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Expecting to Fly

 
Album Review: Expecting to Fly

  • Artist: The Bluetones
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: January 31, 1996
  • Genre: Rock

Review

If anything, the Bluetones' debut album, Expecting to Fly, is too accomplished. Like their idols, the Stone Roses, the band has made a first album that is assured, low-key, and subtly charming. Unlike the Roses, they haven't made a consistently engaging album, but that isn't a major flaw, given the abundant hooks and melodies on Expecting to Fly. Lacking the dance inclinations of the Stone Roses, the band instead concentrates on perfectly crafted guitar pop songs, occasionally stretching out into long jams, like the opening "Talking to Clarry," which is too close to "Breaking into Heaven" for comfort. Nevertheless, when the Bluetones kick into a small, hook-laden song like the chiming, infectious "Bluetonic," they are at their peak. Most of the album has gems like "Bluetonic," whether it's the wonderful "Slight Return" or the liquid riffs of "Things Change," but the record could have used more sonic variety. Where their pre-album singles had several lovely acoustic numbers, there is an over-reliance on loud, fuzzy -- but certainly not heavy -- guitars that give the album an unfortunate sameness. However, that feeling begins to fade away as each of the song's melodies comes into focus with repeated listens. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Talking to Clarry Mark Morris, Scott Morriss, Adam Devlin, Eds Chesters The Bluetones (6:52)
Bluetonic Mark Morris, Scott Morriss, Adam Devlin, Eds Chesters The Bluetones (4:08)
Cut Some Rug (Lyrics) Mark Morris, Scott Morriss, Adam Devlin, Eds Chesters The Bluetones (4:32)
Things Change Mark Morris, Scott Morriss, Adam Devlin, Eds Chesters The Bluetones (5:38)
The Fountainhead Mark Morris, Scott Morriss, Adam Devlin, Eds Chesters The Bluetones (4:35)
Carnt Be Trusted Mark Morris, Scott Morriss, Adam Devlin, Eds Chesters The Bluetones (3:50)
Slight Return (Lyrics) Mark Morris, Scott Morriss, Adam Devlin, Eds Chesters The Bluetones (3:21)
Putting Out Fires Mark Morris, Scott Morriss, Adam Devlin, Eds Chesters The Bluetones (6:22)
Vampire Mark Morris, Scott Morriss, Adam Devlin, Eds Chesters The Bluetones (4:32)
A Parting Gesture Mark Morris, Scott Morriss, Adam Devlin, Eds Chesters The Bluetones (4:40)
Time & Again Mark Morris, Scott Morriss, Adam Devlin, Eds Chesters The Bluetones (5:09)

Credits

Ian (Vibraphone), Hugh Jones (Producer), Hugh Jones (Mixing), Caroline LaVelle (Cello), Phil (Vibraphone), The Bluetones (Main Performer), The Bluetones (Art Direction), Helen Woodward (Mixing), Marc Newman (Photography), Marc Newman (Cover Photo), Scott Morriss (Bass), Scott Morriss (Guitar (Bass)), Scott Morriss (Guitar (Electric)), Scott Morriss (Vocals), Scott Morriss (Photography), Geoff Pesche (Mastering), Dan Crompton (Harmonica), Adam Devlin (Guitar), Adam Devlin (Guitar (12 String)), Trevor Ray Hart (Photography), Eds Chesters (Percussion), Eds Chesters (Drums), Superstock (Photography), Mac Felton (Clavinet)
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Wikipedia: Expecting to Fly (album)
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Expecting to Fly
Studio album by The Bluetones
Released 12 February 1996 (UK)
Recorded 1995/1996
Genre Folk rock, rock
Length 53:45
Label Superior Quality Recordings/A&M Records
Producer Hugh Jones
Professional reviews
The Bluetones chronology
A Bluetones Companion
(1995)
Expecting To Fly
(1996)
Return to the Last Chance Saloon
(1998)

Expecting to Fly is the debut album by The Bluetones. It was released on 12 February 1996 on Superior Quality Recordings via Universal Records, and knocked Oasis's (What's the Story) Morning Glory? off the number 1 spot in the UK album charts. The album is currently certified Platinum by the BPI. Its offspring singles were "Bluetonic", a "Slight Return" and "Cut Some Rug".
During a gig in Manchester in 2008, Mark Morriss was quoted as saying, 'We wanted to release this next track as a single, but the record company didn't agree, saying it didn't have a chorus...' The band proceeded to play "Carnt Be Trusted".

A 2 CD Expanded Edition of the album was released on March 9, 2009.

Contents

Reception

Melody Maker placed it at #19 on the list of 1996's Albums Of The Year. NME placed it at #11 in NME's 1996 critic's poll. Rolling Stone gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, stating that "...an accomplished and varied collection of guitar-based tunes with a solid charm rooted in the best traditions of English alternative pop--no more, but certainly no less...".

Track listing

All tracks written by Morriss, Chesters, Devlin, Morriss unless otherwise stated.

  1. "Talking To Clarry" - 6:52
  2. "Bluetonic" - 4:08 (Morriss, Chesters, Devlin, Morriss, Mitchell)
  3. "Cut Some Rug" - 4:32
  4. "Things Change" - 5:38
  5. "The Fountainhead" - 4:35
  6. "Carnt Be Trusted" - 3:50
  7. "Slight Return" - 3:21
  8. "Putting Out Fires" - 6:22
  9. "Vampire" - 4:32
  10. "A Parting Gesture" - 4:40
  11. "Time & Again" - 5:09

Collector's Edition

Disc: 2

  1. A Parting Guesture (R1 The John Peel Show, 1994)
  2. Cut Some Rug (R1 The John Peel Show, 1994)
  3. Bluetonic (R1 The Mark Radcliffe Show, May 1995)
  4. Are You Blue Or Are You Blind? (R1 The Mark Radcliffe Show, May 1995)
  5. Fountainhead (R1 The Mark Radcliffe Show, May 1995)
  6. Time & Again (R1 The Mark Radcliffe Show, May 1995)
  7. Driftwood (R1 The Evening Session, July 1995)
  8. Can't Be Trusted (R1 The Evening Session, July 1995)
  9. Are You Blue Or Are You Blind? (Sound City 1995 Bristol)
  10. Cut Some Rug (Sound City 1995 Bristol)
  11. Can't Be Trusted (Sound City 1995 Bristol)
  12. Bluetonic (Sound City 1995 Bristol)
  13. Time & Again (Sound City 1995 Bristol)
Preceded by
(What's the Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis
UK number one album
February 24, 1996March 1, 1996
Succeeded by
(What's the Story) Morning Glory? by Oasis

 
 

 

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Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Expecting to Fly (album)" Read more

 

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