Idlewild

Bland bland bland oh GOD why is it so BLAND?

No. Sorry. The 80s is sometimes much maligned, but this bland twee synth nonsense is fully deserving of the hate. 100% the soundtrack to lots of posh Chelsea Girls with big hair and excessive makeup swaying whilst drinnking their cocktails and arsehole traders in suits talking about how much money they earned that day.

Hoo boy what a stinker. I feel bad giving it a 1 because I think it’s fine in execution, it’s just the execution is of the most maudlin crap

With the first notes of this album I thought that this was a curious opener to an album. Slow processed guitar and a typical 80's ballad with some cheesy lyrics. Then the synth like violins started swelling up in the background and it all turned to kitsch. Unfortunately the album went downhill after that. What an atrocity.

I liked their very early stuff (pared down arrangements with guitar and Tracy's voice) but then they decided to get into smooth 80s sophistipop and added jazzy instruments and arrangements they lost me. Weirdly enough they reinvented themselves again into an electro dance band. Sheesh, some people are never happy...

Whoever included this in the book clearly hates music. Think Sade, but really bad. I’m struggling to get through it. Send help. Possibly the worst thing I’ve heard on this list, and that is saying a lot.

I really could have gone my whole life without hearing this and it would not have been worse. This sounds like unbuttered toast tastes to me.

Ugh - starts bad and gets less interesting. I'm too young to have suffered this crap at dinner parties - what was wrong with just having Sade on all the time?!

I feel asleep and ruined a keyboard with drool trying to listening to this.. Painful.

This is some dentist office music. lifeless.

Waiting room music

Contrived, sleepy, and purposeless.

Excellent stuff! This is music my parents grew up to... But that's no diss. This one really hit on this day of days, as it's Father's day minus my father. It brings me back to a time where tracks like this filled the radiowaves as I drifted off to sleep.

溫暖

Great pop

This is music for my soul!

peak

On a list where there are largely questionable choices, this is a gem

Some songs – and in this case simply some bands – take you back to a time and place. In this case, I Don’t Want to Talk About It, and by extension Everything But The Girl, take me back to the summer of 1988 and the bar at the Bay Hotel in Robin Hood’s Bay. We’d just finished the Coast to Coast Walk and were enjoying a pint or two and this is my abiding memory of the jukebox – those were the days eh? It’s odd, because we must have played something else, but all I can remember is the feeling of having walked 300km, the beer, and Tracy Thorn’s vocal. Bit beyond that one hit, I knew little of the band really. I’d certainly never listened to this album. And I really enjoyed it. There are some very pretty, well crafted songs here that were easy to listen to. And some similarities perhaps to Fairground Attraction, another band that burst on the scene at about the same time. This isn’t a perfect album at all. But it was an enjoyable listen and I’ll listen again as well. Lo fi and all the better for it. It’s probably a 4, but I’ll give it a 5 because it appears everyone else hates it, and it deserves better for sure. Also, Idlewild are a fine band well worth checking out

this one came out of nowhere for me

Beautiful pure voice. Enjoyed the sop throughout this album

If you liked this check out Japanese City Pop. Same vibes

Apron Strings is a forever song

This album was incredible. I love the electronic feel and the singer's voice. Just well crafted songs that were enjoyable. Awesome

Love their music. Such a beautiful voice.

I like it. She is relaxed.

Drenched in good feelings. LOVE it.

Good listen. I liked it.

Really great stuff. I think it is the type of songwriting that gets better each time you listen so i am going to be listening again. Loved the prodyction and her voice

I remember that I really loved this album when I listened to it at work. I was really busy during it, so I didn’t have time to record the songs. Worth a second listen to figure it out

Super mellow. Really dug the vibe

Great. Her voice is nice and has depth; music was chill and sometimes a bit sad sounding.

i dunno, by all rights i should probably dislike this, but I've always loved tracey Thorn's voice and for some reason the whole package just really hits. good thing I'm not a real critic because 'it just hits' probably wouldn't fly!

Lovely stuff

I may not always be in the mood for some saxy sweet love, but when I am, I am. This had everything but the techno from Walking Wounded, but I quite loved it. Music to sit and eat chocolates to.

I likr it for coding work

Cool sound. Much more mellow than I expected. Kinda shades of Suzanne Vega. Very cool and melodic with a great hi-fidelity sound. Very nice melodies and harmonies. Would listen again with zero hesitation, five stars.

Love this. One of my all time favorite albums, have loved it since it was released.

reading the wikipedia and its talking ab how the lyrics are more like short stories than pop songs w/ choruses... not super catchy bc of that but I very much enjoy the mellow energy and think the singing and music flows nicely, feel like listening again would make me like it more? I think this makes for excellent background music but in the sense that I want to listen to this as I am living... like I think it has much more redeeming qualities than the other albums I've thought of as background music (like the others feel like background music bc they aren't interesting enough to be listening music), it feels intentionally curated or sum, like a nice dinner to this sounds so classy chic, and as Kats would say, very much romantic. Also the perfect amount of stimulation for me to do homework while listening. also also, lydllwild is a place a bit north of San Diego and its mayor is a dog (https://www.mayormax.com/index.htm -- I've met him and Miley's met him too!) super awesome place for some hiking and just hanging out, ik this is called Idlewild but the association is there and brings more good energy. edited: this is one of my favorite albums ever I love it so much its amazing I have the entire album in my liked songs.

I don't wanna talk about it

This was wonderful. This is a band I definitely missed out on in the 80s and I am so happy to hear them now. Certainly a playlist add!

Beautiful and gorgeous and a great invitation to plough into the back catalog. Perfect.

Amazing. Classic.

One of the best albums I’ve ever heard.

What a relief! After what feels like weeks of rubbish, at last a lovely noise. No-one could possibly not like this, it's just so inoffensive. Slightly jazz-tinged, no standout tracks, they are all of an equal high quality. Marvellous saturday-morning music.

meh

This was a find for me. Never listened to this band before, and I absolutely loved it.

tight as fuck - 9/10 loved the diversity of the instrumentals

Very nice! I haven't heard a lot of these lady's 80s ballads.

