THE BEAUTIFUL SOUTH / Blue is the Colour (1997)

The soulful Pop music, the beauty of Jacqueline Abbott's voice and the soft lull of Paul Heaton's may make you think that you're hearing songs about sunny days on the beach; delve deeper and you'll find lyrics filled with bitter sarcasm, cynicism, and unabashed pessimism, with subject matter you can only appreciate fully if you've experienced it yourself. It's typical Beautiful South, but this time at max level. It's some of the most uplifting songs about misery you're likely to find.

Songs of Note: Don't Marry Her; Mirror

4 blonde and beautiful is dull and dutiful out of 5