The Beautiful South - Welcome to the Beautiful South

The Housemartins used crazily bouncing melodies to sweeten their political pop. After they broke up after just two albums, P.D. Heaton tried a similar technique with the Beautiful South--lush melodies, rolling piano, and beautiful voices sugar-coating delightfully subversive lyrics. Only where the Housemartins railed against bankers and unthinking sheep, the Beautiful South moved from the political to the personal (except for some delicious swipes at the music biz), writing gorgeous love songs to dull partners ("I Love You But You're Boring"), gruesome murders ("Woman in the Wall"), and conversation fear ("You Keep It All In"). Funnier still is "Song for Whoever," which reveals the man behind the love song: "Oh Shirley, Oh Deborah, Oh Julie, Oh Jane/I wrote so many songs about you/I forget your name." --David Daley Amazon.com

french kiss soundtrack

I first heard them on the soundtrack of french kiss with meg ryan and kevin kline. they sing a french version of 'dream a little dream of me'.

bought the cd just for that one cut. September 25, 2008

Twisted Little Stories

I love this CD. I got it in the Nineties and couldn't put it down for a while. Each song is like a twisted little story that stays with you long after you listen to it. The lyrics are not only clever and catchy, they're also frequently funny. And the lite, upbeat, happy-sounding tunes defy the darkness in the lyrics--it's a winning combination. I thought of it today because I picked up a CD by a guy named Daniel Powter and thought, What does this remind me of? Then it hit me: Welcome to the Beautiful South (but not completely--more like the Beautiful South meets Macy Gray). June 22, 2006

Gotta love the wit

I got this album from my girlfriend back in 1990. She thought some of the lyrics applied to our twisted but great relationship. Turns out she was right. The sense of humor of the lyrics combined with the "sky rockets in flight" feel of the music hit it on the head. Ironically, she broke up with me shortly after! Song for Whoever was proably the soundtrack to it. Nonetheless, an excellent album. And 13 years later, I'm hearing cuts from it on the radio. Go figure.

A good buy if you enjoy some wit in your drive to work! February 25, 2004

Why aren't they big in the US?

The best work by TBS. Woman in the Wall and You Keep It All In are my two favorites. I meet few people in the US who dig this band. Youn can't compare this original band to anyone, they don't have as much as that "pop" sound as Heatens old band The Housemartins did. When will these guys get big? Who knows I didn't here of them until 1994 and they have been my favorite since. This album is better then the gloomy Choke which I like a lot but many songs seem to be about vomiting and loving ones self and not as cheerful as 0898. Buy it you should like it. February 10, 2003

Fun Album

I like this CD a lot, but it's not one of those you can really listen to on the way to school and all. It's more of like cleaning up the house music. But anyways, there's a lot catchy and amusing songs. The lyrics are really original too. Every song is like walking in the mind of a loony tune. "Woman in the Wall" sounds like something from Edgar Allan Poe. There are songs about showbiz, politics, criminals, and of course, it even has those mushy love songs! I cant stop singing "I love you but you're boring" in the shower. All the songs are unique and entertaining. I must say, I've never heard anything quite like it. Frankly, it's bizzare, but in a friendly way. It's definately worth a listen. But if you're really going to buy it, I suggust you get the Japanese import. It's got some bonus tracks that are must haves. November 5, 2001

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