I have to disagree...I liked Vegetarians better than Happy Club (and neither are as good as SA&D in my opinion...haven't heard DITHON yet). I thought Vegetarians had more good tracks than bad, and overall VOL sounds better, to me.

I'm not much for 'happy' songs and yes, this album definitely had a lot of 'em (obviously)! HC is also home to my least favorite solo BG song (Room 19).

It does have a few tracks which I do like a lot. My favorites are Emergent Nationalist, Hippy Angel, and A Sex Thing.

His outfit is pretty unique, it's almost a juxtaposition to see it on Bob since it is so 'happy', and he's so not. I hate those spindly sideburn/moustache things but I do like the long outrageous hair

Ya want stuff to be said, johanna? here's my review:

Room 19 Does this not sound like the song "I'm a Believer" spinoff?? Same little riff as that song has, and I hate that song, therefore... also, has some influence from the Stones' "Brown Eyed Girl" (the 'sha la la la las'), another song which I don't like.

I think it's boring, unoriginal, and weak musically. The lyrics are kinda funny but not enough to save it from my loathing!

Attitude Chicken Very interesting musically, getting a little too 'country' for my taste (as many of Bob's solo songs do...). I like the lyrics a lot, and let's face it, where else are we gonna hear Bob gobble and cluck? I'm still trying to figure out whether I like or dislike this song.

The Soft Soil Too boring, goes on way too long. OK lyrically. Just not a very strong song, definitely doesn't stand out (to me).

A Hole to Fill This one's down there next to Room 19. Way too cheesy! I mean yes, it's a 'tight' sounding song, strong instrumentals, but aah...I don't like the boring tune at all, and the lyrics are kinda lame. Every time he says 'doesn't matter if your name is Jack or Jill' I think of that dumb nursery rhyme and I want the song to end.

Song of the Emergent Nationalist finally, something pretty that doesn't bore me (though I know many of you beg to differ). Very easy to get lost into this hypnotic tune, and I love the piano and guitar work here. It is a little repetitious, and long, but since I like the tune, that doesn't matter. The lyrics are just ok but this track is definitely a friggin block of gold compared to (most of) the rest of this coalmine of an album.

My Hippy Angel First of all, yes, the lyrics are pretty corny. Birdies, fishies...yikes. But the album strikes gold again here (and only once more...). It's a little more minor than most of the other songs (key-wise) which I like, and it just has a cool sound to it. Good beat, good instrumentals, Bob's vocals fit well. Good track.

The Happy Club Just another average song. Too darn 'happy' for my taste, lyrically and musically. Hence the title.

Like Down on Me This one is just annoying to me. It's almost 'whiney' which is rare for BG. boring, musically & vocally weak.

Too Late God This one's not that bad, kind of up there with Attitude Chicken. I don't hate it but it's not a favorite. The Irish jig kinda sound is what lowers my liking for it. But it's upbeat, easy to kinda tap your foot to, musically strong. I liked Bob speaking French The lyrics aren't too bad either.

Roads of Germany Very boring, sounds like an old folk song one would sing next to a campfire. The best part is when Bob's guitar string breaks, makes me laugh every time! I think it's hilarious that he left that in there.

Any songs that only involve Bob and his guitar rarely cut it for me. And, with this song, that whole dream sequence he goes through goes on much too long...wake up already!

The lyrics are good (except for the dream part) but please, lose the elementary tune, and you may have had a great track here.

A Sex Thing Found the last piece of gold! I love the beat, it fits so well with the whole theme of the song. It kind of goes all over the place inconsistently, but fine, at least it's not boring like so many others here. The lyrics are fine, a little weak instrumentally in some spots (and that Irish sound in between verses needs to go away). The whole "It's just a sex thing" verse comes from nowhere, a nice, strong surprise.

My absolute least favorite part of the track is that little vocal Bee Gees homage near the middle of the song ('aah aah aah aah'), sounds like something straight out of "Stayin' Alive" and it's so cheesy.

House at the Top of the World wow. I was waiting, so, so patiently, for this song to go somewhere like at least this type of track does in Vegetarians' "It's No Small Wonder." Nope, it's just Bob rambling on about his adventures, with this annoying "music" in the background, ghettoly blended in with random Bob chants. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather hear Bob talk in a track than, say, Garth Brooks (shudder), but I really wish this had something musically to make this a stronger listen.

edited to add...Yeah, Definitely ok so, apparently my CD includes this track which doesn't show up on track listings out there on the web for this album. Don't know much about which songs were released where! Anyway, this song is also down there with Room 19 and Hole to Fill. Again, boring tune, repetitive sound...nothing that stands out here. Strong instrumentals but, if I don't like the tune, any strength of vocals and/or instrumentals won't help. The lyrics...lacking...if the refrain resorts to "Well yeah yeah yeah" then, something's wrong...

so yeah. Other songs you all loved? hated?

-- Edited by MMbullybuddyGP at 15:34, 2005-04-25

VOL is better than THC but I still think it is a good album.I do not like attitude chicken but I think soft soil is brilliant.

grace wrote:

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I want this as My avatar pls can you e-mail me the instructons thru a pm its so annoying, I am on Bono online and i have cool avatars on there I even made one with writing on it! Thanks Grace xx

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oh no you don't gracie, that's mine!

Tango wrote:

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the happy club.what a title.its all i feel needs to be said

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Could you explain that further? I don't understand what you mean!

MMbullybuddyGP wrote:

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 edited to add...Yeah, Definitely ok so, apparently my CD includes this track which doesn't show up on track listings out there on the web for this album. Don't know much about which songs were released where! Anyway, this song is also down there with Room 19 and Hole to Fill. Again, boring tune, repetitive sound...nothing that stands out here. Strong instrumentals but, if I don't like the tune, any strength of vocals and/or instrumentals won't help. The lyrics...lacking...if the refrain resorts to "Well yeah yeah yeah" then, something's wrong... so yeah. Other songs you all loved? hated

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Was this a hidden track?  And is it on the new anthology?

MMbullybuddyGP wrote:

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Yes I thought Brown Eyed Girl was by the Stones for the longest time, but obviously I was completely wrong.  So replace 'the Stones'' with 'Morrison's' ...shhh

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ha...at least that's better than my friend who thought Van Morrisons band was called the Who..