- Audio CD (8 Mar 2004)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Format: Import
- Label: Rounder
- ASIN: B0001GH4F2
- Other Editions: Audio CD
- Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 243,649 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
Jubilee Offer: Patriotic Classics for £2.50 |
Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. Shines Right Through Me |
| 2. When I Am King |
| 3. Beat The Drum |
| 4. Something Beautiful |
| 5. Helmet Head |
| 6. Summer |
| 7. Sally Ann |
| 8. Somedays |
| 9. Let It Go |
| 10. John Barbour |
| 11. Lucky Me |
| 12. Love |
| 13. Chafe's Ceilidh |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
A Platinum-selling act in their Canadian homeland, Great Big Sea has mined that country's proud Scots/Irish Celtic heritage in a decidedly modern context. In Something Beautiful, their arrangements are honeycombed with the accordions, bouzoukis, pipes, whistles and fiddles typical of traditional music and nicely handled they are, too. But these come across as afterthoughts amid a powerhouse hit machine featuring robust lead vocals, a booming drum kit, and close-harmony hooks obviously calibrated to induce stadium sing-alongs. The group is a throwback to 70s folk-rockers in that they veer between trad/arr material ("John Barbour") and original tunes ("Helmenthead", which catalogues the conquests of a kiss-and-tell hockey player). In contemporary terms, they occasionally recall singer-songwriter Paul Brady's polished lyrics or the crowd-pleasing barroom roughhousing of Black 47. But ultimately, this is a mainstream band, high-energy and very good at what they do; the question is how they'll play outside their comfort zone. --Christina Roden, Amazon.com
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Having first seen Great Big Sea as a support act to Runrig I have been a firm fan. This is a good album if a little over produced in the studio. Their cover version of Runrig's "Beat the Drum" is excellant bearing in mind what they had to follow? There is little doubt that, like Runrig, the spark sets fire to them at their live performances and that is when they are at their very best. However if you like the band you will enjoy this album as it contains all the types of music and songs they excel at!
Format:Audio CD
There's definitely some material here that feels a little "familiar" to previous albums. Although not bad by all means, I feel they should throw out the Big Bumper Book of Easy Rhymes. Actually, the lyrics to the original songs are pretty bad all round and some (particularly in "Love") are downright cringeworthy. That said, most of the music is solid (although too reliant on the slower songs this time around) and "Helmethead" and "John Barbour" are as good as anything they've ever done.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
42 reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Poppier Yet Classic
30 Sep 2004
Format:Audio CD
This collection deviates somewhat from the previous ones in that several of the songs are very Pop, especially one of my favourites, When I am King. Despite this slight deviation they retain their roots in folk keeping with my favourite aspect of the band - their focus on audible vocals as opposed to loud and lengthy guitar riffs and drum solos.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Great Music
27 Dec 2004
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a fun CD full of good to great compositions. Newfoundlands version of classic tracks, testamonials to the Newfoundland Spirit, and up beat smiling attitudes throughout. Best CD since their first CD. I look forward to their next release. Yes and secret; Go see them live, music is great, lots of happy folks, crowd singing to cheer the soul. You will not regret it at all!
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Sorry to see less traditional music, BUT....................
20 Mar 2004
Format:Audio CD
the album holds up quite well. Unlike other Great Big Sea albums, there are two or three cuts here that I find myself skipping over, but original songs like "When I Were King", "Beat the Drum", "Shines right through", "Something Beautiful" and "Lucky you, Lucky me" are pretty darned good, and "John Barbour" is so good, it's almost worth picking up the CD just for that. "Helmethead" seemed very Pogues-like, and that's a compliment.
No, it's not "Rant and Roar or "Turn", those are five-star efforts, but this CD is deserving of four stars when put alongside past GBS releases. However, when compared to the usual schtick one finds on the radio dial, it IS a 5-star disc.
As for them selling out, it seems the fella who often fronts many of the traditional sea shanties has left the band and that is perhaps why GBS decided to go with just two traditional tunes. After all these years, what's so bad about them getting a little Bare Naked Ladies-type of recognition? They've earned it and I hope they achieve it.
One more thing, I saw them live for the first time on March 15th and they were spectacular. Anyone worried that the traditionals would take a back seat in their live shows need not worry. The new stuff sounded great also and "Lucky you, Lucky Me" was a perfect ode to the audience in one of their encores.
For fans and GBS and novies alike, I recommend getting this CD and I HIGHLY recommend seeing them live, you won't be disappointed.
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