Loved it very mellow

Chilling 80-S pop

Oktubre

Cute kinda hippy

Esto en los 80 donde primaban Michael Jackson, Pet Shop Boys, Madonna, Bon Jovi o Duran Duran pues era como agua en el desierto. Junto a los Go-Betweens, los Smiths o los Coucteau Twins los Everything but the girl eran una banda para cuatro amantes de la buena música. Aquí publicaron el que sería su mejor álbum hasta esa reconversión a la música electrónica. Viendo la portada es imposoble no arcordarse de los Smiths y Mozzer. I donn´t want to talk about it, una exquisita versión nada menos que de los Crazy Horse. La otra joya del disco es Apron strings. También Shadow on a harvest moon o The night I heard Caruso sing (con Ben a la voz). Love Is Here Where I Live o These Early Days y el resto de disco son más ochenteras, sobre todo esta última, pero conservan su calidad. ¿Qué tenía el agua de Hull por aquellas fechas para que surgieran tanto los Everything but the girl como los Housemartins? Qué tiempos aquellos donde había realmente música independiente.

What a pleasant discovery! I know of this band, but was surprised that i didn't recognize any of the cuts on this album. But this is the kinda Britpop I love. Very enjoyable.

surprisingly nice

4 sterne

Thought this was going to be mid but it’s just as fire as my fave everything but the girl album <3

Sinceramente esperaba una muy mala experiencia, despues de haber leído unas cuantas reseñas pensaba que sería un album muy malo, principalmente vi comentarios muy malos hacia los instrumentos que aunque no son excelentes tantopo lo vi para tanto, las letras no son tampoco las mejores pero pues al menos a mi me gustó el album, bonitas notas y algo tranquilo

I expected to dislike this but it’s perfectly listenable if inoffensive. Some nice songs, some cheesy songs. Nice voices. A talented duo.

Here's one I already knew a lot of songs from. Glad I listened to the whole thing now. Generally I think Everything But the Girl is really underrated, so I was surprised to see one of their albums on here

Fav-love is here where I live

Prettig relaxte jarentachtigmuziek met een aardige dosis tijdloos. We horen hier het duo (en echtpaar) zoals ze aanvankelijk klonken, niet hun gecomputeriseerde jarennegentigdanceversie, of de remix die bij ons het bekendst is geworden. En raad eens wat? Ik vind dit veel leuker. Geen nootje verkeerd, het album begint met een cover maar wel eentje die niet onderdoet voor de hitversie van ome Rod Stewart. Ik mis nét iets om het naar een 5 te tillen, maar verder een heel fijn album.

I'd almost call this my guilty pleasure, but pleasure is not the only thing I feel while listening to this record. I'm a sucker for lounge music, but this is as cheesy as it gets. I really wish there were no electronic instruments in this, it would almost sound classy. I also don't really love how the girl's voice sounds, even though she's clearly talented. Still, there are some pretty neat songs in this, even if it feels samey pretty fast.

gorgeous lyrics and vocal performances. especially endearing is the male vocal on The Night I heard Caruso Sing. Some of the beats are dated, but most of the songs are timeless beauties. Definitely worth further and deeper listening.

Sophisti-pop worth listening too. Thorn could sing the phone book and it would be riveting.

Another album I didn’t know existed and probably would have never listened to! I really liked it!

There's a subtle beauty to the music of Everything But the Girl. There's also a timeless feel to these songs, especially with the knowledge that it sounds nothing like the common pop trash of the 1980s. Side B plays it a little safe, which is a bummer after the album starts on a run of truly great songs. Regardless, Idlewild is one of the more pleasant surprises in my journey so far.

Very good mellow pop music with a touch of blue-eyed soul. I love Tracy Thorn's vocals on this album. 4.5 if possible.

great mellow album

Never heard of this group. Loved the album.

Nette Pop-Musik, angenehm zu hören, schöne Stimmen. 3-4/5

I thought this was quite OK. I don’t understand the low user rating. Maybe saxophone haters? I added “Blue Moon Rose” to my playlist but my favorite was their cover of “I Don’t Want to Talk About it”.

Dang, super chill songs on here with some great vocal performances. Great to just walk on a sunny day with, or grab a drink on the patio and just have on in the background.

Every once in a while these albums surprise me. This one shocked me. I love her voice! So chill, so strong, so calming.

That was lovely. I like that some of the songs had a jazzy feel.

9/10

Toppenhärlig stämning, inget som sticker ut supermycket efter dom första låtarna men härligt sound räcker långt!

A lovely album.

I found this album surprisingly good but lacking in the variety department. It was a nice listen on a Sunday afternoon. She has a nice voice vert relaxing.

This is a really nice smooth pop LP. I like it.

