Walking Wounded
Everything But The Girl
1996
Album Summary
Walking Wounded is the ninth studio album by British musical duo Everything but the Girl. It was released on 6 May 1996 by Atlantic Records in the United States and Virgin Records in Europe. The album saw the group adopting a more electronic and dance-based style, following the success of the remixed version of "Missing" from their previous album, Amplified Heart. Four tracks from the album were released as singles, including the drum and bass-influenced "Walking Wounded" and the house-influenced "Wrong", which became top ten hits on the UK Singles Chart, as well as the downtempo track "Single", which set Tracey Thorn's emotionally direct vocal against breakbeats, organ and strings, and "Before Today".
WikipediaPerfect for when you want to feel what it was like to try on jeans at the Gap or Banana Republic in the late '90's.
Tracey Thorn's career is so varied and rich. I was surprised by the subtle, minimal electronica but it works really well. It's a satisfying contrast to her haunting vocals and leaves me feeling some kind of way. I'm really impressed with how such a drastic shift in instrumentation doesn't feel like a lark, but a fully realized vision that's also alive with a sense of discovery. I can hear how this record bridges singer-songwriter and British house music in a way that has influenced a lot of millenial pop music that followed. Favourite song: Before Today
Back when I was in college, there was this dude who would come into the bar I worked at on a Friday night and play fucking 10 Neil Young songs in a row. He would also hit on girls by doing magic tricks. I remember how angry I got every time he made me listen to an hour of Neil Young because I was just trying to have a good time, and he fucking made me listen to this sad, soppy fuck who writes nothing but songs that sound indistinguishable from each other and never seemed to enjoy a happy moment in his entire like. Fuck that guy, and fuck Neil Young. 2/5
Everything but the fucking will to live after listening to this God awful piece of shit. I don't understand how they're on this list twice...at least. I recognised track 2, so good for them. If this was a footballer, itd be Emiliano Sala.
Never heard it before this but what a great glimpse into a special time in British music. Drum and bass mixed with trip hop and ethereal vocals. Immediately connects bands that I was listening to at the time such as Faithless (Dido's voice is very similar), Portishead, Tricky with this crossover album.
How lucky am I to have the opportunity to listen to all of this great music and appreciate artists that I may or may not have gotten to know if it was not for this 1001 list. The only number I think that I have heard from this duo is Missing - The Todd Terry remix, which is a classic dance hit in my mind. I like this album and it is very relaxing and for lovers of artists such as Air, Groove Armada or Massive Attack kind of music. If I was playing at Stella Polaris I would definitely play this.
Amazing record. Massively influential. It’s a proper night time-driving album.
29/10/2020 Listened in block room - talking to Jake Really enjoyed this album, way more than I thought I would. Early DnB influences mixed with vocals. Song repeatedly singing "are you happy being single?" attacked me personally. Almost a 5 but not quite.
Wow, this was a really nice change of pace! Very cool ‘90s music, the vocals reminded me a bit of Natalie Merchant, the overall sound reminded me of Massive Attack. Really dug this, very chill all the way through. Favorite tracks: Before Today, Single, Walking Wounded, Flipside, Mirror Ball. Album art: The picture is pretty simple, but the text elevates it significantly, especially the Japanese characters. I was expecting some kind of vaporwave type project based on the cover, and honestly it’s not too far off. 4/5
A very elegant album. I had their first (US) release from ’84 and while I liked the acoustic & jazzy feel, I think they were smart to move to this down-tempo, D&B sound which as all the rage in 95. The singles are good, the lyrics are bleak and I like the cover. It fades a bit after Walking Wounded and after two listens, I would have given 3 stars, but somehow, I managed to listen to the opening 6 tracks a third time.
Ok, so a few pages back I said "I also rate EBTG. None of their albums are a total smash, but there's always something interesting happening that I can enjoy". I retract my statement, because upon revisiting, this one is their smash. Within a few years, they'd got from folk, to jazz-pop, to indie rock, to synthpop. Now they slide effortlessly into the downtempo/trip-hop craze. Tracey Thorn had featured on Massive Attack's second album with great results. Cynical people might say they were just changing their sound to chase whatever seemed popular. But the results don't lie, and this album has a great carefully managed electronic palette that doesn't sound cheap and dated like the work of many other "pop turned synth" artists. Thorn's vocals gel so well with that sound. "Mirrorball" is a weak link, and the two remixes included on the original album are doing nothing for me.
