The Album Review Club - Week #191 (page 1286) - Harlequin Dream - Boy & Bear

This has been a spelndid and enjoyable listen, despite my earlier comments about the similarities between a lot of the songs. Repeated listens, and there have been plenty, reveal the differences and there are plenty of gems.

Happy Hour is as good an opener as you could want and sets the scene for a strong set of songs. Flag Day is an obvious highlight but there was nothing not to like until Lean On Me. Not that I didn't like it but from this point it did seem to flag a bit and the changes in tempo felt a bit unwelcome. Freedom and The Mighty Ship take this album back to what it does best, I'll Be Your Shelter is an interesting but ultiamately not quite there diversion and He Ain't Heavy felt a bit superfluous.

As a debut album it's fine and did lead me on to thier next and the first couple of Beautiful South albums as well. There is a definite progression in the strength and variety of the songs and I'll be interested over time to track all ten of them. For now this will get plenty more listens though and despite the weaker points it's edged up to an 8
 
A few months ago I posted that my wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It's not something I wanted to post about too much on the forum and there are plenty of other threads that are more appropriate for doing so but there had been a few messages from regulars on here. Just wanted to let those know that following two ops (lumpectomy and lymph node removal) that she is now cancer free and any further treatment (radiotherapy and medication) is preventative. I feel more emotional now than I have at any point in the last few months but thankfully can now look forward to the year ahead.
 
journolud said:
A few months ago I posted that my wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It's not something I wanted to post about too much on the forum and there are plenty of other threads that are more appropriate for doing so but there had been a few messages from regulars on here. Just wanted to let those know that following two ops (lumpectomy and lymph node removal) that she is now cancer free and any further treatment (radiotherapy and medication) is preventative. I feel more emotional now than I have at any point in the last few months but thankfully can now look forward to the year ahead.
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Congrats to you, your wife, and your family, and two of the best words I've seen today: Cancer free.

Cheers to the great news.
 
journolud said:
A few months ago I posted that my wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It's not something I wanted to post about too much on the forum and there are plenty of other threads that are more appropriate for doing so but there had been a few messages from regulars on here. Just wanted to let those know that following two ops (lumpectomy and lymph node removal) that she is now cancer free and any further treatment (radiotherapy and medication) is preventative. I feel more emotional now than I have at any point in the last few months but thankfully can now look forward to the year ahead.
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Superb news and meriting more than a single like.
I also assume that the treatment and recovery have been aided and enhanced by the relaxation provided by musical therapy, courtesy of this thread!
 
journolud said:
A few months ago I posted that my wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It's not something I wanted to post about too much on the forum and there are plenty of other threads that are more appropriate for doing so but there had been a few messages from regulars on here. Just wanted to let those know that following two ops (lumpectomy and lymph node removal) that she is now cancer free and any further treatment (radiotherapy and medication) is preventative. I feel more emotional now than I have at any point in the last few months but thankfully can now look forward to the year ahead.
Click to expand...
That’s great news!! Puts a lots of things into perspective. Best wishes to you both mate
 
journolud said:
A few months ago I posted that my wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It's not something I wanted to post about too much on the forum and there are plenty of other threads that are more appropriate for doing so but there had been a few messages from regulars on here. Just wanted to let those know that following two ops (lumpectomy and lymph node removal) that she is now cancer free and any further treatment (radiotherapy and medication) is preventative. I feel more emotional now than I have at any point in the last few months but thankfully can now look forward to the year ahead.
Click to expand...
Great stuff
 
journolud said:
A few months ago I posted that my wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It's not something I wanted to post about too much on the forum and there are plenty of other threads that are more appropriate for doing so but there had been a few messages from regulars on here. Just wanted to let those know that following two ops (lumpectomy and lymph node removal) that she is now cancer free and any further treatment (radiotherapy and medication) is preventative. I feel more emotional now than I have at any point in the last few months but thankfully can now look forward to the year ahead.
Click to expand...
That’s wonderful, wonderful news!
 
journolud said:
A few months ago I posted that my wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It's not something I wanted to post about too much on the forum and there are plenty of other threads that are more appropriate for doing so but there had been a few messages from regulars on here. Just wanted to let those know that following two ops (lumpectomy and lymph node removal) that she is now cancer free and any further treatment (radiotherapy and medication) is preventative. I feel more emotional now than I have at any point in the last few months but thankfully can now look forward to the year ahead.
Click to expand...
Fantastic news. Great that no further treatment is necessary.
 
journolud said:
A few months ago I posted that my wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It's not something I wanted to post about too much on the forum and there are plenty of other threads that are more appropriate for doing so but there had been a few messages from regulars on here. Just wanted to let those know that following two ops (lumpectomy and lymph node removal) that she is now cancer free and any further treatment (radiotherapy and medication) is preventative. I feel more emotional now than I have at any point in the last few months but thankfully can now look forward to the year ahead.
Click to expand...
Thats brilliant news mate. My wife had similar a couple of years back and now other than an annual scan thats it (crosses fingers). Its a difficult time for both of you and I'm glad you have had a good outcome.
 
journolud said:
A few months ago I posted that my wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It's not something I wanted to post about too much on the forum and there are plenty of other threads that are more appropriate for doing so but there had been a few messages from regulars on here. Just wanted to let those know that following two ops (lumpectomy and lymph node removal) that she is now cancer free and any further treatment (radiotherapy and medication) is preventative. I feel more emotional now than I have at any point in the last few months but thankfully can now look forward to the year ahead.
Click to expand...

