Debut solo album from Paul Heaton (Beautiful South/singer/songwriter). His backing band includes two members of Joe Strummer's Mescaleros & features 3 backing female vocalists. Q Magazine gave it 4 stars, saying 'Pa... more »ul Heaton's solo songs are excellent'. 11 tracks in all including the first single, 'Mitch'. 2001.« less
Debut solo album from Paul Heaton (Beautiful South/singer/songwriter). His backing band includes two members of Joe Strummer's Mescaleros & features 3 backing female vocalists. Q Magazine gave it 4 stars, saying 'Paul Heaton's solo songs are excellent'. 11 tracks in all including the first single, 'Mitch'. 2001.
CD Reviews
If you like the Beautiful South ...
Puxxle | Dallas, Texas | 10/10/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you're reading this, you must be the other person in the U.S. who is a fan of The Beautiful South. This is the first solo album by Paul Heaton, the main singer/songwriter from TBS. Most of these songs could pass for TBS songs. This is a great pop album. It's wonderfully produced, with a thick sound, layered with a vairety of instrumentation. The melodies are catchy of course, and after a few listens they become addictive. The lyrics are meaty, though you'll probably have to consult the lyric sheet to understand what he's saying a lot of the time. The mood of the lyrics is typical TBS - cynical, clever and fun. The first single, "Mitch," is one of the weaker songs on th album. The best tracks are The Perfect Couple, Man's World, and Poems ..."
I can't stop listening to this disc!
Christopher Ingalls | Massachusetts | 10/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"If you're a fan of the Beautiful South -- I've been one for more than ten years -- you'll love this. It makes sense, too: Biscuit Boy is basically the pseudonym for Paul Heaton, the lead singer and lyricist of the Beautiful South, a British band that's very successful in their home country but are mere cult heroes over here. While the band is currently on an indefinite hiatus, Paul snagged two members of Joe Strummer's band, wrote some songs and came out with this lovely album, full of his trademark biting lyrics combined with gorgeous, catchy melodies.Despite the fact that TBS female singer Jaqueline Abbott(who quit the band a year ago) is not present, Heaton hired various female vocalists to help him out on a few songs like "Perfect Couple" and "Poems." Every song is great. He stretches out a bit with things like DJ scratching on "Mitch," and uses a blues progression on "The Real Blues," a beautiful, plaintive number that ranks up there with the best TBS songs. "10 Lessons in Love" is a hilarious album opener with a ridiculously catchy chorus. There's also hints of brass, flute and other instruments.It's a lot like a TBS album, but it seems as though Heaton is expanding past that band's territory. Even though TBS's future is in doubt, "Fat Chance" proves that Heaton aka Buscuit Boy aka Crackerman is here to stay."
Biscuit Boy - Is Beautiful, Not South
Michael Leocata | Louisville, KY | 10/16/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I tell you, this one's different. If you are a Beautiful South fan and need a fix - this answers the call - But listen more carefully. The mix of voices and horns is more similar to that of a Housemartins album. Complex rhythms are prevalent. The backing vocals are more international in flavor, richer and more sophisticated than Jaquie Abbott's last effort on "Painting It Red".The lyrics are Heatonesque, but the product is experimental. Mixed bullhorn vocals and harp on "Mitch" and "Man's World".Best Songs:Poems
The Perect Couple
Mitch
10 Lessons in Love
6 solid songs fill the ears as your toes tap.
Man, Girl, Boy, Woman"
"A pleasurably addictive experience"
P. Shamdasani | Hong Kong | 04/29/2002
(3 out of 5 stars)
"While the cover of debut-performer Biscuit Boy's CD makes it look more like a hip-hop/punk album than a Supergrass-esque Britpop recording, the tracks don't disappoint. It again reiterates that the 80's band The Housemartins were arguably the most underrated group to come out of this planet since Cream, spawning such great musicians as Biscuit Boy himself (Paul Heaton), the band The Beautiful South and even the extremely-talented Norman Cook. A preamble states, "I am Biscuit Boy, I am full of sugar but I am good for you" - a phrase that pretty much describes what the album is: feel-good yet imperfect songs. But Heaton, unlike his former collaborator Cook, hasn't gone and done a `Fatboy Slim'; he's stuck to his indie roots and put out a wholly enjoyable album. Almost 40 now, Heaton still shows that he can perform as well as the rest out his past cohorts putting out lyrics that combine love, politics, the media and even salvation seekers into bright and jaunty yet loose tracks. Opening with the melodically seamless "10 Lessons In Love" that unites excellent trumpeting with first-rate guitar riffs backed by The Mescaleros' Martin Slattery and Scott Shields. The danceable "If" is a subtly constructed track making Heaton sound like a young Bob Dylan with 21st century equipment that at the same time lyrically attacks deceitful liberals with lines like "If God comes down/Which he won't/Half the do-gooders/Will find they don't. Our favorite though has to be "The Real Blues", combining classic gospel blues with Heaton's trademark raspy yet surefire voice to produce a perfectly recorded track with backing by a great drumbeat. Combining rock, blues, country, gospel and dance, Biscuit Boy's first album is a pleasurably addictive experience that'll make you go out and buy a Housemartins CD."
Paul Heaton, minus the B.S.
mepowered | New York, NY United States | 12/11/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Well, we always suspected that The Beautiful South WAS Paul Heaton. I have been waiting 12 long years for a solo effort from him, so I guess this album is a wish come true.Paul Heaton has always been outstanding on two levels: his lyrics and his vocals. He is half-present on this album.Cynicism is there (and welcomed) as always ("the difference between the junkie and me...I always failed successfully"). Rumor has it, Heaton's off the sauce, and I was afraid it would affect his typically brilliant lyrics (is that selfish?). Fortunately it hasn't. Melodies are damn catchy as well.Unfortunately, Heaton seems to have forgotten that he can sing. I first listened through the cd, skipping from one song to the next, straining to hear SOMETHING -- some trace of his powerful, ethereal vocals (ala "Lean on Me" / "Let Love Speak Up Itself"). No evidence of it on this record, though. Very disappointing.Overall, thumbs up. An obvious must for any Housemartins/BS fan."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1