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Label:
Release Date: 2004-01-20
List Price: $22.49
Buy Now: $3.74 - $7.76
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(Import)
Additional Info: Tracks Reviews
Let the Sunshine Crash Into Our Souls (5 stars)
To me The Boo Radleys were the Best band of the 1990s, regardless of popularity. The band constantly changed and expanded their sound with each and every release-
From the shoegazing, My Bloody Valentine inspired sounds of 'Everything's Alright Forever' to the Summery kaliedoscopic 'Giant Steps' to their happiest, fun, pop album in 'Wake Up' containing The Boos biggest hit with Wake Up Boo! Then it was off to another album 1996's 'C'mon Kids' which was more of the opposite of 'Wake Up' a neo-psychadelic and dark anti-pop type of album.
And then you have the Boo Radleys final release. 'Kingsize' in 1998. Influenced in different genres including soul, dance and jazz.
As much as lyricist Martin Carr strives to write simplicity through pop music - songs like "High As Monkeys" goes against the mold adding chamber music, drum machines and a stunning array of keyboard noises..."Let the Sunshine Crash into our Souls(one of my favorite Boo lines) indeed.
The Music and vocals reaches it's listener on all levels of emotions.
'Kingsize' offers the best vocals I have ever heard from lead singer- Simon Rowbottom a.k.a Sice, out of all The Boo Radleys studio albums.
The Music within is much more eclectic and experimental (in a quieter way) then any of The Boos' earlier works. Expanding pop music as far as pop can be taken. And this my friends, is one of the finest, most energetic Pop/Rock albums that I have ever heard.
I am not just saying that because The Boo Radleys are my Favorite band, no sir/miss. I truly do mean it with all my heart.
The lead off track sets the tone with a Oasis meets Aphex Twin like sound with the Powerful 'Blue Room in Archway'
Then it's off to a more jazzed up orchestrated piece in 'The Old Newsstand at Hamilton Square'
Track 3 is 'Free Huey' (hit) which may seem a bit repetitive. It is the most fun on 'Kingsize' and most upbeat. Singing : "And you know you Got to be All you can be" over and over as the chorus. A song influenced by Martin Carr after he read up on the Black Panther Party and based this song around that.
Now we get to one of the Main highlights/standout tracks the Beatle-like title track -'Kingsize' A song that Sice sounds his clearest and most pure, even angelic. Tops for me as far as his vocals go.
Critics have under-mined this album. They say(said) it's not continuing the same approach that previous albums suggested. It sounds out of step.
Well, I think that is a bunch of bologna. I don't give this album 5 stars based on the Band's previous releases. I give it 5 stars on the account of being a stand alone great album.
I like 'Kingsize' so much, that I would recommend this one first to a Boo Radley 'newbie'. Especially if you are not looking for a shoegazer type of sound, but just a solid Rock/pop album, Trust me you won't be disappointed with this. |  | | | Not the best way to call it a day (3 stars)
For a band with such a creatively rewarding career(especially the golden trilogy that preceded this album-Giant Steps,Wake Up,C'mon kids)Kingsize can be viewed as nothing else than a colossal disappointment,a major drying out of the fire they once undoubtely posessed.
While C'mon Kids had been a sprawling and colourful canvas of diamonds and quirky shifts in direction the boredom that haunts Kingsize borders on intolerable,or even annoying at times(particularly "Free Huey").
Evidently,for a band so accustomed to the craft of memorable pop songs some are found here but in an appalingly short quantity-the only standouts being"The old newstand at Hamilton Square","Monument for a dead century","Jimmy Webb is God","She's Everywhere" and thwe awesome "High as Monkeys".
I would recommend this album only to hardcore fans since it could give newcomers a completely different idea of what the Boo Radleys are all about but then again the choice is yours. | | | | A Fine Bookend (4 stars)
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! (5 stars)
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. | | | | Rest In Peace to the Boo Radleys (5 stars)
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. | | | |
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