Boo Hewerdine - My Name in the Brackets

by Malcolm Carter

published: 18 / 1 / 2015

Label: Reveal Records
Format: CD

Faultless compilation album, which takes tracks from across his three decades long career from former Bible front man, the much underrated Boo Hewerdine

Review

The problem with compilations is, of course, the compilers are always going to leave off some of the songs you feel should have definitely made the track listing. When it comes to compiling a ‘best of’ from an artist like Boo Hewerdine, it’s pretty pointless complaining though. Having to choose just 15 songs (18 songs are featured but three are brand new songs written specifically for ‘My Name in Brackets’) is not a task anyone familiar with his impressive back catalogue would want to take on. Hewerdine writes in the booklet of the CD that “all I ever wanted was my name in the brackets." In an interview he has mentioned that, as a seven year old, he would study the labels of 45s (so I wasn’t so weird after all) and discovered that the names in the brackets under the song titles were of those who wrote the song. Realising that songs could be ‘made up’ he decided that was what he wanted to do. Boo, believe this, throughout the last twenty-year or so years many people have been looking for your name in those brackets for the simple reason that they were then assured of some intelligent, melodic pop music; this new ‘best of’ takes in many of Hewerdine’s finest recorded moments. The album, presented in chronological order, kicks off, as it should, with four of the Bible’s best-known songs. First up is ‘Graceland’, the song which introduced many to Hewerdine’s talent. For a song that is now nearly three decades old, it still sounds remarkably fresh. Hewerdine’s trademark clever lyrics and catchy melodies were obviously in place at the very start of his career. The production on this song, (taken from the Bible’s first album, ‘Walking the Ghost Back Home') which was handled by Hewerdine along with keyboardist/percussionist Tony Shepherd, doesn’t sound dated at all and the song has lost none of its appeal through the years despite repeated playing. It’s solid, melodic, thoughtful pop music, and if Hewerdine hadn’t contributed anything else to music he would still have been rightly celebrated for making the 80s just that little more musically bearable with this song. ‘Mahalia’, which follows, also featured on ‘Walking the Ghost Back Home’, and features a more edgy, almost R&B slant to their sound. The other two Bible tracks are ‘Honey Be Good’ from 1988's ‘Eureka’ which was produced by Steve Earle, and which sees a return to the more folky pop sound of ‘Graceland’ featuring Neill MacColl’s chiming guitar playing, and ‘Dreamlife’ from the album ‘Dodo’ which was something of a departure for the band. While still retaining an irresistible melody and MacColl’s shiny guitar runs, the spoken word sections were unexpected. It is yet another song that stands up today years after it was first released. Yet another testament to the fact that Hewerdine is one of our most underrated and talented songwriters and performers. Hewerdine’s solo albums are represented by at least one track from each of the following; ‘Ignorance', ‘Baptist Hotel’ (the sublime ‘Joke’ and ‘Last Cigarette’ which display both sides of Hewerdine’s work, the catchy as a cold former, all chiming guitars and feel-good factor guaranteed, and the slower, soulful latter cut which also must rank as one of Hewerdine’s best compositions), ‘Thanksgiving' ('The Birds are Leaving’, a John Wood production with strings arranged by Tony Cox highlighting once again that Hewerdine is one of the best songwriters of his generation), ‘Anon’ , ‘Harmonograph’ (three songs including, of course, ‘Patience of Angels’) and ‘God Bless the Pretty Things’. There’s one song from Hewerdine’s tie up with Brooks Williams as State of the Union. The piano-led ballad ‘Blaze Of Glory’ is taken from the album ‘Snake Oil’, and again displays Hewerdine’s talent of writing memorable melodies. Of the three new songs, ‘Amazing Robot’ has more of an 80s feel than any of the songs here that were actually recorded back then. Keyboard driven and lyrically still strong, Hewerdine sounds in fine form vocally and by looking back he’s actually added more elements to his sound here. It’s another tune you’ll be stuck with for the rest of the day of course. ‘Snowglobe’ follows in much the same pattern, the background vocals from Hafdis Huld creating an unexpected diversion. ‘Last Shot on the Roll’ has exotic leanings that again prove that, while never abandoning his roots, Hewerdine is forever reinventing his music. For a compilation ‘My Name in the Brackets’ can’t really be faulted. It features some of Hewerdine’s most popular and best work, and the new tracks are up to his usual high standard. Every song is a little gem, and if it persuades a few who are unfamiliar with his albums to check them out it can only be a good thing. Start looking for Hewerdine’s name in those brackets; it’s a sign of class.

Track Listing:-

1 Graceland
2 Mahalia
3 Honey Be Good
4 Dreamlife
5 59 Yards
6 Joke
7 Last Cigarette
8 The Birds Are Leaving
9 Mapping the Human Heart
10 The Girl Who Fell in Love with th
11 Patience of Angels
12 Bell, Book & Candle
13 Muddy Water
14 Geography
15 Blaze of Glory
16 Amazing Robot
17 Snowglobe
18 Last Shot on the Roll