- Audio CD (13 Jan 2008)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Extra tracks, Import
- Label: Wea Japan
- ASIN: B00000G6BB
- Other Editions: Audio CD | Vinyl | Mini-Disc | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 1,030,029 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
So finally, everyone realised what all the fuss was about. International Velvet saw Catatonia finally go overground, mainly down to the success of "Mulder And Scully", which stormed the charts when it was released and became an instant karaoke classic. There's much more to the album than the X Files' resident alien worriers though: "I Am The Mob" is a highlight, including the unforgettable line "Stop blowing the Don, put his kecks back on", while "Strange Glue" sees them in a more reflective, broken-hearted frame of mind. Undoubtedly a singles album, every song here stands up on its own. "Road Rage" is pure guitar filled pop, while "My Selfish Gene" has such a broken, torch singer quality, you could almost imagine Cerys singing it into her gin in a deserted Parisian piano bar. But it's the title track itself which sees the band refusing to be anyone but themselves, as they bluster "Every day / when I wake up / I thank the Lord I'm Welsh". If their nationality plays any part in how they sound, we should be thankful too. --Emma Johnston
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This record changed my life. No, it really did. Some might say that Catatonia "sold out" when they made this album, but if this is what selling out does, I only wish more bands would do it. From the opening guitars of the ultimate pop tune "Mulder and Scully" the album goes from strength to strength. The melodies are beauties, there are so many textures of sounds and the lyrics can mess with your head more than any intoxicating substances. And I know its been said before, but Cerys' voice is so beautiful and can move me to tears if I'm not making futile attempts to imitate it. Each song is an absolute masterpiece on its own, from the very original and understated "Goldfish And Paracetemol" to the gorgeous songs that deserve to be up with the best of power ballads, "Strange Glue" and "My Selfish Gene". Its a great shame that people put Catatonia down so much and didn't actually listen to the music, because they had something very very special. All of the albums are great, but this one is just better than amazing. I'd give it 5 million stars if I could. Buy it.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I felt I just had to put my 5* review in here as I thought it was scandalous that this album was rated lower than Way Beyond Blue (Cerys and the boys' previous album). Yes, Way Beyond Blue is a good disc, but International Velvet is simply fabulous.
Every song is a belter from the poppy hit Mulder And Scully to the driving rock of Road Rage to the plaintive cry of Strange Glue. Cerys' captivating voice is surely one of the most original in modern rock (shown to good effect on the sparse My Selfish Gene) and her lyrics are fantastically off-the-wall. Is there a better opening couplet for a song than "I put horses heads in peoples' beds; Cause I am the Mob"? And I bet if I understood Welsh I'd like the lyrics to International Velvet, but the (English) chorus is great singalong stuff nevertheless (cod Welsh accent optional).
Give yourself a treat and buy this album to hear some great songs played well by a truly original band at the very top of their form.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This album never sells for less then a fiver on bootfairs even (when the stall next door is selling everthing for 20p) and, having got my own copy at last, I understand why. This album contains virtually all the songs I love from this band.
The Welsh singing voice can sometimes be a beautiful thing, and none is more beautiful then that of Caerys (spelling?) Matthews. She can either sound amazingly delicate and sweet or gloriously angry and grrr.
The Welsh singing voice can sometimes be a beautiful thing, and none is more beautiful then that of Caerys (spelling?) Matthews. She can either sound amazingly delicate and sweet or gloriously angry and grrr.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Catatonia, International Velvet
Fantastic price for a brand new CD and fast delivery. A great blast from the past!
Published on 6 Feb 2010 by Richard Smith
what an album
i had forgotten just how good this album was but im so glad a bought it it brings back so many good memories i would recommend this to everyone
Published on 24 May 2008 by Ms. C. B. Saunders
Funny, ironic, bitter, brilliant
A fantastic album and a reminder of what we lost when the band split up. It's got the big blasting hits "Mulder and Scully" and "Roadrage" - but it's the other songs that really... Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2005
Catatonia's Finest Moment
Since I was 10, I remember seeing this album and wanting to buy it, however not having enough money when I was 10 and having a short memory span I never got round to it. Read more
Published on 3 May 2004 by Mr. Matthew C. Edwards
A Bolt From the Blue
When I got this album it was an unexpected Christmas present. I had never heard of Catatonia before, and I was never a great fan of Britpop. But I listened to it anyway. Read more
Published on 9 Sep 2001 by Richard Lander (uk_rik@yahoo.co.uk)
It is THE best of catatonia's
I just lurve this Album. I know all the words off by heart and I am even singing along to it right now. Read more
Published on 8 July 2001
Yes I know Cerys is fit, but the music is bloody brilliant!
Mulder and Scully is good, really good, a smash hit single that everyone loves yet it is the LEAST brilliant song on this album. Read more
Published on 24 May 2001
The best of Cat on vinyl !
One of Catatonia's greatest albums, on vinyl. The best part was the vinyl-edit of 'I Am The Mob'with a different intro. Read more
Published on 17 Feb 2001 by "qvl2duret"
FANTASTIC!
This album just breaks the record in eclecticness, and darn, if that word does not exist, I'm coining it right here:-) I fell in love with Catatonia (and Cerys for that matter;-) )... Read more
Published on 30 Aug 2000 by max_sunrise@lineone.net
Amazing
My first thoughts when i heard the album were that it was different to all the other albums i had heard before it. Read more
Published on 18 Aug 2000
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