小简介 　　the housemartins，这支乐队由paul heaton、hugh whitaker、stan cullimore，以及ted key构成（后期ted离队，bass的空缺由norman cook替代）。 the housemartins基本都是清新欢快的的路线，在今时今日来衡量，到更像是校园吉他流行乐。 　　 　　流畅的吉他、舞动的旋律、再配上paul高亢亮丽的嗓音，这些都是the housemartins给予人们的第一印象。 但如果我们探究起the housemartins的歌词，会发觉每首歌词的内容都是非常严肃的，他们正是在这种平易近人的外表下用一种更加入耳的方式来表达着一支人文乐队的世界观。 　　 　　说起这支乐队从85年成军以来到88年拆伙不过3年的光景，却打造出了好多top10的歌曲，不仅在英伦摇滚史上留下了名字，而且在乐队解散后，乐队的灵魂人物paul和hugh又组建了一支新的band－the beautiful south，想必大家也不会太陌生，而重建the beautiful south后，他们拉来了另一个女vocal，并在歌曲中大胆尝试了大量的jazz风，偶显the housemartins时期的清新风。 　　 　　by Stephen Thomas Erlewine 　　One of Britains more popular indie guitar pop groups of the late 80s, the Housemartins post-Smiths guitar jangle and subtle updating of catchy, melodic British beat groups earned the Hull-based quartet a substantial critical and popular following within the U.K. Though the group never gained much more than a cult following in America, their balance of simple, memorable melodies and cutting sarcasm helped them rise into the British Top Ten, as well as earn consistently strong reviews. The Housemartins broke up in 1988, just before they fully broke into the mainstream. The groups lead songwriter, Paul Heaton, formed the Beautiful South the following year, and his new band capitalized on the success of the Housemartins to become one of the more popular U.K. groups of the early 90s. 　　 　　Paul Heaton (vocals, guitar) formed the Housemartins with Ted Key (guitar), Stan Cullimore (bass), and Hugh Whitaker (drums) in 1984. From the outset, the group cultivated a distinctly English image, blending a cynical sense of humor with leftist political leanings and a low-key, commonplace appearance. In 1985, they signed with Go! Discs and by the end of the year, Key was replaced by Norman Cook. Happy Hour, the Housemartins third single, became the groups first hit in the summer of 1986, climbing all the way to number three. London O Hull 4, their debut album, followed shortly afterward and, like the single, it cracked the British Top Ten. At the end of the year, the a cappella Caravan of Love became a number one hit. 　　 　　Due to their success in 1986, the Housemartins were award the BPI award for Best Newcomers. Before they recorded their second album, Hugh Whitaker left the band and was replaced by Dave Hemmingway. The People Who Grinned Themselves to Death followed later in 1987, spawning the hit singles Five Get Over Excited and Me and the Farmer. Though the Housemartins were developing into one of the most popular bands within Britain, they broke up in the summer of 1988, claiming they only intended to stay together for three years. In reality, Heaton and Cook were suffering from creative tensions, as the singer wanted to move into sophisticated jazz-pop while the bassist was eager to explore dance music. This difference in taste became apparent in the groups they formed immediately after the disbandment of the Housemartins. Cook formed Beats International, who had a few hits in the early 90s before Cook became a full-time remixer and producer as Fatboy Slim. With drummer Hemmingway, Heaton formed the Beautiful South, which carried on the aesthetic of the Housemartins, but added more complex melodies and arrangements. Toward the end of 1988, a compilation of Housemartins singles and rarities called Now Thats What I Call Quite Good! was released. In 1993, original drummer Hugh Whitaker was imprisoned for wounding with intent and arson attacks on a business partner.