Customer Reviews

Mothers Heaven

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

 

 

Texas is my #1 favorite; EVERY album is a must have. Not a bad song anywhere. The lead singer, Sharleen Spiteri, has such a awesome and seductive voice that it makes me ache. The group plays a variety of styles and influances. The lyrics are sophisticated, yet simple. Many in the US aren'f familiar with the #1 UK band due to poor US marketing and abizmal US radio, but this group knocked the Beatles off the UK chart with thier Greatest Hits release.

If you like strong female vocals - Anne Lenox, Sara McLaughlin, Tara McClean, Chantal Kraviasuk, even Mellisa Ethridge - Just pick ANY album (or better yet, ALL of them) and buy it. You won't be sorry. In fact, you'll probably understand just why Texas makes me long to see Sharleen in concert.

This Album is truer to Texas' roots, more blues/motown influance like Ricks Road and Southside, closer to raw emotion than Hush or White on Blond where you will hear more pop and polish.

I haven't listened to "Mothers Heaven" in years. I came across it as I was looking for 'new' music to review for Amazon. When I threw in my cassette copy of "Mothers Heaven" into my stereo, I had wonder to myself why Mercury Records didn't do a better job at promoting the band. Sharleen Spiteri has one of the best voices in modern rock history in the past decade. Unfortunately the band Texas has been floundering for years with very little exposure in the US market while their music overseas have achieved mainstream success. It is a shame because what the US needs is a shot in the arm in the current climate of music which I find to be truly boring and repetitive. I first discovered Texas through a local radio station when I was in high school. I was particularly drawn to the songs they played from "Mothers Heaven" . The songs are very bluesy yet maintains a modern rock edge to the music, especially on the opening two tracks like "Mothers Heaven" and my personal favorite "Why Believe in You". "Dream Hotel" opens up sounding a bit like The Cranberries and a little bit like Mazzy Star (with a much less annoying lead singer). It has a very ethereal feel to the song. I believe it was the first song I had heard from Texas. Sharleen Spiteri has a beautiful voice. She is truly one rock's most underrated and overlooked singers today. My other favortie songs includes "Alone With You" and "In My Heart". "Mothers Heaven" is truly heavenly to listen to.

I would say that the songs on this CD remind me of Ry Cooder and the Cowboy Junkies, except that I don't like either of them half as much as Texas. Mothers Heaven presents some very memorable songs and I highly recommend it for every music fan.

This, to me, is one of those rare "must have" CD's. It is my favorite "Texas" work, possibly because it is the first CD of theirs that I heard. Still, the mix of blues and rock is great. If you are new to Texas and like "White on Blond" I believe you will enjoy "Mother's Heaven" as well.

Just pulled this CD out the other day.....almost 15 years after buying it! I picked up this album in France in 1991 and could have sworn it was an American band that was hitting the charts while I was living abroad. I can't believe Texas was never played on the radio in the US! I love the lead female voice and will definitely buy more of their albums.

For someone who grew up in the heyday of the Beatles, the Stones, the Doors, and Van Morrison, Texas' Mothers Heaven is the kind of music that I can listen to endlessly as I'm driving, working, or contemplating the meaning of life. The lead singer has soul, pure and simple. Her voice, mixed with subtle rock rhythm, is really quite powerful. If you like Van the Man, try Texas. They do things right.

If you are tired of all the bubblegum pop like Britney Spears, this is the album for you. It is a combination of blues and rock. Sharleen Spiteri has such a sultry (hope I spelled that right) and haunting voice it is astonishing. If you like Texas you should also check out the Corrs.

YOU WON'T BE SORRY ABOUT SPENDING THE TIME OR THE MONEY

I got this album on cassette when I bought a bunch of old assorted tapes in bulk. I was not familiar with Texas before I heard the tape, though in researching them a bit more I've found out they are the artist behind some songs I've heard on the radio.

Anyway, to describe this, I'd say they are a bit like U2 or perhaps this is pushing it but a bit like a band called The Chameleons, but not as miserable or gloomy. They have a big reverby guitar and a really good soulful singer, and they have this kind of dusty atmosphere, so I suppose they live up to their name, long dusty road kind of music I guess. I wouldn't call them 'dream pop', though they have elements that way. The album came out '92, and definitely seems like it is of its time but that's not a bad thing, just as Pearl Jam Ten is obviously early 90s and still rocks.

We could have probably dropped a few tracks that are kind of forgettable, mainly on the second half of the CD. My favourite tracks are 'Dream Hotel', 'In My Heart', and the title track. Sometimes some of their tracks could use a bigger climax - they need to go up to 11 on the high points on tracks such as 'In My Heart', for example chuck in a bit more background organ or something - but generally they are good.

I'd recommend this album if you want something kind of dreamy for long drives, but with some good hooks. Or if you like the kind of bluesy-alternative-rock genre they are in. I would guess they are an acquired taste, but I like this album.

4/5, missing a point because of some filler and some of the tracks need a bit more climax in them, but this is a minor quibble. This is a good album that I like.

I have the first 5 Texas CD's so that provides me with a wide spectrum of exposure to this band and this, by far, is the best album they've ever done or will ever do. However, their is a caveat: I believe Texas is MUCH better at alternative, soulful country music than the soulless pop they found success overseas with which, after their 3rd album, they focused on. So, if you like "The Hush", "White on Blonde" and subsequent follow ups, this review won't likely mean much to you. If you didn't like those albums, but like the genre I described---read on. In what they failed to do with their first album "Texas", they NAILED on this album. Great song writing that showcases Spiteri's vocals, great slide guitar, keyboards and often atmospheric interplay. Every song is good and ends with an amazing "Walk The Dust" which is the song Texas was meant to write and play. In my collection 400 to 500 CD's this is one of the best. It's original, genre bending, well produced, and truly a great effort. It's too bad they didn't get the commercial support they needed to stay on this road.