Customer Reviews

Welcome to the Beautiful South

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

 

 

Welcome to... is a classic. I too was introduced to The Beautiful South by Sassy (had to throw that in since another reviewer was as well!) and though I've liked all their subsequent albums, this remains my favorite. TBS is quite well known in the UK, but mysteriously underappreciated here in the US - if you're a Housemartins, Billy Bragg, Kirsty MacColl, or Belle & Sebastian fan, you will probably like them. Give it a listen!

Great lyrics with great music - simple as that. The lyrics are cynical, sometimes over-clever, and always compassionate in a dark and brooding kind of way. And they always challenge you, without leaving the domain of popular music. A song like "Have You Ever Been Away" could so easily have been political (see for example, "Maggie what have we done" - Roger Waters in 1982), yet it isn't - it just makes you think, and occasionally laugh out loud.

But that does not mean that the Beautiful South are just a thinking man's band - their music is great. On this album it is mostly quite soft, a good album to chill to in the evening, with some beautiful songs like Under the Covers, Sail This Ship Alone, and the opening track. The singing in particular is so pure that it makes a mockery of the more evil lyrics, a sweet & sour mix that works extremely well. This works as an album, too, with a great finish that, aah - makes you want to start all over again.

I hate albums like that, because you never get to listen to anything else...but really, that means that I love it. If the idea of clever lyrics puts you off, listen to some of the tracks, and you will see that the music is good enough on its own to warrant thinking seriously about purchasing it. And if you do like good lyrics - I am thinking fans of Pink Floyd, or the Manic Street Preachers, or the Smiths (or any number of other "clever" bands) - then you really should go for it.

This CD -- brought to my attention in my early teens by "Sassy" magazine (remember that, U.S. GenX ladies?) -- has everything going for it.

Songs so catchy that I have replaced my copy of this album 3 times because of normally fab friends stealing it from me. Lyrics so smart and funny that I have actually spent the money to replace it each time. And melodies so sweet and weird that I never get tired of hearing it.

I think that this is my favorite Beautiful South album as it hangs together the best -- the songs don;t all sound the same, but form a logical aural progression through the course of the album. The dark lyrics are offset by the lush melodies, and the nasty humor is offset by the self-depricating light laughs.

Enjoy this relevant, moody, funny album from an underappreciated band.

I first heard them on the soundtrack of french kiss with meg ryan and kevin kline. they sing a french version of 'dream a little dream of me'.

bought the cd just for that one cut.

I love this CD. I got it in the Nineties and couldn't put it down for a while. Each song is like a twisted little story that stays with you long after you listen to it. The lyrics are not only clever and catchy, they're also frequently funny. And the lite, upbeat, happy-sounding tunes defy the darkness in the lyrics--it's a winning combination. I thought of it today because I picked up a CD by a guy named Daniel Powter and thought, What does this remind me of? Then it hit me: Welcome to the Beautiful South (but not completely--more like the Beautiful South meets Macy Gray).

This disc is a wonderful compilation of very dark songs. The music is extremely listenable and the lyrics, cloaked by the upbeat music, are wonderfully ironic and absurd. My wife loved & listened to "woman in the wall" at least a dozen times before she finally realized what the lyrics were about!

The best work by TBS. Woman in the Wall and You Keep It All In are my two favorites. I meet few people in the US who dig this band. Youn can't compare this original band to anyone, they don't have as much as that "pop" sound as Heatens old band The Housemartins did. When will these guys get big? Who knows I didn't here of them until 1994 and they have been my favorite since. This album is better then the gloomy Choke which I like a lot but many songs seem to be about vomiting and loving ones self and not as cheerful as 0898. Buy it you should like it.

I like this CD a lot, but it's not one of those you can really listen to on the way to school and all. It's more of like cleaning up the house music. But anyways, there's a lot catchy and amusing songs. The lyrics are really original too. Every song is like walking in the mind of a loony tune. "Woman in the Wall" sounds like something from Edgar Allan Poe. There are songs about showbiz, politics, criminals, and of course, it even has those mushy love songs! I cant stop singing "I love you but you're boring" in the shower. All the songs are unique and entertaining. I must say, I've never heard anything quite like it. Frankly, it's bizzare, but in a friendly way. It's definately worth a listen. But if you're really going to buy it, I suggust you get the Japanese import. It's got some bonus tracks that are must haves.

I got this album from my girlfriend back in 1990. She thought some of the lyrics applied to our twisted but great relationship. Turns out she was right. The sense of humor of the lyrics combined with the "sky rockets in flight" feel of the music hit it on the head. Ironically, she broke up with me shortly after! Song for Whoever was proably the soundtrack to it. Nonetheless, an excellent album. And 13 years later, I'm hearing cuts from it on the radio. Go figure.

A good buy if you enjoy some wit in your drive to work!

I just want to give my two cents -- I have thoroughly enjoyed this album for a long time. I highly recommend you give it a listen. And if my wife happens to read this -- I LOVE YOU!!