Fretplay.com The Undertones CD reviews The Undertones guitar tabs The Undertones CD reviews The Undertones tabs The Sin of Pride


The Undertones - The Sin of Pride Audio CD

A fair review of the The Undertones "The Sin of Pride" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Undertones reviews here, or go back to the The Undertones tabs.

The Undertones Band: The Undertones
Title: The Sin of Pride
Rating:
Release Date: 2003-09-09
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Got Have You Back 2: Valentine's Treatment 3: Luxury 4: Love Before Romance 5: Untouchable 6: Bye Bye Baby Blue 7: Conscious 8: Chain of Love 9: Soul Seven 10: Love Parade [7" Version] 11: Save Me 12: Sin of Pride 13: Love Parade [12" Version][*] 14: Like That [*] 15: You're Welcome [Live][*] 16: Crisis of Mine [*][Version] 17: Family Entertainment [*][Version] 18: Turning Blue [*] 19: Window Shopping for New Clothes [*] 20: Bittersweet [*] 21: You Stand So Close [*] 22: I Can Only Dream [*]

13 bonus trax. Who could ask for more. It's as slick as they got. Nice too.
This album is even more polished and designed, pretty clearly, to get on the UK radio as some sorta romantic pop stars or something. Well, if yer expecting the power pop of the first two albums, s/t and Hypnotized, yer in for a big, big disappointment.

Turns out, they're great song writers in there somewhere. So even when they took this path, it still had lovely pop songs, almost totally minus the power element.

If you want it sweeter and more gentle you've come to the right place. At least they lessened the pain a bit by added a whopping 13 extra trax. So if you happen to get into this new and final direction of the band (of the early 80's period) then you get even more songs or versions of songs.

Nice stuff really. Just, it's not for everyday listening unless yer a real pansy. Uh, did I say that outloud. I like some silly stuff that's too pop sometimes (for some reason I like the PET SHOP BOYS discography and the first PAUL MCCARTNEY solo album and a few WINGS songs even, really though, that's as poofy as I get).

If yer a punk get this album and don't tell anyone.
If you're a nice girl who likes velvety sweet pop songs from nice boys and a vocalist with a patently silly voice who's oh so serious, get this album immediately. chrisbct@hotmail. com.


Slick Pop Direction and it Works!!!!
The clown that gave this cd 1 star suffers from HUA syndrome. If you don't like UK Northern Soul, ie Dexy's and Style Council you may not like this cd. . . . . I suggest you check out their dvd for additional info on why they went in this musical direction. . . . I bought SoP in '83 I've always loved it. . . . The 'new' direction was hinted at in Positive Touch w/ It's Going to Happen and Julie Ocean. . . . . a more 60's psychedelic sound. . . . . Here they go for a R&B and Northern Soul (That's UK Northern)approach. Much more commercial; the goal reach a wider geographical audience, therefore more money. You can't blame them w/ the musical changes happening around them Duran, Spandau, ABC, etc. . . . Many new wave power pop bands from that time changed their direction as well. . . . . Paul Weller, 999, The Damned, Still Little Fingers. . . . some had better success than others. The Undertones managed to put together an amazing set of tracks standouts: Love Parade, Conscious, Valentine's Treatment, Save Me, Bye Bye Baby Blue the bonus trax round out the 12' singles and rare trax. . . . . Who could blame them for wanting to make a bit of money and leave dreary old Derry after years of hard work and critical acclaim. . . . . I stand by this a their most sophiticated and adult work. . . . . not for the macho complex kiddie punkers.


FILE UNDER "NORTHERN IRISH SOUL"
It got RAVE reviews in the British music weeklies! And I'm sure NOTHING in the USA. Ah, the spring of 1983 - I was living in London, and the Undertones unleashed their FINAL album then and there. This is where The Undertones ventured into soul music and more psychedelia, a great combo!! Lots of keyboards on this one, but soulfully done - NOT techno!! Standout tracks: SOUL SEVEN, GOT TO HAVE YOU BACK, BYE BYE BABY BLUE, CHAIN OF LOVE, LOVE PARADE, but there's not a bad tune on the album. OH, this album brings back great memories, and never fails to impress me!!.


Underrated
The guitar melodies and energy of their early work remain prominent on this record, but the arrangements are fuller, tastefully incorporating organ, piano, horns, and occasionally female backup vocalists. The Undertones weren't the first band to blend punk, soul, gospel, and pop, but they did a better job of it than just about anybody else. Amazingly, the end result is sophisticated yet never slick. Every seeming embellishment proves to be essential to the power of each song. And Feargal Sharkey's quavering vocals carry as much conviction as Smokey Robinson's or Marvin Gaye's.

Unlike a lot of reissues, the bonus tracks for this one are a must. "Bittersweet" is a lost classic that really deserved to be a hit single. And the psychedelic "I Can Only Dream" is an absolute masterpiece.

I have always felt that Positive Touch is the Undertones' best record. But The Sin of Pride deserved far more credit than either fans or EMI gave it when it was first released. Twenty years later, it sounds better than ever. Fans of The Jam's The Gift, The Beautiful South's Choke, or The Prisoners' In From The Cold will treasure this album.


You can see a complete list of all The Undertones discography, or go back to the The Undertones tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.

Search guitar tabs

#ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
[ Search tabs | Guitar tabs | Bass tabs |
Easy guitar tabs | Guitar solo tabs |
Acoustic guitar tabs | Guitar chords |
How to read guitar tabs ]
Forum topics
Music forums
- Bands and artists - Songwriting and lyrics - Tablature talk - Promote your band
Instrument forums
- Guitar basics - Gear & accessories - Bass guitar
Community
- The pit - Site Feedback - Reviews
[ User survey | About us | Privacy statement ]