Customer Reviews

You See Colours

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

 

 

...then its likely that you already know about this group. In fact, you've probably already nabbed this album and are looking for evidence that someone likes it as much as you do. I'm one of those people. In fact, I think I like it better (as a whole) than Faded Seaside Glamour.

This is technically The Delays second full-length album, however they've recorded at least as many songs for B-sides to their singles (all of which are worthy of tracking down, I might add). Of these, Ride It On, Whenever You Fall I Die & Lost In A Melody are must-haves.

Delays records definitely have that Phil Spector-ish "wall of sound" texture--big, layered melodies that would sound lush coming from transistor AM radios. The effect is a perfect compliment to Greg Gilbert's powerful falsetto. The lyrics can be downright indecipherable at times, but you won't care cuz the melodies are so addictive.

Check out the archived live performance by the Delays from 7/28/2004 on KCRW.org.

I didn't think it was possible for the Delays to top their debut release - but they have. While "Faded Seaside Glamour" is more immediately catchy and refined, "You See Colours" comes at you in a much more intense manner. The songs are more mature, the musicianship is top-notch and the recording sparkles with fat bottom-end and soaring harmonies. The high points for me are Valentine and Winters Memory Of Summer, but there's honestly not a bad track on this release. The Delays put it all together - great songwriting, strong musicianship and excellent production in a genre-bending mix that has something for everybody. It's a shame these guys don't get more recognition here in the States. Buy it!

The first time I heard anything by The Delays, I thought it was something by Blondie.

Delays are a UK quartet, and this CD (their second) has a catchy sunny synth rock sound with tight harmonies, and lead vocalist Greg Gilbert's falsetto (think Savage Garden) towering over with ease. Sugary sweet with an edge.

It's tough for me to pick standouts from an album this good. Everything is so melodic; `Too much in your life', `You and me' (with great cutting violins), the swirling synths of `Valentine' (with great scratchy guitars set to a dance beat), `Given time', are all beautiful upbeat songs, with the lone ballad being the closing track `Waste of space', which sounds dreamy and atmospheric.

Like the title says, very colorful pop music!

If you like your IHOP all syrup and no pancakes, "You See Colours" is probably the record that plays over your diabetic coma. If you can stomach it, this is unabashed pop music basking in its own sweet-toothed, kitschy luster. The new Delays album doesn't so much fire off songs; rather, battering rams of melody and harmony. It's a disc that conceivably could be enjoyed equally by mainstream pop listeners (more accustomed to electronic tinsel and ornament in their music) as well as more demanding fans of well-crafted indie pop. Bubblegum swallowers are going to fatten up quick with "You See Colours"; more than anything, the music suggests that the main thing to remember is to have a good time listening.

Principle songwriter and vocalist Greg Gilbert makes that easy-- he can hit high notes with a tonal purity that would make Bellamy or Buckley blush, but holds enough in reserve for crunchy vocal caterwauling should the situation call for such. "You See Colours" begins with an a capella figure breaking into a synth-string-aided toe-tapper ("You & Me"), immediately followed by the "My Sharona"-ish "can't help but dance to it" groove of "Valentine."

"This Town's Religion" plays like a bizarre lovechild of REM and Joy Division, and tunes like "Lillian" are surefire subconscious classics, full of riffs and "oooh-whooo" melodies that stick to even the most non-stick cynical of minds. Sure, a few bland by-the-numbers numbers ("Winter's Memory of Summer") can bring down any record. But back them up with the pistoning "Out of Nowhere," with its eight mile high keyboard, swaggering backbeat and well-placed, muted guitar, and hardly anyone will notice.

By the time "Waste of Space" starts to spin some drama with confident, simple guitar chords (supported by a twist of La's in the cracking vocals), it's easy to call this record "brilliant," even if that just means shiny with sun-soaked melodies. It's superb Beatles pop wired on caffeine, bouncing off the walls of a studio filled with electronic keyboards. And as might be expected, that is so, so sweet.

the first album was so good - walking the fine line between cheesy pop and beautiful sentiment. this one is just all cheese. the guitars have been replaced with 80's (the bad 80's) sounding synthesizers and the hooks, which may still be there, are just buried under layer after layer of production. i can't even believe this is the same band. i played it for several friends who i turned on to the delays without telling them who this was. the reception was..uh..not good.

I love these guys. I saw their first ever gig in the US and drank with them. Their first albumn was very good and this one will have you hooked. The 11 songs are very good and well produced. If you liked their first cd, get this one as well. Its not Punk music, thank god, but more like their single Lost In A Melody that came out after their first cd.

I thought the first few cuts were near the quality of Faded Seaside Glamour, but then it got too bland.

Huge letdown from FSG (which I consider a haunting and brilliant piece of work). What happened to these guys? It's like they're just going through the motions on this one. Quick-someone zap them with a defibrilator.