album.

Great flashback value, though.

Nice funky alternative pop album. Good to listen to every so often and get you to sing along. It is a short cd but more than makes up for in funky. I'm Free is the obvious single but the whole album is a solid example of over produced 90's music.