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Product Description
Review
Following singer-songwriter Paddy McAloon’s illnesses and reluctance to release anything from his ever-growing stockpile of songs, further Prefab Sprout albums were unexpected after 2001’s The Gunman and Other Stories. So nothing less than a cattle prod must have provoked this release, the intended follow-up to 1990’s Jordan: The Comeback, and what a treat it is.
For an album that was intended to be recorded over the summer of 1993, this has been a long time coming, so perhaps it’s best not to take the title seriously. Few artists talk up unreleased albums as prolifically as McAloon, which is arguably easy to do, but he probably underestimates his unheard oeuvre.
Here, his cynicism filter remains firmly switched off, with the album opening gleefully: the title track alone takes in early house, scratchy funk and gospel, and the hymn-like Ride celebrates returning to better days. Both capture that early 90s positivity, which is surely due for a revival after today’s 80s synthesisers have been powered down.
His thwarted vision, often blamed for not releasing material, is evident here. Never shy of understatement, Earth, The Story So Far (an unreleased concept album in its own right) is an example of Paddy falling short without his band, particularly backing singer Wendy Smith and producer Thomas Dolby, who defined their sound; its elegance never develops beyond a demo. He also sometimes alienates the listener with overly clever arrangements, such as on I Love Music, but with couplets such as “someone from heaven / put you through hell”, his lyrical skills remain as sharp as ever.
In common with other virtuoso songwriters, the songs and themes of this album unfurl with repeated hearing, although overuse of muted trumpet occasionally grates. If the closing song, a piano-led paen to death, is the last we hear from McAloon, then a more romantic last bow is hard to imagine.
Like motorway service stations halving the value of money, long-awaited albums often disappoint and this too feels like a slightly missed opportunity. Importantly however, you can’t imagine anyone else singing it. It’s good to have him back, no matter how temporarily. --Tom Hocknell
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CD Description
Prefab Sprout were formed in 1978 as a four-piece band based in Co. Durham and went on to be arguably one of the most beloved British pop bands of the 80s and 90s. Their biggest top ten album, From Langley Park To Memphis featured Pete Townsend and Stevie Wonder and included their biggest hit, "The King of Rock’n’ Roll". They followed this album with Jordan, The Comeback which was hugely acclaimed and Brit-nominated. After various line up changes, the rest of the band released one album in 2001 and Paddy released a solo album, Trawl The Megahertz in 2003. Singer-songwriter Paddy McAloon is regularly hailed one of the greatest songwriters of his era. Let's Change the World with Music sees the first Prefab Sprout album in 8 years and contains twelve unique tracks.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
56 of 60 people found the following review helpful
By Rivermoving
Format:Audio CD
Having already written a positive review of this glowing album on its mp3 page here on Amazon, of course I need to review the actual CD album! Mp3s are okay, but nothing beats the real McCoy of a proper CD with music in high resolution!
Prefab Sprout's legendary album "Let's Change the World With Music" was first written and recorded in demo form back in 1992-93, but only now released and tweaked with modern technology which enhances the original demos. But fear not: this album is a real winner. It delivers everything you come to expect from a Prefab Sprout album: beautiful melodies, intricate lyrics, honest and deviously simple pop songs, that only Paddy McAloon can offer. Songs like "Let There Be Music", "Ride", "Music Is A Princess", "Earth: The Story So Far" and "Sweet Gospel Music" will eat your heart out. Indeed, it's a shame that this gem has been kept hidden from the public for 17 years!
This is simply pure pop in its finest incarnation. Paddy McAloon is one of the best writers in his chosen field - if not the best. Michael Jackson may have called himself the "king of pop"; but Paddy McAloon is the uncrowned Master of Pop. Let's hope that this release will mark the beginning of many a fine new album from the prolific writer in Newcastle, who has hundreds of unreleased and unrecorded songs in his studio!
The CD album includes poignant liner notes by Paddy McAloon himself, detailing the history of the record.
Prefab Sprout's legendary album "Let's Change the World With Music" was first written and recorded in demo form back in 1992-93, but only now released and tweaked with modern technology which enhances the original demos. But fear not: this album is a real winner. It delivers everything you come to expect from a Prefab Sprout album: beautiful melodies, intricate lyrics, honest and deviously simple pop songs, that only Paddy McAloon can offer. Songs like "Let There Be Music", "Ride", "Music Is A Princess", "Earth: The Story So Far" and "Sweet Gospel Music" will eat your heart out. Indeed, it's a shame that this gem has been kept hidden from the public for 17 years!