**Idlewild** (1988) represents a pivotal moment in Everything But The Girl's evolution—a deliberate step toward what Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt described as a "folk-soul" album, though one equally informed by the sophisticated pop production of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Released on February 29, 1988 (a leap year), this fourth studio album captures the duo at their most introspective, crafting songs about domesticity, memory, and the quiet turbulence of adult relationships. --- ## Musical Approach & Production *Idlewild* occupies a fascinating sonic middle ground. Unlike the jazz-orchestra opulence of 1986's *Baby, the Stars Shine Bright*, this record strips back to essentials while embracing contemporary technology. The arrangements balance crisp acoustic guitars and piano against drum machines and synthesizers—a hybrid that feels both handmade and modern . The production, handled primarily by Thorn and Watt themselves with minimal outside collaboration, achieves a curious duality. Tracks like "Love Is Here Where I Live" open with isolated mechanical drum patterns but quickly warm into organic, room-like atmospheres. "These Early Days" and "Blue Moon Rose" deploy keyboards and programmed rhythms for brightness, while soulful organ and chiming guitars maintain human connection . However, this approach occasionally falters. "Goodbye Sunday" leans too heavily into its Jam/Lewis-inspired electro-strut, sounding like a calculated grab for radio play. "Tears All Over Town" layers synthetics so thickly it resembles an exceptionally lush bedroom demo rather than a studio recording . Pitchfork's retrospective assessment notes that the album's "uniformity means EBTG never embarrass themselves, but the production gives even the most intimate songs slickness that verges on sterility" . The album's most successful moments come through starkness. "Shadow On A Harvest Moon" operates with just acoustic guitar, electric bass, drum machine, and muted trumpet—yet achieves a robust, Simon-and-Garfunkel-esque resonance. "Apron Strings" abandons percussion entirely for a duet between acoustic guitar and lone keyboard, supporting Thorn's "almost unbearably intimate vocal" . Most striking is "The Night I Heard Caruso Sing," where Watt sings over nothing but acoustic piano and possibly the least cheesy saxophone solo of the 1980s . --- ## Lyrical Themes & Content Where *Idlewild* truly distinguishes itself is in its lyrical architecture. The surface presents tranquil, almost easy-listening sophistication; beneath lies complicated, occasionally dark emotional territory . **Domesticity and Childhood** form the album's backbone. "These Early Days" initially appears as a gentle observation to a two-year-old—"the whole wide world revolves around you"—before delivering the devastating parental truth: "It doesn't stay that way / if I could, I'd make it stay that way" . "Apron Strings" and "Oxford Street" explore childhood from parental and nostalgic perspectives respectively, while "The Night I Heard Caruso Sing" presents a man in a war-torn country questioning whether to bring a child into such a world . **Relationships** appear in various states of repair. "I Always Was Your Girl" tempers potential cliché ("It will always be you and me against the world") with specific, lived detail: "You put your friends through hell and that's why we get along so well" . "Shadow On A Harvest Moon" captures the faint malaise following a honeymoon period, while "Love Is Here Where I Live" addresses the fear of hitting rough patches . **Memory and Place** permeate tracks like "Oxford Street"—which Pitchfork singled out as "a heartbreaking little private meditation on the passage of time and its effects on both the world and how one person perceives it" —and "Lonesome For A Place I Know," which evokes 1950s traditional pop in its black-and-white nostalgia . Thorn's autobiography *Bedsit Disco Queen* reveals her writing process for this period: "lyrics that are more like short stories than pop lyrics. Perhaps they ought to be short stories. They don't really have choruses" . This literary quality distinguishes *Idlewild* from contemporaneous sophisti-pop, investing mundane observations with novelistic weight. --- ## Key Tracks - **"I Don't Want to Talk About It"** (Danny Whitten cover): The glossy, starry-eyed opener reached number three on the UK Singles Chart, setting the album's tone of "poignant yet polished" emotional delivery . - **"I Always Was Your Girl"**: Widely considered the album's centerpiece—"brooding, breezy, and heartrending" with saxophone interludes and cascading nostalgic melodies . - **"Oxford Street"**: A masterclass in temporal observation, building on the cadence of "I Always Was Your Girl" with lines like "there is no real world – we live side by side, and sometimes collide" . - **"The Night I Heard Caruso Sing"**: Watt's vocal turn on this piano-and-sax meditation about art's solace amid geopolitical terror demonstrates the album's reach beyond romantic pop . - **"Blue Moon Rose"**: Notably, an ode to platonic friendship between women—"I have a friend and she taught me daring / threw back the windows and let the air in"—a subject rarely explored in 1980s pop . --- ## Critical Reception & Influence Contemporary reception proved mixed. The record company initially considered the album "lacking of hits" and doubted its commercial viability . Yet *Idlewild* has accumulated significant retrospective prestige—it was included in the 2005 book *1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die* and remains, according to multiple sources, "the most revered and critically acclaimed" of EBTG's varied catalog . The album's influence operates subtly. It represents a crucial waypoint between the duo's jazz-pop origins and their eventual electronic transformation (fully realized with 1994's *Amplified Heart* and its global hit "Missing"). The "folk-soul" hybrid pioneered here—acoustic instruments meeting R&B production sensibilities—prefigured later developments in sophisticated pop, though EBTG themselves would abandon this particular sound for the more acoustic *Amplified Heart* and subsequently the dance-oriented *Walking Wounded* (1996) . Thorn's solo career in the 2000s-2010s—particularly albums like *Out of the Woods* (2007) and *Love and Its Opposite* (2010)—directly extend the mature, reflective songwriting first fully realized on *Idlewild* . The album's domestic themes and literary approach to pop lyrics established a template for "grown-up" pop that avoids both nostalgia and mid-life crisis cliché. --- ## Pros & Cons ### **Pros** | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Lyrical Depth** | Short-story quality writing that recontextualizes seemingly tranquil music; domestic themes treated with novelistic nuance rather than sentimentality | | **Vocal Performance** | Tracey Thorn's "deep, elegant low tone" remains the album's undeniable star, capable of conveying intimacy and emotional weight simultaneously | | **Successful Hybrids** | When the folk-soul/R&B fusion works ("Love Is Here Where I Live," "These Early Days"), it achieves timeless warmth through careful balance of acoustic and electronic elements | | **Emotional Range** | From parental anxiety to wartime existentialism, the album covers substantial thematic ground without breaking its cohesive mood | | **Restraint** | Compared to the overproduction common in late-1980s pop, *Idlewild* generally exercises admirable restraint, letting songs breathe | ### **Cons** | Aspect | Details | |--------|---------| | **Production Inconsistency** | Some tracks ("Goodbye Sunday," "Tears All Over Town") suffer from dated synthetic overproduction that undermines the "folk-soul" concept | | **Uniformity** | The album's consistent mood, while cohesive, can read as monotonous—"every song just seems to blend together and drag on" according to some listeners | | **Sterility Risk** | The slick production occasionally "verges on sterility," washing away personality from intimate compositions | | **Accessibility Issues** | The lack of obvious hooks and chorus-less song structures can make the album feel like "background music" or "waiting room" listening to casual audiences | | **Period Trappings** | Despite efforts at timelessness, certain drum machine sounds and keyboard textures remain stubbornly anchored to 1988 | --- ## Conclusion *Idlewild* stands as Everything But The Girl's most fully realized statement of mature, domestic pop—an album that trusts quiet observation over grand gesture. Its greatest achievement lies in making the personal universal: songs about raising children, long-term partnership, and memory loss that avoid both the saccharine and the cynical. While production choices occasionally betray the "folk-soul" concept with period-specific gloss, the underlying compositions—particularly "Oxford Street," "I Always Was Your Girl," and "Apron Strings"—demonstrate Thorn and Watt's evolution from jazz-pop stylists to serious songwriters. The album's legacy rests not in immediate influence—EBTG themselves would pivot away from this sound—but in proving that pop music could accommodate adult concerns without surrendering to "adult contemporary" banality. For listeners willing to engage with its subtle dynamics and literary lyrics, *Idlewild* offers rewards that continue to resonate decades after its leap-year release.

I don't know, I really enjoyed this. Pretty and soulful and hits the nostalgia factor. I don't know why the reviews are not great. Am I basic?

Really an enjoyable listen with great vocals.

Chord progressions are nice. They’re not afraid of using some nice brass melodies. Thought I would hate at first but coming around.

really enjoyed, good mix of soul influences / new wave

Franchement très sympa y'a une vibe chill et entrainante !

