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Rating:
THE REVIEW
Mix motown, soul, '60s beat, gospel throw in a great voice and a lively and sparkling backing band and you'll have a vague idea of who the Housemartins were. The question is more than legitimate… . did they unleash the best indiepop from '80s England? Paul Heaton (vocals, and what a voice!!!) Stan Cullimore (guitar) Norman Cook (bass) and Hugh Whitaker (and after the first album Dave Hemingway on drums) among other things were never signed by a major label, and this says a lot… their records are under the legendary "GO! discs".
Engaged political texts are embedded in a sound that literally makes you shake your ass (put “The Mighty Ship” on full blast and then tell me ... ) and that spans the aforementioned genres, they have released gems one after another considering only their three years of career (maybe even two) we find today with an unmissable sequence of tracks, from "Bow Down" to "I’ll Be Your Shelter," from "Build" to "Me And The Farmer" just to mention a few. A special mention goes to "Caravan of Love," a unique song, a traditional gospel performed a cappella that remains to this day (in my opinion) one of the best singles ever (No. 1 at that time in the United Kingdom) it's impossible to listen to it and remain indifferent. The band did not survive the '90s, and the Housemartins went in completely opposite directions, do "Beautiful South" and Fatboy Slim ring any bells??? So what are you waiting for? If you don't know them, go buy it! (besides, nice price) Highly recommended the entire official discography (three records).
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Summary by Bot
This review praises The Housemartins' album 'Now That's What I Call Quite Good' for its vibrant blend of Motown, soul, gospel, and indiepop. Highlighting Paul Heaton's remarkable vocals and politically engaged lyrics, the review spotlights iconic tracks like 'Caravan of Love.' Despite their short career, the band left a lasting legacy. Fans of 80s British indie and soulful music will find this album essential.
The Housemartins
The Housemartins were an English indie-pop band from Hull, active 1983–1988. Led by Paul Heaton with Stan Cullimore, Norman Cook and drummers Hugh Whitaker/Dave Hemingway, they mixed jangly pop with soul/gospel harmonies. They released two acclaimed albums and the UK No.1 a cappella single Caravan of Love before splitting.04 Reviews