This is simply pure pop in its finest incarnation. Paddy McAloon is one of the best writers in his chosen field - if not the best. Michael Jackson may have called himself the "king of pop"; but Paddy McAloon is the uncrowned Master of Pop. Let's hope that this release will mark the beginning of many a fine new album from the prolific writer in Newcastle, who has hundreds of unreleased and unrecorded songs in his studio!
The CD album includes poignant liner notes by Paddy McAloon himself, detailing the history of the record.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By Durand
Format:Audio CD
Finally something new from the Sprouts, well actually not new indeed, as this album has be shelved for 17 years. And what a shame that the album was never properly produced and recorded, 'cause the material on this album is AWESOME. The songs, the arrangements and the vocals are DIVINE!
It's actually quite difficult to review this album, 'cause the production and the sounds used seem to show what a Prefab Sprout album sounds like, when it's ready for real production, which is quite interesting if that is the case. Therefore the music sounds like synthprogramming; the drums are thin and often too stiff and "programmed", the trumpets and saxes are awfully artificial and so on. Among these "acoustic" instruments the album also has the usual excellent synth sounds that was the trademark sound of the Sprouts in early 90's.
This could have been OUT OF THE WORLD had somebody taken these blueprints and hired a small symphonic orchestra along with the best session musicians around to re-record the music to match the fantastic vocaltracks. Don't get me wrong; I LOVE THIS ALBUM, enjoyed it every day since I got my hands on it (almost a week), but I can't help imagining just how much more it could have been with a little more postproduction; real guitars, bass, brass ect. But maybe technical problems prevented such improvements, I don't know.
I truely hope that this is only the top of the iceberg. If we're lucky the success of this album might push more old material to be released. And as long as the songs are this good, I'm more than ready for more, whatever the condition... Thank you so much, Paddy, you've surely changed my world with your music!
It's actually quite difficult to review this album, 'cause the production and the sounds used seem to show what a Prefab Sprout album sounds like, when it's ready for real production, which is quite interesting if that is the case. Therefore the music sounds like synthprogramming; the drums are thin and often too stiff and "programmed", the trumpets and saxes are awfully artificial and so on. Among these "acoustic" instruments the album also has the usual excellent synth sounds that was the trademark sound of the Sprouts in early 90's.
This could have been OUT OF THE WORLD had somebody taken these blueprints and hired a small symphonic orchestra along with the best session musicians around to re-record the music to match the fantastic vocaltracks. Don't get me wrong; I LOVE THIS ALBUM, enjoyed it every day since I got my hands on it (almost a week), but I can't help imagining just how much more it could have been with a little more postproduction; real guitars, bass, brass ect. But maybe technical problems prevented such improvements, I don't know.
I truely hope that this is only the top of the iceberg. If we're lucky the success of this album might push more old material to be released. And as long as the songs are this good, I'm more than ready for more, whatever the condition... Thank you so much, Paddy, you've surely changed my world with your music!
15 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I can only echo the comments of the first reviewer. As a long time Sprout fan, news of this release excited me so much. On my first (and now second) listen today, it is everything I hoped it would be. A collection of wonderful melodies and you really do need to read Paddy's sleeve notes to really appreciate what he was trying to achieve with this record. It may be over sentimental of me to say it, but hearing Paddy sing for me is a spiritual experience. He sings of simple things but with such emotion and clarity. Seeing them live about 5 years ago was one of my gigging highlights. I urge you to buy this album and enjoy the rich experience it will bring to your life.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By G. J. Oxley
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Audio CD
As a massive, long-term Prefab Sprout fan I bought this on the day it was released. I played it a dozen times before shelving it for a few months, allowing the melodies to slowly percolate in my brain, prior to forming a judgement on where it sits amidst the Sprout's body of work.
I've played it again twice today and, as I suspected it would, it's grown in stature over the past five months or so since its release. Prefab Sprout inspire complete devotion; everything is so complex and subtle that as a listener I find myself constantly revising my opinion on tracks, and even after all these years, when I play, say `Steve McQueen' I still spot nuances I hadn't heard before.
