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Rating: Hello, this is my first review and I've decided to talk about an album that hasn't been reviewed here yet but truly deserves it, so I've decided to fill that gap.
I want to talk about a British band that's not exactly very famous (unfortunately) but certainly very influential for many bands that came after, Catherine Wheel. They are a band that formed in 1990 in England. The singer and guitarist of the group is Rob Dickinson (cousin of the more famous Bruce from Iron Maiden). The album in question, "Happy Days," was released in the now "distant" 1995. The album features a lot of grunge influences for sure, although their typical shoegaze sounds are also present.
But let's talk about the album; it starts off very strongly with "God Inside My Head," a track that literally makes you jump out of your seat and immediately shows you what they're made of. The grunge influences of the period are very apparent here, but unlike other bands, Catherine Wheel doesn't try to imitate but invents their own style. The second track is "Waydown," which is also one of the two singles from the album. Here, the band returns to their previous style with a very beautiful song, and Rob's voice seems to explode when he screams. The third track, "Little Muscle," starts off very calm with Rob's voice almost whispered before exploding into a chorus that immediately gets stuck in your head. But with track n°4, Catherine Wheel outdoes themselves, in my opinion, this is the highlight of the record along with the first two. You can literally travel with your mind here; it's a true drug, with the final part giving you goosebumps with every listen. Other notable tracks include "Eat My Dust You Insensitive Fuck" and "Judy Staring at the Sun," track n°11 and another single from the album.
The entire album is worth listening to; there's not a single song that lowers the standard or makes you want to hit the skip button. The only flaw is that maybe there's not a classic single that appeals to everyone and would put the band in the spotlight (although personally, I think that both "God Inside My Head" and "Waydown" are potential "big singles").
In essence, Catherine Wheel is a band that unfortunately didn't manage to establish itself commercially, especially here in Europe, but they really deserved better fortune. In my opinion, they are one of the most underrated bands in history, especially considering the varied garbage we're given today (such as Linkin Park, Green Day, Finley, etc., etc., etc....). I recommend them to everyone who doesn't know them.
Best regards...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
04 Heal (06:13)
It's how high you are and the time it takes to heal
It's how high you are and the time it takes to heal
I can climb a tree and push up through the leaves 'cos
Only when I try am I happier to see
My head's in some kind of space where boyhood used to be
It's how high you are and the time it takes to heal
But it's all a lie and I've never felt so sad
There's a streak of melancholy running down my back
And there's a great mistrust that borders round the man
I call it strange from a boy who never left his head
It's how high you are and the time it takes to heal
And everyone needs someone to live by
Everyone needs someone to live by
But it's all a lie, it's a lie to make you beg
For something more for something better than you've had
And I wish I knew
I wish I knew how to change
'Cos everyone needs someone to live by
Everyone needs someone
Everyone needs someone to live by
Everyone needs someone
Everyone needs someone
It's how high you are and the time it takes to heal
07 My Exhibition (02:27)
There is an attitude I'm guilty of
Kept deeper, deeper, deeper
I only let it out when people piss me off
It's funny funny funny
I can be, I can be what you want me to be
I can be, I can be what you want me to be
I can be, I can be what you want me to be
My My My exhibition
I'm such a nice boy, such a charming man
But I'm going crazy with these snakes and stuff
I charm the pants of anyone I can
But this time I'm gonna...
My exhibition
A real condition
Yoga position
My exhibition
You're pissing me off, your pissing me off
Deeper and deeper and deeper and deeper
I can be, I can be what you want me to be
It's my exhibition
Stop you're pissing me off
Stop you're pissing me off
Stop you're pissing me off
09 Shocking (03:58)
Old style in it seems they've brought you everything
There's an old style in of days when we were all thirteen
Yeah these pictures of love are a testament to the memories
When I think of you it's shocking
Oooh it's shocking
Oooh
Now it's "Oh my god this time he crushed some aspirin"
Dissolved in love he always made the best of it!
Yeah he spilled it all to The Sun months before punk had
Taken off
He had the pictures to prove
What a soaraway dude is guilty of
When I think of you it's shocking
Oooh it's shocking Oooh it's shocking
But won't you listen to me, why can't you believe
That you're breaking my heart
And these moments were part of our lives
And it destroys me to see you destroy them
Every time
When I think of you it's shocking
Oooh it's shocking Oooh it's shocking
So you wanna know what's my crime?
Love, I'm guilty every time
Love, this love, I'm guilty every time
Love, this love, I'm guilty every time
Love this love, Love this love
It's shocking
10 Love Tips Up (03:55)
Don't feel sad don't feel blue
It's supposed to be
All I feel comes back off you
And I'm so happy
'Cos I feel I'm at 45 degrees
That's when love tips up for me
And keep it understood the elevations good
And love tips up for me
Please let me kiss your peculiar lips
For some sympathy
Though I've always maintained
That you've always been stranger than me
Is that the way it's meant to be?
I'm at 45 degrees
And that's when love tips up for me
So keep it understood the elevations good
And love tips up for me
Yeah don't it make you feel
Yeah don't it make you feel
Yeah don't it make you feel
High
'Cos I feel I'm at 45 degrees
That's when love tips up for me
When all of this is done it's dizzy I've become
And love tips up for me
Yeah for me
11 Judy Staring At The Sun (03:56)
Smacked up again behind the door
Begging please give me some more
A vein that's open for the day
Feel the pulse beneath the skin
And smiling as it all begins
Oh where have you been?
Judy's staring at the sun
Judy's staring at the sun
Judy's fantasy has come
So amplify this little one
She's a volume freak
She hears as much as she can see
And what she sees she can't believe
It's just what Judy needs a moment of release
To give her peace peace peace
Judy's starting at the sun
Judy's day passed out of sight
Judy will be suffering tonight
She's suffering
She passed by and said goodbye to him
And in a rare and lucid state
She said my days are unoriginal
I wanna fade, fade, fade
She's suffering
Judy's staring at the sun
Judy's day passed out of sight
Judy will be suffering tonight
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By mien_mo_man
What I really don’t understand, however, is why Catherine Wheel, a band that was fundamentally shoegaze until then... made this decisive step towards such radio-friendly sounds.
All done with great skill, and with more than decent inspiration.