This opens with a stunner, and stays highly engaging. That's something of a surprise given the DnB bones. Perhaps I'm biased against looking at anything from the genre as masterful, because this comes close. I get a lot of the same feelings I got from Jessie Ware's latest (and in that case I 100% have a positive disco bias). There's a gentle ebb and flow, but Thorn's vocals carry the record. Can't say, however, that they would sound as nice over any old beat. The third-act introduction of acoustic instruments is extra poignant: It reinforces the tone of the preceding songs while demonstrating the collaborative nature of the duo's sound. Lingering on that sound instead of turning to remixes would have been it for me.
Coffee table drum & bass with smooth female vocals over the top - what's not to like? I only really know that "Missing" song from EBTG, so this was surprisingly trip-hoppy. I really enjoyed it! Fave track - the title track I think. "Single" was also great.
EBTG basically pioneered the English downtempo drum and bass sound and everyone but EBTG were influenced by their lounging in the coffee shop style. Although this doesn't have anything as good as their big hit Missing you, the first three songs set the mood nicely. However I found my attention lagging for the rest of the album as the drum and bass in every song started to meld together.
Listenable 90s English techno with a nice vocal. Simple arrangements, lovely chord progressions, beats very much of that era. Tracey Thorn's voice here is as rich and lovely as ever. I don't think this phase of EBTG's career really touches the more jazz-pop stuff they made back in the 80s, which now seems a lot less dated than the techno. This album was pleasant enough to listen to, but overall unremarkable. Fave Songs: Wrong, Before Today, Walking Wounded
not a fan of 'easy listening' type music, I want my music to challenge me, hurt me, surprise me on a walk with a shank in the back etc. what's the point otherwise
Suena noventero y supermoderno a la vez. Avantpop y trip hop revolucionado, casi house en ocasiones. Para volver a él en cualquier momento, pega con todo y da muy buen rollo siempre.
I enjoy this quite a bit, I could really imagine vibing to this on a rainy drive.
Actually dug it a lot. Good beats and mood, nice to chill to. Give it a re-listen someday to favorite some songs.
I really enjoyed this album. Was not expecting it to be as synthy as it was but I liked that. Reminded me of some other bands currently so almost a timeless sound. My favorites were Before Today and Wrong. Interesting album cover. I'm assuming it's the lady who sings the songs but the band would indicate no women were involved so there is a paradox.
Remember my cousin listening back to this in like 2001... I was never big into DnB but this album is so sweet, it's like a mix of the chillest Aphex Twin beats or Shinichiro Yokata with some soft singing Annie Lennox. Fucking rules. And holds up.
Super fresh sounding when released, little bit of drum n bass bandwagoning but still a top drawer album
The combo of the rhythm and Tracey Thorn's voice via a pop record is pretty magical. Some great songs here, I look forward digging into this more after consuming the limited Marine Girls material. Fav songs: Big Deal, Before Today and Single.
90's Techno vibes in this British album. Downtempo and chill pop music that feels like it should be played at the end of a long night out. Glad I discovered this album!
I really enjoyed this album, I should start using the notes because I can never remember what to say
Hard to pick favs because they're all pretty similar. // Favs: Flipside / Big Deal Score: Decent 4
Vocals like Cher, but better music in the background. Actually really enjoyed this, good music to work to.
Some chill groovin so far. Definitely a breakup album, melancholy not angry.
Really enjoyed this album. I was familiar with the singles so it was cool to go through and listen to the less popular songs. Love the balanced use of acoustic and electronic instruments. A great album to listen to with headphones… when all else fails, just concentrate on the haunting melodies and lyrics. A great find!
Nice easy listening, good for background, lounge music. Some great lyrics
Very easy listen with atmospheric vocals and instrumentation. Great for a listen with the lights off or on a night drive. Relaxing in the best way
Slightly generous 4 maybe, but I like how this seems to naturally fuse pop with 90s electronic music. Very of its time, but feels authentic
I think above average in general. Some of it reminded me of ape escape for some reason, which is never a bad thing.
Damn this is not what I expected at all. This is awesome. I really wish I'd listened to all of it before. Concrete high 4.
It's easy to see the artists that were influenced by this sound over the years.
This is a really nice listen. Played is several times while working today and it seemed ideal for keeping the stress levels down and productivity up. The smooth songs kept making me think of Sade with a dance vibe. Really chilly 90s music that I’ll be happy to hear again.
I really enjoy the Everything But The Girl tracks that I already know, and always intended to expand my library...so glad that 1001 compelled me to do that today. This album's tracks have that electronic, dance style is what I know (and like) from EBTG. So, I enjoyed the groove throughout the day.
I've always loved the song "Missing," but I never dug deeper into Everything But the Girl. I should have. I love Tracey Thorn's voice and I love the music with her voice. I would have played this a lot.
