Union Street

Like many Erasure fans, I approached 'Union Street' with a sense of uneasiness: 'Acoustic arrangements of b-sides and album tracks'....hmmmm. After buying it and quickly scanning the playlist, I was pleasantly surprised by the choice of tunes that included some of my very favorite Erasure songs. I wondered how Andy and Vince were going to improve on near perfection, but I was missing the point. After the first listen, I realized that song-improvement or enhancement was not the goal of this work. I feel that Erasure were trying to draw out the individual magnificence that resides in each of these lesser known, non-single songs by breathing a totally new kind of life into them. The absolute highlight and greatest pay-off comes with 'Stay With Me'. Already a great song, the acoustic treatment makes this a stunningly beautiful and moving track - I love the percussion and woodwind arrangements that give a certain mystical, eastern flavor to it.We all know about Andy's remarkably consistent vocal range (for evidence, just listen to how he effortlessly morphs from 'Blues Away' to 'How Many Times?'), but perhaps the biggest surprise is how wonderfully compatible his voice is with very different instruments. That's the joy of this album: its unexpectedly good nature. 'Blues Away' is another highlight track, the falsetto vocal sounds as good as ever, and while the music may not quite create the same heart-wrenching mood as the original, it still has a great deal to offer, giving an almost contemporary feel to this song. 'Home' and 'Love Affair' are also musically creative, showing that many of these songs adapt brilliantly to different approaches.While 'Union Street' mostly shines, as with any risky undertaking, it does miss the mark here and there. 'Piano Song' really doesn't cut it without the haunting piano melody of the original, and 'Rock Me Gently' just sounds so completely edited and hurried after the marvelously epic nature of the first-time-around release. And here is the paradox with 'Union Street': it helps greatly to be already familiar with these songs in order to truly appreciate the acoustic reworking, but in being familiar with them, it makes you prejudiced as to any attempt to rework them.More than simply an interesting diversion, 'Union Street' is rewarding and worthy in its own right.

I love that Erasure went the "country" road and re-recorded some lesser-known songs along to guitars, mandolins, and other traditional instruments. This bridges my love of synth pop and country beautifully. Andy Bell sounds melancholy and flawless, and the arrangements are perfectly done.However, I do wish they'd chosen a bolder variety of songs. Many of the tracks listed here already sounded fairly acoustic even in their original renditions, especially "Piano Song" (on a piano!), "Boy," "Alien," "Love Affair," and so on. So although the sound is nicely warmed, thanks to different instruments, they sound essentially the same. The exception is "Rock Me Gently," which, pared down, is gorgeous. The original version is also high and sad, but incredibly ornate. It's nice to hear it stripped. I wish they had stripped down more of their dancier beats to this effect.Still, though, a real charmer.

Being a big fan of the club-style Erasure, I expected an MTV like unplugged album,picking from some of their greatest hits, like "OH L'Amour" or "Blue Savannah".I was surprised to find that this was not the case at all.The album picks from many lesser known, but as it turns out, not lesserquality songs, and in this new acoustic embodiment of Erasure deliversa wonderful pop gem. Vince Clarke's arrangements are fresh and Andy Bell's vocals,while still as strong as ever, have an emotional sensibility not found on any of theirprevious works.It will grow on you quickly if you give it a chance.

This album is great..and all the whining about how they didn't do their biggest hits yada yada yada. Get over it, it is their choice to not record the songs that already have a bunch of different versions out there and do songs not quiet as over done. I'm all for that. This album and the Boy single are great!Hehehe and even more amusing we just got back from seeing them perform the acoustic stuff live and it totally rocked! They have drums, a full on Bass, steel guitar, penny whistle autoharp etc..it was the most amazing concert! All the songs they did, including some of the expected big hits missing from this cd were so amazing to hear in this format. Using Latin rythms, country, rock-a-billy and just straight acoustic they really knew what rythm to pick for each track everything worked! If you go to Erasure's website you can find a link to order a recording on CD of the Live concert.

you may read some review's about just typical Erasure putting out another album of their same songs, but who doesn't like listening to Erasure in a different style. this is a fun album. I wish it had a few more songs on it. thanks Erasure for this album.

Great CD

OK nothing that really stands out

excellent

This album requires the listener to be open minded. If you only like synth music then this definitely isn't for you. The sound of the album is more stripped back with acoustic guitars replacing synths and providing Andy's vocals with more exposure. There is also more of a country and western feel to this album, which I must admit isn't a favourite genre of music of mine but it works with this album. All of the tracks are great but Rock Me Gently is fantastic, and it would have been good to release this version as a single.

Plays ok - however mine was a very decent forgery ( the extra added track was not even by Erasure ! )

Love Erasure, my favourite band of all time, have followed them all over the world and they never disappoint. Enjoyed this album, speedy despatch/delivery, very happy.

Not their best album but if you are into Erasure then its only fair to listen to the not quite so good along with the sublime.

excellent vinyl