Birds - Collections Of Colonies Of Bees

Advantages: 30 plus years of hits; no "Chain Reaction"
Disadvantages: Lots of rubbish ballads that girls and wimps will like

...ears you begin to realise that almost everyone loves the Bee Gees but not everyone loves all the Bee Gees songs. And this is the inherant problem with a 2CD collection of this band - much of the material is too samey. There are no experiments and everything is done as though following some kind of songwriting-by-numbers pamphlet. I'VE GOTTA GET A MESSAGE TO YOU's weighty chorus and baggage-laden verses follow suit. Three ballads in a row really is too much to bear for this reviewer. Then things get a bit interesting. I STARTED A JOKE and FIRST OF MAY prove me wrong and highlight the band's lighter but more obscure side. Willing to mildly experiment and show off a weird side to their music, the latter reached number 6 in 1969. The former sunk without trace. Every band reaches a nadir, a low point in their career where the ideas... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Easily accessible, light, beautiful voice
Disadvantages: Less quirky than her earlier work, too melancholy for some

...No More 7) If I Had You 8) Captured 9) That's Alright 10) Blue Blue Heart 11) It's Over (UK track listing: 1. Captured, 2. Birds, 3. No Crying No More, 4. Winning Arrow, 5. If I Had You, 6. Say After Me, 7. Listen, 8. That's Alright, 9. Blue Blue Heart, 10. Ruby Nights, 11. It's Over and a bonus track - 12. Somewhere In The Night) Bic has written and produced all the songs on this album and the simplicity of the production allows her beautiful voice to shine. It is a romantic collection of love songs, both upbeat and melancholy. If you have never heard a Bic Runga song I suggest you track one down on the internet. You can hear songs from Birds on both her official website and her myspace page. I will attempt to describe her voice and musical style (I have no musical training at all, I am not pretending to be an expert): She has... Read review

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Advantages: First time on cd for many tracks
Disadvantages: pastiche agenda limits wider appeal

...a dozen top tenners ,the unheard of but unforgettabe "Baby its you" sounding like a note perfect cover version of a song thet never existed provided the agenda for most of the first album included here ,and the nearly hit "Wonderful"with its flutes and strings still sounds fresh and innocent,and innocent being a perfect adjective to describe this enjoyable experience . Mostly remembered for her bee hive hair do and cod glamour ,"The Platinum Collection" offers a opportunity to show Mari Wilson in a more complimentary light ,being at least as entertaining as her contemporaries of the time like The Belle Stars and the Paul Weller sponsored Tracie!,the obvious nostalgic agenda can irritate after a while but then again this record is not designed for repeated plays merely quick bursts of sunday morning youthful recall. This is the first time... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful