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Product Description
Review
Back and newly championed by an independent heavyweight, Camera Obscura become not maudlin, but a little more mellow on their fourth album.
The Glaswegian outfit's loyal fanbase have had a three year wait for this project; three years in which they put in a considerable effort satisfying the live yearnings of their dominating worldwide faithful. Quite why the overseas audience have always got Camera Obscura, while their native music fan needed 'retro pop' waved in their faces via the dubious tabloid outings of beehived and sailor-suited divas is a mystery. Thankfully, respected label 4AD have gone some way to making up for British apathy by signing up the band for the release of My Maudlin Career.
Jari Haapalainen is back for his second outing with the band, building on the dense production introduced on their third album Let's Get Out Of This Country. Moving further away from jaunty folk pop and embracing lush balladry, this collection sounds more Mazzy Star than The Concretes, doused with the expected references to the middle decades of the last century. Single French Navy is 60s pop with strings, and a vocal echo that lends itself so well to Tracyanne Campbell's voice, sending it ethereal.
The overall tone is more reflective than on every other Camera Obscura project, and perhaps too maudlin around You Told A Lie and Away With Murder. The following Swans, with a great opening hook and nursery rhyme feel is more typical of the feelgood If Looks Could Kill. Their dance-along, big beat specialities have always been where Camera Obscura flourish, and they wrap up with the album's other stonker Honey In The Sun.
With each album, Camera Obscura offer just enough tangible difference, without compromising their cuteness or charm. From this example, the potential presents itself for a total evolution - away from country, folk, retro and pop and toward epic soundscape. The possibilities are endless and exciting. --Keira Burgess
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Product Description
CD
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By Dr. K.
Format:Audio CD
Camera Obscura have produced another beautiful record. Like all great records, this collection has a unity of theme and tone, and yet every song is different and memorable. The tunes are good. The arrangements & orchestration are sympathetic to the meaning of each song. There is good use of percussion, strings, brass & effects to fill out the sound when appropriate. In a way it is a concept album about a failed love affair. It is a tragedy - but by force of will, an outstanding work of art has been created from this material.
Tracyanne Campbell is a genius. I have been trying to ponder why. It is because her lyrics are serious - deadly serious - and yet also humourous. To my mind she stands equal to only two other great writers: Morrissey and Mark E Smith. They all have this talent for writing lyrics that combine tragedy and comedy, which requires incredible subtlety, intelligence and 'class'. Otherwise the result is cack-handed naffness. It is very difficult to explain this to people who don't get it. The Fall described it perfectly in Shiftwork (1991) as 'the war against intelligence'. In the eighties, people used to describe the Smiths as 'boring' or 'depressing' because they did not understand songs like 'Girlfriend in a coma' or 'Heaven knows I'm miserable now'. Tracyanne writes lyrics like: 'There are flowers in my house, I bought them myself' (Swans). As Morrissey said 'I know, its really serious'.
If you like My Maudlin Career, I would urge you to check out their other classic albums 'Underachievers please try harder' and 'Let's get out of this country'.
Hats off to the Scottish Arts Council for supporting the band; government money well spent. If only they would give £10 billion quid to Camera Obscura instead of Royal Bank of Scotland.... Read more ›
Tracyanne Campbell is a genius. I have been trying to ponder why. It is because her lyrics are serious - deadly serious - and yet also humourous. To my mind she stands equal to only two other great writers: Morrissey and Mark E Smith. They all have this talent for writing lyrics that combine tragedy and comedy, which requires incredible subtlety, intelligence and 'class'. Otherwise the result is cack-handed naffness. It is very difficult to explain this to people who don't get it. The Fall described it perfectly in Shiftwork (1991) as 'the war against intelligence'. In the eighties, people used to describe the Smiths as 'boring' or 'depressing' because they did not understand songs like 'Girlfriend in a coma' or 'Heaven knows I'm miserable now'. Tracyanne writes lyrics like: 'There are flowers in my house, I bought them myself' (Swans). As Morrissey said 'I know, its really serious'.
If you like My Maudlin Career, I would urge you to check out their other classic albums 'Underachievers please try harder' and 'Let's get out of this country'.
Hats off to the Scottish Arts Council for supporting the band; government money well spent. If only they would give £10 billion quid to Camera Obscura instead of Royal Bank of Scotland.... Read more ›
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I have been vaguely aware of Camera Obscura for a few years but for some..er..obscure reason never checked them out until now.What a find.I have had the album for about six weeks and without lapsing into hyperbole (but am about to) this is the best record I have heard in years.And years.
It took a few listens not only to get into the 11 superbly crafted,efortless songs but to penetrate Tracyanne Campbells glasweigian accent.After that,it was uphill all the way.
Belle and Sebastian have just realesed 'Write about Love' but,sorry guys, Tracyanne has beaten you to it.Every song is an exploration of heartbreak,joy and unrequited passion.Don't know anything about Ms Campbells love life but it must have been a bit of a roller coaster to produce songs like this.An absolute triumph.
