Word Gets Around

Rating

Album: Word Gets Around
#	Song Title		Time
1)	A Thousand Trees	More Info...	3:03
2)	Looks Like Chaplin	More Info...	2:32
3)	More Life In A Tramps Vest	More Info...	2:20
4)	Local Boy In The Photograph	More Info...	3:22
5)	Traffic Album Version	More Info...	4:54
6)	Not Up To You	More Info...	4:36
7)	Check My Eyelids For Holes	More Info...	2:42
8)	Same Size Feet	More Info...	4:00
9)	Last Of The Big Time Drinkers	More Info...	2:45
10)	Goldfish Bowl	More Info...	3:03
11)	Too Many Sandwiches	More Info...	5:01
12)	Billy Davey's Daughter	More Info...	3:45
2)	Looks Like Chaplin	More Info...	0:02
3)	More Life in a Tramps Vest	More Info...	0:02
4)	Local Boy in the Photograph	More Info...	0:03
5)	Traffic	More Info...	0:05
6)	Not Up to You	More Info...	0:04
7)	Check My Eyelids for Holes	More Info...	0:02
8)	Same Size Feet	More Info...	0:04
9)	Last of the Big Time Drinkers	More Info...	0:02
10)	Goldfish Bowl	More Info...	0:03
11)	Too Many Sandwiches	More Info...	0:05
12)	Billy Davey's Daughter	More Info...	0:03

Album: Word Gets Around
#	Song Title		Time
1)	A Thousand Trees	More Info...	3:03
2)	Looks Like Chaplin	More Info...	2:32
3)	More Life In A Tramps Vest	More Info...	2:20
4)	Local Boy In The Photograph	More Info...	3:22
5)	Traffic Album Version	More Info...	4:54
6)	Not Up To You	More Info...	4:36
7)	Check My Eyelids For Holes	More Info...	2:42
8)	Same Size Feet	More Info...	4:00
9)	Last Of The Big Time Drinkers	More Info...	2:45
10)	Goldfish Bowl	More Info...	3:03
11)	Too Many Sandwiches	More Info...	5:01
12)	Billy Davey's Daughter	More Info...	3:45
2)	Looks Like Chaplin	More Info...	0:02
3)	More Life in a Tramps Vest	More Info...	0:02
4)	Local Boy in the Photograph	More Info...	0:03
5)	Traffic	More Info...	0:05
6)	Not Up to You	More Info...	0:04
7)	Check My Eyelids for Holes	More Info...	0:02
8)	Same Size Feet	More Info...	0:04
9)	Last of the Big Time Drinkers	More Info...	0:02
10)	Goldfish Bowl	More Info...	0:03
11)	Too Many Sandwiches	More Info...	0:05
12)	Billy Davey's Daughter	More Info...	0:03

Performer Notes

Stereophonics: Kelly Jones, Richard Jones, Stuart Cable.
Additional personnel: Nadia Lannman (cello); Richard Payne (accordion); Marshall Bird (keyboards).
The Welsh pop trio Stereophonics' 1998 debut is a fine, hook-filled Britpop platter. While the clear highlight is the UK hit "Local Boy in the Photograph," an insidiously catchy though lyrically elliptical tune, WORD GETS AROUND contains several tracks nearly as impressive, such as "Not Up to You," with an absurdly over-prominent electronic snare that eventually gets overtaken by Kelly Jones' big, crunchy, Cheap Trick-like guitar. "Check My Eyelids for Holes" and "Same Size Feet," which has one of the catchiest choruses on the album, are also excellent, but perhaps the most affecting track is "Too Many Sandwiches," a sharp but sweet examination of a small-town wedding reception. WORD GETS AROUND is an exceptional debut.

Professional Reviews

Q (10/01, p.50) - Ranked #37 in Q's "Best 50 Albums of Q's Lifetime"

Q (1/98, p.114) - Included in Q Magazine's "50 Best Albums of 1997."

Melody Maker (12/20-27/97, pp.66-67) - Ranked #25 on Melody Maker's list of 1997's "Albums Of The Year."

Melody Maker (9/6/97, p.42) - "...reliably guitar-laden tunes bomb along happily, their churny meaty sound is offset by Kelly Jones' jittery words....Grim, yes. but bearing it well."

NME (Magazine) (8/23/97, p.55) - "...much in the same way The Smiths signposted Manchester, the 'Phonics catalogue a series of suicides, sexual assaults and glorious dreams collapsing beneath the weight of boozing sessions and emotionally bruising occasions..."