Lionheart
by Kate Bush

Hammer Horror... I have no idea what she is saying in the song but I am enchanted nonetheless. And that chorus... her voice is wonderful, spooky and otherworldly all at once. The strings are delightful and I think there might be a guitar too, like a really tiny one maybe. Anywhos... that song is the final one on the album. I suppose you could figure out I consider this album to be saving the best until last. But what do we have before then? An album as strong as The Kick Inside, that's what! Well one lacking a Wuthering Heights but never mind. Symphony in Blue is a wistful recollection of time to gone and pretty song too. Don't read too deep into those lyrics though if you want to keep it from being dark. But you know what? Behind all this light hearted nightingale and hit parade songs this is a dark album. In Search of Peter Pan and the man who couldn't grow up, Wow and it's tale of failed delusional actors and Fullhouse is only a glimpse into the nightmarish hallucinations of a schizophrenic. Do you expect these topics from Kate Bush!? Well... sort of... yes actually. You know, this album reminds me of one by another band who I like. Manic Street Preachers Gold Against The Soul to be precise. Both second albums and thought to have fallen prey to the commercial second album curse (I don't know). Both contain harrowing lyrics though and are anything but commercial. In fact, 8 out of 10 songs on this album are great.

Though, for some reason low ranked here, Lionheart is my third favorite Kate Bush record, and her most consistent early effort. Maybe some people are put off by the higher pitch of her voice on the early material, or by the more sweet, sentimental tone of the songs. As outlaw says, no home runs like “Wuthering Heights” on here, but “Hammer Horror,” “Fullhouse,” and “Don't Push Your Foot on the Heartbrake” tiptoe the line between ballad and rocker well and intriguingly. And “In the Warm Room” and “Symphony in Blue” are absolutely lovely. If you haven’t checked this one out lately, it’s definitely worth another listen.

The songwriting on this album is - how else could it be? - of a high level, even though I miss the absolute highlights that "The Kick Inside" did have. (Edited)

Lionheart, the lightning quick follow up to, the kick inside, doesn't quite have the brilliance of the first album. It's similar in delivery, but all in all, the songs aren't quite as good. Still some nice tracks; oh England, my lionheart, kashka from Bagdad, and, hammer horror, are all okay but there's nothing really memorable here, it all just passes me by. Probably Kate Bush's least essential album.

From HoldenM TOP 100 COMMENTER 06/24/2023 18:30 | #297774 | TOP COMMENT Vote up your preferred comments and the comments with the most votes will be flagged.

A significant step down from The Kick Inside, but not for lack of trying. Kate Bush pushes her sound and songwriting in a way that feels too self-conscious. Most of these tracks just sort of happen--though, highlights like "Wow" and "Hammer Horror" are as good as any Bush has written. There's nothing outright terrible, but that's not enough to keep this from being a sophomore slump. (Edited)