Track Listing

1. Don't Marry Her
2. Little Blue
3. Mirror
4. Blackbird on the Wire
5. Sound of North America
6. Have Fun
7. Liars' Bar
8. Rotterdam (Or Anywhere)
9. Foundations
10. Artificial Flowers
11. One God
12. Alone

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #168208 in Music
• Published on: 1996
• Released on: 1996-10-14
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import

Album Details
All New Material

Customer Reviews

Perhaps not their best, but very good nonetheless
There were only two major hits off the album, namely "Don't Marry Her" and "Rotterdam (Or Anywhere)". The rest is surprisingly good, with tracks like "Little Blue", "Artificial Flowers" and the witty and dark "Liar's Bar" really make this a worthwhile buy. However, overall this is not as good an effort as what their previous work is - a little melodramatic sometimes, perhaps there are too many ballads. On the other hand, production is excellent, and really makes your sound system come alive. Go and get it if you're already a fan.

If you are new to the band, then this may just not be the best place to begin. I would definitely get their best of compilation "Carry On Up The Charts" first. Alternatively, check out some of their earlier releases, such as "0898".

A must have recording
Relatively obscure here in the USA, The Beautiful South, of Manchester England, record wry, acerbic pop that skewers contemporary culture under cover of deceptively beautiful, sometimes orchestral, arrangements.
This CD contains "The Sound Of North America", a laser sharp look at contemporary american culture and capitalism; "Rotterdam (or anywhere), a weary travelers take on one more port; the incredibly brilliant "Don't Marry Her" with it's alternative offer that's not printable here; "One God", in which Paul Heaton tells us that the "world won't end in darkness, it'll end in family fun, with Coca Cola clouds behind a Big Mac sun". Eleven of the twelve cuts here are not only good but great. The exception is an inexplicable cover of Bobby Darin's "Artificial Flowers" that even the South's talents and cynicism can't rescue from it's basic banality.
Listening to The Beautiful South one can only conclude that they wrap bitter pills in sweet coatings. And, man, do they go down easy!

Good stuff, but definitely not their best
I love the Beautiful South to death, but this is not a good introduction to their music. There are too many ballads, and not enough musical variety. "Little Blue," "Rotterdam" and "The Sound of North America" are the highlights here. To get a better idea of how great this band can be, get "0898" or "Quench." This particular disc shows off the band's sarcastic lyrics and perfect pop touch, but a lot of it sounds too forced. Not bad, but please start with something else if you're a BS newbie.