Rest In Peace to the Boo Radleys
After 6 diverse and exciting albums the Boo Radleys caleld it a day, although Martin Carr's recently released 'Fingertip Saint sessions' discs under the name Brave Captain are worth a go. It was a fine way to go out. Rarely has an album been inspired by classic pop, Britpop, Soul, Jazz and Electronic at the same time and not sounded like a pretentious mess. Highlight in my mind is Eurostar, where singer Sice's voice gloriously peaks and flows. The title track is equally beautiful, but it's tracks like High as Monkeys and Adieu CLo-CLo which are particularly unpredictable. The way the latter shamelessly samples Curtis Mayfield is a nice touch, and Sice's voice is again on top form. One mystery is why the excellent Put Your Arms... was not on the UK release as it's a lovely retro sound. Unlike may peopel I'm not that keen on the first 2 tracks, but after that the group is on top form. Lyrically Martin Carr si one of the best, and here he digs into tobacco companies (Monuments For A Dead Century's Philip Morris section), the Millenium (Monuments, Future is Now), and everythign else imaginable. With a few good old-fashioned love songs as well. This is probably their best album, although C'Mon Kids is up there if you like an edgy sound and Giant Steps has teh great elements of this, though it seems a bit looser. An under-rated gem.
A Fine Bookend
Though they've parted, the music produced by the Boo Radleys should stand the test of time. Unfortunately there aren't a whole lot of people who know about this gem of a band. Formed in Liverpool in the midst of the shoegazer craze (see My Bloody Valentine, Chapterhouse) they created an impressive catalog of music through this swansong. Opening with slow and gentle guitar tune invaded by an Aphex Twin style drum machine beating and some weepy violin you won't be sure of what to make of it at first. I know I wasn't on first listen some 4 years ago. The collection of songs tap into many of the same themes that remained constant throughout the Boo's career - politics, anquish in love, anguish in loneliness, good friends. The highlight has to be 'Heaven's At The Bottom Of This Glass', an excellent melding of guitars, piano, percussion (including bongos and tambourine), horns, bass and Sice's ever-smooth voice. The album bounces from the highly energetic 'Free Huey' to the mellower, 70's AM-radio tinged 'Song From The Blueroom'. 'Comb Your Hair' manages to capture the essence of the bubblegum pop that was prevalent in the 50's. 'Monuments For A Dead Century' builds from acoustic guitar and flute into shimmering guitar and synthesized vocals and is a beautiful tune. The album doesn't suffer through any inconsistencies and maintains the pop mastery of The Boo Radleys throughout. It is a piece of work the band should be proud of and should be appreciated by their fans, new and old alike. It is unfortunate they weren't as recognized as they should have been for their craft. I highly recommend their '93 album Giant Steps as it is in my opinion the finest and most complete pop music album recorded in the 90's
We May Never Be This Young Again!
Anyone expecting to stare at their shoes and cry should not get this album. But if you want to hear one of the funnest, most catchiest, and just a dog-gone good album then cop this album. A far cry from "Everything's Alright Forever"; which I like very much, this album takes the great song writing from that album and throws it against feel-good rythms and beats. You'll find yourself singing and thinking about the great lyrics found throughout the whole album. This album will appeal to fans of their earlier recordings, with a few slow & soft songs that are terrific. But the up-tempo even "techno-ee" songs is what makes this album unique and great. Can't pick out any stand-out songs because literally all the songs on the albumt are great.
A Good End
The Boo Radleys split up shortly after this album was released after 10 years together (due to this album's poor record sales). I am pleased to say that they have ended on a high.Though perhaps not in the top bracket of Britsh bands of the 90's, they did give us some memorable tunes with several on this album.
'Blue Room In Archway' kicks of the album in fine style giving Martin Carr the chance to get rid of his anger early. 'The Old Newsstand At Hamilton Square' is a very emotional song with fine string and brass backing over the sensitive vocals.
'Free Huey', possibly the song of the album, tells of a man's paranoia with a clever desperate feel, due to the backing vocals and shuffle drumming. It melts cleverly into a middle-eight with dance drums against psychedelic vocals.
The Beatlesque 'Kingsize ' is another highlight, incorporating a simple melodic tune over rock piano and Lennon/McCartney/Harrison-like harmonies. 'She is everywhere' must also be mentioned, as it is one of the most emotive, sensitive love-songs the Boo's have ever done.
'High as Monkeys' shows the band's willingness to experiment, and the medieval harpsichord and string section work perfectly with the psychedelic tune. The Touching 'Jimmy Webb is God' shows yet another side to this versatile band.
Though the album does include a few sub-standard songs ('Heaven's at the Bottom of This Glass', 'Adieu Clo Clo' and 'Come Your Hair'), it is an album that makes you wonder what the band could have achieved if they had stayed together.
WOW I didn't even know they broke up!
I juststarted listening to them again and wanted to see if they had a new album out. I started listeing to them when everything alright forever came out because I picked it up at random and listened to it and bought all their albums except cmon kids since then. I want to get that now but I see it will cost me a lot. Anyway....
It is pretty obvious that all their albums are a bit different from one another. This seems more polished to me which can be conceived as good or bad I guess. I like to think of it as "tight". Because that is how I hear it. Every song is great on this album, as with every song on every album they have put out. I actually didn't like their album "Wake Up!" very much because it was far too poppish for me, it still has some mreits though. This was/is one of the best bands I have ever discovered and have over 700 cds. They will always be one of my favourites and there sound will not fade ever. You must check them out if you have not listened to them before and stumbled upon this album. Everythings alright forever is probably their best imho but this is pretty darn good even in comparison to that even though it is different. "Giant Steps" is a masterpiece as well, to me it is a closse call between giant steps and this one as to which is second best. You must get them both! Have you all listened to the album "Learning to Walk"? I am about to listen to that after not listening to it for a while. GOOD STUFF!
I am going to go cry now.
Thanks.
While Kingsize has some electronic beats thrown into the mix, the British band's pop-inspired psychedelic rock isn't much different from its earlier efforts. Fueled by Martin Carr's exciting guitar playing and infectious songwriting as well as by lead singer Sice's dramatic crooning, Kingsize exhibits the Radleys' many musical strengths. Infusing Beatlesque pop with modern guitar textures and trippy production techniques, the band walks a fine line between radio-friendly ditties and underground rock anthems. With songs like "Jimmy Webb Is God" and "Free Huey," Carr reveals himself as a clever lyricist with equally impressive abilities in the realm of guitar architecture. Although lacking the peaks of their classic Giant Steps album, this is a consistent effort from one of England's better rock ensembles. --Mitch Myers
1998 album for Creation by the British alternative act. 14tracks, including the single 'Free Huey'. Most of the tunesare harmony-laden pop numbers; a few find the groupventuring into dance territory. Mojo magazine picked'Kingsize' as their Indie Album Of The Month for November1998.
