Whole Story, The - Kate Bush > Reviews > Krazy 'bout Kate

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	Great Music, Good Lyrics, Very relaxing
Disadvantages:	Her high voice annoys some people

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

My aunty has been a fan of Kate Bush for over 20 years. She has all the albums, videos and has even driven miles all over the UK to see her in concert. A few years ago she played me Wuthering Heights and i loved it. She was so pleased that somebody else in the family liked her (everybody else complains that her voice is too shrill- rubbish!) that she went out and bought me all the albums.
I love them but the Whole Story is definetly my favourite. I used to listen to it every day but that was a bit of an overdose so i have cut down. It was first released over 15 years ago- back in 1986. It is all of her songs from her previous 5 albums starting with her debut single Wuthering Heights which was written in 1979, when she was only 19.

The Tracks
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1. Wuthering Heights (4.58). The album kicks of with this lovely little number which was as i have said her first single. You can proabbly guess by the title that it is based on the wonderful novel by Emily Bronte. It is all about the tragic story of Heathcliffe and his beloved Cathy who died during childbirth. In the song Kate is Cathy. She is singing to Heathcliffe that she is Cathy and she has come home and wants him to let her inside. (Its me, i'm Cathy, i've come home, so wow- a-how let me in at your window etc.). It's very moving and its my favourite track on the album. It shot straight into the number 1 spot on the UK charts in 1979 and was Kate's only number 1 single in the UK.

2. Cloudbusting (5.10). This is another very moving song sung very softly. The song is all about a lover that Kate is in love with (in the song.) She adores this person and he is described as her 'yo yo'. She obviously can't stop thinking about him because 'everytime it rains, he's here in her head'. Its also about dreams that she's had and she 'wakes up crying'. Very nice song but a bit wierd in places. Strange name as well - 'Cloudbusting', oh well at least it is original.

3. The Man With The Child In His Eyes (2.40). This is all about a relationship between a young girl and an older man. The song tells how the man's eyes give away his 'inner light'. The girl really repects him and says that he's wild yet still retains some innocence. He's very real to the girl but nobody knows whether he exists or not. 'The think he's lost on some hoizon'. Its a very nice, soft and peaceful song but it seems to pass very quickly. It's the shortest track on the album.

4. Breathing (5.29). I like this song but i don't really understand it, its bizare! It appears to be about people who are working with chemicals and then they have an explosion which may kill them. It mentions: 'Plutonium twinkling in every lung' which doesn't sound very pleasant! It has people talking about half way through it which is a nice touch. Another great song! The was a really weird poster advertising this song, in which Kate is wearing huge wings and looking like a bird! Just right for the song!

5. Wow (3.45). I think this has references to Shakespeare's plays. It's all about how all the actors have learned their lines so well and they are on the stage performing. Everyone thinks they are 'unbelievable and really cool' It also has a hint of lonliness- 'We're all alone on the stage tonight' which suggests that they are not happy in some way. There's another actor who has been excluded from the play who the others think is 'amazing and really cool'. But he is not quite perfect and keeps doing things wrong and he will never make 'the screen'. The end i think the actors feel a bit sorry for him- 'we'd give you a part but you'd have to play the fool' Poor guy! Its ok this song but does get a bit annoying with all the wow-oh-wow-oh-wow-oh-wow's !!! I think you get my drift!

6. Hounds of Love (3.03) This is a song in which Kate compares herself to a fox that has been chased by hounds. She says that she has always been the coward who has hidden away from the world and been frightened of things: 'afraid of what might be hiding in the dark, hiding in the street and what might be following me' She then compares this to a fox running from the hounds: 'Here i go, it's coming for me through the trees, help me someone, help me please'. Then there is a part in the middle of the song where she finds an exhausted fox that had ben caught by dogs but she is scared and runs away, she is then ashamed of doing this. It's a sad song but very well written. I won't appeal to anyone who is strongly for or strongly against fox hunting! It was on the Hounds of Love album which knocked Madonna off the number 1 spot in the UK Album charts.

7. Running up that hill (4.59). This song was originally titled 'A Deal with God' but the record company wanted it to go to countries which have other religions, so in order not to upsed anyone it was changed. It is one of the most famous Kate Bush songs and one of my favourites aswell. Its all about two people (man and a woman). The woman wants to make a deal with God so that they're places could be swapped around and they could each see what life is like for the other. 'Is there so much hate for the ones we love'. This is quite a lively song which is a change because most of the other songs are very quiet. There is an interesting video for this song which is often shown on the Magic Music Channel on Sky. Often on the internet and places the song is listed as: Running Up That Hill(A Deal With God). Love it!

8. Army Dreamers. Another sad song about a young boy that was killed in the war. People are discussing what other job he could have done so that he wouldn't have been killed. 'What could he do?, could have been a politican/father/rock star.' There are then reasons why he couldn't have done these things - didn't have a proper education/didn't even make it to his twenties/ didn't have the money for a guitar. Its very moving but suprisingly bouncy and catchy! b.t.w its 3.14 long.

9. Sat In Your Lap (3.29). Not much i can say about his song except i don't like it! It is far too 'in your face' and doesn't really fit in with the rest of the album. Sorry Kate but this is your worst song!

10. Experiment IV (4.21). Another strange song about people who are working for the military in a secret place. The are experimenting with sounds and music and making music ' for pleasure and to thrill'. They then get told to make sounds that could 'kill someone from a distance'. Not sure if it means actually kill someone or just scare them. Anyway it then goes on to say that the make sounds like: 'painful cries of mothers and terrifying screams'. Really good song and the mystery in it is a bonus.

11. The Dreaming (4.14) I have no clue what this is about. It is off the Dreaming album. It mentions war an Abourigines which suggests that it is set in Australia??? Really not sure but it is very catchy and again quite bouncy which makes a change.

12. Babooshka (3.28). Many people think that this was the start of the fall in quality of Kate's music. This is because she wore a lot less clothes in the video for this song than every before! I love it though. It's got very good musical accompaniment to it and is is just super! It's all about a jealous wife who wants to test her husband's loyalty. So she dresses up in desguise and arranges to meet him. As soon as they meet he is startled to realise that she reminds him off his 'little lady'. But it get worst- 'his little lady, before the years flew by, just like she was when she was beautiful'! A cracker! This is in my top 5 kate songs, i love it!

Price
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The Whole Story can be purchases in many good music shops such as MVC and Tower Records. It is priced between £9.99 and £13.99 depending where you get it from. amazon.co.uk sell it cheaper but you have to pay postage and packing on top of the price. Shops like HMV sometimes have a sale on old albums - 3 fro £20 or something. Keep your eyes peeled.

Overall
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This is an album that absolutely everyone should listen to at leat once. It is really worth having as it is just so good. Kate Bush is a really talented artist and i can recommend her other albums such as the Kick Inside and the Red Shoes. Rock on, Kate!

Sorry to go on for so long, but there is so much to say about this fantastic album. Thanks very much 4 reading, Paul.