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Underachievers, Please Try Harder [CD]

Camera Obscura Audio CD
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
Price: £9.36 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
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Music

Image of album by Camera Obscura

Photos

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Biography

With the late John Peel an early champion, Glasgow’s Camera Obscura are now fondly regarded by many as one of the UK’s finest acts; having built up a dedicated following over the years with “must-have records” and tours throughout Europe, the US, Mexico, Australia and South East Asia.

Their last album, Let’s Get Out Of This Country (2006), was to prove ... Read more in Amazon's Camera Obscura Store

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for 14 albums, 3 photos, discussions, and more.

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Underachievers, Please Try Harder + Biggest Bluest Hi-Fi + Let's Get Out Of This Country [CD]
Price For All Three: £29.68

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Product details

  • Audio CD (15 Sep 2003)
  • Number of Discs: 1
  • Format: CD
  • Label: Elefant Records
  • ASIN: B0000AI4MF
  • Other Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 16,443 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

1. Suspended From Class
2. Keep It Clean
3. A Sister's Social Agony
4. Teenager
5. Before You Cry
6. Your Picture
7. Number One Son
8. Let Me Go Home
9. Books Written for Girls
10. Knee Deep at the NPL
11. Lunar Sea

Customer Reviews

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4.8 out of 5 stars
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
42 of 42 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Me and John Peel can't both be wrong 29 Sep 2003
By Gazza D
Format:Audio CD
I arrived home in an excited frenzy after hearing the song "Suspended from class" on John Peel, late one night driving home. I hadn't heard anything so beautiful for a long time. I was reminded of Dreams by the Cranberries but essentially this band sound more like Belle and Sebastian really. The rest of the album follows in this vain. Lovely pop songs that are melodic, beautifully recorded and constructed. The main attraction is the lead singer's crystal clear voice and their self effacing delivery. Having seen them live you can tell that they're probably never going to be huge but if you're like me they will give you hours of pleasure. Their first album "Big Blue Hi-Fi" is also a bit of a masterpiece.
I've never written a review and probably never will again. I only wrote this because no one else has yet. So if you're browsing and happened upon this page, give it a go. They deserve it. Me and John Peel can't both be wrong.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A breath of fresh air at last 3 Dec 2003
Format:Audio CD
It took a long time coming for this year's best album but it arrived for me in Norwich at a low profile gig in September. Breathtaking in their simplicity and yet complexity, Camera Obscura cut an independent dash through much of the cloned formulas of today's bands. Full of dry wit, matter of fact observation and superb musicianship these girls and boys ought to be everyone's favourites, but they probably won't be because they don't have spiky hair. Hats off to a smiling band who aren't afraid to shake their maracas at you so BEWARE. Go see them live and then, like Victor Kiam and I, you'll love them so much you'll have to buy the album.
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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Try Harder? I doubt that's possible... 8 Aug 2004
Format:Audio CD
The seven-piece band offer perfectly constructed, acoustic driven melodies. If their music had an image it would be that of someone curled up in front of a coal fire with a glass of red wine in their hand and a tear in their eye.

Your Picture is the stand out song on this album. It sounds strikingly similar to Suzanne by Leonard Cohen but sung in a Scottish accent. Imagine that.

There is a definite Motown influence on Let Me Go Home. Maybe this influence is referenced in the song: "sound of Temptations...Supremes in our dreams." The song also features a gorgeous refrain which sounds a lot like: "baby love, my baby love."

Underachievers Please Try Harder is a beautiful album. If you don't feel the need for power chords and angry screams but want music that speaks to your soul, buy this.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Pat Nevin
Pet Nevin's favourite album apparently. He once asked to be subbed from a friendly at half time to go to a Cocteau Twins gig, so the man has taste. Read more
Published 21 months ago by D. N. Atkinson
5.0 out of 5 stars Has there ever been a better band to come out of Scotland?
Prequel
Reviewing background: used to have my own modest fanzine entitled `She Took His Breath Away' which lasted from 1999 through to 2004, and only featured positive... Read more
Published on 14 May 2009 by Kev
5.0 out of 5 stars Smashing.
This is a terrific lp, I think all of their stuff is really good, Traceyanne Campbell's got a lovely voice, this band's stuff makes me feel all weirdly mellow and human, I like... Read more
Published on 27 May 2007 by jaquesaulait
5.0 out of 5 stars So, so sweet
This album is fantastic. To be fair there a couple of fillers, but the good songs are so good as to more than make up for it. Read more
Published on 13 Aug 2006 by Maximillian Petrovsky
5.0 out of 5 stars 4 Reasons To Buy This Album
1, The most simplistic, melodic Pop you'll ever hear, all delivered in a subtle, yet distinctive, Scottish accent

2. Read more

Published on 24 Jan 2005 by "garyegrant"
3.0 out of 5 stars Good, but first one was better
Non-evolution is not a problem in itself, though it does eventually lead to extinction. Their first CD: Biggest Bluest HiFi is one of the greatest CDs in my collection (others... Read more
Published on 13 Jan 2004
5.0 out of 5 stars Try harder??? It hardly gets better than this.
Finally got my hands on this album following raving reviews of John Peel and Stuart Murdoch ( Belle & Sebastian ) and not that Camera Obscura do not disappoint, they are actually... Read more
Published on 3 Dec 2003 by Edouard Bouffenie
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