International Velvet [Eco Vinyl]

by Catatonia

Overview

Prior to International Velvet, Catatonia offered modest, lovely pleasures -- pretty, ringing pop songs filled with sweet and sour melodies. Apparently, the band was concerned that they were a little too precious, a little too similar to late-'80s indie pop groups like the Primitives, so they beefed up their sound, turned up the guitars and toughened up their attack for International Velvet, their second major-label album (the first to be released in America). It's a gambit that fails as often it succeeds. Part of the problem is that the hard rock sounds forced, never quite rocking with the abandon it should and keeping much of the album grounded. More problematically, Cerys Matthews has a captivating voice but a weakness for gimmicks -- "I Am the Mob" and "Mulder and Scully" have terrific hooks, but it's hard to get with their self-conscious pop culture references. Still, at least they bring memorable melodies to the songs. When their songwriting comes up short, there isn't enough attitude or snarl to the performances to make them enjoyable -- which is precisely what the sonic revamping should have given them. Even with the flaws, International Velvet has its fair share of pop delights -- it just doesn't deliver as many as Way Beyond Blue, which had a surplus of melody and grace. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	10/20/2023
Label:	Warner Bros. / Warner Music
UPC:	5054197750205
Rank:	51471

Tracks

1. Mulder and Scully
2. Game On
3. I Am the Mob
4. Road Rage
5. Johnny Come Lately
6. Goldfish and Paracetamol
7. International Velvet
8. Why I Can't Stand One Night Stands
9. Part of the Furniture
10. Don't Need the Sunshine
11. Strange Glue
12. My Selfish Gene

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Catatonia   Primary Artist
Cerys Matthews   Vocals
Mark Roberts   Guitar
Alec Richards   Drums
Owen Powell   Guitar
Paul Jones   Bass

Technical Credits

Paul Read   Engineer,Engineer
Joe Gibbs   Engineer
Catatonia   Composer,Producer
Cerys Matthews   Composer,Lyricist
Greg Haver   Engineer
Roland Herrington   Mixing,Producer
Billy Strayhorn   Composer
Aled Richards   Composer
Dave Bascombe   Mixing,Remix Engineer
Tommy D   Mixing,Producer,Remix Engineer
Joe Gibb   Mixing,Engineer,Producer,Remix Engineer
Joseph Cultice   Photography
Tommy Catatonia   Producer
Mark Roberts   Composer,Lyricist,Composer,Lyricist
Owen Powell   Composer
Nigel Schermuly   Photography
Paul Jones   Composer,Composer
Jason Harris   Engineer,Assistant Engineer
David Jones   Composer