Search - Babybird :: Bugged

Finally Babybird gets it right

mathew | Austin, TX USA | 07/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I loved Baby Bird the solo artist. Beautiful, compelling, honest, heartfelt songs; you could almost palpably feel the emotion poured into some of them. But "Ugly Beautiful", the first album of Babybird the (suddenly successful) band, was a big disappointment -- every track that was a reworking of the solo material had sounded better solo. Something was missing; everything sounded over rehearsed, overpolished, overwrought.Things were a little better with "There's Something Going On". That album's sinister tone may not be to everyone's taste, but at least there were some stunning standout tracks, and the sincerity was back.Well, third time's the charm. I can only assume that Stephen Jones has finally worked out how to achieve exactly the sounds he wants in the context of an expensive studio, because "Bugged" is sheer delight from start to finish. Finally there's a Babybird album that reaches the level of greatness of the solo releases. The lyrics are smart without being contrived, the mood is upbeat without being saccharine.My only doubt is whether the album will stand up to repeated listening. For now, I'm more than happy to research the answer to that tricky question.It's shameful that Babybird remains practically unknown in the USA. Too smart for his own good perhaps? Still, that hasn't stopped XTC..."