New Wave music reviews

I love this soundtrack to the movie "Restless Natives." It's well worth it just for this alone. I wish they had produced more soundtracks like this in their years. I suppose they still can, but it just wouldn't be the same without Stewart, may he rest in peace. I love this soundtrack! I just wish the movie were available on DVD in the US.

I stumbled on this one,I knew it was out there on the web but never really expected to be lucky enough to find a CD store owner with enough old fashioned common sense to actually have one in stock, I really bought it for the title track which I had on very old 12 inch vinyl. This is a gem and as soon as you turn down the lights, rip the top off a McEwans extra and skip to track 6 on CD 1 you will be transported to another place , I had to wait about 25 minutes until the passage came in and although there is a different , instrumental rendition early in track 6 the version with lyrics is the best, Adamsons voice sounds the best it could and better than any other song I have heard of BC, worth the search.Other stand outs are �ll fall together, (also released as "giant" on a B side but with no vocals), On the shore, plus many others. If you see this available here, grab it QUICK!
Thank you.

This is really good. If you liked anything Big Country has done then have no fear buying this, its all good. In the liner notes it claims that some of the songs have an "unfinished" feel to them. If anything I think thats a plus. As much as I like Big Country I sometimes thought were a little overwrought. The songs here show that Stuart Adamson and co can write really powerful songs, and just let those songs speak for themselves. Its a little mellower and more cheerful than some their early stuff, and I still haven't heard a better rythmn section than what Big Country kicks out! These guys fill the valleys and shake the hills!

...its scent would be "Smoky Dive Bar". Yes, one spin of this baby will transport you back to your favorite watering hole on a steamy summer night. My shoes feel sticky from the spilled 45 cent draughts.

Pure fun from beginning to end. The cool, obscure Kinks cover ("She's Got Everything" - BTW, this version is superior to Big Star's cover on "Sister Lovers", and I'm a huge LX fan) more than compensates for "What I Like About You"'s overexposure. So toss out those crummy grunge and emo disks, and P-A-R-T-Y!

Metaldiva is proud of these homegrown Motor City boys who did good. This is a must have for 80's afficionados, sometimes referred to as the RED album, it contains the best line up the band ever had. It was the vocals and harmonies of the drummer and bassist combined that really sold this album. This is a bit of 50's rockabilly with 60's pop combined with 80's new wave all together in a hit making combo that has boosted "What I Like About You" into the national best loved-played-at-every-game-hit that it is. "Talking In Your Sleep" was a great follow up, but no sooner did the band start to get attention, they changed the line up. "In Heat" has some of the tracks with original members, but the on-stage performances were a let down and the band clings on the edge of oblivion. Their "Strictly Personal"or "Pink Album" was confusing, and latest live offerings, extended offerings and the awful 61/49 are better left behind. Cole and Marino were the sound, and they could be like their peers, enjoying a renaissance of their own if only they could get it back together today.

Metaldiva Sez: Great addition to your collection. This was the band at it's peak, it brings back memories of shoulder pads, high heels, teased hair and boogying at Bookies in Detroit. Music was fun then and this must have album personnifies this great 80's rock band and makes you pine for Jimmy and Rich's touch today.

The Romantics' 1979/80 release (self titled) is the finest powerpop release of the last 25 years. The track "what I like about you" has risen to the status of "legend" and has become one of the most played and recognizable rock 'n roll anthems of all time. "What I like" exists in the same timeless and cherished rock 'n roll universe as songs like "you really got me", "louie louie" and "wild thing". But, before you label the Romantics as one hit wonders you'll need to get your facts straight;

"What I like about you" never reached the top 40 and was never a "hit", the highest billboard chart position of the song was #49. The album itself turned in something less than a stellar performance. The HUGE success of the song in later years is a testament to its "magic" and the raw talent and brilliance of the Romantics. There are too few "happy endings" in Rock 'n Roll and these guys DESERVED the long over due success! It's an absolute shame that the Romantics are continually neglected in various rock 'n roll "guides", books and by the many so-called "authorities" and "critics" of rock.

