Reviewed by Guy Walsh
Well I have to admit it, despite the fact they were my favourite band in the mid-90's I really had given up on the Lightning Seeds. Let's face it, Ian Broudie's done four albums all quality records, but all a little samey. I just couldn't take a fifth.
BUT - then I got this for Christmas. And my, how Broudie has changed the sound. Everyone knows about the single Life's Too Short, which had a dance element to it. However the next single is likely to be Sweetest Soul Sensations. It sounds just like the title suggests it should, and is a suprise collaberation with Al Green. Broudie also works with Babybird's Stephen Jones to pen another potential hit (remeber Sugar Coated Iceberg?) in City Bright Stars. This again broadens the musical scope by using an orchestral selection to produce an amazing sound.
There's also your typical Broudie ballads in I Wish I Was In Love, Cigarettes and Lies and Ian has a dig at some of music's more commercial side with the song Crowdpleaser:
There's a political dig with my personal favorite Tales of the Riverbank, about the Mersey dockers' problems. Happy Satellite for me, is the weakest song on the album, Get it Right is your usual collaberation with Terry Hall, which unsuprisingly sounds the most like previous Lightning Seeds albums.
If Only is another less-guitar based song, and features more violins and chellos. All the Things, however, is the best closing track I've heard in a long while!
Definately one for all Lightning Seeds fans, and for those non-fans as well, there truely is something on here for everyone!!