The songs on Restless Soul offer lyrics of uncommon honesty and depth and speak eloquently to listeners everywhere. According to Charlie, "When you become specific, you become universal. You write about your own life and m... more »ake your own observations. People who worry too much about appealing to everybody miss the point. If you write sincerely, and identify with the feelings of other people, you'll catch the ears of people who want to go beyond our accents or our points of view, whether they're inside or outside of Scotland." About the Restless Soul title, Craig adds that it reflects how the Reid brothers see themselves. "I think the song 'Restless Soul' is about myself and other people who can't chill out and just sit back and relax and not worry about the next thing," he says. "The album continues what we have done in the past--traditional song structures and varied subject matter--but the production is slicker," continues Craig before pausing. "I never thought I would have used those words to describe a Proclaimers album. More time was taken over the arrangements and it's a bit more controlled than previous albums." Restless Soul was recorded in London with producers Mark Wallis and David Ruffy, who have worked with the La's, the Smiths, U2, Talking Heads, Travis, the Go-Betweens, Rooster, the Ruts, Atzec Camera, Sinead O'Connor, Prefab Sprout, and Kirsty McColl. Craig and Charlie said, "We really enjoyed the experience, Mark and David were great to work with. Their technique for making the instruments sound big by recording them at a low volume was new to us and helped us develop as musicians in the studio. The atmosphere was very relaxed and we believe they got the best out of us and the other guys in the band." Joining the Reid brothers on the album are Stevie Christie on keyboards and accordion, Zac Ware on guitars and pedal steel, Ross McFarlane on drums, and Garry John Kane on bass.« less
The songs on Restless Soul offer lyrics of uncommon honesty and depth and speak eloquently to listeners everywhere. According to Charlie, "When you become specific, you become universal. You write about your own life and make your own observations. People who worry too much about appealing to everybody miss the point. If you write sincerely, and identify with the feelings of other people, you'll catch the ears of people who want to go beyond our accents or our points of view, whether they're inside or outside of Scotland." About the Restless Soul title, Craig adds that it reflects how the Reid brothers see themselves. "I think the song 'Restless Soul' is about myself and other people who can't chill out and just sit back and relax and not worry about the next thing," he says. "The album continues what we have done in the past--traditional song structures and varied subject matter--but the production is slicker," continues Craig before pausing. "I never thought I would have used those words to describe a Proclaimers album. More time was taken over the arrangements and it's a bit more controlled than previous albums." Restless Soul was recorded in London with producers Mark Wallis and David Ruffy, who have worked with the La's, the Smiths, U2, Talking Heads, Travis, the Go-Betweens, Rooster, the Ruts, Atzec Camera, Sinead O'Connor, Prefab Sprout, and Kirsty McColl. Craig and Charlie said, "We really enjoyed the experience, Mark and David were great to work with. Their technique for making the instruments sound big by recording them at a low volume was new to us and helped us develop as musicians in the studio. The atmosphere was very relaxed and we believe they got the best out of us and the other guys in the band." Joining the Reid brothers on the album are Stevie Christie on keyboards and accordion, Zac Ware on guitars and pedal steel, Ross McFarlane on drums, and Garry John Kane on bass.
Jason Stein | San Diego, CA United States | 09/09/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Restless Soul" is The Proclaimers sixth album, and it fares slightly better than 2003's "Born Innocent". I don't think they have matched or surpassed their first three efforts, particularly their 1987 debut. Yet, the identical twins, Craig and Charlie, manage to make a solid album filled with more of their Scottish wit and observations on cheating, relationships, alcoholism, death and domestic violence. Some of my personal favorites are "The One Who Loves You Now", "D.I.Y.", "One More Down", and "That's Better Now". At 14 tracks and about 46 minutes, the brothers could have shaved 2-4 tracks off and it would have been an even better cd. As it stands, The Proclaimers continue to show growth around their folk roots as they expand and add more production to their songs. I just think they were onto something with their stripped down acoustic debut and it would be nice to hear what they could do now with a more pared down approach. "Restless Soul" fits in with 2001's "Persevere" and "Born Innocent". So, if you are, like me, a Proclaimers fan, you will probably enjoy this cd, but if you are new to the duo, I suggest starting with their debut and "Sunshine On Leith" followed by "Hit The Highway"."
Not their best but even slightly above average Proclaimers i
Rene M. Passarieu Jr. | Carlsbad, CA | 09/24/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I'm a huge Proclaimers fan going back to when my friend Robert turned me onto them in 1989 or so. I've noticed that every time they put out a record, at first I'm tempted to call it their worst yet, but every time I listen to it, it gets better.
The Proclaimers have yet to put out a bad effort, but I would put this one in the category of "great" instead of "incredible". It's probably their second worst, behind Hit The Highway. While that may sound like criticism, it's not coming from me. I consider their first two albums, This Is The Story and Sunshine on Leith, along with their 4th and 5th, Persevere and Born Innocent, to be near perfect examples of great songwriting and singing.
The production on this one is a little slick, but after the raw Born Innocent, it's a nice change. The humor is still there, as are the catchy hooks.
In short, pick this one up, and give it 5 or 6 listens before judging it. Soon, you'll be singing along and wanting to see them live, where they really shine! Enjoy."
It grows and grows.
Samuel Thompson | USA | 10/11/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I am a loyal fan. I have all their cd's and I can be objective. Some are better than others. You already know that Sunshine on Leith is a classic. Born Innocent is close behind. The new one, Restless Soul, is not a hit machine, but it is really, really good. When I first listened to it, I was let down. The songs are a bit deeper, less easily accessible. But that's what makes it worth the money. It's a book compared to a magazine. Takes effort but I rate it behind Sunshine now.
"
Good music but over-produced...
K. Harmeling | North Bend, WA USA | 10/23/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The Proclaimers are one of our favorite duos. We eagerly awaited the release of this album, and went to see them on the release tour. They performed a number of songs from this release and we bought the CD immediately. We anticipated that the songs would sound differently live than on the album, but could not help but be a bit disappointed. The songs are well written and the album isn't bad, just over-produced. The vocals and harmonies that are the Reid's best asset are almost overwhelmed by the instrumentals laid down over the top. Previous recordings had an edge - anger, angst, passion, call it what you will - that is lacking in this most recent effort. The passion and edge were there in their live performance but, unlike previous efforts, failed to make the translation to CD."
They have a knack for catchy, witty, and clever song writing
George Dionne | Cape Cod, MA | 09/21/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The Good
The vocals melodies are just stunning on the mid-tempo track "When Love Struck You Down". "Turning Away" has one of those hooks that just sticks in you head for days. The somber and mellow track "That's Better Now" is about that moment just after a sexual encounter with someone you love. It's a simple arrangement of drums, bass, vocal, with minimal guitar and keys.
"He Just Can't" is a poignant track about domestic abuse. The emotionally charged track is more about regret than the act itself. "What I Saw in You" is an acoustic heavy serenade delivered by a man that's still madly in love with his partner after many years. "She's Brighter" honors a woman for her brain rather than her looks. "D.I.Y." swings along like a country line-dancing song
The Bad
The duo's thick Scottish accents tend to push me away, but that's just me.
The Verdict
The Proclaimers aren't just the `one hit wonders' they've been labeled here in the States. After listening to Restless Soul it's evident that they have a knack for catchy, witty, and clever song writing."