Not Too Bad

I discovered this album after hearing "You Showed Me" on an old episode of the MTV show Daria, actually. I thought the song was awesome, and I heard a little of the rest of the album, so I bought it pretty cheap.
Now, the first song, "Imaginary Friends" is really great, and of course, "You Showed Me", but the rest of the cd sort of blends together. At the end, you kind of wind up with same-sound overload, it's like one really long song punctuated by the two really good ones.

Fortunately, the afore-mentioned songs are good enough to make up for the lack of color in the rest of the songs, so I would say this album was worth buying if only for "Imaginary Friends" and "You Showed Me". If you don't mind the drawbacks and you're looking for good background music, then definitely, go for it.

One superb track embedded in an enjoyable sugar coating...

Clever... take a song that the Byrds discarded from their "Mr. Tambourine Man" sessions, slow it down, add some clicks & pops to create the required vinyl atmosphere, couple it with a quite brilliant, totally different arrangement and there you have it... the perfect missing single. Released in late 1965/1966 and the Lightning Seeds' interpretation of "You Showed Me" would/should have been a major hit - full of the atmospheric harmonies and chord structures that epitomise a wonderful period of music. Reputations at the time were based on less. Released in 1996 and, alongside the Stone Roses' "Waterfall", it captures the essential spirit of mid 60's music without reverting to pure imitation... all the better because it has the benefit of 30 years' hindsight. Such tracks are rare indeed.

But what of the rest?: skilfully produced & executed "tuneful" songs that will keep you whistling away for hours. Lightweight ? derivative ? - well yes, but they have that ability to keep grabbing space on your CD player despite the feeling that you really should be listening to something more serious. And... if or when you get bored with it all you're still left with one quite superb, time-warped and timeless track.

What an addiction !

The Lightning Seeds are quite addictive and this cd is the best example to prove it ! I guess it is hard not to enjoy songs like "Like You Do", "Sugar Coated Iceberg", "Fingers & Thumbs" and "Ready Or Not"...This album is memorable only for the fact that there is simply no dull moment on it...The music could be described as being "sweet and melodic pop-rock for intellectuals"...A must-have for fans of the British pop scene...Believe me, buy this album and you'll soon find yourself wanting more...