Their 1989 debut was hailed for reinserting cynicism, doubt, and biting sarcasm into pop music. But when
Choke arrived a year later,
Paul Heaton and
the Beautiful South encountered a good amount of critical blowback. "
Too clever!" they cried. "
Too cynical!" It was true -- kind of. As before, tales of codependence and things seen that should never have been unfolded over the course of irresistible little pop songs. But "I Hate You (But You're Interesting)" twisted the knife even deeper. While the main thrust of the song suggested sitting on a beach lost in painful memory, sprightly piano kept drowning out the seagulls like a memory too strong to shake. Maybe this sort of thing hit too close to home for some; for others, it was just an extension of
the Smiths' self-love/hate. So even if
Choke wasn't as successful as its predecessor, that it would give people fits at all probably pleased
Heaton to no end. A lounge-y cover of "What You See Is What You Get" smirked with its own effeteness, "Tonight I Fancy Myself" gave the band's three vocalists a peppy arrangement over which to harmonize and numerous songs showcased the bracing vocals of Briana Corrigan playing off of
Heaton's ironic croon. All of
Choke's light, jazz-tinged arrangements had a great time concealing
the Beautiful South's ghastly tales in their own way. Perhaps the only reason they were accused of being too clever was because their skewering of society was too accurate. ~ Johnny Loftus, Rovi
