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Track Listings
| 1. Something Every Day |
| 2. Time Tracks You Down |
| 3. Butterfly |
| 4. My State Of Mind |
| 5. I'd Be Happy |
| 6. Butterfly Lullaby |
| 7. Secret Love (You're Invisible) |
| 8. All I Say, All I Do |
| 9. Out There |
| 10. Beautiful Mess |
| 11. Butterfly (Little Wizard Mix) |
| 12. Something Every Day (Little Wizard Mix) |
Product Description
Review
It's nearly 25 years since Corinne Drewey and Andy Connell met, and it's the 21st birthday of their UK No. 1 album, It's Better To Travel. Having been available in Japan - a country where they are revered as minor deities - for best part of a year, Beautiful Mess, the ninth Swing Out Sister album, is finally released in the UK. Sweet, time-warped; unmistakeable; with their brand of London Embankment sunrises and cocktail party sunsets, it's so very Swing Out Sister - well written, produced and played, it's like a Bentley arriving on a parking lot full of Renault Lagunas.
The usual suspects - John Barry, Jimmy Webb, Burt Bacharach - all are evoked here, but there is still something fresh and exciting that the group do with all these references. ''Still tripping over dreams'', Drewery sings on Something Every Day, the album's lead single: well, those dreams are still here, writ large. Time Tracks You Down is full of unmistakable soul hooks, swelling bridges and plump middle eights; Secret Love (You're Invisible) and the northern soul pastiche of I'd Be Happy has everything you'd expect from the group. And Butterfly is one of the best tracks they've ever cut.
Although hardly earth-shattering and a long way away now from their chart heyday, Swing Out Sister could still give Adele, Duffy and all the latest crop a spin in their soft top for their money. If you liked them then, you'll not be disappointed with this. --Daryl Easlea
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By Ellen
Format:Audio CD
Packed full of great hooks, this album is a treasure chest of everything from early 70s funk to Northern Soul to lush cinematic tracks that could have come from any of the greatest soundtrack masters - all wrapped up in production that places you right inside in the music. An intelligent, thoughtful, life-affirming classic by a band that deserves their loyal international following.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Stop the average person on the street and ask them about Swing Out Sister, and if you're lucky, you'll get a quick trill of "Breakout", their 1986 debut breakthrough single which reached number 4 in the UK and number 6 in the US charts. Which is a shame because they continued making some excellent albums long after they stopped bothering the chart compilers back around 1994.
2008 sees Swing Out Sister releasing their ninth studio album, following the 2004 release Where Our Love Grows, and it's yet another excellent entry in their canon of work. It may be over 20 years since their debut It's Better to Travel came out and went to the top of the UK album charts, but a traveler in time would have no problem recognizing the late night jazz, trip hop hybrid that they've employed so well over the years.
The vocals of Corinne Drewery have a richer, warmer tone than it did back in the early days, something that lends itself well to the extra dollops of sixties soul that have appeared over the years, with songs like "I'd Be Happy" owing as much to the Motown songbook as anything else. An instantly memorable tune, with some classic soul backing vocals, arranged by one Gina Foster, who I would imagine is the same singer who worked with the legendary British acid jazzers, Incognito.
It's the Far Eastern market that has kept them afloat over the years, and their lush, timeless, harmony laden songs seem to have struck a chord in Japan and the Philippines, where sell out tours are the norm for them. However, this album has a slightly different sonic structure to it, something that perhaps only die hard Swing Out Sister fans might notice, but there is a flatter sound to the album which leaves a couple of the tracks such as "All I Say, All I Do" lacking.... Read more ›
2008 sees Swing Out Sister releasing their ninth studio album, following the 2004 release Where Our Love Grows, and it's yet another excellent entry in their canon of work. It may be over 20 years since their debut It's Better to Travel came out and went to the top of the UK album charts, but a traveler in time would have no problem recognizing the late night jazz, trip hop hybrid that they've employed so well over the years.
The vocals of Corinne Drewery have a richer, warmer tone than it did back in the early days, something that lends itself well to the extra dollops of sixties soul that have appeared over the years, with songs like "I'd Be Happy" owing as much to the Motown songbook as anything else. An instantly memorable tune, with some classic soul backing vocals, arranged by one Gina Foster, who I would imagine is the same singer who worked with the legendary British acid jazzers, Incognito.