The Romantics kept the flame of powerpop alive in the early 80's and finally had a pair of hits with "Talking in Your Sleep" and "One in a Million". These tracks represented a turning point within the group, away from raw guitar riffs and toward a more "mainstream" rock sound. The group continued to grow and tour (even during a decade long legal battle for their rock 'n roll soul) and eventually released the CD titled 61/49 in 2003. When sampling the Romantics catalog of material you'll learn that they managed to churn out "hit worthy" songs by the truck load. You'll also find a group that never lost sight of it's roots and that will take you on a ride through sweet powerpop, raw garage rock, a bit of funky R&B tinged rock, a few Motown inspired efforts, British invasion inspired tracks and of course blues based rock.

This release can stand solid next to the best efforts of the Kinks, Who, Stones and Beatles. In an era ruled by disco and dinosaur rock the Romantics had the heart, vision and talent to bring the Rock 'n Roll dream back to life! If you claim to be a collector of REAL rock 'n roll your collection will not be complete without this CD. ***TEN STARS***

-JM

Time & Tide was one of the best albums produced by Split Enz & Hugh Padgham. "Dirty Creature" features Tim singing about demons in his head. "Giant Heartbeat" sung by Neil shows he continutally can belt out a tune like no one can & the bass is superb. "Small World" tells it all.

O.K. I may be offend some people here by saying that the music on this album blows away even some of the Beatles best stuff. Really, I'm not joking. I've listened to this album steadily for over 20 years now and it just gets better with age. The lyrics on this album show a fantastically elegant pop band maturing on from the insanely brilliant pop-classic `True Colors' & the slightly sub-par `Corroboree' to produce this wonder of pop mastery. Each track takes its own journey and develops it's own distinct feel. The songs playing out like mini-biographies that are interesting, funny and poignant whilst being insanely catchy with brain infiltrating hooks and chorus-lines. This turned out to be the bands last great album unfortunately, but wow all I can say is that if you are a fan of pop in it's rock form or ever had a `Beatles', `Kinks' or `Squeeze' album in your collection then you really NEED to have this. I dare say that some bands (including the Beatles) only wish they could have written something as wonderful as `Dirty Creature' or as catchy (oh so catchy) as `Small World'. Water and the Ocean is a constant companion on this album and you really get a sense of wonder and a certain other-worldliness which comes with a welcoming Kiwi accent and makes for a thoroughly satisfying listening experience. `Pioneer' is a beautifully composed piece and I think I can say that without sounding too glib. The piano-work on display as the song builds to a crescendo which then leads into the happily jaunty `Six Months in a Leaky Boat' is nothing short of brilliant. I could gush for a long time about this album as you can see but for soul, depth, pop-brilliance, lyrically fascinating content and pure musical enjoyment this album has been a source of inspiration for me for over 20 years and I hope other people out there will take note of some of the other positive reviews here and welcome it into their hearts.

Stepping away from the more radio friendly sound of their previous two albums, "Time and Tide" takes a number of stunning risks. The opening track "Dirty Creature" heads more into funk territory with a galloping dance beat. "Giant Heartbeat" with its intriguing and mysterious melody immediately catches your attention as does the unusual production touches provided Hugh Padgham and the band. The real stand out tracks are the truly odd "Haul Away", brilliant "Six Months in a Leaky Boat" which I'll never be able to separate from Eddie Rayner's beautiful but brief introduction "Pioneer". Tim and Neil were in top form here and, although there would be two more albums, "Conflicting Emotions"(despite the brilliant "Message to My Girl" and "The Devil You Know") and "See Ya' Around" just don't quite measure up.

I know lots of folks that don't care for "Time and Tide" and that's fine; the album is daunting and less immediately catchy than its predecessors but no less brilliant and shows the band taking giant strides forward as always. Highly recommended although this album, along with the rest of their catalog, needs to be upgraded with better sound quality.

Just a note to any newbies out there, or even Fans of yesteryear....This is A great CD, good lyrics, catchy tunes, Very good material all the way around. I been A fan since the first solo cd's....Excited that Nik still Kix's!! I recommed this to all that need alittle substance to their music...not bubble gum. Buy it! you won't be disappointed!!

