Music : Just Enough Education to Perform

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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0638812709226
Label: V2 North America
Manufacturer: V2 North America
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: V2 North America
Release Date: April 17, 2001
Sales Rank: 41362
Studio: V2 North America

Editorial Review:

Amazon.com:
Three albums in, and Stereophonics have written their first truly mature work, Just Enough Education to Perform. While the Welsh trio's first two albums were blighted by the occasional spot of facile pub-rock tub-thumping, which served only to dilute Kelly Jones's emotive laments into ear candy, Just Enough Education to Perform evokes the ragged croak of early Rod Stewart or the world-weary country lament of Neil Young without feeling the need to unnecessarily embellish its content. It's not all good: the album's first single, "Mr. Writer"--a stab at dismissive music journalists--is, ironically, petulant and unwieldy, spoiled by Jones's clunky lyric: "You've just enough, in my own view, education to perform/ I'd like to shoot you all." Far more successful are the simple semi-acoustic readings of "Nice to Be Out", "Step on My Old Size Nines," and "Lying in the Sun," which prove that, stripped down, Jones can match most singer-songwriters of an alt-country persuasion without breaking into a sweat. By this time in their career, Oasis began losing themselves in bland bombast and a fog of hollow guitar solos; to their credit, on Just Enough Education to Perform, Stereophonics do not let fame cloud the clarity of the record's meaning. --Louis Pattison

Average Rating:

Rating: - In my own words, fandabuluous.
I know people think this is very mellow, but hey if they set out to make a mellow album then they did a dam good job! As a teen I try to keep up in the music scene with what is hot an what isn't, E.G. "Chili Peppers" good, "Pussycat Dolls" bad. I was worried that it would be a filler album because I had only heard their singles (which I loved to bits) Have a Nice Day, Mr Writer and Handbags and Gladrags. So I was very pleased when I found that there was only 1 song that I didn't like as much (but ... Read More

Rating: - Good, but their next two after this kill this one
Okay, maybe it's just me, but I don't think this is their best. the best tracks on here are probably "Vegas Two Times" "Mr. Writer" or "Step On My Old Size Nines". Lots of these tracks are very pensive, and it sounds like they really wanted to feature the acoustics. If you like their pensive stuff, get this. If you want their harder (in my opinon better) stuff, pick up the other ones

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Rating: - hidden track/bonus cut
There's another song after "Rooftop", and it's terrific. Probably titled, fittingly enough, "Surprise." Don't miss it!

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Rating: - Their weakest album
Perhaps it isn't surprising that this is Sterophonics weakest album, as Kelly Jones wrote most of this in his darkest hour. However, it is too inconsistent and downright chintzy in places to be truly enjoyable front to back. Cuts like Mr. Writer, Vegas Two Times, and Rooftop rock out like no ones business and are the highlights, as is the sunshine-pop of Have a Nice Day. However, there are dirges like Everyday I Think of Money and downright schmaltz like Caravan Holiday. A good album but certainly ... Read More

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Rating: - a beautiful disc
Just because a band is successful and is reflecting on that success and the world they live in doesn't make this album any less enjoyable. This Stereophonics disc has beautiful melodies and reflective lyrics that I play over and over. It may be more polished than earlier discs but it maintains its own charm and beauty, and is well worth adding to your collection. The lyrics present an insightful look at the world and the melodies are truly beautiful. It's also the perfect poolside/beach disc.