It's the Far Eastern market that has kept them afloat over the years, and their lush, timeless, harmony laden songs seem to have struck a chord in Japan and the Philippines, where sell out tours are the norm for them. However, this album has a slightly different sonic structure to it, something that perhaps only die hard Swing Out Sister fans might notice, but there is a flatter sound to the album which leaves a couple of the tracks such as "All I Say, All I Do" lacking.... Read more ›
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Rumbahbah
Format:Audio CD
Yet another quality entry into the canon of this fine band. This is perhaps their most diverse sounding album to date, coupling both their love of cinematic 60s pop (I'd Be Happy, Time Tracks You Down) and their affinity with smooth 70s soul and funk (My State of Mind, Butterfly), along with some new innovations (Secret Love), although the unifying factor is the mood, which is relaxed and laid-back, without ever being tedious or humdrum. As masters of their craft (incredibly this is their 9th studio album), Andy and Corinne's retro leanings are clear, but there's a sincerity in their re-creation of their influences that is much more credible than with many of their peers, and their music never comes across as a pastiche, but as an identifiable and vibrant entity in its own right - a melting pot of pure pop, Northern Soul, light jazz, funk and lush "easy listening". Best tracks are the sensual My State of Mind and the upbeat and subtle Something Every Day, but all the tracks (even the instrumental "interlude" Butterfly Lullaby) are worth a listen. Contrary to another reviewer's comments, I'd say this album offers a perfect introduction to novices of the Swing Out Sister sound. Whilst it seems they may never recapture the juggernaut commercial success of Breakout, perhaps that's a good thing: this is band that marches to the beat of its own drum and has become something pretty unique in today's music soundscape - I for one am grateful that after over 20 years, they're still able to produce such high calibre music as this.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Jalllala
Format:Audio CD
Not as glossily [over]produced as their last 2 albums, Beautiful Mess takes a fair few listens to fully bed in and upon first play I was somewhat disappointed. Returning to it a few days later I began to appreciate the more open, less studio sounding approach and can only applaud SOS for still developing and changing this far into their lengthy career. It's not my favourite of their last few albums but it's by no means a blot on their copybook and hopefully this album (with it's upcoming UK release) will get this wonderful duo back on radio and television in this country - Jools Holland/Later, are you listening??????
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Some great songs on this albumn - particularly the opener Something Every Day, the Madonna-like Secret Love and the Janet Jackson-like sound of My State of Mind. Butterfly is classy and the title track has a great groove feel. Heaven knows what SOS were thinking with the last two ghastly mixes - they do nothing for such a class act. There is a danger that the tempi of the songs are a little too similar throughout, but nevertheless if you are a lifelong SOS fan, then do add this one to the collection - now for some UK dates in 09 please Corrine??
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Yet another great album from this evergreen duo.With Corinne`s voice as pure as ever,and Andy on top form with the arrangements.No obvious hit single but an album that gets better with every play. check out ALL I SAY, ALL I DO and here Corinne hit some high notes and the clever lyrics of I`D BE HAPPY. All the songs are good, the weakest being SOMETHING EVERY DAY (a little repetative and put on the album twice).This album will sit with pride in any music collection. Dave Spragg
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
A beautiful mess
Just such a great album.
Allmost unknown, but if you love Swing out sisters you will love this one.
Allmost unknown, but if you love Swing out sisters you will love this one.
Published on 5 Feb 2009 by Torsten Reinhardt
3.0 out of 5 stars
Close but no cigar
Let me say this first. I absolutely adore Swing Out Sister and have been a fan right from the start. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2008 by Mrs. P. BROOKSBANK
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another winner
SOS are not my typical cup of tea - got into them seriously with The Living Return. They just keep producing one great album after another and this one is no exeption. Read more
Published on 11 July 2008 by Martin J. Bushell
4.0 out of 5 stars
I LOVE IT, BUT....
I am a great SOS fan and have everything they have done. This is an excellent cd and one no fan should be disappointed with, BUT... Read more
Published on 6 April 2008 by pompeyman
3.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful Mess.
I have to say that I'm ever so slightly disappointed with this latest SOS cd or is it merely that we have been spoilt by SDITN and WOLG ? Read more
Published on 3 April 2008 by RNW
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not their best
A new SOS album is always something to look forward to but this one does not quite live up to the high standards set by SDITN and WOLG. Read more
Published on 20 Mar 2008 by The Discriminator
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