Terrific album that encapsulates all the best of the singer songwriter genre. No gimmicks, just melodic, intelligently written songs that are well crafted and produced. Buy it, you won't be disappointed.

As this CD was unavailable here in my local shopping centres in melbourne (OZ), I ordered it myself..Following the fabulous 15 Minutes, Nik's latest offering does it just as good - the lyrics are poingent and can find you vanishing into your memories. Great experience - buy it!

This was the peak of the bands creativity. The music and lyrics create a perfect unit. The lyrics are often hard to understand and cryptic but they are so much a part of the music itself that you end up not minding much. When you finally figure the meaning of the words out, there is no surprise, because somehow you get the message even if you understand only 20% of the words. That, in my definition, is how a perfect song should be. The album somewhat foreshadows the even more melancholy and experimental direction that the group took after "The Colour of Spring". Unfortunately that led them too far from the mainstream, and eventually, music altogether. But this album is the peak effort of one of the most talented bands of the 80's.

This album was so unexpectedly ahead of its time in 1986 people are still catching up to it twenty years later, although that's not a bad thing. Colour of Spring is one of those rare albums that can be appreciated on a lot of levels. The first thing people always notice about Talk Talk is Mark Hollis's unique nasal-congested voice, and his slurred annunciation. It's often hard to make out the lyrics of a Talk Talk song, which in an odd way is what makes them interesting, in the same way that Michael Stipe's delivery adds a little bit of enigma to a lot of early REM songs. While many of the lyrics are a bit cryptic, Hollis offers a generally philosophical look at humanity, although at moments he can turn quite caustic. As hinted in the album title, there's a general interest here in the cycle of nature, and thus this album's positioning in "spring" reflects a desire to simplify and focus on the important things in life, admonishing listeners not to lose sight of the importance celebrating the simple beauty of the world and living for the present. It's not all oblique cryptograms however, as in this verse from the opening track "Happiness is Easy"

"It wrecks me how they justify their acts of war
They assemble, they pray
Take good care of what the priests say
'After death it's so much fun'
Little sheep don't let your feet stray"

What shouldn't be underestimated is the incredible feeling and power Hollis imbues into these songs. Hollis's vocals are deceptively effortless, and it's not until you hear someone attempt a Talk Talk song (Gwen Stefani for example, with her recent cover of 'It's my life') that you really appreciate what an incredible singer this guy was during this time period. The Colour of Spring is nothing less than the essential Talk Talk album, an album of artists at their creative and commercial peak, focused solely on the composition and recording process as an end in itself. Colour of Spring is Talk Talk's "Sgt Pepper's" if I might risk the employment of that overused cliche.

Having begun their life as a synth-pop band often associated with other bands of the time, most notably Duran Duran (as they shared the same producer initially) Hollis chaffed at EMI's attempts to market Talk Talk in the same vein as other synth pop bands, and despite the eventual success of several singles including "Talk Talk" opted for a change in direction and soon parted ways with synth keboardist Simon Brenner, leaving the band free to employ session musicians, as it was now comprised of a three person nucleus of singer, bassist and drummer.

The creative turning point for Talk Talk came when they met producer/Keyboardist/Songwriter Tim Friese-Greene, who would become a major force in the genesis of the band, co-writing many of their best and most popular songs, and playing on the tracks of Colour of Spring. Thanks to the success of the title single from their second album "It's my life", EMI allowed the band a lot of time and freedom in recording the follow up, and with Friese-Green, they began to adopt an improvisational Jazz approach, bringing in a variety of musicians (most notably Steve Winwood who plays Organ on a number of tracks) who were allowed to vibe and do whatever they felt like. If Friese-Green and the band didn't like the outcome they simply left it out of the final mix.

