Love is... (Beautiful South in general)

Name: james75

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Product:	Beautiful South in general
Date:	14/10/03 (28 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Songs, Something for Everyone, Great Live, really great

Disadvantages: You may not get the joke

You know you should never analyse a joke because it is no longer funny?.

The same is true of music, too much alcohol and friends round means it gets interesting. But you know you can't work out what makes it great it just is.

TBS are the most underrated band in the music industry. I was almost amused to see in Q their review for Gaze was relegated to a few paragraphs. The typical underdog that the TBS see themselves as. It got a perfunctory three stars as I think Quench did, I don?t know what Red got because I didn't bother reading the review.

TBS work because they are clever, Paul Heaton may paint a picture of a wandering loser just ambling through life. But TBS is a clever calculated band, who know exactly why they are good and why they are not. No one time and time again writes good songs by accident, it comes from knowing exactly what you are and what your talent is.

It is exactly why it took them three albums to really come to the forefront. Sure they had early success with their early singles, but the first two albums were not great, in fact it was those early singles that kept them afloat. Three albums in and the band knew exactly what they were about and Paul probably realised that he had got the band pretty close to how had envisaged them when they formed in 1988.

Does this calculation take away from anything TBS, well no which is strange, because when you try at something, when you become conscious of the magic, it loses it?s appeal. It?s also curious that band have continued to take a basic formula, make it sound different and enhance it. Most bands become middle of the road, I guess TBS have always been seen as the white lines, so this has never really affected them.

I?ve reviewed most TBS albums here and I?ve said on more then one occasion, this is their best album, then they go and release another one. That?s where I am now waiting for Gaze to appear, I?ve heard it?s good.
r>I susp
ect it will be good, one thing immediately springs to mind. A new female singer, most people thought when Jacqui left it was the end, but a new singer brings a new feel and as with the other female singers a new style. I think this will help the album and distance it slightly from obvious comparisons with Red. Brianna?s pinnacle album was her last, 0898 just as Jacqui?s was Red. Both singers contributed an awful lot to the sound and feel of TBS at the time.

The true heart of the band though is Paul Heaton, if the term maverick genius was awarded to one human being he would be the top contender. A man as clever as he is flawed and a man never afraid to hide. He?s over forty, and still as confrontational as ever. I don?t just mean his politics but his emotions, as a lyricist he challenges people to feel and think about things perhaps we would rather hide away.

Then there is the band, the saying the whole is greater than the sum of parts has rarely been truer. Dave Rotheray, master foil for Paul?s imagination, great tunes and seems to understand what is required intuitively. Dave Hemmingway, master vocalist who can sing like an angel and is probably more versatile than Paul, which is why he fits perfectly. Of course there is there the backing, the bass, the keyboard, that wonderful northern brass sound, they?ve all known each other for many years. Again they seem to have a natural understanding.

And they work as band because they stay within their field and carefully introduce their influences. They have probably wisely taken the option of being a cult band rather than a sell out band. Although cult may the wrong word considering how many records they have sold.

How long can they go on? That?s a tough one, I wouldn?t like to say, perhaps not forever but while everyone seems on top of it all then there must be a few more albums yet.

They seem more up for this album Gaze, the single is strong,
the publicit
y is high and Paul sounds refreshed.

Gaze will be the test, this will probably tell us how much influence Alison Wheeler will have and how she will help shape what will be a slightly different sound. That in turn will tell us what lies in the future.

Remember though this band have not made a bad album. They are simply too good, Paul Heaton assembled an expert team all those years ago. He knew exactly what he was doing and over time he has being proved right.

To use a corny phrase, that I have used before, it is life music, it is the truest reflection of everyday life, of hopes dreams and tears. Somehow softened with great tunes..

As basic product they are top drawer, the music industry which Paul seems constantly disgruntled with should get off its backside and give TBS a little more recognition. If they?re handing out song writing awards to Craig David, surely they deserve something more.