10/10
 
journolud said:
A few months ago I posted that my wife had been diagnosed with breast cancer. It's not something I wanted to post about too much on the forum and there are plenty of other threads that are more appropriate for doing so but there had been a few messages from regulars on here. Just wanted to let those know that following two ops (lumpectomy and lymph node removal) that she is now cancer free and any further treatment (radiotherapy and medication) is preventative. I feel more emotional now than I have at any point in the last few months but thankfully can now look forward to the year ahead.
Click to expand...

Great news and best wishes going forward.
 
It's been interesting to read comments about whether the band deliver on the politic of the lyrics. By the time this came out I had been a Braggista for a while and so viewed Go! Discs as a mark of quality and distinction (if you discount Phil effing Jupitus), consequently I saw The Housemartins on more than one occasion unless memory fails me the first time before this album actually came out. Despite his protestations, Billy did want to change the world and though his music was initially more obviously strident than this album he was also already moving towards a more polite/'reasonable' direction that led to Red Wedge at the start of '86. In contrast lyrically Heaton came across as the more flippant and less political with a big P of the two; but based on a limited number of mostly indirect interactions with them, if you'd have asked me which of the two was up for 'hanging the bastards in the street' it was definitely Heaton. Stan and Norman (despite his best efforts) looked like nice lads, but despite his sweet vocals Paul had the look and demeanour of a few people I knew who in some quarters were viewed as being up to no good. I think his little smile and everyman demeanour hides quite a steely bloke. If at some point in the future a cold case team establish that during the latter part of the 20th/early 21st century an unusual number of hedge fund managers disappeared in murkily similar circumstances I wouldn't be surprised if the trail led to Didsbury via Hull. More seriously in his own quiet way I think Heaton has stuck to his guns and principles over the years; the contrast between him and the front man of another band who released a great album this year could hardly be more marked.

To the album itself I think it's weathered pretty well. The combination of, for want of a better word, jangle pop, gospel and social commentary lyrics without being overly preachy have always worked well for me. Is the musicianship individually stellar? Probably not, though the harmonies were probably something that not many were doing at the time. But did they work as a band, very much so I think. Tbh never been that fussed on Lean On Me and I've never seen the need for the additional tracks they added on later versions of it but apart form that, good stuff all the way for me.

8/10
 
LGWIO said:
Superb news and meriting more than a single like.
I also assume that the treatment and recovery have been aided and enhanced by the relaxation provided by musical therapy, courtesy of this thread!
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Well some more than others to be fair. This week’s pick certainly hit the sweet spot.
 
I apologi(s)ze for my limited time this week, because I just wanted to reach out and hug this record. The juxtaposition between the jangly, bouncy, long-hair-in-front-buzz-cut-in-back, skinny UK boy image and the uber-snarky socialist lyrics is delightful, and a lot of fun to listen to even if you didn't consider it. I didn't find a soft track here, and while its quite obviously derivative, that in itself is part of the joke/charm. If only Paul Weller had evolved the smarts and balls and global vision of these guys. I recalled Happy Hour and Sheep instantly. I am absolutely appalled I had no idea Norman Cook/Fatboy Slim was in this band -- a musical knowledge hole that is going to smart for a good long while. I feel it possible I could go higher after multiple listens but this was a joy twice through and the first time in a while I am truly bummed not to have a chance to wax more poetic in a way this deserves. This positively coasts to an 8/10 score, with upside. "Don't shoot someone tomorrow / That you can shoot today!" And fuck off Spotify.
 
...And there was me thinking that the Red Star & Smiley face for the clues would have given the game away for the band.
The comments about the derivative nature of some of the tracks/guitars made me think back to the clue for old Stan and thought that he had carried over his derivative style into his writing for Yoho Ahoy.... or perhaps @mrbelfry was carrying on Stan's work with him introducing us to the good ship "The Onion"

""
 
threespires said:
It's been interesting to read comments about whether the band deliver on the politic of the lyrics. By the time this came out I had been a Braggista for a while and so viewed Go! Discs as a mark of quality and distinction (if you discount Phil effing Jupitus), consequently I saw The Housemartins on more than one occasion unless memory fails me the first time before this album actually came out. Despite his protestations, Billy did want to change the world and though his music was initially more obviously strident than this album he was also already moving towards a more polite/'reasonable' direction that led to Red Wedge at the start of '86. In contrast lyrically Heaton came across as the more flippant and less political with a big P of the two; but based on a limited number of mostly indirect interactions with them, if you'd have asked me which of the two was up for 'hanging the bastards in the street' it was definitely Heaton. Stan and Norman (despite his best efforts) looked like nice lads, but despite his sweet vocals Paul had the look and demeanour of a few people I knew who in some quarters were viewed as being up to no good. I think his little smile and everyman demeanour hides quite a steely bloke. If at some point in the future a cold case team establish that during the latter part of the 20th/early 21st century an unusual number of hedge fund managers disappeared in murkily similar circumstances I wouldn't be surprised if the trail led to Didsbury via Hull. More seriously in his own quiet way I think Heaton has stuck to his guns and principles over the years; the contrast between him and the front man of another band who released a great album this year could hardly be more marked.

To the album itself I think it's weathered pretty well. The combination of, for want of a better word, jangle pop, gospel and social commentary lyrics without being overly preachy have always worked well for me. Is the musicianship individually stellar? Probably not, though the harmonies were probably something that not many were doing at the time. But did they work as a band, very much so I think. Tbh never been that fussed on Lean On Me and I've never seen the need for the additional tracks they added on later versions of it but apart form that, good stuff all the way for me.

8/10
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Think Heaton liked a bit of scrapping at the footy back then?
Nicely written.
 
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