Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline - Gomez

Advantages: It's got songs Gomez fans have wanted for ages, like Beatles cover"Getting Better"
Disadvantages: It's not as coherent as previous albums.

So this is Gomez's 3rd album. Only instead of recording a new batch of songs, this is a collection of b-sides and rarities. I've been a Gomez fan from as near to the beginning as you can be, without being a school/college/uni. friend. I saw them live twice at Glastonbury 1998, when they did 2 sets, having heard 78 Stone Wobble. I've since seen them a further 5 times live, so with being such a big fan, I've got quite a few of these tracks already. ...
...you'll quite possible know it as the first track they played. If you like Gomez there is no reason why you won't like this album. "Bring You're Lovin' Back Here" is a good Gomez jumping song, with a rousing chorus. "Buena Vista" is a beautiful as the butterfly in the opening line, with Ian Ball's voice floating gently across the gorgeous melody. Phillips electrical company have an advert on tv, which has at the end bands covering the Beatles song ... Read review

Advantages: Some fantastic songs, great alternative versions, slightly less inhibited due to the fact its a mixed bag
Disadvantages: Patchy - I doubt many people will like all of it

As a third album, one of the most original British bands of late decided to release a mixture of B-sides, unreleased tracks and radio sessions. As a friend of mine said to me "so, sort of like a bootleg then?"...Thankfully, the album is better than that. Whilst not rivalling the consistency of Gomez's two other "proper" albums, as a collection this CD stands up very well on its own. There are some truly fantastic songs which really deserved a more ...
...terrific Flavors and the gorgeous Buena Vista, to name a few. The radio sessions are also worthwhile - the alternative versions of 78 Stone Wobble (78 Stone Shuffle) and We Haven't Turned Around (X-Ray Version on the LP) show how well the results can be if the band change things around. Of course, such a long collection (15 tracks) doesn't come without some "throwaways", like the silly Cowboy Song or Emergency Surgery. But even the most cynical listeners ... Read review

Advantages: Good cover art and one or two good tracks
Disadvantages: Feels like they are just churning it out for the sake of a new album now

...Alibi and Blue Moon Rising...however, Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline left me feeling like I had just wasted £12. It contains a couple of rehashed tracks from Bring It On and only a couple of tracks that I actually liked...the rest were just filling in the horrendous gaps and not very well. If you are a completist, then you have to get the album anyway, but if you are just tempted to get a Gomez CD and don't have either of the first two, get ... Read review

Advantages: gomez - anything they do is great
Disadvantages: nope

This might as well have been released as an official album it's so good. The quality of the songs is consistently high, and there are some really excellent tracks such as rosemary and high on liquid skin. The cowboy song is quite random and really funny. The versions of the album songs (78 stone shuffle, we haven't turned around x-ray) are really good, but I still cant decide whether theyre as good as the album versions or not. The whole cd is good ... Read review

Advantages: random and eclectic collection of Gomez-esque songs
Disadvantages: Gomez is Gonez after all

On the Gomez highway lies the an eclectic gathering of Pedestrians who form the Album, "Abandonned Shoping Trolley etc", these pedestrians are in danger of being knocked over ny the rampant omnibus of taste. Why you might ask? Yes, on the one hand it is eclectic and track six, the American Beauty soundtrack is fab, and emotionally compelling. yet, the Gomez sound? The Beat;es cover sums it up. the groany voice is simply too irritating, and Lennon ...
...The rest of the songs simply apply that Gomez formula, which at first you think cool student chill out chic, then, you think, repetitive, annoying and in need of evolution. If you are a first time Gomex person, then this will be fab. If you've already had the pleasure, be warned because it is all a bit similiar ... Read review

Advantages: Excellent songwriting, Ben's vocals
Disadvantages: Bit too similar to Bring it On??

...for example. Don't expect it to be OK Computer, more like Bring it On v2.0 but this is of course no bad thing. and if you wished Gomez would be a little more 'out there' then buy Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline, the B-sides and out-takes album they've just released.... Read review

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Advantages: Waster, a bit more experimental
Disadvantages: The repetitive Dajon Song, not as good as previous releases

...I'm not one for bucking the trend, but my views on Machismo might differ from other Gomez fans. The CD itself is a 5 track EP, which was released after Liquid Skin but before the Abandoned Shopping Trolley Hotline collection. Owing to the fact its an EP it allowed the band to experiment a bit more, using samplers and drum machines obviously on this release. The result, I find is a bit patchy. The song Machismo is nice enough, but the lyrics are a bit confusing ("He don't do what it from"??). Do's and Dont's I find just a little dull. Touchin' Up begins in the same trend, but thankfully recovers and becomes a lot more inspiring, and the snappy Waster that follows is probably my highlight of the EP. The final track - The Dajon Song - is 13 minutes song and I have to say its certainly a few minutes longer than it should be. I don... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful