Music : Just Enough Education to Perform

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- No Longer Just Brit Pop!
The Stereophonics have finally completed their third very much make or break album.Will this c.d. catapult them to major league status or will it drag them down to run of the mill.Having listened to now for over two weeks I think they have every chance of breaking into the big league.this c.d. has enough very strong songs to guarantee this c.d. will sell well.

The sound of this c.d. is certainly a development from Perfomances and Cocktails.It's more polished less raw.It doesn't have such a post brit Pop feel to it.Much of it was written on the road and it definitely seems to have a far greater American influence in the overall sound.This is very evident when you hear the first track-with it's bluesy/gospel backing singers it sounds so like the Black Crowes that it's quite uncanny.The next song "Lying In The Sun2 is a real gem and is a potential single.Like almost all of the songs on this c.d. it's a pretty much mid-tempo number.There are very few really fast,loud songs on this c.d.The song concerns seeing a beggar while they were in Portugal-yeah I do find it a bit crass when rock stars sing songs about feeling sorry for the poor.The song has a very gentle guitar accompaniment and it must be the quietest stereophonics song ever.Kelly Jones vocals are excellent though.But on the next song he sounds totally different and he really is in my opinion one of the best rock vocalists around.With it's wah wah guitar and keyboard sound it certainly has similarities with the Stevie Wonder sound mentioned in the sleevenotes.This is a really cool aspect to the whole c.d. as the sleevenotes explain the origins of each song.Mr. Writer has been a big hit over here and it certainly is the sort of song you could see doing well over in the States-which I think seems to be the main aim of this album.

The 4th track is very different from their usual stuff.It's just a blues/country song complete with harmonica.The next song "Have A Nice Day" is probably the most poppy song on the c.d.The lyrice maybe pretty serious but the whole song has a real "feel good" vibe to it.Again this song has the potential to be a hit single.Acoustic guitars dominate the next song again and you begin to wonder where the louder songs are.Lyrically it's been heavily criticised mentioning everything from Nuremberg,Kennedy,Geoff Hurst's goal-a brief synopsis of the 20th century really.The bass is alomost non-existent here and apart from the quiet guitar the paino in the chorus is the only other instrument you'll hear.Funny despite the lyrics it's a very catchy song.Song 7 has a more meaty rock guitar sound,especially in the chorus-even though it wouldn't go too loud on the decibel levels.The next song sounds almost identical to the last one and you begin to feel that on this c.d. the Stereophonics are going to take no risks what so ever.Generally this c.d. has songs which all sound ver similar to each other.There are no surprises or changes in sound in the final tracks.Each song has a fairly commercial almost M.O.R. sound to it.Fortunately though each of the songs are in my opinion very good.

Rating:

- What Could've Been
Stereophonics are one of my favorite bands.

I pre-ordered the album. I saw the acoustic tour. I couldn't wait to hear the album. It arrived, and I'm not sure what to make of it.

There's a sunny, upbeat 1970's a.m. radio vibe to about half of the tracks that is totally unprecedented in their earlier efforts. There's a lot less Stereophonics, the rock group. And a lot more Kelly Jones, heartfelt songwriter.

Standout tracks include Mr. Writer, Lying In The Sun, and Size 9s. But I feel the lightweight, laid back arrangements will alientate many fans. People who fell in love with the ragged exuberance of Word Gets Around and Performance & Cocktails will feel shorted.

The songwriting, as always, is there. But I feel the producer misfired. It's fine to evolve your sound. But this is total abandonment. I hope this record grows on me. Otherwise, screw it. The first two records are classics.

JEEP is good. But from a band this talented, you expect greatness.

Rating:

- Back to school with you...
Hate to rain on the positive review parade, but did anyone else find "Just Enough Education to Perform" to be a lot weaker album than "Performance and Cocktails?" I really love the songs on the "Performance and Cocktails" but was rather disappointed with the new tunes on "Just Enough Education to Perform."

To be honest, I kinda wish I could take my CD back to the music store. Don't get me wrong, there are a few standout tracks -- I quite liked "Mr. Writer" and "Have a Nice Day" -- but overall I found the melodies to be bland and unimaginative.

Rating:

- Not Bad
After the first listen, I didn't like this CD at all but it grew on me. 'Vegas Two Times' is a fantastic opener but not as epic an opening as 'Roll Up And Shine' was on the last album. 'Lying In Sun', in my view is the best one on the album. The lyrics are superb and the basis behind the song is very moving. With a beautiful melody behind it, this one is my favourite. 'Mr Writer' is the most technical Stereophonics track to date, with keyboards and backing vocals, this is a new, and interesting road for the 'Phonics. 'Step On My Old Size Nines' and 'Have A Nice Day' are two of the best tracks on the CD and they both look like being contenders for singles. I especially like the story of the taxi driver which inspired the latter. Some of the best Stereophonics lyrics ever come in 'Nice To Be Out', however the tune is somewhat basic and repetitive. 'Watch Them Fly Sundays' is another good track and 'Everyday I Think Of Money' is one of the best 'Phonics tracks of all time, sounding more like something off 'Performance & Cocktails' ('I Stopped To Fill My Car Up' / 'T-shirt suntan' from a lyrical point of view). 'Maybe' keeps the album going that little bit longer but by now you've got the feeling that its dragging on too long and 'Caravan Holiday', the bands worse song to date, ruins the album. 'Rooftop' begins a revival (and what a revival) and it does the album justice, ending on a high. Overall, probably not quite as good as 'Performance & Cocktails' and no where near as good as the 'Word Gets Around' debut. A more mature sound perhaps but I still prefer 'Word Gets Around'. A brilliant album all the same. I am editing my review now I have just seen the band play live at Donington here in the UK and they were absolutely amazing, the best live concert I have ever seen. Having seen them play some of these songs from this new album live, they have grown on me and I now love this album. Previously I wasn't too keen on 'Rooftop' but it is now one of my favourites as it was absolutely breathtaking when they played it live to close their set, in a word, brilliant. Admitedly I still prefer the other two but this is still a classic.

Rating:

- Another Smile Cause by the Stereophonics
I have waited to buy this album since the day I heard the Stereophonics are releasing a new one. What can I say? These guys have been through a lot, from their personal lives to "professional" criticism that ended changing them. Not for the better or for worst, but they have changed in a way that again the words that Kelly Jones has written made me smile. This album clearly has a different beat from their previous two, but it is still an amazing one! Kelly has the gift of singing songs with different emotion (from anger to romance) unlike many if not all singers in my opinion. He has the gift of voice and writing words that touches the heart, and he makes an amazing team with Richard and Stuart. And once again they all have succeeded in creating an album that is worth 5 shining starts!

page 9 of 11