Search - Longpigs :: Sun Is Often Out

Best of Britpop

kendall lopere | H-Town, Tx, USA | 08/31/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."