Smell of Our Own [Extra tracks, Import]

Hidden Cameras | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 29, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks, Import
• Label: Rough Trade
• ASIN: B0000B09UM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,315,603 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Golden Streams

2. Ban Marriage

3. A Miracle

4. The Animals of Prey

5. Smells Like Happiness

6. Day Is Dawning

7. Boys of Melody

8. Shame

9. Breathe on It

10. The Man That I Am With My Man

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The Hidden Cameras, like the Polyphonic Spree, specialize in swooning pop. The songs on HC's debut album revolve around communal living, gay love, and religious imagery. Singer/guitarist Joel Gibb's 15-member band (some of whom don little more than balaclavas when playing live) overcome possible charges that they're a novelty act thanks to Gibb’s knack of creating expansive, uplifting songs layered with flute, harp, trombone, and sleigh bells. "Day is Dawning" begins as a gently strummed paean to creation and slowly builds into a lilting, choral-tinged thing of loveliness. "Boys of Melody" is similarly beguiling, as Gibb gazes "far out at sea bathed in breeze" over the most simple, affecting melody this side of Mercury Rev. --Suzannah Brown

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars "Gay folk music", January 10, 2004

By 

Argyllsox (New jersey shore) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smell of Our Own (Audio CD)

Unlike their predecessors/influences, Brian Wilson, Phil Spector, Belle and Sebastian, the Magnetic Fields, Hidden Cameras are not afraid to talk about sex. This CD is full of (gay) sexual imagery. in my opinion its about time, there have been many a "gay" bands, from erasure, the pet shop boys, all the way up to Rufus Wainwright, but very rarely do they touch on the taboo subject matter that Hidden Camera embrace.

Don't let the gay moniker scare you (it shouldn't anyway in this day and age) If you like any of the above mentioned influences, go out and get this. These are cleverly written pop songs, even if they are filled with sexually free thinking lyrics. Some of the best in years. These songs almost seem like a soundtrack to a musical.

Though they tackle subjects as wide ranging as golden showers and gay marriage, you cannot deny that at heart these are delicious indie pop songs.

And admit it gay and straight alike both have their dirty side, it just never sounded so good.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Perplexing..., February 14, 2005

By 

ChrisL (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smell of Our Own (Audio CD)

A really difficult, intellectually challenging album. Fascinating. Is it to be taken seriously? Or are the Romantic-style paeans (uh, pun intended...I guess) to gay fetishism to be taken with a wink? (Think Wordsworth writing for the letters section of a gay porno mag. Or Dan Savage writing a la Wordsworth.) And what of these overwrought arrangements? Mere camp? Simply bombast? Or earnest exercise? No matter: They work so wonderfully together--the ambiguity of the lyric and the lushness of the music--that they elevate what could be the reincarnation of the disposable three-chord novelty songs of Pansy Division by adding layers of texture, meaning and tone. It borders on a truly important, singular album. But, alas, only borders. My feeling: this album issues a challenge--go ahead and dismiss us...we dare you.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Album of the Year?, May 17, 2003

By 

Mark Twain "Sam" (Florida, MO USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Smell of Our Own (Audio CD)

Man, Canada just keeps churning out incredible indie music. We can now add the Hidden Cameras to the long list (Godspeed, New Pornographers, Broken Social Scene, Weakerthans...) From Toronto, and led by Joel Gibb, the Hidden Cameras have dropped an infectious indie-pop album that will be hard to beat for album of the year. Think the Beach Boys, Belle & Sebastian, and you kind of have an idea of what these guys sound like. If you're open minded and like good music this is a must buy. I can't put my finger on it, but for some reason, I don't think Southern Baptists will like this album.