Albert Tatlock Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 Big Housemartins fan. Still like Heaton alot.The Beautiful South, Colston Hall, BristolHow I fell in love with Heaton the hooligan... By Simon Price, The IndependentPublished: 04 June 2006 Maybe I'm getting old, but I'm belatedly coming round to The Beautiful South. It's taken long enough. The obstacles were significant. Paul Heaton's ever-so-British trait of self-effacing modesty and unassuming humility (The Housemartins' "fourth best band in Hull" tag, the title of The Beautiful South's second hits compilation Solid Bronze) didn't match my glam-flash aesthetic, and Radio 2-friendly country-folk-pop, whether leavened with music hall or mariachi, wasn't my thing. In theory, it still isn't. But this, in a sense, is the whole point. Paul Heaton, pop's reluctant optimist, is also perhaps its ultimate entryist, an incorrigible contrarian and provocateur whose songs of class conflict and sexual politics are, nevertheless, all over the jukey in the pub where your mum and dad drink, and whose first greatest hits collection, Carry On Up The Charts, was the third-biggest selling album in British history (after Michael Jackson and Phil Collins). This, in itself, makes him a figure worthy of closer examination. What makes him a truly interesting character are his numerous contradictions. A clich Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pillowy star Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 That's funny, because Rob made me a CD recently with their stuff as he really likes them. I recognized several songs too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Mrs. Peel Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 Love the Housemartins and based on those Beautiful South sample lyrics I think I need to check them out. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Albert Tatlock Posted June 5, 2006 Author Share Posted June 5, 2006 That's funny, because Rob made me a CD recently with their stuff as he really likes them. I recognized several songs too.You seem to have good taste in men! Love the Housemartins and based on those Beautiful South sample lyrics I think I need to check them out.You really should. Generally gentle tunes but often cutting lyrics. There was an earlier best of compilation called 'Carry On Up The Charts' that I would recommend. The latest best of 'Solid Bronze' may be as good, it's just that I don't really know the last couple of albums. I'm quite surprised that they don't register on the US radar seeing as they have been around so long and had so much success (initially anyway). Maybe just too English. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Laminated Kat Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I haven't listened to TBS in over 5 years. I saw them a ton when I lived in England. Great band. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
cryptique Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I have every TBS album (including the new one) except the compilations, and they all have their charms. Hard to say which one is my favorite, though I'm partial to 0898 for some reason. What's everyone's favorite? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Laminated Kat Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I'd love to hear the new stuff...... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Elixir Sue Posted June 5, 2006 Share Posted June 5, 2006 I hated that song "Perfect 10" when it came out, but I haven't really heard any of their other stuff. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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