Even Serpents Shine

Untitled

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
BBC Music	(positive)

Even Serpents Shine is the second studio album by English power pop band The Only Ones, released in 1979 by Columbia Records. It was produced by Peter Perrett and Alan Mair.

The album was re-released in the UK in 2009 on Sony Music Entertainment, featuring rare bonus content. The reissue was a CD which comprises 14-tracks. It includes the original album digitally remastered from the original 1/2" mix tapes; alongside three bonus tracks.

Critical reception

The album has consistently been praised by critics. In a retrospective review for AllMusic, critic Mark Deming gave the album four and a half out of five stars and wrote that "Even Serpents Shine doesn't boast an out-of-the-box classic tune along the lines of "Another Girl, Another Planet" from the self-titled debut, but in many respects, this is the more consistent album, achieving a similar degree of thematic and melodic variety while generating a more coherent sound and feeling" adding that "they were one of the very few bands of their time and place who inarguably beat the sophomore slump."

Reviewing the album for BBC Music, Chris Jones wrote "Musically the band were always a step ahead of the pack. Mike Kellie and Alan Mair - both seasoned pros on drums and bass - never falter, allowing John Perry's guitar to fly; while John 'Rabbit' Bundrick's organ adds just the right dollop of Al Kooper-isms."

Track listing

All tracks are written by Peter Perrett

Side one

No.	Title	Length
1.	"From Here to Eternity"	3:07
2.	"Flaming Torch"	2:21
3.	"You've Got to Pay"	2:49
4.	"No Solution"	2:27
5.	"In Betweens"	3:57
6.	"Out There in the Night"	3:02

Side two

No.	Title	Length
7.	"Curtains for You"	4:18
8.	"Programme"	2:11
9.	"Someone Who Cares"	3:11
10.	"Miles from Nowhere"	3:45
11.	"Instrumental"	4:03
Total length:		35:11

2009 re-mastered version bonus tracks

No.	Title	Length
12.	"Special View"	2:51
13.	"Oh No"	2:20
14.	"This Ain't All (It's Made to Be)"	3:45

Personnel

The Only Ones

• Peter Perrett – lead and background vocals; guitars
• John Perry – guitars; keyboards
• Alan Mair – bass guitars
• Mike Kellie – drums

Session musicians

• Adam Maitland – keyboards; saxophone
• John "Rabbit" Bundrick – keyboards
• Koulla Kakoulli – backing vocals

Production

• Peter Perrett – producer
• Alan Mair – producer

External links

• Even Serpents Shine at Discogs (list of releases)