Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Discovering Del Amitri, September 10, 2005
has been an amazing kick. I never knew these guys existed, till someone recommended I give a listen to "Nothing Ever Happens" (which isn't on this CD, but I'll get to that). I was impressed and intrigued enough to check out the Dels' best-of CD, and from there I was hooked.
This CD isn't as over-all brilliant and arresting as some of their earlier albums, but it's still pretty bloody good. Some quite good songs in the lineup: the title song, "Not Where It's At," "Medicine," "Make It Always Be Too Late." Even when the music isn't much (as in "Through All that Nothing"), the lyrics can still be effective, intelligent, carrying the writers' trademark twists of meaning, some more subtle than others. Other times the lyrics aren't inspiring ("No Family Man") but the music/melody is the saving grace. Among the songs about love going wrong (or occasionally right) are things like the odd little reflective gem "Mother Nature's Writing," or the grating "High Times," which is a good parody of yer typical drug culture song, but is, well, grating. But then there's the wry, bounce-around-the-room "Life Is Full" or the quirky, bluesy "Paper Thin." The version of this album that I bought has a bonus track, "Sleep Instead of Teardrops," which goes in the quite-good list.
Even if this CD isn't up to the Dels' usual standard, it's still Del Amitri, which ain't bad at all.
8/8/06--Since initially reviewing this CD, I've changed my mind about it not being up to Del Amitri's usual standard! It is, too, brilliant. And powerful. It should have at least a 4-star rating, perhaps even the full 5. I've come to appreciate "Cruel Light of Day," "No Family Man," "What I Think She Sees," "High Times" and the title song more fully. I think I found it a little intimidating at first, but no more.
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by Del Amitri 
