How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Good
Value for Money
Advantages:
Very clever, dark lyrics . Great musical performances .
Disadvantages:
Wish I'd found the album earlier !
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
By means of introduction, I'm a 19 year old student, studying History at University. I am not your stereotypical Beautiful South fan... That is not to say that all Beautiful South fans are the same, it is meant to highlight the opposite. Despite having, perhaps a traditional middle age following, I know many people of my age who enjoy the music of The Beautiful South (and their forerunners "the Housemartins")
Anyway, there was a point to the introduction I guess.. Whilst packing my things to come to university, mindful of the small space available in the car and therefore sacrficing items which I didn't either really want or really need, I got to the issue of my music collection.
Now, I have a LOT of music! I didn't really want to bring all 300+ cds with me however. It was during the rigorous selection process that I "refound" my Beautiful South cds and "rediscovered" my appreciation for their tunes, lyrics and general outlook!
MIAOW is The Beautiful South's (TBS from now on!) 4th album, realised in March 1994. It boasts 12 tracks, which are as follows:
Hold On To What? [6:28] Good As Gold [3:50] Especially For You [3:49] Everybody's Talkin' [2:39] Prettiest Eyes [4:10] Worthless Lie [6:39] Hooligans Don't Fall In Love [4:47] Hidden Jukebox [3:26] Hold Me Close (Underground) [5:28] Tattoo [4:42] Mini-correct [3:48] Poppy [4:26]
Other works from the Beautiful South include (in order): Welcome to the Beautiful South, Choke, 0898, MIAOW, Blue is the Colour, Quench, Painting it Red, Gaze. They have also released 2 greatest hits compilations; Carry on up the Charts and Solid Bronze.
The reason I am writing the op about MIAOW is that despite being introduced to the band through the album "Blue is the Colour" (which I still thoroughly enjoy), it is MIAOW which in my opinion boasts the most incisive and clever lyrics against lush musical backgrounds. The songs are individually witty, catchy, cutting and sincere whilst working well together as an album.
From the opening track "Hold on to What?" through to the finale in "Poppy" (a song focussing on both the sick human sense of humour and the harshness of human conflict) Paul Heaton et al, take the listener on a cruise through various themes - its bumpy but its worth it.
Loneliness, love, sex, death and an overall feeling of hopelessness are visited again and again and applied to varying experiences within life, at once with a soft, tenderness and then again with a confrontational feel. This is a cd which will make you think about life, love, war, and then curl up to you afterwards and help you to relax and clear your head!
Highlights for me are the effortlessly beautiful "Prettiest Eyes" which is a lovesong built not around grand gestures and romantic meals but about endurance, true, lasting love, and "Mini-Correct" which by contrast is the work of a mysoginistic male with a sharp tongue, unwilling to own up to the consequences of his actions (getting a girl pregnant).
Overall, the album is one for fans of TBS. Fans of the Housemartins would probably enjoy it but to be honest, its hard to compare THIS album to the works of many other artists. This is NOT the cd which made TBS the nations' "2nd favourite band" but it is one which is a favourite amongst many existing fans of the band.
I recommend the Beautiful South overall, without doubt. I would recommend however trying "Blue is the Colour" of either of the Greatest Hits albums before trying this one!
Oh and to bring the op full circle, I ended up bringing ALL of my Beautiful South music to university, I just couldn't resist!
Happy listening.
James.
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How does it rate alongside the competition
Outstanding
Cover / Inlay Design and Content
Good
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