Kicking the National Habit [Import]

Product Description
Debut album from London duo Rupert Lyddon and Lawrence 'La' Rudd aka Grand National. Taking influence from their previous band, a Police/Sting covers outfit, Grand National manage to mix eighties pop, noneties dance, indie, electro and ska into fresh, experimental pop songs. This edition features a bonus disc with 4 exclusive titles and 3 remixes. Recall. 2005.

Tracks:

Drink To Moving On
Talk Amongst Yourselves
Playing In The Distance
Boner
Peanut Dreams
Cherry Tree
Coming Round
Daylight Goes
North Sound Off
Litter Bin
Your Rules Obey
Strange Magnificent Noise
Sixty Seven Up
Rabbit Facts
Playing In The Distance (Elliot James Radio Edit)
Playing In The Distance (Glimmmix)
Talk Amongst Yourselves (Sasha Mix)

Amazon.com

The revival for all things early 80s shows no real sign of abating--but as long as there continues to be records made as fine as Kicking The National Habit, the debut LP from Grand National, it's easy to be convinced that a spot of nostalgia is no bad thing. Whereas bands such as the Rapture and Radio 4 resurrect the darker side of post-punk, this north London duo--comprising multi-instrumentalists Rupert Lyddon and Lawrence Rudd--hail back to the genre's more tuneful outfits: think less the abstruse death disco of PiL, and more the melancholy neo-pop melodics of XTC, the Police, and Talk Talk. Still, this is no out-and-out retro piece. Grand National's main skill lies in their ability to twin their fine songs to tight electronic productions, striking the perfect midpoint between live organics and cool digital sequencing: hear how "Playing in the Distance" hooks a weighty club beat to robust live bass and shrieking brass, or "Cherry Tree", which builds its sad rock elegy on a foundation of chic disco beats. --Louis Pattison

Album Description

This is the Grand National's debut album and it is released in the USA as a special limited edition with 4 bonus tracks and 3 remixes!

Customer Reviews:

Great album.......2007-06-21

This is a very underappreciated group. The meoldies are great and very catchy. Get the Sasha remix on the single Talk amongst Yourselves.

A little boring.......2006-10-24

I find the songs repetitive and too long to listen. The first 20 seconds of each songs really sum up what you can expect for the rest of them. I got tired of this CD quickly.

Faboulous.......2006-09-12

This cd has made me an instant fan of grand national. Pick this one up. It is faboulous. Great music and vocals. The funky disco like style on a few tracks takes some getting used to but once you get it, you get it. This is right up there with Air-Talkie Walkie. Happy music. There are four really good tracks: Drink to Moving On, Talk amongst yourselves, Cherry Tree, and Talk amongst yourselves (sasha mix).

sting-like vocals on acheingly powerful riffs.......2006-06-05

This album is transcendent. "Talk amongst yourselves" drew me in, but each track is an intricate and fascinating piece of work. My favorite is "Cherry Tree." The more I listen the more I appreciate the lyrics, melodies, unforced party vibe. This is the kind of CD that you can listen to for a long time and think of as the soundtrack to your life.

Fabulous Hipsters Unite! .......2006-05-27

Look no further for your next "too cool to ever be played on the radio" find. This album simply begs to be added to your probably already envy-inducing music collection, if you:

1. Were raised during the 1980's and think that popular music from 1990 onward has, for the most part, disappointed,
2. Wonder whatever happened to 80's new wave, pop, or punk, or
3. Are an electronica fan(atic) looking for something off the beaten trance/house/triphop path that will still appeal to your tragically hip and sophisticated sensibilities.

All of these three apply to me, and I hope that this album is a sign of things to come on the music scene. I imagine that this album will be in incredibly heavy rotation for some time to come. My summer soundtrack is certainly looking up these days! Thank you Grand National! May we hear much, much more from these guys in the future.

Average customer rating:

Addictively Kicking
Have Some Fun
Buy this album for everyone you know.
Should be 4.5 stars, more on that in a tic...
Just for Kicks

Kicking the National Habit
Grand National
Manufacturer: Sunday Best
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00024755M
Release Date: 2004-08-02

Tracks:

Drink to Moving On
Talk Amongst Yourselves
Playing in the Distance
Boner
Peanut Dreams
Cherry Tree
Coming Round
Daylight Goes
North Sound Off
Litter Bin

Album Description

This is the debut album from London duo Rupert Lyddon and Lawrence 'La' Rudd aka Grand National. Taking influence from their previous band, a Police/Sting covers outfit, Grand National manage to mix eighties pop, noneties dance, indie, electro and ska into fresh, experimental pop songs. Sunday Best. 2004.

