FEATURE:
Second Spin
The Corrs – Talk on Corners
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FOLLOWING their excellent…
1996 debut album, Forgiven, Not Forgotten, The Corrs’ followed it up with 1997’s Talk on Corners. This is an album that has divided critics, and it has been unfairly seen as pretty lightweight or lacking in any substance. I think that it is an excellent album boosted and defined by the vocal harmonies and personalities of the Corr sisters (Andrea, Caroline and Sharon). The Irish band released the album on 17th October, 1997, where it reached number one in several nations, including the U.K. and Ireland. Preceded by the lead single, Only When I Sleep, there was a bit of a split when it came to commercial success. Some nations took it to heart, whereas it was a bit slow in others. I have written about this album before, but I wanted to come back because it is terrific and has some of the group’s best material on it. In 1997, there was this incredibly eclectic scene that had OK Computer by Radiohead alongside Urban Hymns by The Verve. Maybe not in the same league as them, there is something original and refreshing about Talk on Corners. Apart from The Cranberries, there were not too many female-led Irish bands in the decade. Led by Andrea Corr, she had this command and beauty in her vocals that lifted the songs above mere Pop songs. Instruments like the violin, whistle and bodhrán are not used too heavily, so there is this nice blend of more commercial Pop with Irish sounds.
I think that What Can I Do and So Young are terrific tracks that I loved when I was at high school. Their cover of Fleetwood Mac’s Dreams was included on a re-release version, and whilst quite faithful to the original, it is a strong version. I like non-single songs like When He’s Not Around and Hopelessly Addicted. It is a pity there are not more features and interviews online that discuss the album. Talk on Corners definitely make a big impact back in 1997. Twenty-five years after its release, and I think the album still stands up. I will bring in a review from AllMusic and then wrap things up:
“Songs on the Corrs' Talk on Corners fly inoffensively past the window like scenery on a drive through the countryside, with two pretty singers at the wheel. This essentially Irish sister act (with Corr group Andrea, Caroline, and Sharon on vocals, drums, and violin, respectively, and brother Jim on guitar and keyboards) legitimately brings to mind comparisons with another family-based girl group, Wilson Phillips, particularly since the impulses and instincts are truly pop and not so much alt-traditional Celtic (as they are often cited to be). This timely record documents a high-riding point for the Corrs by re-releasing newly mixed versions of "What Can I Do?" and "So Young," both highly compressed digital productions featuring their trademark glass voices and barely discernible acoustic musical instruments. Also on the record: "Queen of Hollywood," "Runaway," "No Good for Me," and their huge international hit ballad "I Never Loved You Anyway." The best and most spirited Celtic cut is "Little Wing," deliciously resting on the contributions of the dropping-by Chieftains. Each and every cut sounds wired for radio play; unlike the less Americanized, riskier Cranberries, the Corrs should enjoy a career as nicely sustained as some of the girls' best musical notes”.
Because Talk on Corners was released near the end of the year that saw experiment music and more serious Pop and Electronic sit alongside great Indie and Rock, perhaps it was seen as a bit weak compared to them. I would encourage people to check out The Corrs’ Talk on Corners, as it is very accessible put carries enough weight, diversity and strength to keep you coming back. It actually makes got a great single listen, rather than skipping and choosing the singles. I love the album title and its cover. Its production is pretty strong, but I am not sure why the band recorded across so many studios. Maybe it was mixed at various studios, but it is an album that could have been quite disconnected and scattershot. As it is, there is a consistency and a solidity to the album that means it has not aged too badly. Perhaps not something you will invest in, go and stream Talk on Corners and bond with a great and underrated album from the 1990s. I am not sure whether the sibling band (also consisting of Jim Corr) will release another album. Their most-recent, Jupiter Calling, came out in 2017 to mixed reviews. I think the group were at their peak in the 1990s. Albums like Talk on Corners do deserve a revisit and re-inspection.
I want to end with one more feature. Essentially Pop had their say on The Corrs’ 1997 album and paid tribute to its strengths. I feel people may have judged it too quickly in 1997, so you do need to come back to it:
“Yes it’s another Irish album because, let’s face it, if there’s one good thing the Irish do (yes we know there’s many many things they’re good at), it’s making amazing music.
The Corrs released their second album, “Talk on Corners” in Ireland in late 1997, following it up with a US release in April 1998. The album title comes from a line in the song, “Queen of Hollywood”, and kinda catches you by surprise when you hear it – “oh there’s the album title”…well it did us anyway.
Everyone knows something from this album, even if they don’t think they do. We picked it up recently and were worried that as it didn’t include, “Runaway” we’d not know anything…but we did. In fact, “Only When I Sleep” has been ear worming pretty much constantly since we first played it, and there you go – bet it’s ear worming with you now just from us mentioning it.
Apart from the afore-mentioned “Only When I Sleep”, our highlights on this album include “I Never Loved You Anyway”, another ear worm you’ll know (word of advice: don’t get caught singing this in front of your significant other), the instrumental, “Paddy McCarthy”, and our personal favourite, the very lovely cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams”. It’s a surreal Celtic take on the classic song – if any song was ever crying out for the Celtic treatment of tin whistle, fiddle and bodhrán it’s this one.
The Corrs followed up this album with a further three, but have been on hiatus for several years to focus on raising their individual families. Andrea and Sharon have however released solo albums, with moderate success.
Will the Corrs reunite and produce more albums? It remains to be seen, but in the meantime, they’ve left a pretty sizeable legacy behind them…everybody sing now…”But it’s only when I sleep…I see you in my dreams…”.
A great album with amazing singles and some interesting and must-hear deeper cuts, The Corrs’ Talk on Corners is an album that I remember fondly from 1997. It was one I bought and enjoyed straight away. I can come back to it now and find much to love and appreciate. If you have not heard the album at all or for a while, then take a few moments out to experience the County Louth group’s…
INCREDIBLE second studio album.