Anyone bored with the antics but not the sound of Oasis should check this smarter, warmer British pop variant. Key tracks: "Far," "On and On," and "Lost Myself." --Jeff Bateman
Anyone bored with the antics but not the sound of Oasis should check this smarter, warmer British pop variant. Key tracks: "Far," "On and On," and "Lost Myself." --Jeff Bateman
"The Longpigs first came to prominence in the U.K. in 1995, and this, their debut album showcases their incredible talents. This album does not have a single bad track. In between the opening chords of the first track and the closing drone of the hidden bonus song the Longpigs sketch out a landscape of distorted guitars, off-beat rhythms, gloriously impenetrable lyrics and impossibly high vocal lines that is uniquely their own. The first four tracks were released as singles and charted respectably in the U.K., and the rest of the ablum extends their vision and scope further while never straying too far from the Longpigs sound. The classic Longpigs sound is showcased on "She said". It builds and builds, it breaks down, it restarts, Crispin screeches lines like "As a matter of fact, i don't like to be scented so i'd like to smell myself instead", the guitars crunch and it's all over. Perfect 3 minute pop songs have never been this weird or crammed full of this many hooks. Other album highlighs include the plaintive sort-of-love song, "On and On", the crazy time signatures and speed changes on "Elvis" and the revivial of the quiet/loud dynamic on "All Hype".The record still sounds fresh today, and if you like intelligent rock music, and if you agree that "The Bends" is the only Radiohead album worth worrying about, you'll love this.Sadly the Longpigs were dealt a cruel hand by fate. The Britpop bubble burst in 1997, moving on to the po-faced mournings of the Verve and later Radiohead, and the Longpigs changed to a more sober, synth-laced sound, showcased on their second album, "Mobile Home"(1999). Gone were the 3 minute pop songs, gone were the hooks, gone was the off-kilter weirdness, and sadly gone were the tunes. It bombed. "The Sun is often out" is a poignant legacy to what might have been, but also a beautiful celebration of what was."
One of the best albums i have ever heard
Jane Reynolds | Stoke on Trent United Kingdom | 06/08/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I first saw the longpigs in my hometowm in 1996, from then on they have been one of my favourite bands. I have had a copy of the sun is often out for nearly 6 years now and it still blows me away every time i hear it. If you like music fro the heart you will love this album. Although the longpigs are now split up both albums are still worth buying as thier music does not seem to age."
Wonderful one hit wonder
Silk | Philadelphia, PA United States | 06/10/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'm not sure why The Longpigs died, since this is a wonderful, wonderful album. It leaves one with I slight sense of 'what might have been', since the opening track is one of the finest I know. 'Lost' myself and 'On and on' still choke me up and if the album loses its way after this, it is still worth buying for these alone."
The Sun Continues to Shine
Wickerlove | Canada | 04/28/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I echo the same thoughts of those who consider this a shining diamond in an the too brief life of a band. 'The Sun Is Often Out' combines the bravado of the Stone Roses, the emotion of Coldplay and Radiohead, and the Britpop epics of Mansun and Embrace. It's unfortunate because this album showed so much promise, potential and talent. But that's the great thing about music, the Longpigs are no longer with us...but the music will forever be documented for others to enjoy."
This CD is in heavy rotation
weirdoatlarge | West Lafayette, IN United States | 11/19/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"First of all, I can see where people would think they sound a bit like Radiohead, but when one actually listens to it, there is much more. Also this cd is one of the harder CDs to find in the states, and I also heard the song 'On and On' for the first time on the Mission:Impossible Soundtrack, and it got me hooked. I knew instantly that if this one song was so good, than the others must be as well. I wasn't wrong. I bought this cd in 1997 and five years later, it still gets put in my 12 cds that I must have with me wherever I go. On and On, She Said, and Jesus Christ have got to be my favorites on this cd, and On and On has been my favorite song since the Mission:Impossible Soundtrack...hopefully this sheds light on how much I LOVE THIS ALBUM"