Customer Reviews

Rage Before Beauty

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was 26 when I discovered The Pretty Things. Director of a major company and on top of the world. My fellow directors were all young, we listened to Brubeck, played monopoly with real money and raved to The Pretty Things. They were ours nobody else knew about them. Then we could do anything but time passed and nobody wanted to hear my Pretty Things records. Nobody believed I was once vital and in charge. In 1996 I spent hours at Virgin Oxford St trying to find those albums on CD but no luck. Then while browsing Amazon there they were. They are back and so I am. Grumpy old men telling it as it is and F.... Oasis. This is a real rock album with feeling and attitude, no formulas, no patterns Just raw heart!! Listen to Love Keeps Hanging On and read the notes. If that's not enough try God Give Me Strength it could be my story maybe its yours. What do I do now? well I lecture in Corporate Strategy but in side I am still wild. Thank you Pretty Things you came back just in time. If your fifty plus and think your twenty-five you will love it.

Dr Bill Watts

PS if you know were to get Parachute and Free Way Madness on CD let me know.

Answers the question "how good an album can middle aged rockers make that haven't yet been spoiled by success?". Much better than 1980's reunion disaster "Cross Talk". According to the liner notes, some of this record's material dates back to sessions immediately after "Cross Talk". If it takes 18 years to make an album this good, other artists should take note.

... then the incredibly rocking, high-energy "Everlasting Flame" were somewhere on top of the charts, the cover version of "Eve of Destruction", having new relevance these days, would be giving food for thought for millions of people, the defiant "Not Givin' In" would be a youth anthem, and the heart-wrenching ballads "Love Keeps Hanging On" and "God Give Me the Strength" were all over the airwaves on this planet.

As this is NO perfect world, not many people will ever come across this album "Rage Before Beauty", and they won't know what they miss. To my mind, this is one of the best 300 rock albums ever made, and remember, they're have been many, many thousands (incidentally, I'd regard the Pretties' "S.F.Sorrow" right there in the all-time top 50). The PTs kick more ... here than all those new hype bands, such as the Strokes, the Vines, or what have you these days. This is the real thing - rock'n'roll played from the heart (or guts), by weathered men who have seen it all, fame and defeat. And, boy, do the kick up a fuss in the process!

Go for it. Hearing is believing. Rock on!

One can only have respect for The Pretty Things. A group which, with breaks, have been active for over 40 years and still plays and sings with honesty, nerve and commitment. Since the album "Crosstalk" from 1980 Pretty Things have been rare guests in the studio, and this 1999 album is recorded over a period of many years. Compared to the line-up of "Crosstalk" only guitarist Peter Tolson is missing. Tolson has been replaced by Frank Holland.

One might expect that an album recorded over so long a period would come out somewhat uneven; this is not the case, and the album definitely belongs among the group's most artistically most successful.

Singer Phil May is no doubt, not to underestimate the importance of the other members, the group's focal point - You can hardly imagine a Pretty Things without May.

Both vocally and in songwriting May is in top form on this album; impressing achievement by a man who, according to the notes in the booklet, has been far down underways.

May's two very personal and long songs "Love Keeps Me Hanging on" and "God Give Me The Strength" are among the group's strongest recordings. Lyrically they are two very honest and moving songs - the same can be said about the biographical tribute to the former group-member "Vivian Prince" - another highlight on the album.

Another highlight is the Rolling Stones-like "Blue Turns two Red" - is it perhaps coincidence that an early Stones song is called "Blue Turns two Grey"?

"Not Given In" with acoustic guitars and a fun catchy beat - is another song you would like to return to.

Stylistically, the group works in the area of the blues and rock, always with melody as an important ingredience - and then the group really plays with a heart.

I must admit with shame that I had not expected so much of this album. In return, I am now looking forward to hearing the group's newest studio album "Balboa Island"

This disc's working title rips Oasis, but why stop there? The Pretty Things kick sand in the faces of any and all current rock bands--not to mention some of their British contemporaraies who are just as old (Clapton, Stewart) and wimped out long ago. No geezer novelty act, the Pretty Things are gloriously alive, and here they deliver some of the most vibrant and inspired rock music I've ever heard.

As a huge Rolling Stones fan in the early 60's Hungary, in 1965 heard first two Pretty Things albums (The Pretty Things, Get the Picture?). I was amazed at their energy, looks and unique sound. They quickly became my favorite as much as the Stones. I lost track of them in recent years and this CD brough back all their originality without loosing their youthful great music. Thank you Phil, Dick and the other Pretty's and thank you for the song "Vivian Prince" for bringing back memories of the wildest drummer in his time. This is my favorite piece on the album together with "Play With Fire" and "God Give Me The Strength". This is the greatest Pretty Things album since the 60's!!!

Andras Pallavicini, Toronto, Ontario

This guy+s are a Lot Better Than the Stones and all their Hype . Better than Bowie and all his Weirdness . Hand in Hand with The Who , Floyd and The Beatles , no Doubt ... Just very good musicians playing the Best ... A pleasure 2 listen 2 and play with ...

As for a comeback CD, I thought this disc was okay. Not great, but decent. Although I never did hear their supposedly lame '80's return effort 'Cross Talk'. This was my very first Pretty Things title I ever bought. Enjoyed the covers the best, like the Stone's "Play With Fire", Barry McGuire's "Eve Of Destruction" and Tommy James & The Shondell's "Mony Mony". Some of this CD's original tunes I thought had something going for them were "Not Giving In", "Blue Turns To Red" and "Fly Away". Line-up: Phil May - harp & vocals, Dick Taylor and Frank Holland - guitars, Wally Allen Waller - bass, John Povey - keyboards & vocals and Skip Allen - drums. Give it a chance.