Customer Reviews

Southside

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's the soulful Ry Cooder sound and the smart lyrics that make this disc ageless. I love this CD and I recommend it highly to you. It's my D.I.D.
I just purchased my third copy of this disc. I play it so often it just wears out.
Join us - the select few in North America who know this band is one of the best. You may not know them because their US record label couldn't promote a cure of the common cold, but buying this CD will enlist you as a select member of the secret Texas admiration society.

In the past four months the song "I Don't Want A Lover" has been playing on a radio station in Paris, France where I live. I did not know the band's name until I visited USA this month and was happy to find it with the help of a store in Montpelier VT. I am buying 2 copies to bring back with me to France. Sharleen's voice is beautiful and the music is soooo good! Hope my comments help someone learn about this album.

Was introduced to Texas' Southside three years ago and have listened to it almost everyday. Sharleen sings very deep, low, and soulful; especially on "Say a Prayer" which happens to be my favorite song on the album. "...Prayer" has the spirituality and intensity of singing around a campfire without any of the fluff or nonsense. Every song on this album is well-written. The slide guitar that appears in a few of the tracks is haunting. This is by far the best album Texas has produced. It has an intensity that will endure the test of time. No one can mimick the raw power of Ms. Spiteri's voice!

Texas' debut is still their best album. The band never again matched the memorable hooks and melodies present in abundance on this album. I remember when I first heard "I Don't Want a Lover" on the radio, I thought it was the Eurythmics. This was their sound in the Revenge album era. Sharleen Spiteri has a strong singing voice (much more listenable than her speaking voice - yikes!) But it's on the strength of Spiteri and Johnny McElhone's songwriting and Ally McErlaine's guitar riffs that this album is so aurally pleasing. They followed the simple rock formula of guitar-bass-drums and were very successful at it.
At least six of the tracks here were released as singles around the world. Besides the first single "I Don't Want a Lover," there was "Thrill has Gone," "Tell Me Why" (excellent riff!), "Everyday Now," "Prayer for You" and "Fight the Feeling." Many of the songs are low-key, bluesy tracks that suit Spiteri's voice. Other highlights are the instrumental "Southside" and the bonus track "Faith," which I only heard for the first time when I bought the CD. It wasn't on the cassette.

Here I am, 11 years later ... my original CD recently got scratched ... and I'm replacing it. I still like the music as much as when I first heard it, start to finish.

As debut albums go, they either contain one hit single and a fair amount of filler, or they are a group's most inspired and consistent work. In Texas' case, "Southside" is not only their best album, it is one of the best guitar rock records ever made. Sharleen's sense for pop melodies and Ally's playing (especially on the slide guitar) are exceptional, while the rest of the band provides a tight and strong rhythmic background. "I don't want.." and the album were major successes in Germany, the two subsequent albums "Mother's Heaven" and "Rick's road" were bad flops, but Texas recently recovered with "The Hush", which seems to become their biggest selling record ever. But I still think "Southside" remains the only must-have Texas album. Great songs and absolutely no filler--what do you want more?

This album is one of those ones where if you lose it , you go out and buy another one...it doesn't matter how you lost it...whether you gave it to a friend and he or she never gave it back...or you just lost it doing whatever...it's so good that you need to get another copy for yourself...perhaps you're the recipent of a used copy from some Texas fan that lost it or misplaced it...perhaps you even stole it to hear the awesome guitars on the album...but after listening to it, i promise you that you too will vow to get another copy if you ever lost..(whether you lost it for the good of the band by letting others listen to it)...

One of the rare albums to come out in the last 20 years you can listen to all the way through without feeling the need to skip any of the tracks. An interesting mix of southern rock with obvious rhythm and blues influence tied together with the haunting lead vocals of Sharleen Spiteri give this band a sound altogether refreshing and still relevant today. Very impressive effort for a debut album that took risks by adding an instrumental guitar title track.

Buy it you, listen to it and you will instantly will love it! THE WHOLE CD.

I'm not sure what their newer albums sound like, but I sure love this one. It's kind of pop-country, not "Shania Twain" pop-country, but like a more upbeat "Cowboy Junkies". The songs are very well crafted, many about love or faith, and she has a great voice to match. Plus a few tracks have a nice slide-guitar on them. All the songs are good, but I'm most impressed by "I Don't Want A Lover", and especially "Everyday Now". That is a great song. Some of these songs are on their "Greatest Hits" disc, but that's an import. This cd is well worth it though, or maybe you're like me, and have it on vinyl.