The group's moniker is on this long-buried collection of songs, but as Martin, Neil and Wendy don't actually appear on the album at all, it is essentially the second Paddy McAloon solo album, after the haunting `I Trawl the Megahertz'
We all know the story behind the genesis of this album so I don't need to comment further on that. But the tunes, ah, the tunes! - they are an absolute revelation.
Highlights are numerous: the most overtly religious song (certainly in terms of its title) `God Watch Over You' is simply sublime and it finds Paddy singing at the lowest point of his range before he moves into his upper register. He is an underrated and often overlooked vocalist.
`Music is a Princess' is similarly gorgeous, a tune that makes you swoon, with Paddy holding a glorious long note at the song's end, that sends a shiver down the spine.
`Ride' travels along at a wonderful canter, `Angel of Love' is beautiful - as are four or five other songs on this superb collection - and the marvellous first single 'Let There Be Music' is full of Paddy's trademark hooks.... Read more ›
I've played it again twice today and, as I suspected it would, it's grown in stature over the past five months or so since its release. Prefab Sprout inspire complete devotion; everything is so complex and subtle that as a listener I find myself constantly revising my opinion on tracks, and even after all these years, when I play, say `Steve McQueen' I still spot nuances I hadn't heard before.
The group's moniker is on this long-buried collection of songs, but as Martin, Neil and Wendy don't actually appear on the album at all, it is essentially the second Paddy McAloon solo album, after the haunting `I Trawl the Megahertz'
We all know the story behind the genesis of this album so I don't need to comment further on that. But the tunes, ah, the tunes! - they are an absolute revelation.
Highlights are numerous: the most overtly religious song (certainly in terms of its title) `God Watch Over You' is simply sublime and it finds Paddy singing at the lowest point of his range before he moves into his upper register. He is an underrated and often overlooked vocalist.
`Music is a Princess' is similarly gorgeous, a tune that makes you swoon, with Paddy holding a glorious long note at the song's end, that sends a shiver down the spine.
`Ride' travels along at a wonderful canter, `Angel of Love' is beautiful - as are four or five other songs on this superb collection - and the marvellous first single 'Let There Be Music' is full of Paddy's trademark hooks.... Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
My favorite Band
I am so amazed by this band,they are awesome, not a bad sound out of anything they produce,well done paddy macaloon. Read more
Published 5 months ago by T Keir
4.0 out of 5 stars
worth the wait
I echo the other reviews , this is lush ,poignant, wistful, melodic and ... so welcome ,after all the wait. Read more
Published 10 months ago by M. rickenback
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed in demos
I'm a big fan of the Sprout and Paddy (up until he became all too happy twinkly later on...), but this album on first/2nd/3rd listen is a real disappointment. Read more
Published 16 months ago by E. Hoskin
5.0 out of 5 stars
Utter brilliance
Like several others who have posted reviews, this is a record I can't stop thinking about or listening to. Superlative stuff from Mr McAloon, I so look forward to the next record. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Mr. Benjamin Ward
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant Sprouts!
Been a while coming but well worth the wait! Was a massive fan back at uni,loved the early stuff but still think they are turning out great music. Read more
Published 21 months ago by SWB88LR
4.0 out of 5 stars
Paddy McAllon is a genius
I discovered Prefab Sprout fairly recently. To me Paddy McAloon is probably one of the most underrated song writers in the world, he's absolutely fabulous. Read more
Published on 13 Feb 2011 by B. Ledwig
1.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed
I'm very surprised by the good reviews people are leaving on here. I'm a big (huge) Prefab Sprout fan but I found this album incredibly disappointing. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2011 by Mr. Robert Stannard
5.0 out of 5 stars
This won't get any better!
How come this album got lost somewhere between the artist and the record company? What a shame -- what a pity. And what joy that it has now "come up the surface" in all its grace. Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2010 by Ove Noerhave
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best of Prefab Sprout!
I've enjoyed listening to Paddy McAloon and Prefab Sprout's music over the years. They've always been one of my favourite bands but even I was gob-smacked at how good this... Read more
Published on 11 Sep 2010 by John Paul O'D
5.0 out of 5 stars
True music at its best
Another fantastic album by Prefab Sprout. All we need now is for them to tour the United Kingdom.
Published on 27 July 2010 by vidall
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