Customer Reviews

Something Beautiful

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This collection deviates somewhat from the previous ones in that several of the songs are very Pop, especially one of my favourites, When I am King. Despite this slight deviation they retain their roots in folk keeping with my favourite aspect of the band - their focus on audible vocals as opposed to loud and lengthy guitar riffs and drum solos.

This is a fun CD full of good to great compositions. Newfoundlands version of classic tracks, testamonials to the Newfoundland Spirit, and up beat smiling attitudes throughout. Best CD since their first CD. I look forward to their next release. Yes and secret; Go see them live, music is great, lots of happy folks, crowd singing to cheer the soul. You will not regret it at all!

the album holds up quite well. Unlike other Great Big Sea albums, there are two or three cuts here that I find myself skipping over, but original songs like "When I Were King", "Beat the Drum", "Shines right through", "Something Beautiful" and "Lucky you, Lucky me" are pretty darned good, and "John Barbour" is so good, it's almost worth picking up the CD just for that. "Helmethead" seemed very Pogues-like, and that's a compliment.

No, it's not "Rant and Roar or "Turn", those are five-star efforts, but this CD is deserving of four stars when put alongside past GBS releases. However, when compared to the usual schtick one finds on the radio dial, it IS a 5-star disc.

As for them selling out, it seems the fella who often fronts many of the traditional sea shanties has left the band and that is perhaps why GBS decided to go with just two traditional tunes. After all these years, what's so bad about them getting a little Bare Naked Ladies-type of recognition? They've earned it and I hope they achieve it.

One more thing, I saw them live for the first time on March 15th and they were spectacular. Anyone worried that the traditionals would take a back seat in their live shows need not worry. The new stuff sounded great also and "Lucky you, Lucky Me" was a perfect ode to the audience in one of their encores.

For fans and GBS and novies alike, I recommend getting this CD and I HIGHLY recommend seeing them live, you won't be disappointed.

I'll tell ya- these Canadian boys know how to write a song. Being a big sea chantey fan, I was quickly turned on to these Newfies and their penchant for giving traditional tunes a quirky sort of beat.

This album is less traditional and more pop, which is good and bad. The songs are fantastic- don't get me wrong. You just long for the bar-room brawl feel that some of their older albums gave you...

..But then you hear "Beat the Drum", a fast-paced song of hope and youth that makes you want to get up and dance. This album is filled with greats, from "Helmethead"- the song about a philandering hockey player, to "Lucky Me"- a song that reminds us how wonderful life can be. But the traditional stuff is there- and what they skip on quantity, they make up for in quality. "John Barbour" and "Chafe's Celidh" are fantastic tracks.

Like a lot of GBS albums, there are a few tracks to skip- "Love" and "Summer" come to mind- but there's plenty of good stuff here without them.

1- Shines Right Through- 4/5
2- When I am King- 4/5
3- Beat the Drum- 5/5 (#1 song on the album)
4- Helmethead- 5/5
5- Summer- 2/5
6- Sally Ann- 3/5
7- Somedays- 3/5
8- Let it Go- 3/5
9- John Barbour- 4/5
10- Lucky Me- 5/5
11- Love- 2/5
12- Chafe's Celidh- 4/5

"These days I feel a change/All the patterns rearranged." These lines could easily describe the rocky mainstream path that Canadian Celt-rockers Great Big Sea have followed. In "Something Beautiful," the guys return to the robustly fun acoustic rock that got them to where they were.

Starting off on the right foot is "Shines Right Through Me," followed by rounds of deliciously bouncy rockers like the catchy "When I Am King," the thumping "Beat the Drum," and trite but amusing "Love." But a quieter sensibility shines through in the gentle "Something Beautiful" and sweetly romantic "Summer," and their pub-crawler humor bounces out in the rollicking "Helmethead." The album finishes off on a traditional note with the danceable instrumental "Chafe's Celidh."

Great Big Sea strayed from their old sound in their last release, "Sea of No Cares," going more toward a typical electric-guitar sound than their usual blend of rock and fun Celtic music. Here they're back in fine form, presenting the sort of songs that you'd expect to hear on a Saturday night, as pubcrawlers dance on the tables.