Très sympa!

I really enjoyed this album, one song in particular really struck me, great listen

Suprisingly good.

Good album.. some good songs. will probably add it to the list of ones to listen to further, and repeat.

Amplified Heart is a 5

Very smooth.

Never heard of this but really enjoyed

Made me feel good and inspired

3.5 What can I say? I love this band a lot! I know they’re not everyone’s taste but they hit for me. I love the singer’s voice and the imagery of their lyrics. I find it all beautiful and delicate and lovely. I might like them more when they get a bit Portisheady in later albums but these songs are lovely too.

it wasn't that bad

not my cuppa but it wasn't bad, think i pref high(er) tempo music.

Easy electronic listening

Early 80s melodic vibes for an everlasting twosome.

Didn't get through all of it (common theme), but liked what I heard

A great EBTG record .Lots of amazing tunes on here.Probably a little underrated if anything .

EBTG do every time the same song but it's not bad

Very comfy both for background or actually paying attention.

Good stuff, a bit middle of the road but easy to listen to

waiiiit i kind of loved it 3.5

Overall: 7/10 Some may say this is boring, but I found it really interesting and relaxing. Not every song needs to get my blood pumping and sometimes you just want a beautiful voice singing chill tunes to you while you lay down. This was the perfect day for me to get an album like this. I don't think I'd want to listen to it all the time but I'll definitely be coming back to it occasionally. Fav Song: Goodbye Sunday

I actually enjoyed this quite a lot. Did not really sound anything like the very famous remix of "Missing". Loungey soft rock - I liked it in kinda the same way I like Sade. 3.9/5

Tämähän oli mukavaa, rauhallista ja laadukasta soitantaa tortaiaamupäivään. Nuoruuden soundtrackia

Really enjoyed this and the link to Crazy Horse was a surprise

I listened to this one. It was easy listening and reminded me of The Style Council.

Lighthearted!

Excelente!! muy onda relax, gran versión de I Don´t Want to Talk About It

Easy listening. It kinda hit the spot today, and I enjoyed this album quite a bit. Surprised me because I thought, based off the album artwork, that this was going to be some Morrissey-esque sounding music. An unexpected 4-stars.

Well this was a breath of fresh air as the last album that I reviewed was one of the worst ones so far. Idlewild has pretty tracks in this album and I am a lover of soft rock. I thought I never heard of this band before but I recognize now some of their popular songs. It is one of those scenarios where you know the song but you can't for the life of you recall the band's name. Solid album. 4/5.

Late 80s new wave pop. Lovely voice. Quite gentle and pretty.

Love the vocals and instrumentals on this. It's got the late 80's pop sound that feels tasteful compared to other contemporaries or 80's nostalgia-bait tracks. Favorite tracks: I Don't Want to Talk About it, These Early Days, Oxford Street, Apron Strings

I didn't save anything but this was actually pretty good. I felt myself bopping along and was enjoying listening to it during work. Marking as a 4 so I come back to it!

I am a little confused on its inclusion on the list, but I really enjoyed this album.

This band name sounded familiar but I really couldn't place it. I still haven't figured it out, but I was surprised that this sounded kind of like The Pretenders...I think I expected something more electronic and this almost has some hints of what I'd now call city pop. It made for easy and pleasant workday listening.

The songwriting is indisputable, as is the guitar interplay and vibrant instrumentation. Unfortunately, the aged-not-well hallmarks of 1988 are there: choppy drum machines, saxophone solos (luckily only on one song), DX-7 pianos. Those now distract but luckily the sweetness of the songwriting and the appeal of the lyrics wins me over.

It’s tender, and surprisingly honest about domestic life and motherhood, which you never hear sung about. A quiet little gem.

I love this late-night vibe. It pairs perfectly with cold weather and a good wine.

hyväå kamaa

v chill and comfy album. From songs for rainy dusk time and and songs for listening while chilling on a beach and for just closing down for the day, this is a good everyday listening album with easy to reach vocals and easy-going bossanova elements

What a wonderful Monday surprise this album was. With its Top o' the Mark cocktail lounge, cool and easy, jazz vibe and spot on vocals, it is right in line with the high class clientele that comes to see the show.

Things were not looking good for this album. A late 80s pop album is exactly what I’m notorious for not enjoying. But I was really shocked how much I enjoyed this record. The vocals lack that horrible slurring the 80s are known for. They remind me of Sade and Sinead O’Connor. Instrumentally it’s also a step above your usual 80s pop dross. The tracks have the same quality as city pop or j-jaz. Slightly more jazzy chord choices I believe. A few tracks aren’t as compelling as others but over all a great listen Fav tracks - Love is Here Where I Live - These Early Days - Shadow On A Harvest Moon - Blue Moon Rose - Tears All Over Town

An okay album, I liked The Night I Heard Caruso Sing the most.

Elsker første track. Veldig behagelig album. Litt monotont så derfor litt kjedelig, men om man er i viben er dette gull.

3.75 rounded up. its fun, I like 80s music :)

Tänkte inte så mycket. Albumet flöt förbi. Det måste betyda att jag gillade det?

Pleasantly surprised

Tracey Thorn's vocals are fantastic - they fit the music perfectly. Ben Watt's music is mostly cool instrumentation with jazzy vibes, but is often unpredictable, which is nice. Only knock is sometimes the music feels like it isn't going anywhere. 3.5/5.0: Very Good

Quite enjoyable

Very soothing. Enjoyed “I Don’t Want to Talk About It” a lot.

Idlewild is so, so beautiful. I'm getting a strong Stevie Nicks vibe, but it isn't a carbon copy of her music. Everything but the Girl brought their own stylings, and the frequent sax is doing a lot (and is really great, too). Tracey Thorn's melodic voice gives so much in every song. Yeah, a lot of the songs blend together but the album is a whole vibe, it flows great, and has captivating lyrics. This album's release is ahead of its time in 1988. This album must have been an inspiration for indie music in the nineties, specifically those solo female artists. 3.5

Smooth, pleasing and interesting. Not their best.

Really beautiful

Really liked it, cool laid-back melancholy stuff!

This album is so pretty. It’s quite subdued, but it makes for such a pleasant listen. It opens strong with their cover of I Don’t Want To Talk About It, and it continues in the same vein throughout. The vocals, specifically, are very cosy and warming here. This is a strong album, and I like it a lot.

