"I Don't Know Why I Love You," from the House of Love's second self-titled album, was the kind of swirling, pounding, hooky noise that could have been produced in 1968, 1981, or 1990, which is when it actually appeared. A ... more »guitar-drenched gloss on the Psychedelic Furs' Talk Talk Talk, right down to the "Pretty in Pink" melodic quote near the end, it also assayed that record's delirious ambiguity: "Your face is a foreign food / I really don't know if I should." This generous (15 cuts) collection brings together that high mark with other classics by the Guy Chadwick-led band, including "Christine," "Shine On," "Beatles and the Stones," and "You Don't Understand." Even more valuable with some of the original albums out of print in America, this is a remembrance of a vital, sadly unsung act. --Rickey Wright« less
"I Don't Know Why I Love You," from the House of Love's second self-titled album, was the kind of swirling, pounding, hooky noise that could have been produced in 1968, 1981, or 1990, which is when it actually appeared. A guitar-drenched gloss on the Psychedelic Furs' Talk Talk Talk, right down to the "Pretty in Pink" melodic quote near the end, it also assayed that record's delirious ambiguity: "Your face is a foreign food / I really don't know if I should." This generous (15 cuts) collection brings together that high mark with other classics by the Guy Chadwick-led band, including "Christine," "Shine On," "Beatles and the Stones," and "You Don't Understand." Even more valuable with some of the original albums out of print in America, this is a remembrance of a vital, sadly unsung act. --Rickey Wright
CD Reviews
The most underrated band ever
hbomb | asia | 07/22/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Criminally underrated, The House of Love wrote achingly beautiful music that contained a mixture of shiny ringing guitars, pseudo-psychedelic melodies and bursts of noise. A revolving door of guitarists, an uncaring british public that was more interested in a club-conscious pop scene and poor record sales doomed the House of Love by late 1993. The loss was ours indeed. Although not as comprehensive as I would like, this compilation does include most of HOL's best songs. Omitting material from their last album, it focuses on their first three outings. All the big ones are here: shine on, I don't know why I love you, Christine, and the georgeous Safe. Do yourself and favour and find out where bands like Coldplay got their inspiration from."
BRING THIS "HOUSE" INTO YOUR HOME!!!
hbomb | 10/25/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"IN THE LATE 80'S/ EARLY 90'S, WHEN THERE WAS SO MUCH GREAT MUSIC COMING FROM ACROSS THE ATLANTIC , I REMEMBER HEARING A HYPNOTIC TUNE CALLED "I DON'T KNOW WHY I LOVE YOU," AND FROM THAT MOMENT ON, I INSTANTLY BECAME A "HOUSE OF LOVE" FAN. THIS "BEST OF..." ALBUM IS DEFINITELY WORTH PURCHASING! THE TURBULENT GUITARS ON SONGS SUCH AS "I DON'T KNOW WHY I LOVE YOU", TO THE SOMEWHAT MELANCHOLIC, AMBIENT SOUNDS OF "SHINE ON" AND "CHRISTINE", TO THE MELLOW "BEATLES AND THE STONES", AND "THE GIRL WITH THE LONLINESS EYES" MAKE THIS CD AN EXCELLENT CHOICE FOR ALL" HOUSE OF LOVE" FANS (AS WELL THOSE UNFAMILIAR WITH THEIR MUSIC). BELIEVE ME. YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED... HEARING THIS CD MAKES ONE WISH THAT THE BAND HAD NEVER BROKEN UP."
Gone but not forgotten
hbomb | 11/21/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This review is not about this album, but about the band. Without HOL, there would be no Radiohead, no Blur, no Coldplay, etc.... Simply one of the most underrated bands of all time. Moody, introspective, poetic lyrics. Simple yet stunning musicianship. Almost impossible to compile a "Best Of," from this band. I would highly, highly recommend the Peel Sessions (if you can find it) and Spy in the House Of Love. A late-80's collection of singles and b-sides. All defy accurate description."
Why weren't they huge?
hbomb | 12/26/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Should have filled the gap when U2 and the other 80's supergroups were in a creative slump at the end of the decade. That they didn't in terms of sales was inexplicable but their influence can still be felt today in recordings by Radiohead and Coldplay amongst others."
Absolutely splendid collection of impeccable pop hits
Robert Moore | Chicago, IL USA | 08/07/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I recently picked up the latest edition of the AMG Rock Guide and was looking through it, searching for music I didn't know but thought I should try. I scribbled down several promising looking titles and trotted off to a few of the many used CD stores in my neighborhood in Chicago. I had written down five titles by House of Love but turned up only THE BEST OF HOUSE OF LOVE. All I can say is: Good lord! I have a very large and very extensive music collection, but I'm perpetually learning that there is still some amazingly great music out there that I have never heard.
This CD absolutely blew me away. One of my favorite rock genres, if not my favorite, is any of a variety of forms of pop, whether you style it as Power Pop, Brit Pop, Alt Pop, Indie Pop, or Rock Pop. I personally am unable to distinguish between the various Pop permutations. This is Pop with a hint of shoe gazer aesthetic. I'll just leave the label at that. What this disc contains is a string of absolutely gorgeous rock songs. The second I heard on a first listen "I Don't Know Why I Love You" I knew these guys were stellar.
I don't know if the cuts on this album represent the best of the House of Love or not. I don't know their other albums. Looking at the exorbitant prices sellers are asking here on Amazon for their various albums it looks like it might be difficult to find their other albums. I know simply this: this is a great collection of songs. The disc is just relentless in showering you with great songs. "Beatles and the Stones" feels inspired by the music of the Smiths without being tainted by any of their angst (which I love when listening to the Smiths because they can pull angst off, but please spare me it in anyone else). The music of "The Girl with the Loneliest Eyes" is as good as the title. The first time I heard "Shine On" I was convinced it was one of the best singles I'd ever heard and on the tenth listening I wasn't sure I was wrong. "Never" is a rollicking guitar and tom tom driven gem. Reading reviews both here and in the AMG Guide I am anxious to hear "Love in a Car." If those who know it would have chosen it over other songs it must be fine indeed. My only complaint with this disc is that it flags a bit toward the end.
I suppose most serious music fans do as I do when I hit the rounds of music stores: pull out my "want list" and go in search of the thirty or forty hard to find albums that online sellers are asking too much for. Now on my list are 1988 and 1990 eponymous albums. They sound like they are worth searching for.
Meanwhile, some kindhearted (or heck, just plain greedy) music house should consider making available more of the music of these guys."
Track Listings (15) - Disc #1