Love the woman's voice, and the playoff between that and the beats is fantastic.
I hadn't listened to EBTG much before and was pleasantly surprised. I loved the electronic production of this album, and it caused me to dive back into some of my 90's drum-and-bass favorites. It has a good range of sounds but nothing that really jumped out at me as a must-repeat-listen track.
Mid-college album for me in Northern Arizona enjoying the Southwest and definitely finding all the clubs between Houston and Phoenix. This album was highly relevant for a couple of months in '96 starting in Texas for me and then carrying on for a few years. And a lot of events occurred with its birth that were terribly exciting. It calls up girls in leather catsuits and limos and other things that won't now be transcribed in detail from the thankfully analogue experiences of then to the digital AI superstructure of now. Needless to say, a wonderful pacifying album for some extremely interesting times. I know every song of this like the curves of Schnebly Hill Road or the vintage 70's couches of East Flagstaff or the Kingfisher's bar in Tucson. Mmm. This was a ground-breaking album that erupted and shattered the late grunge era of that year with a fresh sound. And this sound has basically persisted for decades in some genres though never as good as the first time. There is no bad song on this album. Wrong is my favorite with wherever you go I will follow you, but also Mirrorball is a hot track. Bringing back almost a bit too many memories!!
This album most successfully showcased Tracy Thorn's rich vocals in moody yet engaging tracks. One of the defining albums of 90's British electronica.
Heerlijk, weer helemaal terug midden jaren negentig. De breaks zijn niet zo sterk als Roni Size of Goldie, de zang blijft wat vlak (het is geen Lamb) maar de combinatie van synth-tapijtjes, zalvende zang en amen-breaks is in bijna ieder nummer sterk. Meer persoonlijk misschien maar de simpele four to the floor van Wrong is dan eigenlijk het zwaktebod binnen een album waarbij je continu tussen kabbelende achtergrondmuziek en gesyncopiseerde botsende junglebeats alert blijft. Heerlijke flow.
EBTG have a simple formula and it works - blissed out beats, beautiful vocals, a smart of d&b drums. There just enough variety to keep the album interesting and I confess I kept expecting each track to break into their smash hit Missing (Not even on this album) but an enjoyable and satisfying record.
This didn’t quite click with me the first time but hearing it now the electronic makeover gels well with their signature mellow sound. Just goes to show what repeated listenings can do
So, so, so far beyond Idlewild that it's hard to believe it's the same artist. I loved this trip-hoppy, downtempo, drumnbass vibe.It fit perfect for this rainy, foggy day.
Interesting because I have never heard of this band before, and it is a decent album. It feels very 90s and I appreciate it, but I am also not a huge 90s fan
Laadukasta ja toimivaa chillailua taustalle. Ehdottomasti seuraukseen, mutta mitään ylivertaista ei levyltä irronut.
Didn't pay super close attention to this album, but the beats were decent. Worth a few listens, not too bad.
That first tune is fucking unreal. Last one too. The rest of it is kind of filler. It sounds like most of it could be used to show the passing of time in Love Actually.
I liked it, kinda soft emo rock. I prefer Savage Garden for sheer pop factor.
Familiarity: 0/10 Notes: a unique and original voice at the time, this album feels ahead of it's time based on release, but not quite my cup of tea. Hit me up in a year and I'll give it another go. Real Rating: 6.7/10
Favorites: Single, Before Today, Walking Wounded, The most successful album for the duo. Incorporates elements of house, downtempo and electronica.
Pleasant. I like the vocals and the soothing electronic vibe... when it's good it's really good. However, much of the album is just okay, not enough hooks to keep me coming back.
Chill album. Songs do end up kind of blending together. First two tracks are the best. 7/10
The heart remains a child is as straightforward as a song can get. Good beats. Not too techno-y.
This is a surprise album. Great beat, lyrics and smooth songs! I have never heard of this band and keep trying to compare the lead singer 👩🎤 to someone else I’ve heard. Sade? Merchant? You tell me?
Helaas geen tijd genoeg gehad om af te luisteren, maar ik kon dit wel waarderen.
Some nice tracks on this one, enjoyed a fair amount of it. Too inconsistent for anything more than a 3
Hadn’t heard this group before but like their style. Mirrorball was my favorite.
Le he tenido que dar varias escuchas. Esconde mucho más de lo que parece. Hay enfoques interesantes y un acercamiento tremendo a la extrema tristeza, esa difícil de explicar. Primer acercamiento a esta banda y ganas de seguir explorando. Le daría un 7 y pico, solo que el 8 se le queda lejos.
Some nice production and chilled out dance vibes but not particularly attention grabbing.
