Love Not Money
Everything but the Girl · 1985
43 min · 12 tracks · pop music
A blend of sophisticated pop melodies and introspective lyrics that captures the complexities of love and modern life.
Top tracks — play these first
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When All’s Well Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
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Heaven Help Me — This track stands out due to its infectious melody combined with poignant lyrics about seeking solace in love, showcasing the band's knack for blending emotional depth with pop sensibility.
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Are You Trying to Be Funny? — With its playful yet biting lyrics, this song captures the essence of romantic misunderstandings, highlighting the duo's ability to address serious themes with wit and charm.
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Angel — The closing track offers a reflective moment that encapsulates the album's themes of longing and connection, featuring lush arrangements that elevate its emotional weight.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends pop with jazz influences, featuring introspective lyrics but lacks strong cohesion in its pacing.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album features a consistent mid-tempo groove, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and arrangements.
- Several tracks incorporate jazz elements, such as syncopated rhythms and brass instrumentation, particularly in 'Heaven Help Me' and 'Ballad of the Times'.
- The lyrics often explore complex emotional themes, with a focus on introspection and modern relationships, evident in tracks like 'Ugly Little Dreams' and 'This Love (Not for Sale)'.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady mid-tempo reflective moments
- introspective lyrics on relationships
- for afternoon listening
- warm melodies for cozy nights
Maybe skip if you
- seeking high-energy tracks
- prefer instant gratification
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — This album helped solidify their reputation and gain wider recognition.
- Career context
- By 1985, Everything but the Girl had released their second album, following their debut 'Eden' from 1984. With 'Love Not Money,' the duo began to refine their sound, incorporating more jazz and soul influences while establishing themselves as a distinctive voice in British pop music.
Tracklist
- 1 When All’s Well Start here 3:03
- 2 Heaven Help Me 3:22
- 3 Are You Trying to Be Funny? 3:19
- 4 Ugly Little Dreams 2:55
- 5 Shoot Me Down 4:14
- 6 Sean 3:32
- 7 Ballad of the Times 3:28
- 8 Kid 3:49
- 9 Anytown 3:28
- 10 This Love (Not for Sale) 3:08
- 11 Trouble and Strife 3:10
- 12 Angel 5:36
What to play next
Baby the Stars Shine Bright
1986
Continues the introspective themes with a more polished sound.
Eden
1984
Sets up the sophisticated pop style that develops in Love Not Money.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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