The Beautiful South Album: “Quench”

The first review in this section was right in that Quench is an amzing album but wrong in that it really missed the point of the songs and their meaning, Big Coin is not about Love meaning more than money, but comparing it to love, big coin being the love spent easuly, this the kinf of love Paul Heaton sings about. But if someone can miss the meaning of an album and still enjoy it then that is fine, Quench shows The Beautiful South at their best, those hit singles from 1989 - 1990 will always be what they ar eremembered for, but the band have matured and gone beyond those confines. In fact Quench is proabably the finest overall album they have produced, every song is so complete and mirrors life in all its awkard crazyiness. There is so much truth in the words but the explosion is subtle and often cruel, but then isn't life abnd that is what The Beautiful South are, perfect life music. Perfect 10 with its cutting lyrics masked by those famous happy melodies, Lure of the Sea, Dumb, Big Coin, the only weak track for me was Pockets. What an amzing album, clever honest and well produced and even great if you don't undersatnd the lyrics, what more could you ask for?

If you like the Beautiful South this is a must- buy disk. I have the entire catalogue and this one has more "Top 40ish" type songs than any of the more recent cds. The single "perfect 10" is pure Heaton-lyrics with sarcasm and a hint of realism sprinkled throughout and its very contagious. Most of the songs, as the cd title would suggest and past South music would suggest, are about alcohol and abusing alcohol. If I had to pick two cds to buy for South they would be the greatest hits then this one.

Having been a Housemartins fan, then a Beautiful South fan since their first album, I was somewhat disappointed in Quench. I didn't find the songs as catchy or cutting or sarcastic as previous albums... and I swear it sounded like they just got out of rehab..got a little problem with the drink? Just a little too mellow and slow for my taste. Still a fabulous band, but I'd recommend Choke, 0898, Welcome to.., or carry on up the charts if you're not familiar with the band.

Great lyrics and tunes. I imagine the lyrics might be a little deep for some folks. Its one of my favorites.

This is the BS back at their best, after the disappointment of the previous, rather wishy-washy album.

The happy tunes couples with the dark themes may sound depressing and rather weird on the surface, but believe me, it's worth a listen. All the old themes are back - alcohol, bad relationships, etc. BUY IT!