It took a few listens not only to get into the 11 superbly crafted,efortless songs but to penetrate Tracyanne Campbells glasweigian accent.After that,it was uphill all the way.
Belle and Sebastian have just realesed 'Write about Love' but,sorry guys, Tracyanne has beaten you to it.Every song is an exploration of heartbreak,joy and unrequited passion.Don't know anything about Ms Campbells love life but it must have been a bit of a roller coaster to produce songs like this.An absolute triumph.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By K. Flitter
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Yes, I've got all their stuff and have seen them live four times, but I only got that way by accidentally finding them via "Pandora" a few years ago. Since then they've become my favourite band and I can't praise them enough.
Of course, it's always nice to like a band that nobody else has heard of, but these guys deserve better than that!
Spread the word!
Of course, it's always nice to like a band that nobody else has heard of, but these guys deserve better than that!
Spread the word!
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Richard Hine
Format:Audio CD
Camera Obscura are back. Working again with producer Jari Haapalainen. Picking up pretty much where they left off. Single "French Navy" starts in a dusty library, where Tracyanne Campbell sings "I was waiting to be struck by lightning/Waiting for somebody exciting/Like you." In the world of Camera Obscura, of course, love is impossible to control and you don't have to be called Lloyd to break somebody's heart. "The Sweetest Thing" is a girl-group ballad with a Scottish accent. Title track "My Maudlin Career" sounds like a throwback ("I'm not a child I know/We're not going steady...") to the classic "Teenager" from breakout album "Underachievers Please Try Harder" ("You're not a teenager/So don't act like one..."). It seems perhaps MY MAUDLIN CAREER is not about reflecting sentimentally on the career of global twee-pop superstars. It's about the folly of wishing and hoping in dusty libraries -- and the after effects of being struck by romantic lightning. Of course, being an international recording artist might come into play too. "Let's Get Out of the Country" may have been a great career move. But it means that former lovers are left behind in "Other Towns & Cities." Hotel rooms make a great place to get truly maudlin ("Drinking whisky reminds me of you... Who's holding you tonight?") The sun comes up again (in Mexico City) on bouncy final track "Honey in the Sun." If you enjoyed getting out of the country with these Glaswegians last time around, you'll be delighted to rejoin the band on its musical journey.
Format:MP3 Download|Amazon Verified Purchase
Heard Camera Obscura's version of Super Trouper on Radio 2 and loved it.
Downloaded Tears for Affairs and loved that too.
All the work is good but little variety
Downloaded Tears for Affairs and loved that too.
All the work is good but little variety
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I ordered this as I loved the song from the advert and I am glad I did what a cool album!.
By Mistered
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first heard this band singing live on Radcliffe & Maconie's show and the first song they played made me want to buy the album.
They are often compared to Belle & Sebastian and I would imagine that most people who liked one would like the other. Highlights of the CD are French Navy and Swans.
They are often compared to Belle & Sebastian and I would imagine that most people who liked one would like the other. Highlights of the CD are French Navy and Swans.
By A. V. Rains
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Another great album from Camera Obscura.
This is my third Camera Obscura album purchase and
all of them have been good so far. I haven't bought the
third one that was released as yet.
I would not hesitate to recommend it
This is my third Camera Obscura album purchase and
all of them have been good so far. I haven't bought the
third one that was released as yet.
I would not hesitate to recommend it
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4.5 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wicked Album!
A great big beautiful album! Buy it now! Gorgeous lyrics layed over delightful music with a twist of 50's Spector Ronettes! Big reverbs! I love this album!
Published 4 months ago by Mr-t
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sumptious!
This is the closest you will ever find to hearing Karen Carpenter once again. Traceyann Campbell has the most sumptious voice. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr. D. R. Taylor
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hidden Gems
Wish I had found this band years ago,I don't think I have ever heard them played on the National Radio networks. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Fossil
5.0 out of 5 stars
Brilliant!!
First heard of this group following their "French Navy" track on Come Dine With Me. Bought the album and like every song. One if the best albums I've ever purchased.
Published 22 months ago by A. J. Lowe
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fey, fragile and beautiful
Like a cross between 'classic era' Everything But The Girl and the sorely missed Sundays, Camera Obscura fill a musical niche that has been uncatered for for years. Read more
Published on 15 Jan 2010 by Mark Watkins
5.0 out of 5 stars
a lovely record
a lovely record cute and twee and beautiful artwork to rock it definitely sounds better on vinyl
Published on 11 Jan 2010 by Ms. Llinos W. Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars
Grows on you
A very nice album of melodious if slightly "easy" music, with a slight twist. Lavish production, with horns and violins, recalls mid-1960s pop records. Read more
Published on 5 Jan 2010 by Pascal Tiscali
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