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Rating:
No, Swoon was not an ingenuous debut and cannot be classified as such.
It is true that in Steve McQueen ended up what are today rightfully recognized as the band's most incisive tracks, but if you consider the fact that the Prefab Sprout began to make a name for themselves in the local scene as a punk group that received nothing but rejections from the English record labels, Swoon was a striking turn.
With the money earned from the McAloon brothers’ odd jobs, it was possible to print copies of the first self-produced singles. Thanks to the determination of the quartet (in the meantime, their admirer Wendy Smith joined the group) the new tracks reached the ears of Keith Armstrong, who signed them. Kitchenware Records has been indissolubly linked with the history of Prefab Sprout and vice versa since the beginning.
Paddy McAloon and his relentless dedication to songwriting and composition; a song-producing machine (there are entire albums that for one reason or another have never been officially released). Praised by many despite being an innate outsider.
The spirit of the group has never bent too much to commercial ends, and it has never betrayed its own intents. Just take a look (although I would suggest diving in properly) at the interesting titles chosen for the tracks, the terms used, the lyrics. Stories and turmoils examined in a literary way; there is no room for vacuity and fillers in the tracklists of these albums. Swoon is no exception.
Among the angelic choruses of Wendy Smith and the curious bass lines of Martin McAloon, I cannot help but praise what I consider the best track of the album, which is Couldn't Bear To Be Special.
The aura of the latter is restless, intimate, and particularly melancholic. Even the vocal performance of the leader conveys the same sensations.
Don't expect so much of me, I'm just an also-ran. There's a mile between the way you see me and the way I am.
Don't expect too much from me, I am one of the many participants in this race. There's a mile of distance between how you see me and how I am.
This debut may contain the most difficult melodies to assimilate in the entire Prefab Sprout catalogue, but it is precisely for this reason that it is inviting.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 Don't Sing (03:53)
An outlaw stand in a peasant land, in every face see Judas.
The burden of love is so strange.
The stubborn beast and the priest, are hiding from the captians.
The burden of love is so plain.
Are they happy to see you?
No, you always bring trouble.
Cast a shadow on Mexico-denial doesn't change facts.
Like most I'll cone when I want things done,
please God don't let that change.
The anguish of love at long range.
Should've been a doctor, oh, then they can see what they're getting.
Oh no, don't blame Mexico,
that's the feast that the whisky priest may yet have to forego.
Rob me a colour, make the sound duller, but never go away.
Trough teeth of sharks the Autumn barks, and Winter squarely bites me.
Don't ever do this again.
Dawn breaks in the Southern States, and blindfolded he rests,
the burden of loves last request.
That's the feast that the whisky priest may yet have to forego.
Oh no, don't blame Mexico,
they ask for more than you bargained for and then they ask for more.
Oh no, don't blame Mexico,
that's the feast that the whisky priest may yet have to forego.
They ask for more than you bargained for and then they ask for more.
Rob me a colour, make the sound duller, but never go away.
02 Cue Fanfare (04:06)
Some expressions take me back, like "Hair of Gold" and
"Sweet Mary" and "Running to Me".
The sweet sweet songs that cloud your eyes - nostalgia supplies.
Loredo hihgstreet buried me - beneath an oak tree.
As This Is To Me: then so to you is something else,
that keeps you up long past your bedtime, tearing hair.
The sweetest moment comes at last - The waitings over,
in shock they stare and cue fanfare.
When Bobby Fischer's plane - plane plane - touches the ground -
plane plane he'll take those Russian boys and play them out of town.
The sweetest moment comes at least - the waitings over,
in shock they stare and cue fanfare.
When Bobby Fischer's plane - plane plane - touches the ground -
plane plane he'll take those Russian boys and play them out of town,
playing for blood as grandmasters should.
Some obsessions take me back, like "Hair of Golf" and "Sweet Mary"
and "Running to me".
The sweet sweet songs that cloud your eyes - nostalgia supplies.
Loredo hihgstreet buried me - beneath an oak tree.
05 Cruel (04:24)
Cruel is the gospel thats sets us all free,
then takes you away from me.
There is no Chicago urban blues, more heartfelt than my lament for you.
I'm a liberal guy, too cool for the macho ache, with a secret tooth,
for the cherry on the cake.
With a pious smile, a smile that changes what I say.
While I waste my time, inregretting that the days,
went from perfect to just O.K.
Lordy, What would I do? Don't call me possessive,
but God if he's smoochin' with you.
I's a jealous boy root, -the world shoyuld be free,
but don't you go following suit my heart is aligned-
it couldn't be neutral, I couldn't be that way inclined.
Its hard to defend, ba ba ba, ba, ba ba,
these feelings tuppentup friend.
Its cruel, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba,
ba ba Its cruel, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba, ba ba ba,
ba ba Its cruel, its crueler than cruel.
But cruel is the gospel thats sets us all free,
then takes you away from me.
Should a love be tender, and bleed out loud?
Or be tougher than tough, and prouder than proud.
If I'm troubled by every folding of your skirt,
am I guilty of every male inflicted hurt?
But I don't know how to describe the Modern Rose,
When I can't refer to her shape against her clothes.
With the fever of purple prose.
But cruel is the gospel thats sets us all free,
then takes you away from me.
Cruel is the gospel thats sets us all free,
then takes you away from me.
-My contribution, to urban blues.
06 Couldn't Bear to Be Special (03:50)
BO BO BEE, BO BEE, BO BO-BO BEE, BO BEE, BO
I couldn't bear to be special, I couldn't bear, couldn't bear. I couldn't bear, right ?
BO BEE, BO BEE, BO
So don't look at me and say, that I'm the very one, who makes the cornball things occur, the shiver of the fur.
Don't expect so much of me, I'm just an also-ran,
there's a mile between the way you see me and the way I am.
So, don't stare at me that way, of course it gives me pride,
but I won't take on the risk, of letting down the sweet sweet side
Did you mean to humble me ?
So you did it unsuspectingly !
Oh words are trains, for moving past what really has no name.
BO BO BEE, BO BEE, BO
I couldn't bear to be special, I couldn't bear, couldn't bear.
So, don't look at me and say, that I'm the very one, who makes the cornball things occur, the shiver of the fur, right ?
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