Mess You Up

Beth Boucher | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 14, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Virt Records
• ASIN: B00007KIB5
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #542,226 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Beth Boucher (boo-shay) is a Boston-based singer/songwriter and guitarist whose full-length debut album, Mess You Up, was produced by Peter Prilesnik (Sarah Harmer, Great Big Sea) and features an all-star lineup of musicians, including Luke Doucet (Sarah McLachlan, Chantal Kreviazuk) and Kurt Swinghammer (Ani DiFranco). Although Beth's music has been described as quirky, poppy, edgy alternative folk rock, Mess You Up offers a collection of tunes that cross genres, and add random bits of country, punk, and Latin jazz to boot. The common threads include her sweet, honest voice, witty lyrics, and varied, rich arrangements. Beth stepped into the vibrant Boston music scene in 1999 with her four-song eponymous EP, which was quickly placed in heavy rotation on college radio stations in and around Boston and as far west as California. Beth's song "Elusive Thing," which has since been newly arranged and re-recorded for the new album, was featured on The Best of Boston Singer/Songwriters Volume 2 compilation cd.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Up-and-Coming Folk-Rock Superstar!, January 17, 2003

By 

Marcey "Truth Seeker" (METHUEN, MA, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mess You Up (Audio CD)

I'm writing this review three days after this CD was released. I first heard Beth Boucher (say "boo-shay") last Fall at the House of Blues in Cambridge, Massachusetts. I was just amazed at her ability to blend great rockin' music with briliant lyrics. I could not believe she did not have a CD for sale, but was pleased to learn that one was on the way in January. Now that I've got it, I am not disappointed.

Songs about relationships are a perennial favorite of mine, and Beth manages to convey both the comedy and the angst while keeping True Love clearly in sight. Interestingly, she often hits the mark by beating around the bush, creating an aura of loss or longing with a brief description of a moment or of a few fleeting thoughts.

Musically, the songs run the gamut from bouncy rockers to smooth ballads, in the best female folk-rock tradition. Beth's voice is great, reminiscent (to me at least) of Susanna Hoffs of the Bangles, but with a more smokey flavor (that is, smoother, not like she's a heavy smoker!).

So, if you're in the Boston (or NY) area, seek Beth out and see her while she's still playing the local clubs. And definitely buy this great debut CD wherever you happen to be!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beth, where are you?, April 8, 2005

By 

A big fan (Gaithersburg, Maryland) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mess You Up (Audio CD)

I bought this cd about a year and a half ago from cd baby and have been playing it ever since. I have given it as a gift six or seven times and EVERYBODY loves Beth. Her lyrics are witty and catchy and fun to sing along with. All of us want more music from Beth Boucher!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fresh and original, February 1, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Mess You Up (Audio CD)

I really like the variety of styles on this CD. Beth would be hard to categorize at this point. She has a great voice but more than that, her writing is very sharp and witty but not really forced or pretentious. one thing that the songs have in common is that they are very catchy. I listened to the cd all the way through and I think I liked "gimme some time" the best at first.
I didn't realize that two days later I would be revisited by lyrics from all the other songs playing over and over in my head...ahhhhhh! No, that's actually a good thing. Okay, now the short review for Beth Boucher's "mess you up" . I loved it and I look forward to her next CD.