Eden eng

Vinyl warning: The beginning of side A has a defect in the pressing. There is a skip or jump into the first song- the music starts with the horn already playing, not at the beginning of the song. Then, there are a series of pops in decreasing level. I have heard this on two copies: 166/1200 and 168/1200. Also, both records were warped, one slightly more than the other. This is disappointing because the rest of the release is superb: the jacket, the liner, the heavyweight clear vinyl, etc. Even the remainder of the record on both sides is noise-free and clean. Both of my copies were cleaned on a VPI machine and played back on a VPI turntable. Even with this defect, I give this release 4/5 stars because every other aspect is top-notch (especially the music) and I have nothing but good experiences with Demon Records. You have to decide if this vinyl release is worth $57 to you.

Greetings! I remember hearing this for the first time back in 1985, and I was blown away! The group was definitely different from what I was hearing at the time. It was a refreshing, jazz-influenced sound that had poetry and verve. I had the tape of this album, and I am glad I was able to replace it (it wore out) with a fine import CD. The songs appear simple and unassuming, but they are wonderful and filled with beautiful poetry and very adept musicianship. This is truly music that will live on forever. Tracy's vocals are extremely beautiful and poignant. IMHO, she has a more pleasing voice and gets more out of a note than most any singer I have heard, and definitely more than ANY female vocalist I have been blessed or cursed to hear! Tracy and Ben have a perfect symbiosis, and this would continue on, until, that is, the arrival of the dreaded techno-pop-mix stuff, which, I really do not care for (it must have paid good money though!). On Eden, even though I love the entire album, my favorite tracks are: EACH AND EVERY ONE, EVEN SO (with a nice Spanish tempo), and I MUST CONFESS. Brilliant! All in all, this is perhaps EBTG's best album (in its entirety). The group continued to put out some fine recordings after this, but, when they started doing the techno stuff, they lost me. Tracy has been blessed with an angelic voice. Ben is a fine musician and a very good writer. Now, if we could just get them back to doing what they did on this album, we'd have a heaven on earth! Thanks for taking the time to read my review!Rock On, Kids,Dr. Of Style

Are you kidding me it's Music

Love it

This was a Xmas gift for a friend who's crazy about Everything for the Girl. It is one of my favorite albums of theirs, as well.

Very easy to tune out. It's an OK play, but they've done a lot better. Does make good background music in the office, tho.

In 1996, Everything But The Girl made a brilliant transformation from tepid adult contemporary music to a delightful hybrid of pop and electronica. "Walking Wounded" secured a place in my heart with its breathtaking fusion of light jungle, house, and the plaintive lyrics of Tracy Thorn. 1999 brought "Temperamental," which continued the excursion into deeper (housier) waters. With nothing new from them in two years (albeit a pair of excellent mix albums--"Lazy Dog" is certainly worth mentioning), I decided to sample some of their pre-electronica work. Were my expectations met? With "Eden," they were surpassed."Eden" is an easy-listening gem of album containing twelve songs dealing with various aspects of relationships. A light sun-kissed bossnova ties the whole thing together--and what a package! Tracy Thorn has never sounded so vulnerable. From the opening horns of "Each and Everyone" (sampled by Roni Size on "Destination") to the gorgeous "Even So" to Ben Watt's excellent vocal on "Soft Touch," there's really not a weak spot on the album. My only beef was the initial shock to the absence of vocal production or awareness; things didn't sound as full like they do on "Walking Wounded.""Eden" is a beautiful album, and if you've thought about checking out early EBTG, you won't be disappointed. Just don't expect a album of deep house music. :)

"...I used to think that you were all that kept me sane when all else failed/Now I think you were probably what drove me off the rails" Wow. EBTG are, as every other reviewer has pointed out, best known as techno/chillout artists...a shame. Although they make a decent fist of that style, they have done nothing to compare with their first album, Eden. The word bittersweet was made for Tracey Thorn here: punishing lyrics and a piercing vulnerability and delicacy of tone...add to this the bossa nova backbeats, gentle and subtle arrangements and a restrained exuberance from the musicians and you do, indeed, get Eden.Best tracks? Well, they're all great, but I can't recommend "Even So", "Frost and Fire" and "The Spice of Life" enough. Brilliant.