More Songs About Love and Hate is the third studio album by alternative rock band the Godfathers, released in May 1989 by Epic Records. It reached number 49 on the UK Albums Chart. The UK album cover shows Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It was the last Godfathers album to feature guitarist Kris Dollimore, who was replaced by Chris Burrows for 1991's Unreal World.
Critical reception In a contemporary review in The Washington Post, Mark Jenkins argued that the album lacks great songs, calling it "11 songs in search of a hit." He, however, felt that it is more consistent than its predecessor Birth, School, Work, Death, writing, "None of the material soars, but only "Another You" sounds disposable." Jenkins highlighted "Walking Talking Johnny Cash Blues," a "change-of-pace" track with a "country flavor," as one of the album's best tracks. He concluded that More Songs About Love and Hate shows the band "sliding back into the amiable but underwhelming rut of such pub rock also-rans as Ducks Deluxe. The songs keep reaching for hooks - the submerged "yeah yeah yeahs" of "Pretty Girl," the pounding finale to "This Is Your Life," the bells that end the album-closing "Another You" - to distinguish generic melodies."
In a retrospective review, AllMusic's Mark Deming also felt that the album lacked an "instant classic single" like the title track from their previous album, but "otherwise it came close to matching that album's muscle and fury and confirmed the band had plenty of offer." Deming noted that the album had "just a dash more polish" than the band's previous work, and "their tough, meat-and-potatoes sound had picked up a bit more heft and precision along the way." He concluded that "while the songs on More Songs About Love and Hate aren't always as memorable as [Birth, School, Work, Death], there aren't any outright duds either," calling the album a "fine work".
Track listing
Note Tracks 14–16 from Out on the Floor EP, 1990. Track 14 remixed by Steve Brown, tracks 15 and 16 remixed by Keith LeBlanc.
Personnel Adapted from the album liner notes.
The Godfathers Peter Coyne – lead vocals Chris Coyne – bass, backing vocals Kris Dollimore – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals Mike Gibson – guitar, backing vocals George Mazur – drums, percussion, backing vocals Additional musicians Harold Burgon – additional keyboards Technical Vic Maile – producer Harold Burgon – engineer Mike Bisgrove – sound engineer Andy Wallace – mixing Grant Louden – sleeve Jean Luke Epstein – sleeve Bleddyn Gutz – cover illustration Paul Cox – photography
Charts Chart performance for More Songs About Love & Hate Chart (1989) Peak Position UK Albums Chart 49 Swiss Albums 29
References