eli (03/13/83)
More reviews... Suzy Andrews--Suzy Andrews (X) Bow Wow Wow--When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going (RCA) Box Tops--Greatest Hits (Rhino) Cheap Trick--Saturday At Midnight (Epic) Falco--Der Komissar/[+2 others] (A & M) Monkees--Monkee Business (Rhino) Rain Parade--What She's Doing To Your Mind/Kaleidoscope (Llama) Soft Cell--The Art Of Falling Apart (Sire) The Vandals--Peace Through Vandalism (Epitath) (Various Artists)--Warf Rat Tales (Warf Rat) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Suzy Andrews--Suzy Andrews (X) Most of her recent popularity came from the pre-release single of 'Der Kommisar' and 'Da Da Da'. And although I like both of these songs (originally done by Falco and Trio respectively), there is original material on this LP that is quite deserving of a listen. Most of it is somewhat downbeat syntho-dance-pop. Alot of German lyrics, which for a non-German speaker such as myself are often hard to listen to, which blend rythmically into the flow of the music. Bow Wow Wow--When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going (RCA) I really wish this band had put out one single and then gone their separate ways. BWW has much to much of a trademark sound for me -- this LP is barely distinguishable from the last. If they had to pay Bo Diddley a royalty every time they used his beat, he'd be a billionaire. Box Tops--Greatest Hits (Rhino) This compilation is slightly different from the one issued on (Arista?) a few years back. Alex Chilton, lead singer of the Box Tops (and later of Big Star) is probably one of the great forgotten talents of yesteryear. His growly blues-based vocals still pack a lot of feeling after having been sitting in the vaults for so long. (I would also suggest people look into the 2-LP import Big Star reissue that came out a few years ago, as well as Chilton's solo Japanese import LP). Cheap Trick--Saturday At Midnight (Epic) I admit (for good or bad) that I was actually among the first wave of Cheap Trick fans. But after their third LP I started to lose interest, that is until this new 12" dance remix came out. It sounds almost like a whole new band. Might be good for parties... Falco--Der Komissar/[+2 others] (A & M) This is the *original* version of this oft covered song. Per- sonally I like the Suzy Andrews version better. In the end I can't figure out why so many people decided to do this song in such a short time (four at last count)... I mean it's not 'Louie, Louie', jeez! Monkees--Monkee Business (Rhino) This is a picture disc, featuring some previously unreleased (or un-American released) tracks. The mono-version of "Pleasant Valley Sunday" is really a find (previously available only as a single). There is alot of overlap with the double Australian collection issued a few years ago, but it's so fun to watch Davey and Mickey and Peter and Mike spin around on your turntable! Rain Parade--What She's Doing To Your Mind/Kaleidoscope (Llama) Another in the fine line of psychedelic bands that seem to be coming out of LA. The Rain Parade also have two tracks on the Warf Rat compilation (see below). The A-Side is a very catchy "up-beat" psych tune, while the B-Side is a longer, mostly instrumental tune that is rather hynotizing. Hold on, I've got to go find my paisley shirt. Soft Cell--The Art Of Falling Apart (Sire) If I ever hear 'Tainted Love' again I'll become seriously ill. Even the mere sound of Soft Cell's lead vocalist (I don't want to know his name), makes my throat constrict and my tongue swell. For those of you who hurry to your store to buy this one you'll get a special bonus disc, featuring Soft Cell's 'tritube' to Jimi Hendrix. Guaranteed to slay any Hendrix fan at 50 yards. I'm very sad to say that I expect this to be a popular record. The Vandals--Peace Through Vandalism (Epitath) I don't usually go for hardcore... but there's something about this record that's really appealing. Something about 'The Legend of Jerry Brown' and the totally lewd reworking of 'Heartbreak Hotel' (called 'HB Hotel' on this disc) makes this different from the run-of-the-mill punk'n'thrash. (Various Artists)--Warf Rat Tales (Warf Rat) This is a compilation of LA-based bands, almost entirely in a psychedelic vein. The Rain Parade, The Question?, and many others make this a very listenable collection album -- something of a rarety in the land that spawned KTEL and Ronco.