Bell, Book and Candle - Boo Hewerdine, Braun, Rick
Thanksgiving
Footsteps Fall - Boo Hewerdine, Bjergfeldt
Homesick Son
Eve
A Long Winter - Boo Hewerdine, Gregson, Clive
Murder in the Dark
Please Don't Ask Me to Dance
The secret to this quiet, beautiful record is, oddly enough, its least representative moment--"Our Boy," performed as an instrumental by pianist Ted Borowiecki and written by Hewerdine and guitarist Neill MacColl. The melo... more »dy is simple and evocative (like something from Bartók's "Songs for Children"), and when it's finished you're tempted to turn the stereo off for a moment to savor the images it conjures up. It's a moment that spills over into the surrounding songs, giving them an added depth and poignancy. "Bell, Book and Candle" (a song Eddi Reader covers on her 1999 release Angels & Electricity) is a sweetly haunting ode, while Hewerdine embellishes "Eve," a quirky vignette about a girl who "lives by the flower market," with some John Lennon-style vocals. --Percy Keegan« less
The secret to this quiet, beautiful record is, oddly enough, its least representative moment--"Our Boy," performed as an instrumental by pianist Ted Borowiecki and written by Hewerdine and guitarist Neill MacColl. The melody is simple and evocative (like something from Bartók's "Songs for Children"), and when it's finished you're tempted to turn the stereo off for a moment to savor the images it conjures up. It's a moment that spills over into the surrounding songs, giving them an added depth and poignancy. "Bell, Book and Candle" (a song Eddi Reader covers on her 1999 release Angels & Electricity) is a sweetly haunting ode, while Hewerdine embellishes "Eve," a quirky vignette about a girl who "lives by the flower market," with some John Lennon-style vocals. --Percy Keegan
David C Barber | Warwickshire, England | 04/22/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I just came across the only review for this album giving it one star. A travesty. Boo Hewerdine has consistently written great songs for years - and Thanksgiving has lots of those. Particular favourites are "Lazy Heart" and "Footsteps Fall". Great backing vocals from Martha Wainwright, daughter of Loudon, and all produced by John Wood, the man behind Nick Drake's "Pink Moon", currently getting exposure in the Amazon.Com charts because of the VW Cabrio ad."
Consistently engaging
Christopher J. Saam | Kansas City, MO | 05/19/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Boo writes some of the best lilting, Brit-Folk-Pop around. This release features his latest batch of songs in a stripped down version compared to previous cds. Many of the songs feature great hooks that will keep you humming weeks later. His melodies appear simple intially but continue to surprise you as you realize how complex they really are. While his lyrics don't always paint the complete picture, that can be a good thing. By not spelling everything out to the listener you can interpret as you like. Overall this cd plays like a cool breeze blowing through the screened porch as the sun sets in the evening while you are sipping on a cold drink. Great stuff as are all of his recordings - If you can find "Eureka" by the Boo fronted band The Bible, snatch it up."
For the more discerning
Mr. P. F. Mcsorley | Enfield, Middlesex United Kingdom | 05/29/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is just fantastic! It's beautiful. It takes quite a few listens before your appreciation really grows. It is gentle and melancholic but NOT BLAND. He's a great songwriter and this album is a standout! Other music of his has veered towards the average, the "nice and safe"-(as with E Reader collaborations). This is Top six of Premiership stuff, you need to hear it. His other musical output is very good but only middling of the Premiership. If you like top quality songwriting such as the level of R Thompson, E Costello, R Newman, then buy this. As for Boo eventually being "discovered"-it won't happen because he'd need to compromise to get a bigger audience and we wouldn't want that."
Classic Boo album contain some of his finest moments!
David C Barber | 04/15/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I love this CD, play it all the time and never get tired of hearing it. One of the few CDs I always bring while traveling. 'Murder In The Dark', my personal favorite Boo song; Footsteps Fall, Lazy Heart, Birds Are Leaving, Eve, Bell, Book and Candle', Please Don't Ask Me To Dance....These songs are to treasure! BB&C does seem to get used in films (My First Mister) and UK TV (Emmerdale) quite often but the rest of the album is truly excellent as well. Produced by John Wood (Squeeze, Elvis Costello, Nick Drake) this record is in my top 5 all-time. Period. If you can find the Japanese version, it has two exclusive tracks, 'The King Is Dead' and 'New Pretender' which despite the extra cost are well worth it."
Great song writing,style,melodys
jack holmes | jackson, ms. United States | 10/29/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"i have just about everthing that boo is on including all of the bible's CD'S longtime fan great songwriting,arranging, not music for someone who only listens to pop radio for their music fix"