Lost Soul Band - Land Of Do As You Please (CD 1993)

If there ever was a must-have CD that just missed the cult-classic boat, this album is it.

Every song on this album tells a story. Gordon Grahame - songwriter and lead singer of The Lost Soul Band - is a master of lyrics. If you only buy this CD for Gordon's poetry and use of the English Language, you won't be disappointed.

The CD begins with "Looking Through The Butcher's Window", a track which was released as a single in the early/mid 1990s, and which introduces us nicely to band and their music. Then we have "Heather" - a poignant yet under-stated song. No fancy engineering needed here, just lie back and listen to the acoustic guitar and lyrics. Personally I believe it's about the loss of a pregnancy.....Next up is "Trashscene". Oh yes, I have been to parties like this! This is wild, debauched and downright dirty. Kick away the empty cans, full ashtrays and discarded skins, and party as partying should be done!

And then comes one of my favourites. This CD should have been famous, if only for this track alone. "You Can't Win Them All Mum" has the clutching lyrics and acoustic guitar that Gordon Grahame is a genius at - but then there's a something "extra" that lifts this song from EXCELLENT to CLASSIC.

"Goodbye You Beautiful World", "These Old Clothes" and "Oh Your Eyes" - These three tracks place little demand on the listener. While you can still run away with the words, the instruments and melodies are pretty laid back.

The eighth track: "Everything's Gonna Be Fine" is such a happy, upbeat song, it never fails to make me smile. It kind of makes you want to bob along to it, while singing, "fa-fa-fine yeah!"

"God" - a conversation with HIM. Personally I feel this track would be even more fabulous with a Gospel Choir at the end singing the "I believe in yer man!" lines.

This next track is basically 2-in-1..."Stranger Things Have Happened/I Used to Think (But I'm Alright Now)" starts off a little demo-sounding, then gets funky. Groove along!

Then the mood takes a downturn... "You Must Have Been With Him" tells us about the feeling of suspecting a partner of being unfaithful. New perfume, new look, new attitude - you must have been with him...

"24 Hours Every Day" is about a cafe which is open - funnily enough - 24 hours a day. Listen to the story that Gordon tells us about having no money and loneliness while his girl's at work - but at least he's not drinking, as he says. The track is actually quite upbeat, considering the lyrics!

"Coffee and Hope" spins back to a youth when "back then we were living on Coffee and Hope" - there's a time in almost anyone's life when that was most definitely the case!

Then we come to the final track: "Gorgeous George and Delilah's Claws". This is a fabulous piano and lyric piece, and is a perfect end to the album.



(Gordon Grahame - the singer songwriter of The Lost Soul Band - is currently writing and releasing new songs, CDs and albums (including a track currently featured on a UK TV advert) under the name "Lucky Jim" - find him on MySpace at: http:///www.myspace.com/luckyjimmusic)

(if you would like to comment on this review, please contact me through my username (rainbowcraft) - thanks!)