An album that I would never listen to. I appreciate it. (5/10) Favorite Tracks: Walking Wounded, Before Today
The production and sound design here are amazing, feels super comfy at times, or cerebral at others.
this one really straddles the line between a 2 and a 4. it was electronically innovative, especially for its time and the lyrics really spoke to me but i don't think you could write more sterile melodies if you tried. i guess my scale suggests a 3.
Her voice is pleasant. I'm not sure I would ever choose to put this on, but good for them. Best track: Wrong
Enjoyed this more than I disliked....make sense?? Some great tracks, but others were not so good.
17th August 2021 Listened on my phone throughout the day while working. Pleasantly surprised me, I know them for Miss You which is far poppier than this. This is trendy and far more of a beat.
I know I've heard this before, at least a single or two from it, but can't remember anything about it. Was one of those bands that got a lot of late night rage play in the 90s. Ok yeah electronica, bit of a mix of that kinda scungy UK techno sound but not as rank, and the singer is jazzy. I hate people who describe things as "chill", but it's bang on here. It's not bad, but the entire album is summed up in the first couple of songs and still goes for another 45min. I guess this would be a nice soundtrack to a groovy funky hipster people cafe? tbh I want to give it a 4, but it falls short on holding my interest. 3/5.
Sade-style jazz-pop smoothness. More electro than Sade, a nice hybrid between Massive Attack trip hop and the smooth Jazz described above. The vocals are gorgeous, but the whole package strikes me as a little soul-less. Could this be the ideal dinner music album? Quite possibly. 3 stars
nowhere near as terrible as the last album. nice beats but she's got a fucking annoying voice. at least i didn't have to listen to that fucking awful song about sitting on the bonnet of a car.
this isn't even the one with all the good songs still, nice singing tho
Some absolute bangers on here and a bunch of hidden gems. Production seems a little thin but I guess that could be down to being exposed to much richer mixes in more recent times. Still a lot of fun!
Good singing, although Tracy Thorn always seems a little icy and emotionless even though she sings about emotions. The bleeps, break beats and electronics is good and of its time. For 90s/2000s dinner parties alongside Beth Orton's Trailer Park and Zero 7.
Tämä oli tuttu bändi ainoastaan nimeltä ja Missing-hitistä. Levyllä oli omat positiivisetkin hetkensä, mutta pääosin musisointi oli tylsähköä tunnelman maalailua. Tykkäsin kyllä toisaalta laulajan äänestä ja aikakaudelle verrattain modernista soundista. Peruskolmosella mennään. Tuskin tulen tämän levyn pariin silti palaamaan enää.
Was an interesting listen but I don't typically enjoy this genre. Was moody and mellow without being boring.
Not bad just too repetitive for me I liked "Single" "Wrong" and "Flipside"
Well, I have been on a journey with this album today. I had heard the name Everything but the Girl but I really didn't know anything about them. I didn't get a particularly good feeling from the cover art last night. I woke up early to get some work done this morning. I put on my headphones and pressed play. The mellow, danceable beats and smooth vocals were a great accompaniment to my workday. Made it all the way through the album and pressed play again. Still good. And then...I took a walk outside with it and it was much less interesting. Maybe the ear pods I wear when I'm walking give me less bass than my at-home headphones and that was the issue. Maybe the music is better as background than as my main focus. Maybe three times in a day was too much. They'd somehow lost their luster one way or another. Anyway, this is pretty good electronic-pop, but maybe just in small doses.
Finalement en fin de journee ca ma vraiment motive. 3.75 electro pas pire pantoute. Ca aide a garder le focus
I read Tracey Thorn's Bedsit Disco Queen bio last year and it was pretty good, and am really keen to read her latest one about Lindy Morrison. Her Marine Girls stuff is great but then it all went far too 80s jazz-lite. Then post-Massive Attack's Protection it all went trip hop lite. The sound of young professional dinner parties in the second half of the 1990s. Listening to it now, it's not terrible, just not that interesting and a bit samey song-after-song
Following the success of "Missing," the duo devote their shift from sophi-pop to dnb / downtempo, which really matches their style: vocals reminiscent of downtempo classics like Portishead. For anyone missing that style, "Mirrorball" is a great transitional track, like sophi-pop using dnb tools. There's a trend with this album, and maybe for the album as a whole, but several of the tracks are repetitive and feel like they're on a 15 second loop until the last minute or so with some cool instrumental piece. "Flipside" and "Big Deal" are the biggest examples. Meh, I still like the tracks, even if I choose to just listen to their hits. Favorites: Before Today, Wrong, The Heart Remains a Child, Walking Wounded
I found listening to this pretty painless but a lot of the delivery was a little too smooth jazz for my taste. What I picked up of the lyrics seemed pretty well formed.
