Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very Swedish, 16 April 2006
Following on from a long tradition of melodic Scandinavian pop, Swedish 8-piece The Concretes return with a follow-up to their sparkling (if little-purchased) eponymous debut LP. Far from a major change in musical direction, In Colour is nevertheless a measured step forwards, both sonically - with all eight members contributing to a rich aural tapestry - and musically, with drummer Lisa Milberg contributing on a number of tracks.
Like the bastard offspring of The Cardigans and Abba, The Concretes tread a fine line between heartwarming and twee, with the latter hijacking only a couple of tracks towards the end of the album - the over-enthusiatic fiddle playing and harmonies on Ooh La La and Song For The Songs getting the better of their somewhat frail tunes.
Elsewhere on the album, all is sunny harmonies and glorious feel-good pop music: opener, On The Radio, plays like some long-lost Motown classic - driven along by a stomping piano riff, beautifully contrasting Victoria Bergsman's wistfully fragile vocals. The aptly named Sunbeams is a perfect summer anthem with more than a hint of The Mamas And The Papas, and lead single Chosen One is a fine stab at perfect pop with a tune that will bounce around your head for days.
An early contender for Album of the Year that deserves to be hugely successful but which will more than likely end up as another lost classic... save The Concretes from this fate, and add some Colour to your life.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Better in black and white, 9 April 2006
An album for people who find Belle & Sebastian a bit boisterous, 'The Concretes In Colour' is an unashamed bid for the mainstream: nothing wrong with that of course, but it lacks the shaky charm and melancholy mood of their eponymous debut album. There's nothing here as spritely as 'You Can't Hurry Love' or as poignant as 'New Friend' on that first record. In fact, it all feels terribly English in spirit - polite, reserved, self-effacing. That said, 'In Colour' does have its moments. Opener 'On The Radio' rides on a plinky-plonky Madness piano very effectively. 'Chosen One' is a jaunty pop song, perfect for summer. Lisa Mellberg takes over vocal duties for a duet with Romeo Stodart from The Magic Numbers on the ballad ,'Your Call.' Her voice is stronger and more expressive than the blank Nicoesque stylings of usual lead vocalist, Victoria Bergsman: she should sing more often. Elswehere, we find a Gospel 'church revival' sound on 'As Four' and some classy country pickings on 'Grey Days.' Too much of the rest, though, is merely pleasant or, worse still, innocuous. That The Concretes have talent is beyond doubt. I just wish they had the confidence to swagger a bit more.
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3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Concrete is fully set...., 31 Mar 2006
Bought on strength of review suggesting '1st post-Magic Numbers' album. Being total fan of latter, purchased unseen/unheard and am NOT disappointed. Yes, very Numbers-like, even guest vocals by Romeo on one track, but definitely their own mark stamped ('in concrete'?!) all over it. Very Swedish sound too - this is a Good Thing if you want chilled out, undemanding yet more-than-1st-meets-the-eye tunes & vocals (think CARDIGANS)... if like this type of groove: BUY!
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