Rea's voice is mesmerizing and his guitar playing is, surprisingly, very good. He has crafted some beautiful love songs on this mellow record and it is one of the few CD's I always take with me on road trips and vacations.

"Heaven" is a bittersweet masterpiece that describes the simple joy and escapism of driving: "... the paradise of going somewhere that's still so far away ..." The guitar work alone on this song is worth the price of admission.

"At The Mention Of Your Name" will put a lump in your throat for that special relationship that slipped away - and from which you never completely recovered. Rea does a superb job of capturing those awkward moments of reflection - from having those memories inadvertently triggered by a well-meaning friend, to the "sunny days and drunken nights" of trying to erase them.

I have been surprised over the years at how many people have this lone Rea album in their collections. It's a wild card for sure. Not many folks know about Chris Rea, and he certainly never had much success in the States, but he's good. Real good.

If you are not familiar with Chris Rea, add Auberge to your collection. It really is a must have.

Highly recommended.


From an Aggie Sikh Chris Rea Fan   March 7, 2000
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

I was introduced to the music of Chris Rea by my dear friend Jeebu (Hi Jeebu, remember YCCE) in 1992. Since then I have listened to virtually all that Chris Rea has to offer. However, Auberge remains the first and the best album of his that I ever owned. The music is very basic. Guitars, drums, and an incredible voice (I feel that his voice starts from inside his boots). I would especially recommend you listen to this album after a hard days work. Helps me unwind. Happy listening. Cheers.....


One of the best   June 16, 2000
Ed Wilberding (Hooper, NE, USA)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

The Road to Hell was a critical success, but Auberge may be even better. Red Shoes, Sing a Song of Love To Me, and The Mention of Your Name are among his best. Chris Rea continues to redefine himself. As is the case with most artists, he misses occasionally, but overall he is someone who the American listening public is missing out on because of a lack of U.S. promotion.


One of the best European albums of the 90s!   June 14, 2000
Igor Biryukov (New Haven, CT)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Chris Rea, a British singer and slide guitar player is not very well known in the US. But he has for sure won over the hearts of the Europeans. His songs are very popular in Eastern Europe. Germans like it a lot. The song from this album "Every second counts" has to be a hit in France, because it reflects so much a French attitude towards life. It is also very British and tongue-in-cheek. "Auberge" is a quintessential European album. This is a relaxing blend of soft rock and blues with some great haunting tunes. Great beat, fantastic deep voice, and meaningful lyrics are certainly an attractive combination. It will be a nice addition for any collection, particularly if you are kind of person who enjoys "Dire Straits".


Looking for the Summer   January 11, 2000
7 out of 8 found this review helpful

I've never been really much into rock or pop, and would have never imagined myself listening to an artist named Chris Rea. Oddly enough, I was forced to listen to "Looking for the Summer" on telephone hold music, and have been a fan of Rea ever since. The Auberge album in particular seems to possess a fine degree of thematic integrity and tone. If you must buy only one Chris Rea album, let it be this one.