80s light pop with pleasant lady singing. Very calming music, pretty as well. I Always Was Your Girl has a nice sax solo. The Night I Heard Caruso Sing has some nice vocal harmonies and sax solo as well. Apron Strings is nice. There were maybe 2-3 dud songs. I didn't think this would be my cup of tea, and it's still not really, but 4 stars for how good the music was and the album as a whole being cohesive.

Loved the sound of her voice along with the musical arrangement. Paired well together.

Surprised I’ve never heard of them before. Reminded me a lot of someone, maybe fleetwood mac

Went into Idlewild expecting more synth-pop and was fully braced for disappointment — so being pleasantly surprised definitely helped boost this one. Tracey Thorn’s voice is a real standout, and Ben Watt’s guitar playing had this warm, melodic quality that honestly reminded me a bit of George Harrison’s 1979 solo work. “Apron Strings” hit me hard — not just emotionally, but musically too. That acoustic line gave me “In My Life” vibes in the best way. Not likely an album that I'd listen to again save for a few songs but I'm still going to give it 4 stars instead of 3.

Pleasant. I like their voices, but the music is definitely 80's dated.

drei bis vier

I thought that this was really good. Kind of jazzy. I prefer the songs sung by the woman vs the guy.

Very chill listen.

Oh, how I love this band. In the middle of all the grunge, metal and gangster rap of the late 80s, these two bitches went full easy-listening liteFM. And it’s goddamn great.

I remember the band’s existence but couldn’t have named a single track. This was surprisingly listenable and chilled - between 3 and 4.

I gotta check more of their stuff out, this was really charming.

4/5

Really sweet album!

I'd like to think that I'm an EBTG fan and I certainly hadn't heard this album before. And it seems the only music of theirs that I have on CD was from a compilation album. Anyway, I like Tracey Thorn's voice and there's a certain intimacy to this album that probably deserves further exploration.

I mean, it's fine. It just feels a bit Samey, though. 3.5 bumped up to 4.

Realistically, I would love to hang this directly at a 3.5, because I don’t think it’s quite good enough for a 4, but I do think it’s better than a 3, so a 4 it is. My immediate comparison that comes to mind is “Nick of Time” by Bonnie Raitt, in terms of the general structure & theming of the album. Hell, even instrumentally & vocally, I’d say there’s a lot of similarities. I bounced hard off of Nick of Time, even though it’s a totally technically sound album, simply because the luster of its soundscapes faded away really quickly, and the whole thing ended up feeling too plain. This album nearly falls into that same trap, but manages to avoid it by doing one simple thing that Bonnie Raitt didn’t: even if the luster does fade away after enough time, it knows how to change up its instrumentation mid-song in such a way that the luster returns. To put it more bluntly, this album succeeds simply in feeling bigger, and selling its listener on that, without feeling overdone. I found the instrumentation here to have a bit of grandeur that wasn’t present on that Bonnie Raitt album, and it felt like it came more naturally. Maybe I’m just a sucker for the more sophisticated style this album gives off (hence the genre title of Sophisti-pop on Wikipedia), but compared to Nick of Time, I felt more captivated by each track, just on account of the instrumentation. Some points off for the drum machine though; some real drums would’ve made a few of these tracks pop off a lot more. Thankfully, Tracey Thorn has an absolutely lovely voice that overrides a lot of my complaints about the drums; super reminiscent of Celine Dion when she goes into her more ballad-y tones, but her control just glides on a lot of these instrumentals for me. The biggest knock I can give to this album is the same thing others have echoed; a lot of these tracks do boil down to feel pretty similar, no matter how much the instrumentation or vocals hide it – there are some great lyrical moments on a few tracks (I really liked Lonesome For A Place I Know), but a lot of the tracks are lyrically bland enough that it becomes noticeable. Hence, the 3.5 that I’m going to begrudgingly bump up to a 4; I can understand how someone might give this a 2 or a 1, because it might be boring to ears more attuned to metal/rock, or more poppier 80s stuff ala MJ or Cyndi Lauper or the like, but for my tastes, the calmer yet controlled tone of this album clicked really nicely. I don’t think it’s that great of an album, and just from the tone of Tracey Thorn’s voice, I have to imagine there’s a more captivating Everything But The Girl album that could’ve been on the list, but I enjoyed this one enough – it’s a fun listen, and if nothing else, it’s remarkably smooth. (P.S.: It would’ve been a 3 without the sax, probably. Sue me.)

Virkar ekki merkilegt við fyrstu hlustun en svo verður þetta virkilega ljúft og næs. Hendum fjarka á þetta.

Pretty solid

A little too heavy and slow, but some pretty songs there. I'm sorry about the guitar players autoimmune issue.

Unique and strong vocal from the lady make this stand out. Nothing really too special or crazy good, just a lot of contemporary soft pop songs that are good. These Early Days is fantastic. Higher than expected.

I could listen to preppy people mope about their situationships over a martini and cigarettes and classical guitar music alllllllll dayyyyyy longgggg!!! I’m not saying Idlewild is the best album I’ve ever heard; there’s definitely some dubs, and it can be very same-y after a while. But this vibe just really does it for me, and Tracey Thorn could sing me the phonebook. The best songs here are perfect rainy day mood songs to listen to at a coffee shop, and the worst song, well, that’s the one song sung by a man, so…there’s that. I just think I’m a sucker for sophisti-pop. Get this girl a Lacoste tennis skirt, a Longchamp tote, and a cortado, I guess 💅🏻💅🏻💅🏻

Big up fürs Cover. Es chömed existentieli Frage uf, wie Was will ich i mim Lebe? —> inser band name here <— han gmerkt die sind smooth as fuck, wenn die tracks im hintergrund laufed und mer sich nöd z fest konzentriert und d musik, slebe und ziit verstricht a mir verbi. Glichzitig muss mer aber au in stimmig si zum das lose. Wenn zu hibbelig denn isch wahrschindli zu langsam und soft. Find aber sehr guet d diversität wos i die schnulzesong inebracht hend: saxophon oder keyboard dominierti songs, e reine klavier schnulze oder jazzy ahghuchti tracks. Btw: Anschienend isch Todd terry mixes mit ihne es erfolgskonzept. Everything but the music 4 arbeits täg fürd wuche

淡淡的还不错

This isn't normally my kind of music but what a beautiful album.

