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Amazon.co.uk Review
Ramshackle Beauty, Daniel Wylie's debut solo album, is something of a revelation. After his amicable departure from Cosmic Rough Riders, a band he co-founded and fronted for four albums, it would have been understandable had he considered mining the same melodic, Byrds-like pop territory that earned kudos for his former band. To an extent that's what he does here, but this is very much a singer-songwriter's album, in a vein similar to some of the best stuff that's come out of the US in recent years, from Matthew Sweet through to Brendon Benson. To this formula, he adds some musical and lyrical tweeness that occasionally sounds like Teenage Fanclub writing lyrics for Belle & Sebastian.
Sometimes it gets a bit hippy-dippy (the childishly sweet "Michael the Butterfly", for example), but it's sung so earnestly that it's actually excusable (indeed, criticising it feels a bit like scolding a kitten for being too cute). Songs such as the sunny and upbeat "Make Love to the World" (all chiming guitars and optimism), the sweeping and glorious "Because I" and the catchy "Snow Pony" should please all those glass-is-half-full types out there. Those who prefer their music with a darker edge may find Ramshackle Beauty a bit too syrupy for their taste, but it's unlikely Wylie would mind too much. Judging by the evidence here, he'd probably just give them a hug. --Robert Burrow
Album Description
Glasgow-born singer / songwriter Daniel Wylie releases his charming solo album ‘Ramshackle Beauty’ on Measured Records. The 14 tracks are the fruits of a year spent writing and recording after Daniel made an amicable departure from Cosmic Rough Riders, the band he co-founded and fronted on four albums. Showcasing Daniel’s uncanny ear for swooning guitars, classic melodies and sunny harmonies, the self-produced ‘Ramshackle Beauty’ is aptly titled. From sing-along opening track and forthcoming lead-off single ‘Make Love To The World’ to the wistful ‘Brighton Beach’ and playful ‘Chasing Rainbows’, this is a collection of lovingly crafted new songs.
Alan McGee has already been playing the track ‘Snow Pony’ on his Radio 1 ‘Death Disco’ show, and many Scottish papers have tipped Daniel as a name to watch. He will be on the road with a new backing band.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is a great album. There are no bad songs and if anything, it's an improvement on Enjoy the Melodic Sunshine. It sounds just like ETMS except this time there are less hippy nods to the past. Snow Pony is the catchiest song ever (Very V.U.) and If You Stay A While is the like The Dandy Warhols at their best. There's a real mix of influences and wylie obviously has a great record collection but none of the influences overtake his own influence and his own sound. Look out for some great harmonies in the Beach Boys sound a like Consoling The Girl and marvel at the chorus's of songs like Going Nowhere Again, Chasing Rainbows, Unwind and Grapevine. A good way to describe this album would be to say it sounds like a greatest hits compilation as that's the only way most bands could fill an album with so many great tracks.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
For a man who has been in the top 40 with Cosmic Rough Riders, Daniel Wylie is virtually unknown. It must be frustrating for him, knowing he's got the goods but still remains a cult underground figure on the music scene. Perhaps that's all he wants. Perhaps people in radio land love him and don't want to share him. Who knows? I could have reviewed any of his three solo albums and said the same things. That's because they are all of a quality that few artists reach with even one album. Consoling The Girl, Brighton Beach, Grapevine, Unwind, Maybe I've Changed, The Daily Grind. Songwriters would kill their own family to be able to conjure up pop gems like these. Great cult artists have a habit of turning into household names and I wouldn't be surprised if this happened to Daniel Wylie. How can it happen? I haven't got a clue. Luck? He doesn't seem to have any right now otherwise he'd already be a household name. Whatever, R.E.M. the Beach Boys, the Byrds, the Shins, Velvet Underground and Neil Young are all influencing this music he's making and it's not like it's copying as it has an originality to it too. It's up there with those guys. Ach, just buy it. If you don't agree, you can always send it back and get the new Sugababes cd.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I like a little sugar with my rock and this album tastes perfect. It's suitably brash and vibrant (Because I, Chasing Rainbows, Unwind, Make love to the world) but never at the expense of fabulous harmony and guitar arrangements. If you stay a while - is the best song that The Dandy Warhols never wrote, Brighton Beach is stunning in it's simplistic beauty, Consoling the girl is so deceptively simple you could be forgiven for thinking that you were listening to a classic Beach Boys track until near the end, when it turns wryly into a velvet-esch mantra - just in time for the full-on pop rush which is Snow Pony. Don't be deceived by the first couple of listens - this album warrants repeated plays and will fully reward the music addict.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Nearly brilliant
This is a very good album full of the jangly guitars and perfect harmonies that fans of bands from the Byrds to Teenage Fanclub via REM will love. Read more
Published on 5 Feb 2007 by Simon Harper
Not Quite a Revolution in the summertime, this time.
Daniel Wylie, former lead singer with Poptones records former artistes has finally got round to making a record to justify his actions of leaving, what looked like being a... Read more
Published on 18 Jun 2004 by Mr. M. L. Hawes
a gorgeous slice of laid-back pop perfection
If, like me, you were distraught to learn that the Cosmic Rough Riders had split after the brilliance of the 2001 album "Enjoy the Melodic Sunshine", then cheer up because their... Read more
Published on 5 April 2004 by Crabcakes
disappointing daniel's not so cosmic
I was looking forward to hearing this album.I like the Cosmic Rough Riders (Wylie's former band) and upon reading the CD booklet I discovered that all current members of Scotland's... Read more
Published on 2 April 2004 by neal jackson
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