Search - Close Lobsters :: Foxheads Stalk This Land

Paisley's finest ruffin's

Gordon Mcintyre | Aberdeen | 06/23/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In the mid-'80s, when Britain's underground music scene was dominated by jangly guitars, twee vocals, and fast rhythms, the Close Lobsters were there at the heart. The unusually named Foxheads Stalk This Land was not an album that suffered from over-production, however, this gives the songs a live, gritty feel. Influences stem,from the Smiths, Orange Juice and The Only Ones. Lyrically, the album does not bear close attention. Most songs comprise phrases which sound good when sung but not printed on a lyrics sheet - perhaps that's how pop music should be. There is rarely a substandard track to be heard on this fine album, with "I Kiss the Flower in Bloom" being the best 3 minute pop song never to be released as a single.Husker DU would be proud of the final track the epic 'Mother Of God'
The influence of murmur/reckoning era R.E.M. on the title track are obvious and there is also a rather huge nod to Camper Van Beethoven throughout the album.Better than Potato Head but only just."

A white sportscoat and a close crustacean

Roy Pearl | Vancouver, BC | 03/06/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Before Britpop was homogenized by the puzzling success of Oasis it was represented proudly by bands like the Wonder Stuff, the Jazz Butcher, and the Close Lobsters. What they all had in common was a knack for combining an infectious melody with wicked wit - and you don't need me to tell you that it was the wit part of the equation that got jettisoned with the advent of the brothers Gallagher. The highlights here are the title track and "Just Too Bloody Stupid" (which really deserves to be a world anthem), but the entire disc offers many moments of sparkling pop and small wonder."

Close Lobsters - never enough!

Eric Lillyblad | Forest Lake, MN USA | 07/17/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lively, bitter, optomistic, and just plain great! If you like "Echo and the Bunnymen", "The Church", etc., you are most likely to dig the Close Lobsters deeply. Excellent lyrical content (nothing in here w/silly lyrics about fast cars and fluffy stuff) and the mood of the music matches the lyrical theme wonderfully. Their second album (cd), "Headache Rhetoric" follows and is equally good. Buy all the Close Lobsters stuff you can, it is darn hard to find. That written, now get some "Tragically Hip" into your head!"