The music is well-rounded, and polished with long experience. The guys effortlessly juggle the guitar, fiddle, accordian, and banjo with slightly more exotic instruments like the bodhran, the bouzouki, the mandola, and little whistles and pipes. It's mostly acoustic, although it is tainted with a few electric riffs and flourishes that sound out of place, like the harder-edged opener of "Shine Right Through Me."

Alan Doyle's voice is a little rough, but full and lively. He can wistfully murmur ballads and roar out hilarious songs about falling in love with all the wrong girls. The songs have their bad moments -- "Love" is effective as an anti-war anthem, except for the "la la la love" part -- but overall they have the same bouncy, vibrant quality as the music itself. "Goodbye! Fare thee well!" the guys roar without an ounce of levity. "Don't ever trust a fella with a helmet on his head." Words to live by.

"Something" isn't entirely beautiful, but it is a solid return to the lovable pub-rock sound that made Great Big Sea so popular in Canada and the U.S. A satisfying dose of Celt-rock.

On first listen, I had the same reaction I did to TURN, the band's 1999 release. Good stuff, but lacking the inspiration and fun of some of their earlier records. But then I played the disc again, and began to pay attention to the lyrics. "Something Beautiful" is just that--a collection of well-crafted and often very beautiful songs. Alternating lead singers Alan Doyle and Sean McCann are also pretty talented songwriters, with Doyle (as usual) performing the more heart-tugging tunes. While longtime fans will probably agree the band has made better albums, the title song is easily one of their most uplifting and, well, beautiful recordings ever.

A pre-release review (elsewhere) suggested that new producer Michael Phillip Wojewoda is trying to turn GBS into another Barenaked Ladies, with whom the producer has been associated. And while this may be an uncomfortable thought to true GBS fans, there may be something to this idea: Both bands were heroes in their homeland for years, with a string of first-rate albums, long before acheiving mainstream success in the U.S. I don't think the decrease in "traditional" music on their albums means GBS is selling out to find a wider audience. But if it takes a different approach to let more people know about this GREAT band, it's a small price to pay. And hey, isn't their "pop" material still better than most stuff on the Top 40 stations? Sure it is...go ahead and buy this one.

"Something Beautiful" proves one important point...the guys from GBS are amazing writers of good songs. While they stay true to their roots with a few traditional-type songs, this CD's strength is in its rock/pop songs. Their unending optimism in songs like "When I am King" and, touchingly, in "Something Beautiful" as well as the wonderful silliness of "Helmethead" (which should be required playing at any hockey game played...anywhere) make up the great mix that is this CD. "Sally Ann" just seems like a sweet, silly love song until you hear that it was written about Alan Doyle's one-year-old niece whose attention he was desperate to capture one day. Then it really makes sense. "Let it Go" is a lovely song that basically tells people who have everything to live for and be happy about, to stop whining and get on with life, and the great "Lucky Me" is a man exulting in the fact that he is lucky enough to do what he loves. Wonderful.

Buy this CD...buy all of GBS' music. They are not as well known in the US as they deserve to be and if you ever have a chance to see one of their live shows...GO!

This is the first Great Big Sea CD I have purchased and am very glad I did. The majority of the songs are super with "When I am King" and "Love" being my two favorites. Great songs for getting the heart rate up at the gym or just to get you into a good mood. Highly recommended.

Personally, I call them the "Goofy Newfies", because of their quirky humor and rocked out take on the trads. They're definitely back on their game with this CD. Could have stood a few more traditionals here, but "Something Beautiful" is a very upbeat and listenable CD.

Probably my favorites are "Helmethead" for its wry humor and "Beat the Drum" because it's a wonderful anthem of youth. And isn't "Love" grand? It's definitely more real than most of the syrupy stuff you hear.

Having nearly worn out "Rant and Roar", I was really looking forward to this one. It didn't impress me at first blush but has slowly worked it's way into my short list of favorites. If you want Rant and Roar, play it. When you are ready to see what else these guys do well, this one is a great place to start. The title track is a well constructed piece of optimism that you will hear in your head for days, if you can get the rest of the songs to quiet down that long. This is a great album and I wish it had gotten some commercial airplay.