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Avg: 4.0 (764 ratings)
- Date Released: June 6, 2006
- Genre: Alternative/Punk
- Style: Indie Pop, Indie Rock
- Label: Merge Records
A decade in, this Glasgow indie band hits its stride.
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We Say...
Camera Obscura called their previous album Underachievers Please Try Harder, and Let's Get Out Of This Country takes that advice: after ten years mooching pleasantly around the Glasgow indie scene, this is the sound of a band hitting its potential. That doesn't mean making any break from indie-pop's rules and rituals — all ten tracks offer lovelorn lyrics, unschooled vocal intimacy, prettiness to burn, retro arrangements and trebly, Dansette-ready production. The steps forward come in the songwriting — lead single "Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken" backs up its cute title with a delightful swooning hook. It's the best song here, but its straightforward pop appeal is slightly misleading. Much of the record is slow, late-night music, mixing Farfisa organ, slide guitar, reverb and handclaps and ending up wistful and snuggly — try "Dory Previn" and the delicate "Country Mile." That style particularly suits Tracyanne Campbell's soft, sweet brogue, though the echoey soul-pop stomper "If Looks Could Kill" proves she can take the tempo up without losing any charm. The producers occasionally play it too sugary, with overdone string arrangements, but they're never trying to disguise weak songs: this is as tight an album as modern indie-pop has to offer.
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They Say...
If this review could be one word long, that word would be "enchanting." Camera Obscura has always been lovely but they've made the jump to truly enchanting with their third album, Let's Get Out of This Country. Stepping fully out of the shadow of their onetime patrons Belle & Sebastian, the group has composed and performed an album that is comparable to B&S' best and ranks with the best indie pop albums ever. More importantly, they've released an album that, in the approximate words of Paula Abdul, pierces straight through the heart. Head Camera Tracyanne Campbell writes amazingly intimate and tender ballads that can break your heart with the slightest lyrical twist, swell of strings, or vocal harmony. That she sings these songs in a voice so sweet and direct adds an extra level of feeling to songs like the wrenching "Country Mile" and the almost unbearably melancholy "Tears for Affairs." The band's gentle and restrained playing and the expansive production courtesy of Jari Haapalainen are note perfect as well. Whether rocking out in a Motown manner or lying back with some mellow country-rock, the combination of music, lyrics, melodies, and vocals is, well, enchanting. Picking out highlights is like picking your favorite among your children, but you might find yourself drawn to the witty "Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken" (a 22-years-late response to Lloyd Cole's classic "Are You Ready to Be Heartbroken?"), the aforementioned "Country Mile," the musically relaxed, lyrically bitter "I Need All the Friends I Can Get," and maybe best of all, the country tearjerker "Dory Previn," which references the singer/songwriter who had her husband stolen by a very young Mia Farrow and in response wrote the classic breakup song "Beware of Young Girls." Here Campbell turns Previn "up to 11 for the band's ears to bleed" in order to help put her ex out of her mind and delivers her most affecting vocal on the album, which is no small feat on a record as suffused in heartache as Let's Get Out of This Country. You might not find heartache as enchanting as this anywhere else.
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| 01. |  |
Lloyd, I'm Ready to Be Heartbroken |
3:49 |
|
| 02. | |
Tears For Affairs |
4:04 |
|
| 03. | |
Come Back Margaret |
3:47 |
|
| 04. | |
Dory Previn |
4:16 |
|
| 05. | |
The False Contender |
3:38 |
|
| 06. | |
Let's Get Out of This Country |
3:21 |
|
| 07. | |
Country Mile |
3:59 |
|
| 08. | |
If Looks Could Kill |
3:29 |
|
| 09. | |
I Need All the Friends I Can Get |
3:18 |
|
| 10. | |
Razzle Dazzle Rose |
5:28 |
|
10 Total Tracks, 39:09 Total Length
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Credits
- Petra - Cover Star // Francis MacDonald - Management // Henrik Jonsson - Mastering // Christoffer Lundquist - Mixing // Stefan Boman - Engineer // Tomas Hallonsten - Accordion // Tomas Hallonsten - Performer // Jari Haapalainen - Percussion // Jari Haapalainen - Producer // Jari Haapalainen - Performer // Björn Yttling - String Arrangements // Andreas Forsman - Violin // Andreas Forsman - Performer // Victoria Bergsman - Choir, Chorus // Victoria Bergsman - Hair Stylist // Christopher Roth - Engineer // Nigel Baillie - Group Member // Tracyanne Campbell - Group Member // Gavin Dunbar - Group Member // Kenny McKeeve - Group Member // Lena Bergström - Cello // Lena Bergström - Performer // Carey Lander - Group Member // Lee Thomson - Group Member // Sibille Attar - Choir, Chorus // Luis Calvo - Layout Design // Izabel Granström - Make-Up // Izabel Granström - Hair Stylist // Isak Klasson - Choir, Chorus // Markus Krunegard - Choir, Chorus // Fredik Ottosson - Cover Photo // Johan Rude - String Engineer // Marcella Svensson - Choir, Chorus
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