My name is Martin Scholes. I like writing reviews on Ciao. I am married, we have a cockatiel and a c...
My name is Martin Scholes. I like writing reviews on Ciao. I am married, we have a cockatiel and a cat. And a growing African Grey. Who orders the cat around!
Member since:06.12.2003
Reviews:334
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This first song on this CD is Monday Morning 5:19. A song about the agony of finding out that perhaps your perfect lover is not as perfect as you might have thought. And perhaps might not even be your lover, either… The song seems to have a great many influences from the 1960s, and has some rather nice lush strings.
Dream Another Dream is the next song and seems to continue to reflect 1960s influences. There's definitely a rather pleasing hint of the best of Peter Noon and Herman's Hermits, about this song.
Broken Barbie Doll starts with a Victorian music box feel, which suddenly launches into a rather meaty rock track, which is pure Rialto. It is a story of the lost hopes and dreams of a broken Barbie Doll, "sleeping pills and alcohol, and nights she'd rather not recall." A grim song, reflecting the reality of the lives that some people seem to drift into. Perhaps an example of life being something that happens to you, when you were not looking?
Summers Over starts with a simple organ, with some large, echoing guitar playing, and some great drum playing, that steadily moves the song on. A song of the end of summer at a seaside holiday resort. Could there be a real life story at the heart of this song? It certainly has a raw, "earthy" feel to it.
Untouchable was another hit for the group. It's a love song, but with some rather strange and somewhat eerie, intense lyrics. "If you were an angel, I would cut off your wings, to keep you with me."
Hard Candy is sort of part 1960s rock and part indi-pop. A love song about Hard Candy? There is, of course, more to this song than meets the eye.
Quarantine. Starts with a harpsichord, then slides into a slow, ponderous yet rich tune, with somewhat impenetrable lyrics. I can't help thinking that perhaps this kind of song might have been why the star of Rialto burnt out all too quickly.
Lucky Number is an example of rhythmic pop, that shape shifts into something harder and more edgy and urgent. For this lucky number is the number of a drug dealer. "You've got a lucky number for everytime you need something to numb you." Clever lyrics that rhyme well, too…
Love Like Semtex. Perhaps people who have ever had a lover who comes into and leaves your life like, well, like Semtex, can quite grasp the meaning of this song. Nice strings, too. Despite the title this is quite a moving little song.
When We Were Together. A sort of psycho version of Just My Imagination? A dark and somewhat unpleasant song. But then, sometimes life is rather dark and unpleasant. A little too similar in musical form to Monday Morning 5.19, perhaps.
The Underdogs is an interesting song, with echoes (literally!) of Hank Marvin's guitar style, with added strings and trumpets. Tells the story of underdogs who seem to think they'll have their day, soon! (Incidentally, the lyrics on the sleeve notes are different to the lyrics on the song. Though the lyrics as sung make more sense.
The last track is Milk of Amnesia. A slow, 'lazy 'song, with semi-Latin American bongo-style drums. The lyrics are actually a hymn to the use of alcohol to numb memories and or pain. Even a spot of crooning (sampled, perhaps?) and some whistling to add some little extra something to the song. Not sure that it completely worked, but there you are.
Rialto had four or five hits and then seemed to disappear as quickly as they seemed to rise to the top. Perhaps they were a little too self-indulgent for their own good? This CD does contain some interesting and brave ideas and some fine musicianship, too.
According to a review of the band that I read, they made it very big in South Korea. But not so big, after the initial hits, back home. A pity, really. But that's life, boy, as the soap salesman said...
I can't recall the price I paid, but do check on Ciao's price comparison service for current price.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Varied melodies, wonderful lyrics, variety of instruments Disadvantages: Not for all (and you may have passed on before the end of my op! Sorry about that, got carried away :( )
Excelle 30.03.2001 ·
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Review of Rialto - Rialto
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