Nie dość że ogólnie to jest jakiś randomowy średniak, to jeszcze słuchało mi się nieprzyjemnie. Nic odkrywczego, nie działa dla mnie nawet jako muzyka w tle.
Pierwszy utwór nawet mnie zaskoczył nowoczesnością dźwięku, ale później wróciliśmy do lat 90 i nic specjalnego.
Relaxing tracks. Soft vocals and toned down arrangements. Nothing gripping, but a solid record. I quite enjoyed it, but didn't find anything particularly memorable. Highlight: Big Deal
Pleasant sounds and chill vibes, backed by solid vocals, while great at conveying emotion and setting the mood quickly become same-y and blend into one another, causing the album to feel like it's overstaying its welcome - and that's the original release, not even taking the deluxe edition's additions into account. So in the end while it's something I'd love having on in the backgroudn from time to time, I struggle to see anything too exceptional or distinguishing here at work. Highlights: Before Today, Walking Wounded
Fairly decent trip hopish pop. There were some really interesting sounds here that I hear in later Radiohead and Röyksopp, but the delivery is often so bland that it just doesn’t stand out to me.
Max said sounded like hotel bar music and I'm inclined to agree. But maybe context is everything and I should listen to it when not in a hotel bar.
Quite enjoyable. A distinctive sound and some good tracks. Not outstanding though so high 3*
Serenely washes over me. I don't really have any strong feelings for it one way or the other. It's generally pleasant, and I do like the drum programming and sequencing, but it's just kind of "there."
Hearing this album makes me feel like a gargoyle on the top of a dilapidated building. Longing for someone to simply look up as they pass by.
Hmm I listened to another one of their albums because of this album generator and wasn't really feeling it but this seems less "soft-pop" compared to Idlewild. Some sampling and stuff going on which is more interesting to me. Kind of reminds me of 90s minimal triphop/electronic sound. I would not have even guessed that this is the same group that made Idlewild. I much prefer this style.
mmmm love the bassey sound and breakbeats. some songs are kinda monotone so far but still pretty funky. knew i recognised the vocalist from massive attack. Some lyrics are kinda corny. Everything kinda sounds the same 7/10
I waxed and waned, enjoyed most, but was turned off by some. When it comes down to it, I could listen to this album all the way through with some enthusiasm.
This album makes me think I'm shopping at The Gap. I've missed that feeling ... like the desert's missed the rain.
Decent 90s trip hop. I must say I enjoyed my way through despite the cringy lyrics since the beats are very catchy. Definitely better in the first half tho. First Listen?: Y Fav. Tracks: Walking Wounded, Flipside Rating: 2.8/5
Listened to on 10/30/22 3.5/5 Favorite song: wrong Very easy to listen to and the vocalist is incredibly talented but the songs were a bit repetitive
EBTG venture into Drum & Bass and Trip hop. OK, but far from their best work.
Très agréable, belle voix. Un peu tranquille et monocorde pour moi par contre
I'm not a big fan of Electronica, but this wasn't terrible. It wasn't great either. Kind of boring, but still pleasant enough. Good background music. The lyrics were pretty whiny "why don't you love me" stuff.
I liked the flow of the album. Overall it was good, but not great. 3/5
A cool set of trip-hop songs, but not many songs of the record are memorable
Наконец-то мне попался альбом, который я уже слушал. Для меня он оказался скучным и не цепляющим, хотя начало было многообещающим.
Was very excited to hear this but kinda disappointed. Sounds good but feels like a real lack of substance
This would be good to take a nap to in spite of not really being my cup of tea. It's got that repetitive nature that I don't really dig that much, but I do like the volcalist's voice and there is some good musicality there
“Walking Wounded” by Everything But the Girl (1996) Electronic jazz/pop, chiefly interesting for its innovative and highly contrasting sound textures, but limited by the underwhelming melodies, with their restricted tonal range and and performed with an airy reverb-enhanced voice to match. Heavy emphasis on synthetic drums and bass lines, dynamically stark. Lyrics show moments of cleverness, but seem detached from the music, as if musical compositions and lyrics on each song were two separate projects This is done to an even comic extent on “Good Cop Bad Cop”—really funny, with Thorn lazily complaining about her bad feelings while Watt is making little fart sounds on his gizmo, assisted by his favorite speedy snare roll thing. I laughed my butt off. Some electronic sounds are used rather frequently, as if Watt needs a bigger bag of tricks. Not unpleasant to listen to, but nothing profound here. I bet it sold well in Japan. 2/5