Customer Reviews

No More Apologies

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

 

 

So much can be said about this album, but what matters most is its effect on people. I was living temporarily in Ireland when the album was released and slipped it into the CDplayer occasionally when I had friends over, or at parties. Without exception the album charmed everyone involved. It touched people in a gentle and suave way. Created a friendly atmosphere. They felt immediately comfortable with it in a deep personal way. So I started wondering why, why?, why does this band not have a huge mass appeal? Maybe because they strike a truer chord inside us than the mass media can handle? I wish I knew.

The only reason I don't give it five stars is that it is not a musically innovative (despite its clever melodies). But if I rated it by expression or quality of the soul, or its naked personal lyrics, it would easily get it all.

"No more Apologies" is my alternative to REM's "Automatic fot the people" as a mood-setter. Being perhaps slightly more melancholic, bitter and poignant. How fitting it was to have the split after this fine album! A touching swan-song.

"Sometimes this world, can be so cruel... Sometimes this world, can be so cool"

A House were a victim of the bands non-sucess. A band that almost thrived on being famous for not being famous, they existed in the hushed tones of music know-it-alls and popped up occasionally with brilliant reviews, swiping interviews and memorable videos. No More Apologies is their last album.

Many bands don't consciously sit down to record their last album, it's generally forced on them. A House had written on the wall well before this album came out and as is , it really sounds like a last album. Form the aptly name opener ' The Start ' the band rattle through an apparently chronologically recorded remembrance of all that was A House. It's all here, from the downbeat, all most shoe-gave rock of the early albums ( Without Dreams - My Sweet Life ) to the breezy pop ( Cry Easily - Love is... ). Love is... is especially note-worthy as it was a sure fire hit has it of been handled correctly. Without dreams was the only single released from the record ( The inside cover of the single was a fax copy of a Lottery Ticket! ) and featured their last video and heartbreaking stuff it was... It's not all heart bruising though.. The title track's is one of the bands greatest ever songs. Clotheshorse is the smiths for grown ups and Into the Light is as honest and sweet pop tune you'll ever hear

The thing about this album is that only people that really cared bought it and that's why it's unsettling. It's like listening to a family member leaving. It's all a bit too personal for the A House fan. For the casual listener it has it all. Recommended ( If you have a soul )

A fine swan song for a band that stood for everything good in independent music making in Europe. Much mellower than previous recordings, Dave Couse's lyrics have a strain of tiredness in them, whilst still sharing the most basic of emotions with his listener. The guitars are not as brash as their earlier albums, but is a much more snug fit, and the production values are more natural. Not as exciting as "I am the greatest", but is does have it's moments. Songs that particularly stand out are "Cry Easily", "No More Apologies" and "Clothes Horse". Fans of previous material may not find this as quirky, but it is good to listen to this band mature on this album, and it is only a shame they have slipped away from our grasp. The only recomendation is to buy all their albums, everyone being very different, with "I am the Greatest" their gem.

A House released No More Apologies and then split up. As I see it, this wonderful and amazing album is the best way to say goodbye to a rock-pop audience that was never given the chance to appreciate A House's greatness. These dubliners were called to be bigger than U2, and in fact were much better than bono and the lads but somehow they never made it. If you listen to No more apologies you'll surely agree with this and you too will regret you never heard of them before.

Alright! David Couse has his usual spray against society, and most importantly, his romantic interest. But any new 'A House' album is, of course, a cause for celebration. But, perhaps, that celebration is lesser this time; not only because it's their last, but also, it ain't THAT good. Yeah sure, there are some good melodies here and there, and few people have explored this updated 60's-ish sound so well, but the 'Couse' factor stikes here, and not in such a good way.

The first half is rather good, well, 'Into the light' and 'love is...' are possibly the best 'sunshine pop' songs this side of 1970, and 'My beautiful dream' is like drifting through exhilarating colourful clouds (or whatever). But after a while the songs sound kind of similar, melancholy acoustic guitars, soft, underproduced sound and Couse psycho-analysing every nuance of his broken relationships to death, which is actually rather tiring on any listener who gives a toss about the lyrics.

And if you don't, well, it's not a bad album, not great either. Rating **3/4 (2.75)

So much can be said about this album, but what matters most is its effect on people. I was living temporarily in Ireland when the album was released and slipped it into the CDplayer occasionally when I had friends over, or at parties. Without exception the album charmed everyone involved. It touched people in a gentle and suave way. Created a friendly atmosphere. They felt immediately comfortable with it in a deep personal way. So I started wondering why, why?, why does this band not have a huge mass appeal? Maybe because they strike a truer chord inside us than the mass media can handle? I wish I knew.

The only reason I don't give it five stars is that it is not a musically innovative (despite its clever melodies). But if I rated it by expression or quality of the soul, or its naked personal lyrics, it would easily get it all.

"No more Apologies" is my alternative to REM's "Automatic fot the people" as a mood-setter. Being perhaps slightly more melancholic, bitter and poignant. How fitting it was to have the split after this fine album! A touching swan-song.

"Sometimes this world, can be so cruel... Sometimes this world, can be so cool"