There are a number of songs on the album that have an undeniable, almost tribal groove thanks to the small army of percussionists employed. A myriad of instruments were used on most tracks, including Piano, Harp, Organ, sax, mellotron, variophon, Harmonica and Dobro. The resulting product was a solid top 10 UK hit, and a critical home run, which would also turn out to be the last album of its kind, as Talk Talk's subsequent albums veered into experimental territory, never to return. For a brief moment, Colour of Spring planted Talk Talk unexpectedly at the forefront of popular recorded music, and had Hollis not chosen to retreat, I imagine given the bands who have clearly followed in the album's footsteps (Radiohead, Coldplay, Keane and Sigur Ros most recently) that Talk Talk could easily have become one of the most popular bands in the world. Instead, they took over 2 and a half years to record the deliberately anti commercial "'Spirit of Eden" with Hollis expressing no interest in singles, videos or a tour to support. Some rumors began to float around that Hollis was addicted to Heroin, but the fact's were a lot simpler: by the time Colour of Spring was released, all the members of the band had become fathers, and ex-psychology major Hollis, always a bit of an introvert, simply wanted to raise his young children on a farm.

The band's final album was experimental, it would eventually become associated with a new genre, dubbed by critics in the 90's as "Post-Rock". Clearly Colour of Spring was a huge step in that direction.

Despite EMI's interest in resigning them, Talk Talk also took the opportunity to depart the label, leading to EMI's release of a greatest hits collection "A Natural History" in 1999, featuring a number of songs from Colour of Spring. That album quickly suprised many people by rapidly selling over a million copies. Colour of spring is an album I have returned to many times over the years, and I consider it one of the best in my vast collection, and one that has that rare quality that seems to transcend the passage of time and fads. Quite simply, if you bought "A Natural History" and enjoyed it, then you need to buy this brilliant album, stick it in your CD player and leave it there for a long time.

The 80's was a decade filled with great new wave songs - A-Ha's "Take On Me" is but one example. What separates Talk Talk from, say, A-Ha is how creative they are - they definitely follow standard song structure here, but the instrumentation is very organic and spontaneous at times. You can tell these guys aren't simply trying to cash in on a popular genre. This is most clearly evident when one listens to the album that follows this one, "Spirit Of Eden", which completely abandons new wave in favor of post-rock/experimental/ambient rock. These guys are, simply put, overlooked geniuses (if you were to ask most people if they ever heard of Talk Talk, I'm pretty sure almost everyone would say no). Mark Hollis' voice is very new wave - he has a distinctly 80's sound and his voice sounds like he's a little timid. The lyrics are pretty good, but it's not really the focus of the songs. It's mainly a nice and atmospheric new wave album - the instrumentation is the key. Every song features extremely creative ideas that verges on experimental rock. Most people should really like this album as well as its follow-up "Spirit Of Eden". This album also features lesser-known 80's hits including "Happiness Is Easy" and "Life's What You Make It". If you're looking for a great new wave record, "The Color Of Spring" will amaze you. Highly recommended!

Highlights include:
the entire album!

Far and above one of the best compilation CD's to date. A must have for Sunday morning lounging or an easy dinner with friends. A perfect gift for a friend!

Cover me is a great musical compilation that has something for everyone. A real treat and best of all you get great music and help out a very worthy cause at the same time.

I'm not a sophisticated music listener but have found this disc to be on "permanent play" in my car and home CD player. I really like the version of "Like A Prayer", "Jump" and Melkey Sedek's amazing voice. I'm giving these out as stocking stuffers to everyone in my family! The fact that the profits go to fight AIDS is just a bonus.

wow. the long wait for this puppy to arrive in my mailbox is over! and let me say the wait for this imported treat was well worth it. digitally remastered plus 4 bonus tracks (including title track "The Crossing")....the sound is beautiful, and the extra tracks are astounding. you will immediately notice a difference between this release and the original that was released so many moons ago.

"The Crossing" was simply the first step into a world of amazing music from this Scottish group. Soundscapes roll like the hillsides...images are conjured...and messages are delivered. Stuart Adamson brought together some of the finest musicians in modern music and what he and the others produced was truly magical. Big Country fans around the globe are still mourning the death of Stuart, but we will always have his heart and mind inside the notes of so many wonderful pieces of Big Country music. You owe it to yourself to pick up this re-mastered version of "The Crossing"...

We'll miss you Stuart....

