eli (12/08/82)
Ok, here we go again... another batch of my flash impressions:
Pat Benatar -- Get Nervous (Chrysalis)
I can't believe how much &@#*! I've taken over admitting
I like some of the songs on this record. It really doesn't
matter to me that it's Pat Benatar, mega-dollar songstress...
there are a couple of really good songs on this album. They've
added a keyboard to their band, in a nice low-key manner most
of the time. And Benetar's operatic range certainly doesn't
hurt her in getting the point across. Picks: "Anxiety",
"Get Nervous", "Shadows of the Night" (the latter also having
been done by Rachel Sweet a few LP's ago).
Captain Sensible -- Wot/Happy Talk (A&M [12"])
Oh what a beautiful morning, oh what a beautiful day! Oh,
sorry, I got carried away. The B-Side of this disc is a
Rogers and Hammerstein classic, that just makes you want to
skip to the store for an ice cream cone. It's almost sick-
eningly happy. The A-Side, is a beat-oriented (novelty)
tune in a rap-vein. For me however, it's the B-Side that
takes the award.
Culture Club -- Kissing To Be Clever (Epic/Virgin)
This one seems to be picking up alot of Top-40 "new wave"
radio play, as well as club and college-radio play. A real
cross over disc. Funk and soul influenced Dance Oriented
Rock. Some sense of reggae here and there. The main dis-
cussions about this band seem to revolve around the gender
identity of the lead singer, Boy George. Personally I
couldn't care less which sex he chooses to identify with (if
he chooses at all), since I like the way his voice blends in
with the record.
Dexy's Midnight Runners -- Come On Eileen/TSOP/(+1) (Mercury [12"])
This one was mentioned by someone else earlier. The A-Side
was a big hit in England, and rightly so in my opinion. DMRs
are a horn oriented white soul outfit that can really hit the
groove sometimes. "...Eileen" is a good example, very catchy.
The flip, TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia) may be better known
as the theme from Soul Train ("...it's a stone gas..." -- Don
Cornelius). The third song is another horn-oriented funk'n'soul
number, that's not too shaby either -- but rather pale compared
to its discmates.
D.O.A. -- War On 45 (Faulty)
Have I already reviewed this one? If so, just skip ahead. If
not, let me say that this is one of the few records approaching
hardcore that I >really< like. It raw, yet its not adolescent.
There version of "War" really puts some fire into the song. And
the third cut on side two ("War in the East"?) slows down to
a reggae rhythm and shows they're not only a shallow bash it
out in the garage band.
Pretenders -- Back On The Chain Gang/My City Was Gone (Sire)
I guess most everyone's heard this by now. Even with the death
of one member, and the departure of another, "The Pretenders"
live on. I've found that I always liked this bands singles,
both side, but their albums (or at least the second one) seem
to have alot of filler. Billy Bremner (ex of Rockpile) sits
in on guitar.
Squeeze -- 45's And Under (A&M)
A collection of odds and ends from a band that never seemed to
latch on to the fame they deserved (ah, but isn't that almost
always the case). I believe everything on this LP was released
in one form or another (either on LP or single). For those who
can afford it I suggest you go buy all of their albums and
singles instead of this collection. For those who can't, this
LP gives an OK cross section. (Plus their latest single
"Annie Get Your Gun", the last song on side two, is amazing!)
Waitresses -- I Could Rule The World If I Could Only Get The Parts (Polydor)
This is an EP of five songs. They should have an album out in
another month or so which (I've been told) will not contain any
of these songs. Not a bad EP... although I find the lead
vocalists talksing can get rather grating. "Christmas Wrapping"
is one of the few Xmas songs of late that I've liked (it was
all down hill after Spector and Mowtown did their LP's). Also
the theme from the TV Series "Square Pegs", and a live version
of "I Could ... The Parts" (originally performed by Tin Huey).
Weekend -- La Variete (Rough Trader)
This album has a feel that makes me think of the song "Girl
From Ipanema." It's kind of hard to explain. Sort of what I
imagine French folk music sounds like... although I've never
really heard any. It's modern, yet not full of synthesizers
and loud electric guitars. Mostly just very pretty vocals
(female for the most part), and nice folksy songs.