I really enjoy this album. Much different than their 90's work, but still heartfelt and emotion in the lyrics. Highlight songs: These Early Days I Always Was Your Girl Oxford Street Blue Moon Rose 4/5

Melodious pop. Reminded me George Michael's vocal and songs.

So lovely, late-night tunes to swoon to. Definitely feels like a precursor to Yo La Tango and other sleepy-indie hits. I like the writing style and how personalised this feels, with a lot of the songs being portraits of friends or family members. A few moments are a little bit saccharine, but mostly I think the band finds that sweet spot. Best Track: Tears All Over Town Worst Track: The Night I Heard Caruso Sing

-This is honestly a huge vibe, I loved Tracey Thorn’s work with Massive Attack (her voice is beautiful) and this is solid too if not a bit dated. Nevertheless I don’t play about the cheesy 80s corporate lounge vibe and this album encapsulates it perfectly -Favorites are Love Is Here Where I Live, These Early Days, and Goodbye Sunday

I hadn't heard of Everything But the Girl before. They are the musical pair of Tracey Thorn and Ben Watt, and their style is called sophisti-pop. The subgenre emerged from the new wave of the 80s, using electronic keyboards, synthesizers, perfectionist recording, and most importantly atmosphere. Understanding what sophisti-pop is helped me understand why I enjoyed this album. The production is pristine even if dated, as Ben and Tracey trade sultry vocals as the session musicians create the necessary ambiance to make this album pleasant to the ears with just enough flourishes to keep it an engaging listen. I get that this style of music might not be as energetic for everyone, but I can walk away from meeting this album halfway and enjoying it. Give it a chance.

Pretty enjoyable

I think my reaction to this was more cultural than musical but this felt like a warm huge from an estranged big sister. Its very much of its time and place and i was 8 and in the north of england when it was released. I was familiar with their rebirth with a more electronic based sound post Todd Terry remix in the mid 90s but didnt know their earlier stuff. Her voice is fantastic, the collage of scenes and reminiscences were very evocative and i liked the composition. There were a few very 80's Sade-esque flourishes that have dated badly but thats not a real problem. Ive immediately started to listen to their back catalogue which is a sign of something brilliant.

I found this one very pleasant to listen to. I guess it just seems like something is Missing.

Very late 80s adult contemporary vibe. It worked for a quiet Friday night.

I first heard of this band from their song Apron Strings, which was featured in the movie She's Having A Baby. It’s a beautiful description of the longing women feel for motherhood and EBTG became a staple of my music listening in the 90’s. I love Tracy’s voice, the songwriting, the “sophisti-pop”, it’s all wonderful.

Some ballads, some pop and some more jazzy tracks all with a beautiful female vocal.

I don't want to talk about it Oxford street Tears all over town Chill, mélodique

I gave this a couple of listens and found it oddly compelling. I think the character of the vocals is really interesting, nice harmonies, and while the instrumentation is a bit elevator music in places, it's certainly skillfully played.

I’m listening on a train while winding my way through the beautiful countryside of the West Midlands. It’s so relaxed that I’m just sort of melting into the seat. My Mum is a big Everything But The Girl fan and so I know a fair few of these songs although I’ve never listened to the album before. And while the song construction and production is pretty immaculate, the band’s real selling point is Tracey Thorn and her voice. My god, what an instrument. The lyrics feature the mix of domestic and pastoral themes that I’m a sucker forever, and their version of I Don’t Want To Talk About It is the best one, hands down. Suck it Rod Stewart

01) I Don't Want To Talk About It - 10,0 02) Love Is Here Where I Live - 7,5 03) These Early Days - 7,5 04) I Always Was Your Girl - 7,5 05) Oxford Street - 7,0 06) The Night I Heard Caruso Sing - 7,5 07) Goodbye Sunday - 7,0 08) Shadow on a Harvest Moon - 7,0 09) Blue Moon Rose - 7,5 10) Tears All Over Town - 7,0 11) Lonesome for a Place I Know - 7,5 12) Apron Strings - 8,0 TOTAL: 7,58 (76/100) Current ranking: 103/195 I've always loved Tracey Thorn's voice, "Missing" is one of my favorite songs from my teenage days. I only know the first song on this album, while the rest sounds typical of the way eighties pop albums sounded. From today's point of view, maybe a little dated and not too inventive, but still inoffensive. I've heard worse things on this list.

Easy on the ears

This is a band that my mum would put on constantly and I loathed it as a child. Her throaty frog voice pissed me and the instrumentals dug into my wrinkly little brain. Now as an adult I actually rather enjoyed this listen. This is also not the album my mum overplayed the shit out of so that helped. The more 80s vibe to the instrumentals changed the song dynamics quite a bit from the album I remember listening to which I believe was more 90s themed. Pretty great vocals and lovely instrumentals. “Apron Strings” is definitely a song that has been played a child’s funeral. 8/10

Awesome

Interesting pop music, much better than expected.

Very KD Lang

Oh, how I love this band. In the middle of all the grunge, metal and gangster rap of the late 80s, these two bitches went full easy-listening liteFM. And it’s goddamn great. This is unironically wonderful. Today it might seem more like mall music. Like something playing gently in the background, at a luxury resort spa retreat, in wine country. And, yeah, you might have had five Chardonnays with lunch, but you’re on vacation, Brenda. Relax, you worked so hard for this. You earned this weekend away from grind. Let the sultry saxophone lull you, as all the tension in your body just melts away. You don’t need to think about anything ever again. You’re safe now. Everything is Idlewild.

Deep Blue Something from the UK with more electronics

Love Tracey's voice.

Душевно.. потрёпанное фото на обложке как символ чего-то ушедшего. В данном случае любви. Нравится, что поёт девушка. Такой вот я дурачок, что с женским вокалом мне приятнее. Наверное, в настроение попало просто, сегодня с утра слушал fleur и грустил. Тут тоже грусть, но лёгкая, светлая.

very nice. songs very pretty and vocal performances excellent. good shit 4/5

Pues muy bonico. Sobre todo la primera canción. I Don't Want to Talk About It.

Une pop luxueuse et veloutée, portée par une voix splendide.

Loved it, heard of this band but never proper listened until now, made my day

Really enjoyed this trip down memory lane.

Melodious album, bar music like "love is here where I live", typical 80's sound like "These early days". The album is still listenable, maybe a bit too good.

Pretty solid. I was a fan. - 8/10

I feel like every song is decent or non offensive at the least. Overall, I enjoyed most of it. The female vocals are great, the male vocals are ok.