Peace

wow. the long wait for this puppy to arrive in my mailbox is over! and let me say the wait for this imported treat was well worth it. digitally remastered plus 4 bonus tracks (including title track "The Crossing")....the sound is beautiful, and the extra tracks are astounding. you will immediately notice a difference between this release and the original that was released so many moons ago.

"The Crossing" was simply the first step into a world of amazing music from this Scottish group. Soundscapes roll like the hillsides...images are conjured...and messages are delivered. Stuart Adamson brought together some of the finest musicians in modern music and what he and the others produced was truly magical. Big Country fans around the globe are still mourning the death of Stuart, but we will always have his heart and mind inside the notes of so many wonderful pieces of Big Country music. You owe it to yourself to pick up this re-mastered version of "The Crossing"...

We'll miss you Stuart....

Peace

Was it really 19 years ago that this album thundered across the airwaves? Yeah, it was. As great as the original cd was ( I have it ), the remaster is made that much better with the edition of 4 terrific tracks from that period. I'm really amazed that they were not album tracks as Heart and Soul, Angle Park, and The Crossing were staples of the early shows. All that is missing is Balcony. We all know it was Stuart's guitar playing that made this music jump out of the radio. But, I think the lyrics are just as good if not better. These lyrics would be great over the top of almost any music.

Stuart has left us now, but the echoes of this cd and so many memories for the fans will sustain their place in rock history, I hope. Though they will probably never be a Hall of Fame band, they joing other great bands with similar legacies such as Mott the Hoople, Free, ELO, and Thin Lizzy.

This is a really, really, really sad album. It's well-produced (a hallmark of Gary Numan's albums), but... it's really, really sad. Gary must have been on the downside of a relationship when he recorded this; he shows a great deal of understanding when it comes to a rotten relationship, but still...

...it's very, very, very sad.

It makes you want to cry, which is an odd thing when it comes to techno/electro music; still, I was moved. Especially when "Slowcar to China", "Cry the Clock Said" and "My Brother's Time" played.

Overall the music isn't very much like "The Pleasure Principle" or "Telekon"; it's sort of jazzy and inverted (like a photographic negative of a song), but the music is still syncopated and catchy. It's as though Numan's character is getting through to us from an alternate universe. But still, it's a masterpiece of romantic depression and very well made-- just don't stand near a window while you're listening to it.

I have been a Gary Numan fan forever - probably dating back to the first time I heard "Are Friends Electric?" back in 1979. When I purchased the Replicas album and heard "Down in the Park" for the first time, I knew I was hooked.

I own everything Gary has ever done, and absolutely love his current dark, industrial metal style. Having said that, "Dance" is a recording that I keep coming back to time and time again. A beautiful, atmospheric album, enhanced by Mick Karn's magical fretless bass and Nash The Slash's electric violins. This is not for everyone, and fans of 2.5 minute pop ditties should look elsewhere.

If, however, you enjoy losing yourself in mellow, adventurous compositions, then you will be rewarded. In a career that spans 25 years, "Dance" is Gary Numan's most impressive work. "A Subway Called You" and "Slowcar to China" alone are worth the price of admission. As an added bonus, most of your friends will think you've gone mad.

After you buy this, run out and get "Pure". Play at maximum volume.

I have been into gary numan for several years now, and I am 20 years old. I got this album originally when I was 18, and was immediately impressed. It is the type of CD that grows on you. Dont be scarred away by albums such as berserker, the fury, or machine and soul. These were some of numans worst. Well dance I would classify as the last of the 'classic' numan. It is definitely different from the telekon sound, or any sound on a numan album. But it contains the essential elements needed for a great numan recording. A song that not a lot of people have mentioned in these reviews is 'moral.' Moral is the sequal to the song 'metal' that was released on the pleasure principle album and also served as a b side to cars. Its fun to listen to metal then moral sequentially. Another great song is 'stories' that has a very creepy theme paired with a very creepy sound. Numans talents really shine in this epic recording.

