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Track Listings
| 1. Quiet Times |
| 2. We Don't Have Much Time |
| 3. The Same Way |
| 4. Let Me Into Yours |
| 5. Means To An End |
| 6. Just A Ride |
| 7. Keep Your Gun Dry |
| 8. Famous Last Words |
| 9. Clear The Skies |
| 10. Fade Down |
| 11. Save Yourself |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk
"It's the quiet times that get you" is the starkly unsettling assertion made by a browbeaten Darren Ford on the doldrum-esque opening track to Welcome to Winners. Clearly, Lowgold's recently enforced tarriance in the pop wilderness (the band's former label Nude went belly up) has left its psychological imprint. But while the blunt and deliberately dispiriting odour of exhaustion hangs over dimly-lit tracks like "Keep Your Gun Dry" (a forthright admission of world weariness, musically redolent of a more caliginous interpretation of Bruce Johnstone's "Disney Girls") any band which names its second album as vaingloriously as Welcome to Winners isn't about to throw in the towel.
Thus, Lowgold came shining through on "We Don't Have Much Time" and "Just a Ride", a brace of radio-tailored pop numbers picking up from that moment where Del Amitri discovered the Byrds. And while they haven't done enough to circumnavigate the ongoing Travis comparisons, they ought to feel pretty annoyed if words such as "Americana" continue to get thrown their way. The tidy harmonies and glossy self-absortion will irritate those who prefer their tortured artists to come unshaven and dishevelled, but Lowgold are a band more at home with writing songs than striking poses. Welcome to Winners is a dependable return and it's hard to see how they can continue to sustain their lack of commercial good fortune. --Kevin Maidment
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By G. Ford
Format:Audio CD
Don't believe the (what's the opposite of hype?) NME, this band are in serious danger of being the new Big Star. Brilliant songs unbelievable bad luck. Signed to Nude Records released a fantastic debut CD, label went to the wall owing them a stack of money. Fought off debt and the threat of bankruptcy and finally get a new album recorded only for the debut single to be pulled because a plugger didn't do their job. A pox on both your houses.
NME gives the album 4 out of 10, The Sunday Times makes it album of the week?!!! The truth is out there (and here's a hint it's not in the NME) Welcome to Winners is a great album. It's a grower, do you remember them? When albums get better every listen, the songs reveal themselves slowly? Even the songs you don't like at first will catch in your head and you'll find the words floating in your head at the oddest moments. Do you remember when there were bands you could really love? Well this is one of them. Do yourselves a favour buy this album and really listen to it. Do Lowgold a favour and tell your friends how good this album is, please don't let them disappear. Essential.
NME gives the album 4 out of 10, The Sunday Times makes it album of the week?!!! The truth is out there (and here's a hint it's not in the NME) Welcome to Winners is a great album. It's a grower, do you remember them? When albums get better every listen, the songs reveal themselves slowly? Even the songs you don't like at first will catch in your head and you'll find the words floating in your head at the oddest moments. Do you remember when there were bands you could really love? Well this is one of them. Do yourselves a favour buy this album and really listen to it. Do Lowgold a favour and tell your friends how good this album is, please don't let them disappear. Essential.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By "andymartyn"
Format:Audio CD
This album is beautiful, it has melancholy lyrics played with uplifting melodies. Radiohead (the bends era), Coldplay and Budapest are some examples of what this album sounds similar to. All these bands have won great aclaim by creating music that rocks with a underlying sense of sadness and Lowgold does the same exceptionaly well on this album. There is great honesty to the lyrics and how they are delivered. The fusion of great lyrics with soaring and delicate instrumental backing of guitars, piano and drums make a tender yet very powerful music.
6 of 7 people found the following review helpful
By M. Speller
Format:Audio CD
'Just Backwards Of Square' was hailed as an awesome emotional album that contained some real gems. If a band was rated on consistency then Lowgold are right there at the top. Again we have a really impressive result. Not all of the tracks are gems, but that's what a 'best of' is for isn't it?
A slight difference from JBOS if that 'Welcome To Winners' has some heavier numbers, which compliment the lead singer's voice (Darren Ford) to great effect. I would say that this album is slightly displaced by the debut still, but mainly because the impact of the debut was so out of the blue. A strong records that demands a multitude of listens, which seems to grow in stature the more you listen to it.
