If You Want to Defeat Your Enemy Sing His Song

by The Icicle Works

If You Want to Defeat Your Enemy Sing His Song cover art
  • Type: Album
  • Released: 2 March 1987
  • Label: Beggars Banquet
  • Country: United Kingdom
  • Length: 59:34
  • Community rating: 3.27/5 from 2 ratings

Artists on this release: Pete Coleman, Chris Sharrock, other, Geoff Muir, Chris Layhe, Tony Barwood, Alison Limerick, Ian McNabb

Album Notes & Community Reviews

Veering slightly away from their post-punk and neo-psychedelic roots, Ian McNabb guided the Liverpudlian band toward a more expansive, densely produced alternative rock sound. 'If You Want to Defeat Your Enemy Sing His Song' features soaring melodies weighed down by a pervasive sense of autumnal melancholy and introspective lyricism. Despite a grand, polished execution, it highlighted the growing internal tensions that eventually fractured the original trio.

Genres

Descriptors: melodic

Tracklist

  1. Hope Springs Eternal (4:06)
  2. Travelling Chest (4:40)
  3. Sweet Thursday (4:17)
  4. Up Here in the North of England (5:12)
  5. Who Do You Want for Your Love? (3:54)
  6. Everybody Loves to Play the Fool (4:08)
  7. When You Were Mine (4:37)
  8. Don't Let It Rain On My Parade (4:35)
  9. Evangeline (4:05)
  10. Truck Driver's Lament (5:18)
  11. Understanding Jane (3:21)
  12. I Never Saw My Hometown 'Til I Went Around the World (2:48)
  13. Walking With a Mountain (4:44)
  14. Into the Mystic (3:41)

Credits

  • Irongate Studios - artwork [montage]
  • Chris Sharrock - drums, percussion [inevitable], other [no voice]
  • Dave Green - keyboards [additional]
  • Mike Timoney - keyboards [additional]
  • Ritchie Close - keyboards [additional]
  • Chris Layhe - voice, bass, keyboards
  • Ian McNabb - voice, guitar, keyboards, harmonica, written-by
  • Alison Limerick - harmony vocals

More from The Icicle Works: full discography