"Descanso" is the second best album this group produced, the best being "Entre El Cielo y el Suelo". What is significant in this album is the realization that of the two brothers, Jos� Ma. is the better composer, and his songs dominate this recond. His songs "Mujer Contra Mujer" and "Dal�" are vastly superior to anything Nacho ever wrote and released with Mecano. These two songs, more than any other, offer the best qualities of Mecano. The beautiful melodies, the witty lyrics, the tasteful arrangements and Ms. Torroja's stylings. Beautiful.
None of this is meant to denigrate Nacho Cano's work. "Nueva York", "Un A�o M�s" and "Sol/Luna" show that he is still the group's more adventurous arranger and a talent to be reckoned with, but the quality of his songs here do not match his brother's or even his own in "Entre el Cielo y el Suelo". That lack of balance is what makes "Descanso Dominical" inferior to "Cielo/Suelo"

Way back then, I think I was the only one in my school in East London fanatical about Mecano - never mind to have heard about them. Oh boy, did everyone else miss out.

I was delighted to see that Anne Dudley did some arrangements and even played (?) on Descanso Dominical - such was Mecano's calibre by the time this album was released. 'La fuerza del destino' starts out as a straight synthy-pop song but hiding some delicious twists and turns, it still bowls me over. 'Laika' pre-dates Bjork's epic sounds by quite a while. And 'Heroes de la antartida' despite its perky beat has some truly chilling lyrics (no pun intended). Most of the tracks are very strong and DD will always be in my collection - 1980s tag or not!

It is very hard to say wich of all of Mecano's album is better, because they all are great. But if I had to choose one this would definitely be. At the time of the launch of this album (1988) Mecano was a well knowned worldwide pop (synth pop) group and now after many years the band was enyoing great success. Nevertheless, that success didn't affect their creativity, they were even more creative and maybe a fact of that were that they were now famous and wealthy enough to worry about other things. This album contains the classic "La Fuerza del Destino" wich is a song with such a magic melody and rhythm you never get tired of hearing it and if it was to be released today it would again be a hit. Then you have other great melodies in "Laika" and a very "synth poppy" song with a great bassline and beat called "Los Heros de la Antartida". "Eungenio Salvador Dali" has a great chorus and "Un ano mas" has a very catchy chorus and a feeling of celebration as it was supposed to be (is a new years eve song). Well, what else can I say? Almost all the songs have a distinctive great melody that would not bore you. Try findind this characteristics on an album... not many albums do this, so that's a sign that you just can't be wrong about buying this album.

All mod cons is wellers dive into manhood and away from the jams early sound. Its more polished but not in a bad way. This is where the modfather would begin to prove his weight in gold- the songwriting is fantastic for someone so young and would continue for years to come. The anger is now laced under character studies ala Ray davies- the rickenbacker not only barks but weaves great double tracked lines- great use of reverse guitar in "in the crowd" This is the start of a great set of albums- Setting Sons- Sound Affects and the final offering of the Gift. All these albums should be in your collection- the Jam were the only band to give the clash a run for its money( the jam were more popular in the uk) and over the long haul weller has proved to be the class of 77's greatest songwriter. Among the best albums of the 70's!!

I must have seen these guys play at least a dozen times in New York City during their recording lifespan,and I think on all their tours, and always felt their energy,sophistication,song writing were an intelligent expression and outgrowth of the great UK 60's music going down..Heavily influenced and paying respects proudly to their heroes like the Kinks,Small Faces,Who...this Album pushed them ahead of the pack because there was a maturity here moving them forward from the strict mod induced sound they wore proudly..A feeling that the world was changing while putting out a great album of great songs.The cd Setting Sons should get equal merit.

All Mod Cons is where everything really came together for The Jam. The songs and the writing matured by leaps and bounds compared to The Modern World. Weller has some of his best work on this album including the beautiful ballad "English Rose," the stumbling anger of the title track, and the chilling "Down In A Tube Station At Midnight" with it's rapid fire drums and funky walking bass lending a real sense of urgency to the story being unfolded by Weller. His social commentary here is biting and pissed off and though the music spread out in more directions with Weller building off his various influences (especially R&B), the spirit of the album is punk, through and through. A wonderful disc that gets stronger with every listen and it remains one of the great original punk albums as well as one of the great British albums of all time.