7/10 - Interesting but not fantastic. I liked the vibe of the songs but they were not fitting my mood.

Nothing great but all decent 7/10

Weird but nice voice, pretty good album. 7.5/10

Nice smooth jazz pop! Had not heard this album and was pleasantly surprised.

Was a breath of fresh air in college radio days. Still sounds light and airy, and perfectly lovely most of the time, if a bit sleepy in the middle. One gets arguments about its slightness but feels lightly elevated. “Goodbye Sunday” is a long-forgotten old fave and a seriously underrated track. Interesting that such modest beginnings ended in clubby success on a global scale. The modesty was more effective. Basically smooth jazz, with skilled vocals from a singer with a lovely, lovely voice, one of the best of late 20th century. 3.6 > 4

Nice - never heard of the group but it has a nice sound.

Heard that Prefab Sprout magic in there.

Good album! After listening, I was shocked to see how poorly this album is rated, I don’t understand the hate.

Sykt digg å høre på 4.5

Melancolia adocicada pela vocal e batidas.

Mooi gezongen, verrassend tof eigenlijk

Very chill, low energy vibes. Good album to have for easy listening background noise, but it still holds if you're actually listening too

This is a really nice album. Tracey Thorn has a lovely voice, the songs are very gentle and overall a good piece of work.

having knowing nothing about this group or any of their songs I was expecting nothing good, but I was pleasantly surprised. makes great use of the 80's sounds, a nice variety of music, almost like city pop in some places.

Very nice! Like Sade crossed with the Pretenders

Not my style at all, but I rather enjoyed at least one run through. The occasionally-tasty jazz bass player and Tracey Thorn's lovely delivery really save this for me. I enjoy the lyrics too - unusually direct and literal at times. I especially like these : "I write these words to make them true: 'I've drowned my torch and so should you'"

Pues muy bonico. Sobre todo la primera canción. I Don't Want to Talk About It.

Me gustó el sonido, las intervenciones del saxo, la voz súper calma, todo suena armonioso, no sé si destaque como para una lista como está, pero no tendría problema en volver a escucharlo

Lovely

À la fraîche

Quite enjoyable. Never head of them before

This is the classic Everything But The Girl. Serene beauty

That was an adorable album. Nice and gentle but still interesting. I liked it a lot.

Can listen to this all day, and works in multiple setting. Tracey Thorn’s voice is a thing of beauty, fluid and strong, just ideal for ballads and mid-tempo cuts. A few near-classics of this genre. So many lovely organic touches – combo of guitar, organ and bongos on “Lonesome for a Place,” sax on “Tears All Over Town” – that suggest they didn’t have to all light-dancey-trancey in the future. Will return to this to more regular rotation in the future. If it’s not quite one for the ages, it’s perfect lazy summer afternoons, peaceful Sunday mornings, springtime cocktail hours, etc. etc. 3.65 > 4

I like it, it's charming in its own quiet way

So the band name is EXTREMELY misleading cuz there def is a girl in the band and she sings most of the songs like wtf (shes even on the cover SMH my head). Album was pretty cool, too. 7/10

I enjoyed this way more than I expected

Simply put, it is elegant, it is graceful, it is enjoyable for the most part. Didn’t like The Night I Heard Caruso, but everything else was great. 4/5

Tender and romantic

Voice is really nice. Album bit the samey but I think 4 stars is fair

Melodic and listenable…akin to Indigo Gorls in the realm of pop-folk vibe.

I fell in love with Tracey & Ben via their debut EBTG album, Eden. Idlewild is their 4th album and one of their best. My original vinyl has 11 tracks, all penned by the couple. My cd of the album, however, contains an extra track, which opens the record. It’s their cover of the Crazy Horse classic, I Don’t Want To Talk About It, which had charted for Rod Stewart in 1977. The EBTG version is to die for. Tracey Thorn has a voice made to sing about broken hearts. The album hangs together so well. Sophisticated, to say the least, it’s a great listen.

Found myself caught up in the first track cover of 'I don't want to talk about it'. Loved the presentation throughout.

This is music to get romantic with. Like Led Zepplin IV in Fast Times but better

From before they hit the US!

7/10. Good album, consistently enjoyable

Pretty and sleepy. Maybe worth another listen some other time. 7/10

Really nostalgic and wistful 80s, with a great lingering pace throughout.

first listen real nice sounds, definitely some 70s voicings, the chords kept me interested

Really smooth. I'd definitely listen to this one again.

Mjög ljúf og róleg plata. Tracey Thorn er með svo fallega rödd.

I go wild

Ranges from electronica to folk/country, quite nice all around.

Tracy's voice always makes the day

Lovely songs & a sweet voice. Like it a lot.

Yeah. This is far better than the last few albums on the list. I never really listened to EBTG back then, but they were pleasant enough backing music when someone else played them. This persuades me that I should listen to them more.

Nice

Good, but not my kind of music

Beautiful album, really relaxing and nice voice 4/5

Lo sentí bastante sofisticado calmado en cierta parte como elegante, pero en ocasiones demasiado calmado, no hay momentos donde te atrae

After listening to this album I've decided never to read the reviews on here before actually listening to the album. These people come on here and give their takes on music like its a universal fact its so conceited honestly. I came into this expecting trash but it was extremely welcoming and I enjoyed this, especially the beginning!! Strong start and strong end to such a serene and peaceful album, loved it.

Adding points for the lines about it already being hard to watch the news let alone explain it to a child. Subtracting points because they’re British saying that line about not wanting to worry about their kid being born in the UK lmao. Overall pretty but boring

....surely this isn't the everything but the girl album they chose for this? 3.1-3.6. only the easiest of easy listening today.

Melodic and chill, the sort that after a couple of listens I might really start to love

Nice.

Meh, it's alright. Pretty relaxing. But I think the author liked these guys a lot, since I've come across two of their albums already and I wouldn't consider them 'essential', especially not this one. It became very repetitive towards the end. The melodies are generally quite beautiful and his voice matches this beauty, but the songs don't 'stand out'. It's decent music, and nice to have on in the background I guess, but it's not a listening experience that changes your view or music or anything like that. This is just very average I think. I saved a few songs to see if they grow on me.

It was alright

Interesting, but not remarkable in any way.

I can’t lie this is def on the blander side of the list… however do I think it’s bad ? Not really. Feels like an inspo album for someone like Norah Jones

A bit smooth for me.

