Customer Reviews

Smiles Like a Shark

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

 

 

I bought this cd when it first came out in '97 and I still enjoy listening to it! Two of my favorite songs are tracks 10 and 13. I highly recommend this cd to any one interested in hearing unusual music and can appreciate it! EXCELLENT!!

The first song I ever heard by Mulu was played on a college station. It was an infectious little ditty called "Pussycat". I was curious to hear what the rest of the cd sounded like and I was amazed! I've played it at least three times a day since I bought it two weeks ago. "Filmstar" is dynamic and would be great music for a motion picture, while "Desire" first seduces, then mesmerizes you like a new lover. I am infatuated with the female vocalist who sometimes sounds like Bjork, sometimes like Natalie Merchant, sometimes like a sultry jazz singer - she has a wonderful range! Laura Campbell is definitely going places. If this cd were played on popular radio stations Mulu would definitely be an overnight sensation. You've got to own this one!

O.k, so Mulu don't sound exactly like the Eurythmics, but they are indicative of what that group would sound like in this day and age if they were still in their prime. Mulu also features a soulful singer with a hell of a lot of range. Although they've been called tip-hop, and yes, excellent songs like 'Desire' and 'Trixter' do have "that familiar sound", to pin them to one genre is far too limiting. Songs like 'Filmstar' and 'Pussycat' are pure, well written pop. The singer, sounding like Annie Lennox using her lower register one minute, and trilling and swooping like Elizabeth Fraser from the Cocteau Twins the next, is what makes this group great. A very self assured first album. Let's hope it won't be the last. Similar Artists: Eurythmics,Sneaker Pimps,Bjork,Moloko.

I'll start with an apology to Laura Campbell and Alan Edmunds for taking over 10 years to write this review. With Portishead's recent release of "Third", I'm reminded of Mulu and the blissful arrangements on Smiles Like a Shark and the striking similarity of Laura and Beth's voices. Mulu is much more user friendly than Portishead, but I believe that someone sophisticated enough to appreciate the latter, will undoubtedly find tremendous value in Mulu's debut and only release. I first heard this album when it made its debut back in 1997 and absolutely fell in love with it, front to back. I'm happy to report that 10 years later, I'm still very much in love. Barely a weak track in the collection, my favorites are (the single) Pussycat, Filmstar, Desire and Trixter. Sink is a quintessential trip-hop track, topping my list of favorites. "I cannot feel, I cannot begin to deal with what is mine". This is simply a must have album that will never sound dated.

really, really good music, esp considering how cheap u can get a used copy. initially sounds like decent dance pop / background music, but the more you hear the more you realize this has layers; definitely not an album where every song sounds the same.
nice rhythm, good guitars, the odd synth chord or brass riff.
very similar to Everything but the Girl (Deserts miss the Rain) and maybe Swing out Sister (it's Better to Travel). definitely recommend this one.

When i heard pussycat, i got transported back to 1997- what a fabulous song- laura sounds like a cross between chrissy hynde and lisa gerrard. great album.

I can't tell you anything the others reviewers haven't already. I bought this album after hearing it in a record store when it first came out. Hearing the track "Filmstar" was enough for me to pick it up. After hearing the entire CD, I fell in love with Laura Campbell's voice and Alan Edmunds' musical genius. It's been two years since I bought this CD and it still remains as one of my favorite and most frequently played. The album sets a mood that no other band is capable of. "Smiles Like A Shark" is a must have CD.

At first pass may have sounded vaguely something like somewhere between All About Eve and Simply Red, but after more listening displayed the subtle emotive depth so uncharacteristic of trip hop. The art work in the CD jacket booklet has renderings of each title, which connect well to the lyrics so to add well to experiencing the sounds. Overall it's quite the atmospheric album, and manages to be very strongly artistic without falling on its sword. It won't likely make the pop for the masses superstardom, though. For this it may need more of the dymanic shown on the cut "Peaceful and Quiet" (not), the ironically named very rhythmic track, which is maybe the only one enjoyably played at very high volume. Also, on "Pussycat" Laura Campbell intonates like she is enjoying herself the most, and more of this 'cutting loose' would make MULU more accessable, assuming they would want that.

Wow! I am so impressed with this cd! It is a great collection of new age/alternative tracks with an incredible female vocalist. It shouldn't be too long before the mainstream discover this hidden treasure of a band.

Ok, so Pussycat was the anthem to my summer back in 1997. My all time favourite DJ's championed it... But well, maybe I listened to it to much, or i don't know what the it soon looses its shine and well the rest of the album is nothing much to shout about. But don't get me wrong its still a great record to listen to if you are feeling open minded. This is not Oasis or Britney... Its "real university" musical talent, experimenting. Remember that...