Let's Get Out of This Country

Camera Obscura

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 6, 2006)
• Original Release Date: June 6, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Merge Records
• ASIN: B000FFJ8CG
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,871 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Literate, recombinant indie-pop doesn't get much better than Scottish act Camera Obscura. And Let's Get Out of This Country, their third album, is easily their best yet. The male-female vocals of their first two albums are gone, as John Henderson's left the band. But as the album was recorded in Sweden with Jari Haapalainen, the dude who helped the Concretes achieve their Spector-ish, candy-coated sheen, the same charms are at work here. "Dory Previn" is a slow country rocker that recalls the pastoral sound of the sorely-missed band Opal, while other songs are more organ-driven and rollicking. Lead singer-songwriter Tracyanne Campbell's lyrics are smart, wonderful, and direct ("You can't see that you're the same as all the stupid people that you hate / I'm not saying I'm free from blame because I need all the friends I can get"). This is orchestral pop that's immaculately produced and fun as hell, even though the protagonists of the songs readily, almost selflessly dive into the sloppiest of romantic situations ("I've got my life of complication here to sort out"). --Mike McGonigal

Product Description

The stellar new album from Glasgow's spectacular pop sextet was influenced by a wide variety of heroes: Jimmy Webb, Lloyd Cole, Connie Francis, Skeeter Davis, The Supremes, and David Lynch. Decidedly upbeat and catchy while also beautifully romantic, quiet, and reflective, this record does not disappoint. The LP includes a coupon for a free MP3 download of "Let's Get Out Of This Country".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Camera Obscura to Date, June 10, 2006

By	M. JEFFREY MCMAHON "herculodge" (Torrance, CA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I've been a fan of Camera Obscura for a couple years now, buying some select tunes off the Internet, but found I had to buy the whole album here because every song is a gem. Description: Bright, nostalgic, melancholic dream pop with wistful female vocals. Great travel music for winding up and down the Italian coast with the top down (or at least pretend to). I hear elements of The Sundays, The Smiths, Belle & Sebestian, Beaumont, Lovejoy, St. Etienne, The Clientele, and Radio Dept. If you want an introduction to Camera Obscura, this is a great place to begin.

28 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars By far the best Camera Obscura album yet, July 11, 2006

By	Robert Moore (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is simply one of the loveliest albums you will ever hope to hear. Tracyanne Campbell and her band mates in Camera Obscura have labored under the shadow of their fellow Glasgow musicians Belle and Sebastian. It doesn't help that like Belle and Sebastian their songs are more softly edged and lyrical than most other rock bands. But although there is a superficial resemblance between the two bands, especially when Imogen Campbell takes the vocals instead of Murdoch, there are also significant differences. Campbell is a far more delicate songwriter than Stuart Murdoch and her compositions are far more delicate. She lacks his brilliant quirkiness and astonishing gift for melody, though her songs frequently feature very fine melodies. But Murdoch is probably the finest melodist in music today, so the comparison is unfair to her. On the other hand, most of Campbell's lyrics express emotions that I can relate to far more easily than Murdoch's. He may be the greater artist, but she lives pretty much where I do.

Camera Obscura turned out two very good albums before this one, but this is easily their best effort yet. All of the songs are consistently excellent and Campbell's lovely voice graces everyone. She is a remarkably subtle singer, very gifted in her phrasing and expression. But as fine as she is as a singer, she is better as a songwriter. I like a lot of the cuts on this disc, in particular "I Need All the Friends I Can Get" and the truly sad "Dory Previn," about the young Mia Farrow breaking up her and Andre Previn's marriage. But my favorite cut by far is the extraordinary "Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken," named for one of Lloyd Cole's best songs on his classic album RATTLESNAKES, "Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?"

All in all, this is one of my favorite albums of the year so far. I think it will appeal strongly to anyone who loves Belle and Sebastian, but also to people who are drawn to Mazzy Star. The album possesses much of the same wistfulness and longing found on their albums. Basically, if you love wonderfully subtle and magnificently fragile music, this is going to win your heart.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bringing back the good stuff!, September 6, 2006

By	Loverboy (California!) - See all my reviews

Well, I'm always searching for great new music, from early 1900s jazz to modern experimental electronica. I LOVE early 60s music, so this band really stands out to me. This album has a great late 1950s-early 60s pop/bop/folk/motown/rock flavor to it; The vintage sounds as well as the progessions and melodies. There is a really honest feeling to the vocals that I don't hear in much music since the turn of the century. I liked it the instant i heard it. It makes me think of the Smiths with a female singer and a more vintage sound. Nothing wrong with that!