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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Although Love Is Here, Starsailor's anxious, soulful folk and urban blues nuanced inaugural album will be less of a culture shock to any scene-follower who experienced, say, Tom McRae's debut from 2000, it will certainly jolt the core beliefs and common cultural values of the British indie scene. Nothing about Starsailor is remotely alternative--at least not in the conventional interpretation of the word--nor perfunctorily fashionable or juvenescent. Cool dads will appreciate them every bit as much as the hip kids. After all, not only is tender-aged singer James Walsh proud to admit to being influenced by Van Morrison and Tim Buckley--blimey, it's like punk never happened--he is also gifted with a larynx as gnarled, emotionally articulate and demonstratively tremulous as the all-time great and latterly underrated Roger Chapman. Debut or no debut, Love Is Here is an assured classic, the exposition of impending mid-life crises and buttoned-up desperation (typical lyric: "I need to be alone while I suffer") conveyed through an impassioned and distinctly non-rock lexicon of shuffling jazz percussion, metronomic acoustic guitars and keyboards which veer--Ray Manzarek style--between decorative cocktail piano and ice rink organ (courtesy of former crematorium organist Barry Westhead). The gooseflesh frisson of "Tie Up My Hands" and "Poor Misguided Fool" is palpable, the taut, dispirited burnout of "Fever" and "Talk Her Down" fantastically lucid. Are Starsailor the future of British pop? Let's bloody hope so. --Kevin Maidment
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I bought this album only very recently, after a friend recommended it to me. I reluctantly tried it, as his last 'must buy' album proved quite a dissapointment. This time he was spot on. 'Love is Here'is a stunning piece of work, and is one of the best debut albums I own.
The intro song, 'Tie Up My Hands', starts badly, and i thought this album would lack structure, but it changes into a wonderful acoustice piece, which i absolutly love.
It continues with some wonderful acoustic and heavier pieces, my favourite being 'Talk her Down'
I plead with people, if you dont own this album, buy it. It is worth every penny.
The intro song, 'Tie Up My Hands', starts badly, and i thought this album would lack structure, but it changes into a wonderful acoustice piece, which i absolutly love.
It continues with some wonderful acoustic and heavier pieces, my favourite being 'Talk her Down'
I plead with people, if you dont own this album, buy it. It is worth every penny.
14 of 15 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is an amazing debut album from exciting new talent Starsailor. James Walsh and co are a blend of indie and folk with a pinch of rock and boy does it work. With heart renching lyrics, each track left me breathless as I stuck the album on repeat on my CD player. I had originally bought the album after hearing the delights of 'Good Souls' and then 'Alcoholic', both of which remain strong favourites of mine. Other highlights include 'Poor Misguided Fool' and 'Way to Fall' which leaves you awe-struck. The lyrics are at points painfull and sorrow-filled but there is no doubt whether this music will penetrate you, leaving you with that 'wow' feeling that only good music can. Buy this album immediately, don't even hesitate, it is an essential addition to your collection!
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
It's strange how some albums just take longer to like. And it's strange how, reading the other reviews, it seems to happen to others as well! Often though, the ones that do take time, stay for a long time, too. I love this album! Walsh's vocals are staggering. They're strong, emotive, gritty, unique... In the last track, Coming Down, he reaches a sound that's a completely different timbre from any other vocalist I've heard. Full of passion, it's a short, simple acoustic track, but the bareness just emphasises the superiority of his voice (I can't understand these people who think he cannot sing; are they deaf??). My highlights are Poor Misguided Fool - its strong, catchy, and has a beautiful piano accompaniment, Talk Her Down (for similar reasons), Love Is Here, and Coming Down.
But how can I not mention the other tracks? They are all so good. The way She Just Wept falls into Talk Her Down is perfect, and Walsh's vocals are also at their best in Talk Her Down. And throughout you have these shuffling, catchy beats, quite jazz-esque (which is Fever all over), well-placed piano parts, and fantastic vocals, akin to Richard Ashcroft. Did I mention that I love his voice?
A top quality album. It's a bit like a seed. You get it, you plant it, and it does nothing. So you forget about it. Then months pass, and it pokes its little head out of the soil (or in my case my appallingly messy CD rack). You decide to give it a go, then suddenly it blooms into a beautiful flower. Splendid!
But how can I not mention the other tracks? They are all so good. The way She Just Wept falls into Talk Her Down is perfect, and Walsh's vocals are also at their best in Talk Her Down. And throughout you have these shuffling, catchy beats, quite jazz-esque (which is Fever all over), well-placed piano parts, and fantastic vocals, akin to Richard Ashcroft. Did I mention that I love his voice?
A top quality album. It's a bit like a seed. You get it, you plant it, and it does nothing. So you forget about it. Then months pass, and it pokes its little head out of the soil (or in my case my appallingly messy CD rack). You decide to give it a go, then suddenly it blooms into a beautiful flower. Splendid!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
..a quality of drama, of passion...
I won't say where I bought my copy of this Cd; but It's a very good piece of work; James Walsh's singing has a quality of drama, of passion, that makes these songs as good as they... Read more
Published 5 months ago by Sean
great
Really enjoyed this album, but don't listen to it if you felling a little suicidal, make sure you remove your belt and shoelaces!!
Published 7 months ago by M. D. Barker
Wonderful
This is simply one of the great albums of the century. I won't be around to be proved wrong, but I am convinced that there will people listening and enjoying these songs in 2101. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Philip
Welcome.....
to Starsailor, forget the Buckley's comparison, they/he are of course fans, but i am not a great fan of the Buckleys. Read more
Published 22 months ago by trapper64
Only 4 stars!!
After 8 years this is still one of my favourite albums. I wish I could say I like every song, but I've always disliked Lullaby. Read more
Published on 29 Aug 2009 by Paul B
Wonderful!
Wow, what a debut!
I bought this album when it first came out in 2001, played it a little and then discarded it to the bottom of my cd collection. Read more
I bought this album when it first came out in 2001, played it a little and then discarded it to the bottom of my cd collection. Read more
Published on 14 May 2008 by J. H. Pitt
Better than On The Outside
This album is amazing. I never heard of Starsailor until i listened to This Time off an old Indie compilation and because i like that song so much i decided to buy On The Outside,... Read more
Published on 17 April 2007 by Master A. Moger
An exceptional collection of great tracks.....
...i knew this band because of their hit 'alcoholic'. to be honest, i weasnt that keen at the start. Read more
Published on 22 Nov 2005
Take you time getting into this album!
I had this album for nearly a year before I really took the time to get into it. It is not as instantly likeable as others in this genre, but once you really have listened to it,... Read more
Published on 2 Dec 2004 by Stewart Easby
good effort but......
if you like coldplay, if you like slow acoustic ballads, buy this. if you prefare something less 1 dimensional don't. simple as that.
Published on 1 Feb 2004 by "dan_halpin"
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