This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
There was a time not long ago when I would have walked 500 miles — and then walked 500 more — as long as it was in the opposite direction of The Proclaimers. But no more.
Craig and Charlie Reid have brought me around with their fifth studio effort Born Innocent, a soulfully groovy disc that marks a vast improvement over the recycled skiffle-pop of their 2001 comeback album Persevere. This time around, the Scottish siblings have taken a more varied approach, trading in the strummy acoustics and folky vibe for a lively assortment of classic ’60s pop sounds: Blue-eyed soul, twangy rockabilly and roots-pop, Ricky Nelson-style balladry, girl-group grooves and melodies, and the candy-coated top 40 bubblegum of The Vogues’ yodel-pop gem Five O’Clock World.
The transformation isn’t complete: The Reids’ accents are still as thick as their glasses and their Everly Brothers harmonies are still as smooth as 18-year-old single malt. On the whole, though, Born Innocent sounds more like The Beautiful South or Rockpile than, say, Big Country, which is a fine thing. Maybe it’s not worth walking 1,000 miles — but it is worth a trip to the CD store.
