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Union Street
by Mute U.S.
| List Price: |
$11.98 |
Unavailable for
purchase at this time |
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Audio CD
Publisher: Mute U.S.
Format: Enhanced
Union Street, Erasure's new acoustic CD was recorded in a small studio in Brooklyn, NY. Andy Bell says that they "show the songs in a different light, and show that they could work on whatever instrument, synthesisers or guitars". "We just felt there were songs on our albums that had been missed as songs," says Vince Clarke.
Erasure with dobro, mandolin, and steel guitar? Believe it. Union Street is the sound of the British synth-pop duo--Andy Bell and Vince Clarke--unplugged. The title comes from the Brooklyn studio in which they re-recorded 11 lesser-known tracks from throughout their career. Ten come from seven albums, while "Tenderest Moments" was a B-side. Designed more for slow dancing than disco dancing, this acoustic set puts the focus on the lyrics and Bell's ardent, yearning voice. Highlights include "Stay With Me," which is graced by a lovely flute solo, and the gospel-tinged "Rock Me Gently," with Jill Walsh providing heavenly counterpoint (both from 1995's Erasure). "Blues Away" (1994's I Say I Say I Say), however, would've worked better without the falsetto, while "How Many Times" (1989's Wild!), ironically, would've worked better in a higher register (Bell is at his best in his natural range). Overall, though, Erasure make this unexpected departure work. If the songs weren't strong enough to begin with, it wouldn't have been worth the effort, but they withstand the changes Bell and Clarke have have put them through quite nicely. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
| Customer Reviews: |
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| Not perfect, but mostly lovely |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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I confess to mostly being an Erasure disco era fan -- the big dance songs such as "Chains of Love", "Respect", etc. Fond, fond memories. I read a couple of reports on "Union Street" and picked it up without really knowing what to expect. I have to say that for me it is a bit uneven. Like other reviewers here, I have not, at least on early listen, enjoyed all of the songs, but "Tenderest Moments" is just absolutely perfect, particularly the soaring chorus. "Rock me Gently" is gorgeous. And with respect to some of the songs -- who knew that Andy Bell is a bass? I think this isn't an album just for Erasure fans. In fact, this would not be a bad place to have a first introduction to the group, calmly and in a stripped down version, then going back to hear the amped up versions. Mostly love it.
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| A different side to Erasure |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I am a longtime fan of Erasure. I have loved them since the '80s. I finally got around to hearing the group's acoustic album "Union Street". The group gave fans a teaser a couple of years ago as b-sides to one of their singles and I loved what I heard. It was a different side to my favorite pop group. I was so pleased they would try to explore that acoustic sound with a full length album on "Union Street".
Initially I was hoping Andy and Vince would include "Oh L'Amour" and "Always" for "Union Street" but instead the duo wisely chose songs that were less popular (for the masses). After hearing "Union Street" the first time, I was pleased that they chose songs like "Alien" and "Boy" instead of their bigger hits. Hearing these songs with an acoustic makeover is certainly different than what one would expect but I personally loved this different side of Erasure.
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| Unexpected treasure.... |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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Like many Erasure fans, I approached 'Union Street' with a sense of uneasiness: 'Acoustic arrangements of b-sides and album tracks'....hmmmm. After buying it and quickly scanning the playlist, I was pleasantly surprised by the choice of tunes that included some of my very favorite Erasure songs. I wondered how Andy and Vince were going to improve on near perfection, but I was missing the point. After the first listen, I realized that song-improvement or enhancement was not the goal of this work. I feel that Erasure were trying to draw out the individual magnificence that resides in each of these lesser known, non-single songs by breathing a totally new kind of life into them. The absolute highlight and greatest pay-off comes with 'Stay With Me'. Already a great song, the acoustic treatment makes this a stunningly beautiful and moving track - I love the percussion and woodwind arrangements that give a certain mystical, eastern flavor to it.
We all know about Andy's remarkably consistent vocal range (for evidence, just listen to how he effortlessly morphs from 'Blues Away' to 'How Many Times?'), but perhaps the biggest surprise is how wonderfully compatible his voice is with very different instruments. That's the joy of this album: its unexpectedly good nature. 'Blues Away' is another highlight track, the falsetto vocal sounds as good as ever, and while the music may not quite create the same heart-wrenching mood as the original, it still has a great deal to offer, giving an almost contemporary feel to this song. 'Home' and 'Love Affair' are also musically creative, showing that many of these songs adapt brilliantly to different approaches.
While 'Union Street' mostly shines, as with any risky undertaking, it does miss the mark here and there. 'Piano Song' really doesn't cut it without the haunting piano melody of the original, and 'Rock Me Gently' just sounds so completely edited and hurried after the marvelously epic nature of the first-time-around release. And here is the paradox with 'Union Street': it helps greatly to be already familiar with these songs in order to truly appreciate the acoustic reworking, but in being familiar with them, it makes you prejudiced as to any attempt to rework them.
More than simply an interesting diversion, 'Union Street' is rewarding and worthy in its own right.
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| It's Different, Creative, and Pleasurable to Listen to... |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
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I've been a fan of Erasure since their inception. What I like about this artist is that they're not afraid to experiment ("Erasure") with different sounds and music directions(Unlike Pet Shop Boys who haven't driven off the monotomous music path in their entire career--See my review for "Fundamental"). With "Union Street", the boys have disconnected the synthesizers and drum machines, leaving it just Vince's guitars and Andy's fabulous vocals. While this album is a treat for fans, I hope Erasure doesn't stay at this "acoustic" pit stop too long. Otherwise they may end up like Eurythmics did when they decided to go with a rock sound and destroy both the career of the band and some of the best synth songs ever written (Have u heard the awful rock version of "Sweet Dreams"? Oh Annie, what were you thinking?). But good news...Erasure have a new album coming out in May 2007 which they have plugged the synths and drum machines back in to record a back to their roots so to speak, album. Can't wait!
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| Great concept, but arrangements are too sparse |
| Customer Rating: 2 out of 5 |
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I am huge Erasure fan, but this was a bit of a disappointment. I have loved Erasure's previous use of acoustic instruments (my favorites are "My Heart . . . So Blue (orchestral)" from the Two-Ring Circus and "Don't Suppose" from the B-side of Chains of Love. Here, however, the arrangements all sound like they need about three more instruments to fill things out. The biggest problem is that there is no percussion to speak of, which makes the songs sound way too mellow and lifeless. A drum kit with some delicate cymbals would have done wonders.
That said, if you are a fan, you will probably find two or three songs that have enough of a new twist here to make this worth picking up. "Stay With Me" is pretty and "Rock Me Gently" works well as a shorter, simpler song.
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Boy (from the album Cowboy)
Piano Song (from the album Wild!)
Stay With Me (from the album Erasure)
Spiralling (from the album Circus)
Home (from the album Chorus)
Tenderest Moments (Run to the Sun b-side)
Alien (from the album Loveboat)
Blues Away (from the album I Say I Say I Say)
How Many Times (from the album Wild!)
Love Affair (from the album Cowboy)
Rock Me Gently (from the album Erasure)
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