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Not his best solo effort..... in fact his first. Not very much like normal Beautiful South but later efforts are well worth checking out.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Brilliant album arrived in good time
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Possibly one of the best CDs of 2008, Paul Heaton returns with a magnificent second solo offering - one of those rare CDs where there simply isn't a weak song. Much rockier than his work with The Beautiful South and the Housemartins, you will be immediately impressed with the melodic content, hook lines, light and shade. But listen again to the sardonic wit and clever, sometimes bitter, lyrics and you begin to realise what a gifted songwriter Paul is. Opening with a George Formby style title track, you wonder what on earth you've bought! Complete with jumps and crackles this amusing ditty is merely a prelude to the classic guitar riff intro to "I Do". Steve Trafford's guitar is a tour-de-force throughout. The catchy first single "Mermaids And Slaves" follows at break-neck speed. It would have been a massive hit if not for the controversial opening line that no doubt prevented popular air-play! "The Pub" is an inventive story about ... well, a pub and the various fads and changes over the years from pool nights to discos - it really grows on you. There are 12 brilliant songs including a Beautiful South style "The Ring From Your Hand" culminating in wonderful acapella ending. DJ only single "Little Red Rooster" has classic advice for those "middle aged or slightly older men - if they look young to you my friend, you sure look old to them!" Heaton saves the best for the home straight with a glorious "God Bless Texas" about the his views of the excesses of people from that particular State - bitter irony at its best ending with a memorable singalong hook line. A rockabilly "The Kids These These Days" is transformed with a surprisingly beautiful harmony at the end. Classic live stage favourite "Everthing Is Everything" tells us "the thin are getting thinner, the big are getting bigger, till 5 and 75 year olds worry 'bout their figure ..." The Cross Eyed Rambler comes with full lyrics in an amusing booklet containing provocative pictures adorning a pub wall. If you can find it, buy the Deluxe version with 2 extra songs. Buy this CD at once ... you won't regret it! Highly recommended.Read full review
Fantastic. Classic Heaton :) Full of tunes and dark humour. Would recommend this cd for any TBS or Housemartins fan.
Initially feels very different for Paul from the music we're used to from nearly 20 years of the Beautiful South. However, after a few plays, lyrically, and vocally he's back and the familiar influences and sounds are there for all to hear, be it with a much rockier and guitar based sound. The worst thing is no beautiful sounds or duets with Alison Wheeler. Good album overall. 8/10
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