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an uneven...but enjoyable album Sep 23, 2005
Cope seems to have sort of settled into a domesticated groove on this disc. his songs seem punchier and more to the point than Peggy Suicide or Jehovakill. he seems very "at home" within tunes like "Try Try Try" and "Senile Get." and alot of this album has a very home recorded kind of feeling. you can imagine Julian calling up his band for a late night rendevouz and recording whatever melodies they've got. unfortunately, there are some very flat moments on here "Queen/Mother" and "Lonley Guy" being a few of those moments; but overall, the songs are joyous and fresh and find Cope sounding alot more inspired than he was on the Autogeddon album. i also really like the cover art and the pics of Julian with his kids...and as usual, his notes to the songs are fabulous and entertaining glimpses behind the album's tracks. 20 Mothers is a cool record.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Outstanding Cope...... Jun 25, 2005
Don't be fooled by the cheeseball cover this is one very good piece of music. Excellent use of effects throughout.... This should have been a huge seller but instead is a regular find in the bargain bin... and what a bargain it is.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 HE'S MAD, I TELL YOU.....3.5 STARS May 12, 2001
Julian Cope is indicative of my schitzophrenic muiscal tastes. I've been somewhat of a fan of his for over 20 years now. I say somewhat because his output though always interesting, has been very uneven over the years . On "20 Mothers" you get a mixed bag. Some of it is well produced while some suffers from almost no production at all. In my opinion his best work can be found on "Saint Julian"(1987) and "Peggy Suicide"(1991) as well as his work with The Teardrop Explodes from 1979-81. It's ironic that much of the material I just mentioned is not available anymore, except for some found on his "Floored Genius" compilation. All in all, there are some fine moments here. "Wheelbarrow Man" and "Senile Get" are fine examples of his off the wall humor that often earns him comparisons to Syd Barrett. "Try,Try,Try" shows his ability as a strightforward pop tunesmith who loves 60's style vocal harmonies. The harmonies toward the end of that particular tune remind me of The Turtles. Oh, I almost forgot the liner notes. They're very funny at times.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Julian Who? Mar 05, 2001
I was standing in front of the "C" bin of the used cd store, looking for anything that might interest me in the slightest. Then I saw a name that I recognized from an interview that I had recently read in a music mag. Cope. It rang a bell. Then I remembered reading about how insane he is, and me being a big Syd Barrett fan, the crazier, the better. I bought it and left. It took up until the 5th song for me to realize that I had been missing out on some great music for years. The arrangements in each song make you overlook the fact that music is actually very simple. Each song is a masterpiece in itself, and the hooks keep ringing in your head long after you've stopped listening. I was singing the song "Try Try Try" to myself one day, with that great chorus ("I can't get over you, but I try try try try..."),and it was literally IMPOSSIBLE to get it out of my head. Another favorite is "Highway To The Sun"...that simple bass line with those delicate chords over it...it's entrancing. "20 Mothers" taught me as a musician to just let whatever is in you come out...the best music is the most honest, and Julian Cope is one of the most honest I've ever heard. I can't believe that when I'm telling people about my favorite all-time songwriters, I always hear "Julian Who?"
Best pop album of the last 10-20 years. Dec 25, 2000
Firstly this is Julian Cope's best ever straight album. If you like his stuff then you cannot be without this Secondly, it is incredibly varied, from tuneful ditties, to raucous rock. Great synthetics playing from Thighpaulsandra, beautiful lead guitar. Its simply an infectious, but sophisticated feelgood album. There are few seventy minute albums which are not largely filler, this is one which it would be hard to decide what to remove, as all of it, in its way, is so good/entertaining. It is far more consistant than any the other albums, of his, that I have heard. Sure its Cope, and its crazy and over the top, and occasionally you might think Huh? (as when he writes a song about how glad he is that his wife's grandmother is finally dead), but the world could probably do with more people touched by the Goddess or the fay, or whatever. I guess the only other thing I can say, is that I picked up a second copy the other day (on special) just to keep for when it finally goes out of print.
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