release date: May 15, 2006
format: cd
[album rate: 3 / 5] [3,16]
producer: Ian Stanley
label: Sony BMG - nationality: England, UK
Track highlights: 2. "Manchester" - 3. "There Is Song" - 4. "The Cat Loves the Mouse" - 7. "Meanwhile" - 9. "Bed of Nails" - 10. "Never Lost a Chicken to a Fox"
10th and final studio album by The Beautiful South and its second for Sony BMG. It introduces a new producer [Ian Stanley, former keyboardist of Tears for Fears] after having working with Jon Kelly from the band's third to its most recent album Golddiggas Headnodders & Pholk Songs from 2004, or over a period of 12 years. In that sense Superbi introduces a new start of The Beautiful South, and although, Paul Heaton and David Rotheray still have composed all its songs, the band does sound refreshingly new. Or: they have made some 'progression' and once again focused in the making of new material. 'Progression' because it shares much with former fine albums. What was slowly introduced over several albums from Blue Is the Colour back in '96 and through the next three albums was a certain country-inspired British folk sound, which comes out more original and full-fledged on this. Maybe it doesn't contain truly great songs but the bottom level has surely raised. Whether it's thanks to Ian Stanley, a new record deal, or Paul Heaton, who has finally given in on his gloomy tristesse is uncertain, but it's nice to hear The Beautiful South - again.
Without being great, it's a nice listen - much on par with Quench (1998) without reaching the heights of the band's first three.
The album was the last by The Beautiful South, and in Jan. 2007 the band officially announced its split due to *'musical similarities' - an ironic reference to 'musical differences' which are often cited as the reason for a band's split.
*[from wikipedia, source].
[ allmusic.com 3 / 5 stars ]