Drawing on Elbow, Coldplay, Grandaddy and the Doves. The band have produced some really accessible music, that should appeal to a fair few people.
Strangely, If you are yet to experience Lowgold, I would recommend you listen to this album first, before the debut record. This will bring home how good they both are, but will also hi-light how good the debut was.
In a business that sometimes struggles with follow up albums, the Lowgold boys have shown the rest the way. Welcome to the Winners enclosure, indeed.
** Like:- Elbow and Grandaddy ***
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
First of all, Lowgold are an extremely unlucky band, and due to various cockups it's taken them a good 2 or 3 years to record the followup to the stunning 'Just Backward Of Square'. Little has changed, which is a very good thing, as songs like 'We Don't Have Much Time' and 'Quiet Times' have the same warm familiarity as before. To me Lowgold stand out as a band who aren't afraid to tread the well worn paths of old, but still come out sounding fresh and optimistic, not to mention the stunning melodies. So please, please give them a second chance, they thoroughly deserve it.
By James Hayes
Format:Audio CD
"Welcome To Winners" was rather unfavourably received in the press and failed commercially, but I love this album to bits and out of the 4,000+ tracks on my iTunes, "Let Me Into Yours" is my 3rd most played track. Others such as "The Same Way", "Save Yourself" and "Fade Down" are well up in my chart too.
Why do I love this album? Firstly, I love the ebb and flow from one track to another. I love the lyrical themes, dominated it would seem by approaching death, living life to the full, making the most of the time you have left.... Morbid? Not at all, because these words are framed in music that is gently uplifting, beautiful and catchy. Such a combination often makes for very moving songs, none more so than "Let Me Into Yours". The long instrumental outro of this song, with its minimalist construction (repetition and addition of extra sounds as its repeated), builds gloriously into a luscious wave of sound that I could listen to forever.
I was delighted to see recently that they have at last found a home for their new album which is released on March 31st. Some of the tracks are up on their MySpace page and they sound really great. Lowgold on top form. Perhaps at last they will get some of the credit they deserve.
Why do I love this album? Firstly, I love the ebb and flow from one track to another. I love the lyrical themes, dominated it would seem by approaching death, living life to the full, making the most of the time you have left.... Morbid? Not at all, because these words are framed in music that is gently uplifting, beautiful and catchy. Such a combination often makes for very moving songs, none more so than "Let Me Into Yours". The long instrumental outro of this song, with its minimalist construction (repetition and addition of extra sounds as its repeated), builds gloriously into a luscious wave of sound that I could listen to forever.
I was delighted to see recently that they have at last found a home for their new album which is released on March 31st. Some of the tracks are up on their MySpace page and they sound really great. Lowgold on top form. Perhaps at last they will get some of the credit they deserve.
2 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Following the demise of Nude Records and a two year silence since the achingly beautiful ‘Just Backward of Square’ it is a huge relief to see Lowgold back. Their new home is Sanctuary Records but it looks like a tough second chance as 'Welcome to Winners' has arrived with no fanfare and minimal monochrome artwork. If it has a chance to be heard though the new music will speak for itself. This is a clever and sensitive set of songs that rewards with repeated listening. Half the tracks reveal a band bruised by their experiences in the wilderness but standouts like 'We Don't Have Much Time', 'Just a Ride' and 'The Same Way' have a surging optimism. The production is warm and crystal clear and Darren's vocals are better than ever. I could draw comparisons with Teenage Fanclub and Travis but the result is edgier and more emotional. These are honest hard working musicians and a world with any justice really should recognize them this time around. (Several of the songs were given a fine airing to a small but appreciative audience at Portsmouth's Wedgewood Rooms on the current tour.)
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
What to say... well worth a listen...
It is often the case with small or new bands, those early in their career, that their offerings can sound empty or raw. Read more
Published on 23 Feb 2004 by Robbie Swale
5.0 out of 5 stars
Gr8 band-Y r they so under rated.100% pure indie
If u reali lyk ur indie music by this album.Just Backward Of square is a beautiful album with such tracks as 'Beauty Dies young' & 'Mercury'. Read more
Published on 3 Jan 2004
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