Gorgeous voice, chill, fun instruments

It has a very Lilith Fair vibe, a decade before Lilith Fair.

hahahah the reviews on this are savage. idletame! apron strings is lovely...

6/10. Very generic 80s chill pop

not bad, not my favorite. wouldnt listen to again

The “weather channel” album.

There is no more obvious factor that the person who put this list together is British than the fact that there are multiple Everything but the Girl albums on this list. Tracey Thorn's voice is as lovely as ever but this albums suffers from being compared to their later output and, while a pleasant listen, nothing really pushing this one into greatness.

I actually really got into their 2023 album Fuse, but hadn't listened to their older works. I thought it was nice.

There was a girl singing on every song, and barely any Everything

This sounds like the soundtrack of a cheesy romance movie. 2.5 stars.

Mooie pop rock, maar weinig randjes

cva wel, ni perse mijn ding ma oke om te studeren

Not the Everything But the Girl album that I think deserves to be on the list, but fine nonetheless. Of the albums already on this list, I feel like IDLEWILD shows off Tracy's instincts and WALKING WOUNDED shows off Ben's instincts, but if it were up to me, I would swap one of the EBTG albums currently on the list for AMPLIFIED HEART instead, an album that married both sides of Tracy and Ben's musical instincts the most seamlessly, and has far more range than both. Their songwriting style is definitely unique enough, although I guess you could argue they are sort of like a latter day British version of The Carpenters. They definitely helped define the genre of sophist-pop and made it popular enough that other bands could find career success in the form.

not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue

Tracey Thorn has a nice voice and the album has a pleasant sound. A lot of it is too influenced by smooth jazz for me. There’s nothing about the music that really engages me. Highlights are I Don’t Want to Talk About It, I Always Was Your Girl, and Oxford Street. There are no lowlights, but I’m still disappointed nothing felt like a standout. I might be more interested in a later EBTG record as I understand they try some different musical styles and arrangements.

In a survey 15 of Len Houmous’ wives, when asked about their marriage said they didn’t want to talk about it. 2.5 1/12 I don’t wanna talk about it

very pleasant, gives me mall walking vibes

What you would listen to getting your haircut in the mall

New genre alert This one wasn’t nearly as bad as the rating suggested. Not the most exciting music but it’s pretty easy on the ears. The lyrics are mundane for the most part but there’s something comforting about that. I really don’t know exactly how to describe this music but its far from bad It does feel very boring at times, with their being very little variety in the songs themselves and the instrumentation. There are absolutely zero songs that left a lasting impression on me and I forgot a ton about this album between the time I listened to it and the time i wrote this review We’ve got some truly terrible albums that have higher ratings than this one on the site, so I will happily give this one a 3

Nice and chill, but it gets boring, I can't tell you how many times I glanced at Spotify to look at how far I was in the album just to be a few songs in.

Idlewild is just like a lot of the other albums we’ve looked at for this project when it comes to quality, Its not a very remarkable album but it is still fairly solid for what it is. The songs were all generally good sounding and never really felt annoying or super boring but there isn't really anything interesting I can really say about the majority of them. The saxophone and trumpet solos were cool and some of the songs did have that Super Nintendo sounding keyboard which I like about it. This album is a fine listen, especially as something to put on the background, but it doesn't really do anything that other new wave albums from this time period haven't done.

Ok

Reminds of sitting in a hotel bar while travelling for work.

Some harsh criticism in the reviews but its chilled and theres some great work here a steady 3 for me

a pleasant listen

A chill album, perfect for a Sunday, but not something I'd listen to regularly.

Pop, 1988 -> 3

Enjoyed this one a lot more than I expected. Really liked the singers voice and the background instruments really allowed her to shine. Reminds me of department store music, nice and soothing pop.

I forgot it as I was listening to it

This sounded much more like Sade and Anita Baker than I ever could expected. She has a nice voice, but nothing here was super memorable.

At times this could be entrancing and quite beautiful while others it’s down the line 80s pop and quite boring, I think they could’ve pushed the boundaries a bit but stayed quite safe

What a lovely chill album. Great voices, very 80’s music but hey that’s understandable! It’s just a nice album that fitted the sunny day I listened to it on perfectly

2.5

So called "Sophisti-pop." This album evokes the idea of Patrick Bateman, but instead of working in finance, he works in HR at the local DMV. It's pretty good, not as boring as some of these reviews would have me believe (mostly thanks to the bass/synth). This is someone's favorite band, but it's not mine. I appreciate that in the decade that is famous for the most over the top bombastic nonsense, this laid back album got some recognition.

Musique oubliable mais bonne musique de en tâches de fond. Note : 3 À réécouter : Non

Nostalgia. And yet, not quite anything I've heard previously. I was born in 92, this reminds me of the "jazz" my parents would listen to, but I don't think they had this CD. It's similar to elevator muzak, but academically much stronger than that. It's the second time I've heard this duo, so maybe it's the exposure, because I'm not typically a fan of 80s production and it hits real obvious here. I give them the benefit because with just a little reading, you know they take the production very seriously. I'm growing to love Tracey's voice and range, but the low points on this record for me are precisely when she's trying to be too ballad-based. She's got less of the Sade flow on this effort, I actually dig that. I'm a fan of the way she pulls it off in the future, but the slight spin she's given her sound on this project sounds more genuine to me. I'm really surprised I enjoyed this one. Repeated listens have unlocked the wit in their lyrics, and the smooth compositions feel nice to play along with when they start to engrave in your memory. Not my typical listen, but I would spin this again. 3.3/5

2.5

It's not my cup of tea, but it was situationally pretty good listening to it on a rainy day. Quite smooth.

I was excited to hear an album by a band I had never listened to before. Some of the material was interesting, while other parts missed the mark. I especially enjoyed the fusion of soulful passages with jazzy elements, alongside the groovy bass. I wasn’t crazy about the vocal performance, and it’s one of those albums where you have to listen to the whole thing otherwise, it starts to feel repetitive. Whether that’s a good thing or not is a debate for another time, but overall, I found it to be alright. The tracks I enjoyed were the opening "I Don't Want to Talk About It" and the closing "Apron Strings".

Not as much my taste as Walking Wounded unfortunately.

If you like listening to Mazzy Star's Fade into You for 24 hours a day or are obsessed with The Joy of Painting, this album may not be for you.

Middest adult contemporary I heard in a while

I can’t imagine it as more than background music but it’s pretty pleasant

Didn't listen to the whole thing but it was okay.