One superb track embedded in an enjoyable sugar coating...
nicjaytee | London | 06/16/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Clever... take a song that the Byrds wrote and the Turtles turned into a minor hit, add some clicks & pops to create the required retro feel, mix in a more punchy and atmospheric arrangement and there you have it... a perfect missing 60's single. Full of the harmonies and chord structures that epitomise a wonderful period of music, the Lightning Seeds interpetation of "You Showed Me", just like the the Stone Roses' equally brilliant "Waterfall", captures the spirit of mid 60's music made all the better with 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 !
Dominic | Montreal, Quebec Canada | 12/13/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"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..."
Hey Amazon.com, whatever happened to...
Renate Reichenbacher | Maine, USA | 01/30/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Sense" from 1992, with the single "The Life Of Riley", and "Jollification" from 1994, with the excellent tracks "Lucky You", "Change" and "Marvellous"! Just because they might not be selling in this country, being the reason why they're not showing up in this music review site, doesn't mean that they don't exist elsewhere in the world, you know! Back to the songs included on this here album. I bought it and the aforementioned CD's in Germany, along with the "Sugar Coated Iceberg" maxi-single which includes three B-sides, "This Power", "S.F. Sorrow Is Born", and the "Porpoise Song". I tell you, the Lightning Seeds music is very good indeed as a whole, rivaling even the Pet Shop Boys B-side material. Anyway, "Dizzy Heights" also includes the so-so "Waiting For Today To Happen", "What If...", "Ready Or Not", and one of my favorites, "You Showed Me", the track from the first "Austin Powers" soundtrack. (Yeah, Baby!) So, now, until I post my review of the Lightning Seeds' import best-of album "Like You Do", please look into having both the above-average "Sense" and "Jollification" becoming available from this site eventually. Thank you, see you later..."
Not Too Bad
October | New Jersey | 02/01/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"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."