Search - Yaz :: You & Me Both

Thank you and goodbye....

J. Brady | PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC United States | 09/03/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"While not the ground breaking and influential work that Yazoo's Upstairs at Eric's was, You and Me Both nontheless contains as many hooks and bouncy tunes, combined with brooding, dark ballads, to make it an exceptional, and essential album. There are - thankfully, some might say - no experimental songs along the lines of "I Before E Except After C" ( from Upstairs...), just great pop songs. The opener "Nobody's Diary" is one of the finest songs vocalist Alison Moyet has ever written, as is the incredibly moving ballad "Ode to Boy". I noticed something in the sleeve notes of interest ( to me, at least ) - the songs are alternately written by Vince Clarke and Alison Moyet, with one, "State Farm", listed as co-written ( although I am inclined to believe Clarke simply wrote some lyrics and added a few extra synth lines, as State Farm is virtually the same song as

(Knocking for a)"Good Time" which appears on the other side of the album, and was written by Moyet alone.) And they are presented in a way that gives us one song by one writer, then the next by the other , and so on, all the way through. This, along with the brilliant cover art depicting two dalmation dogs looking ready to tear into each other, is somewhat telling of the conflict within the duo. Indeed, as they were recording this album, they had already decided to call it quits, and split very shortly after its release. Together for just 18 months as a duo, Yazoo managed to combine high art with pop splendor, chilly electronics with gospel/blues influenced vocals, garner rave reviews from critics, and sell boat loads of albums and singles ( in the UK at least - here in the US they remained a more underground sensation ). In retrospect, You and Me Both is a great "thank you and goodbye" from the best of the early-eighties synth-pop duos."

A hidden gem

T. Kavanagh | Ireland | 07/17/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"'You & Me Both' is a meatier affair than its predecessor, 1982's 'Upstairs at Eric's'. Part of the reason is the inclusion, this time around, of more songs written by Alison Moyet. The runaway success of the duo's first album has left many people with the impression that all of the songwriting was done by Vince Clarke. Moyet was credited only for her fantastic voice, but little else. This album redresses that balance and showcases six of her own compostions and also the gritty 'State Farm', which she co-wrote. Two of her songs, the UK hit 'Nobody's Diary' and the sensuous 'Ode To Boy' are by far the best tracks here. However, Vince Clarke's 'Mr Blue' is quite a stealthy charmer too. The moody anti-war song, 'Unmarked', the dramatic 'Anyone' and 'Softly Over' are also highlights on this darker second album. Only the bubbly 'Walk Away From Love' and the electro-funk of 'Sweet Thing' hark back to the bouncier 'Upstairs At Eric's'.The release of 'You & Me Both' coincided with an announcement that Yaz was to split. Vince went on to become half of Erasure, who socred several huge European hits. Alison became one of the UK's most popular solo singers in the '80s and, in the '90s, evolved into a gritter, earthier artist. Her first two albums ('Alf' and 'Raindancing') are still available and will appeal to Yaz fans. Her fantastic third and fourth albums ('Hoodoo' and 'Essex') are hard to find but her excellent 'Singles' compilation will help fill in some gaps. Her long-awaited new album will be released in January 2001."

Vocal brilliance, interesting backing

J. Brady | 08/25/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Many casual listeners, and even some Yaz fans, aren't as high on this album as their debut release, "Upstairs at Eric's," but it has its own charms, chief being Alison Moyet's beautiful vocals.If there's one spot where this album isn't up to the bar set by "Upstairs," it is that there is no song to quite compete with "Only You," perhaps the most wistful, enchanting, haunted song of the decade. There are echoes in two songs: "Softly Over" and especially "Mr. Blue," but no song captures the essence of "Only You." "Mr. Blue" comes closest, in the verse beginning: "I come to you at night/When all the world is sleeping tight..."There are however, one or two energetic songs which compete favorably with "Upstairs"'s other big hit, "Don't Go." The underrated "Sweet Thing" and fast-paced "Walk Away from Love" have engaging synth backings to match Moyet's impassioned singing.Beyond the aforementioned "Mr. Blue" and "Softly Over," the ballads are solid, but not spectacular. "Nobody's Diary" is the best of the rest of the lot, although "Ode to Boy" comes close, with its half-spoken lyrics, and "Anyone" features two throaty wails from Moyet which can make the teeth chatter.One small complaint: some backing synth arrangements begin to sound similar, to themselves and to ones used on "Upstairs at Eric's." Clarke would go on to more highly creative synth arranging with Erasure, and "Alf" Moyet started a solo career -- but Yaz and "You and Me Both" claim an important spot in the history of synth-pop, and should not be overshadowed by later solo work."