Customer Reviews:

Addictively Kicking.......2006-05-03

I just heard this album at a friends house. It burrowed into my brain-squirrel like a fresh box of chewties. I couldn't tear my fists away from it. I took the highway home with the windows down going way too fast. I didn't notice the cops chasing me until I sat down to write this. I'll leave it playing on my stereo...

Have Some Fun.......2005-07-20

Seeing these guys in LA recently, made me realize what great "fun" music this is. C'mon lighten up and listen to the national. From a brit abroad who likes oasis, the verve, stone roses you name it, this is worth a damn good listen before, during or after a good night out. I'll drink to moving on!!!

Buy this album for everyone you know. .......2005-06-24

Eventually, some executive is going to pick up on how good the sound is from this band, and it will be slapped into every commercial and party mix all across the US. The sound is an agreeable combo platter of the police and techno, with a unique layered song structure that is catchy as hell. But unlike most catchy music that you find hating after 10 listens, Kicking the National Habit won't die. I have listened to the album at least 50 times, and it still puts me in a great mood. It's the kind of music you want on at a party. Everyone likes it, and nobody knows what it is. The track Cherry Tree was used on an episode of HBO's Entourage, not surprisingly, in a party scene.

I don't understand why this isn't huge in the US yet. My guess is it will be if is ever released here, or if reviewers hear about it by word of mouth.

Should be 4.5 stars, more on that in a tic..........2004-09-28

Alright, what we have here are some genre bending, diverse and absolutely wonderful musicians. It's almost impossible to essentialize just what kind of music this duo plays; some say it's the Police if they made it out of the 80s, while others compare it to about every English rock band of the last 20 years. I'm not even going to try to compare them to anything, the only thing of substance that I can bring to the table is that on a track to track basis Grand National never has trouble delivering. There is song for every mood, whether you want a crazy ska like horn section (Boner) or some bass laden mellowness (Peanut Dreams).
My only complaint is that in total the 10 tracks add up to about 38 minutes or so, which isn't enough, I would like to see some more length, and that's the only reason I can see not to give it 5 stars, because these blokes are top notch and its worthy of anyone's hard earned buck.

Just for Kicks.......2004-08-29

I have to admit it, this year I have been thoroughly spoilt rotten with all the great releases that I have had the privilege to review. Just when I thought things would dry up ANOTHER new band has turned up. This time Grand National.

Grand National consist of two very talented multli-instrumentalisits: Rupert Lyddon and Lawrence Rudd and together they create a very exhilarating and refreshing type of music.
`Kicking the National Habit' has all the elements of great British bands. In these brief 38 minutes one can hear New Order, Joy Division, (Coming Round, Daylight Goes) Blur, Happy Mondays (Boner, North Sound Off) and Early Primal scream. Also there is a ska-ish track (Peanut Dreams). `Kicking's...' musical diversity can make someone react to music in different ways. Some bits make you want to dance and some just to chill out to and the great thing is that you don't feel exhausted. I would say that when the record finishes you want to press play again. An album that deserves to be hailed as a classic.

Average customer rating:

Kicking the National Habit

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000B9RP2Q
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Album Description

Debut album from London duo Rupert Lyddon and Lawrence 'La' Rudd aka Grand National. Taking influence from their previous band, a Police/Sting covers outfit, Grand National manage to mix eighties pop, noneties dance, indie, electro and ska into fresh, experimental pop songs. This edition features a bonus disc with 4 exclusive titles and 3 remixes. Recall. 2005.

Average customer rating:

Kicking the National Habit

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000B9RP1W
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Album Description

Limited Digipak edition of the debut album from London duo Rupert Lyddon and Lawrence 'La' Rudd aka Grand National. Taking influence from their previous band, a Police/Sting covers outfit, Grand National manage to mix eighties pop, noneties dance, indie, electro and ska into fresh, experimental pop songs. This edition features 4 bonus track (tba) and 3 remixes. Recall. 2005.

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