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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excerpted, http://kachinacrowe.journalspace.com, #258., August 16, 2004
<u>Gorgeous George</u> is a master piece. Released in 1993, <u>George</u> was Scottish singer Edwyn Collins' third solo effort after six years leading the successful post punk band Orange Juice. This album produced Collins' biggest hit to date: "A Girl Like You" heard on the soundtrack to <u>Empire Records</u>. "Girl Like You" combines a hard edge and pounding bassline with Collins' lounge lizard-esque vocal quality to create a song that could be a Rat Pack re-mix. This is no where near the best of the album which opens with "The Campaign for Real Rock" a blistering take on the 90s alternative scene:
'Yes, yes , yes its the summer festival/ the truely detestible summer festival...'
Fast forward a few tracks to "Low Expectations": 'You've been down this road before/ which is not to say you're bored/ or that you shouldn't want for more/ it's just your expectations should be lower...'
Are all of Collins' songs this cynical? For the most part. However their wry, dark tone fit perfectly with Collins' extrodinarily sardonic voice. The album is rounded though with up tempo numbers, "A Girl Like You" and "Make Me Feel Again", making the album a rocker. Ballads like North of Heaven and "If You Could Love Me" are clever AND torch worthy. <u>Gorgeous George</u>'s parting shot however, a secret track, reminds you which side of the sentimental fence the masterful Edwyn Collins truely falls on.
I reccomend this album to -- EVERYONE! no, really, I do. However I especially reccomend <u>Gorgeous George</u> to those of you who are riding the Franz Ferdinand wave. Continue with your Scottish theme, but don't go all Proclaimers on me:>P
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
High Expectations, August 5, 2005
A Girl like You" gave Edwyn Collins a hit single of the likes of which he had never seen(despite "Rip it Up"s top ten status in the UK back in 83)but no artist could be more removed from the dreadful one hit wonder label than Postcard's proudest son.
Edwyn Collins started his musical career as the driving force of the charming and trailblazing Orange Juice that foreshadowed, in an era of post punk gloominess, a gentler,and groovier kind of pop from which the Smiths would later build upon.
With the demise of Orange Juice after three albums and an EP Edwyn kickstarted his solo career with a couple of flawed yet rewarding records leading up to his most fully realized album:Gorgeous George in which all his personas coalesced ranging from the crooner(Low Expectations),the popster(Make me feel again),the rocker(Out of this World)and the vitriolic songwriter he always had lurking below the surface(The Campaign for Real Rock)to form a trully representative sample of his craft and one of the 90's best recordings.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful voice and sardonic wit, September 17, 2003
Edwyn Collins showcases his wit and his wonderful singing voice on this 1995 release. "A Girl Like You" is just the tip of the iceberg--Collins' sly sense of humor comes through on songs like "Low Expectations", "North of Heaven", "Gorgeous George" and the bonus track "Moron". The music is wonderful all the way through switching from the guitar-driven to more soulful, groovy tracks. I had the pleasure of seeing Edwyn live in Austin recently and he was fantastic--just him and a guitar. He played many songs off this CD and they were just as good without all the fancy studio effects--a true testament to Collins' craft as a songwriter. And yes, his voice is just as great live. Note: Apparently "A Girl Like You" is being picked up for the next Demi Moore movie which will bring the song to a whole new audience.
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by Edwyn Collins 
