New Wave music reviews

Now this is a best of you can really appreciate. The music here is danceable and quite enjoyable for all!
Cheesy!!?? I don't think so. The title is currently unavailable on Amazon because this ones so good that everybody bought it up.

This is the ultimate Bananarama album comprising of every hit along with a bonus cd of remixes.Remastered versions Cruel Summer,Venus,I Heard A Rumour,I Cant Help It etc...all sound far better than the originals.For anyone contemplating buying this cd set,you most definetly should...It's a limited edition offer so after a while the bonus cd(remixes) will no longer be available.The cd sleeve features a picture of all four members over the years,although the current lineup just consists of Sara and Keren.This compilation sums up the very essential Bananarama material.

This collection of 2 discs features 21 of their hits plus 10 full remixes. The first disc comes with all the classics like "Venus" ,"I Heard A Rumour" and "Cruel Summer"- their only top 40 hits in the USA. Then you get classic hits like "Robert DeNiro's Waiting","Shy Boy","Really Saying Something" ,"Na Na Hey Hey(Kiss Him Goodbye)" and "Rough Justice" with their work by producers Tony Swain & Steve Jolley. Then with HUGE producers Stock Aitken & Waterman the hits "Love In The First Degree","I Want You Back ","Movin' On","More More More","Nathan Jones " and "Love , Truth & Honesty".Plus you get their song with Jennifer Saunders & Kathy Burke for Comic relief with The Beatles "Help". The second disc is the remixes of some of their best songs. The remixes are "Venus"(Hellfire Mix-9:21),"Love In The First Degree"(Eurobeat Style Mix-7:19),"Movin' On"(Bumpin' Mix-6:16),"Cruel Summer"(Swingbeat Remix-5:20),"Only Your Love"(Remix-8:15),"Tripping On your Love"(Euro Trance Mix-7:22),"I Want You Back"(Remix-7:57),"Nathan Jones" (Remix-5:13) and "I Can't Help It (Remix-8:02). The Miami Remix(7:12) of "I Heard A Rumour" is tracked onto the 1st disc . There should have been a third disc of remixes because so many were left off. There should have been a remix on here of "More Than Physical" or "A Trick of The Night" or even "Shy Boy" or "Long Train Running" or "Robert DeNiro's Waiting".Oh well it still is a great collection of hits by the best UK girl group.

Those who are familiar with the Go-Betweens' pre- "Before Hollywood" body of work, are aware of the staggering amount of growth the Go-Betweens underwent between that and their debut. From an odd, disjointed collection of promising yet self-consciously arty songs, to this, an astonishingly mature, refreshingly melodic, and deeply emotional record that put the Go-Betweens alongside other 80s melodic guitar-pop greats like the Smiths, Aztec Camera, and Felt.

The album displays a remarkable sense of consistency, though I'll admit that some songs take a few listens before they sink in. Right away, one notices the newfound sense of melodicism on songs like "On My Block", "Cattle and Cane", "As Long as That", and "By Chance". Forster's crystal-clear guitar and McClennan's inventive bass playing interweave uniquely to create mesmerizing textures that harmonize beautifully. The best stylistic reference point would be like a cross between Television and the Smiths.

Drummer Lindy Morrison's playing is much smoother, and flows with the songs, anchoring them down and not fighting them. The drumming is still offkilter in places, though it works effectively with the songs this time, and injects a subtly jagged intensity, especially on "Two Steps Step Out" and "Cattle and Cane".

This is also the first album where McClennan and Forster started evenly splitting the singing/songwriting. McClennan steps up to the mic confident and sincere, singing his intensely personal lyrics with unparalleled emotion (the British music press once proclaimed he had the "most sincere eyebrows in pop"). Forster is strong as usual, confronting real, adult emotions with his typical brand of irony.

Excellently produced by John Brand, the sound of this album enhances the songs, giving them a colorful, organic atmosphere, with light touches of reverb and an emphasis on the sparkly-clean tone of their guitars. Hammond organ, played by well-known 80s, new wave session-man Bernard Clarke, adds much to the overall feel, sometimes giving the songs a sophisticated, jazz-like quality, and other times a sound reminiscent of mid to late 60s Dylan.

This was actually the first Go-Betweens album I ever bought or heard. Needless to say, this band changed my life (not to mention the way I write songs), and "Before Hollywood" is a good introduction, though it doesn't quite achieve the brilliance of their masterpiece "Liberty Belle" (which many diehard fans site as their favorite).

For some reason when asked to name the best Go-betweens' album, most people promptly come up with "Liberty Belle...". While I won't deny LB's unquestionable charm, I also think that "Before Hollywood" is the true milestone in their discography. The songs (and not only "Cattle and Cane which is generally regarded as the highlight on this album) are so beautiful that one cannot help but wonder why they didn't make it to the charts. Oh, actually it's not THAT hard to see why GB were denied massive success and were forced to settle for cult status: while being a pop band they had a thing for uncanny rhythms and melodies which made their records less accessible than those made by their peers, especially on the first listen. Obviously that's part of their charm as we, their fans, know ;-)

I have a treasured copy of the original Rough Trade LP, and as the years pass this album sounds more and more like a classic. They had a pure pop heart, but were not afraid to try unusual rhythms and melodies. The balance between Grant's ballads and Robert's spikier tunes brings to mind Lennon and McCartney. This is probably still my favourite of all their albums. Stand outs are Cattle and Cane, and That Way. And now they are back together, and a new album is coming - definitely answered prayers. No Lindy Morrison though ? Now there was a great drummer.

Being English and living in the U.S., this takes me back to being a kid in England. My husband (also English)and I listen to this CD over and over again at xmas while putting up the tree and drinking eggnog (with Brandy of course!). Anyway, it is a must in your CD collection no matter where you come from. It has some great pop/rock tunes as well as old classics. You will not be disappointed. I don't think this is the edition that I have, but from the other reviews, it looks as good as the one I have. Enjoy!!

I bought this CD while I was living in England a number of years ago. When I moved there I owned no Christmas CDs and realized that as the holiday season rolled up, I was missing that part of my "home" in Canada. I bought this CD since it had a number of my favourites on it. Surprisingly, the entire CD is terrific and like other have said, it has become a favourite with family and friends since I have moved back to Canada. If you can find a copy of this album, pick it up...you will not be disappointed.

Every few years, they change the track listing and the artwork. This is the second edition of this collection, which is as strong a collection of Christmas songs as you'll find anywhere. The third edition has significant changes in the tracks, though you may feel it difficult to justify both unless you're a Christmas music junkie. On balance, I prefer this edition though there is not much to choose between them.

Many classic UK hits are here (and one or two non-hits that should have been), including Happy Xmas (John Lennon), Wonderful Christmastime (Paul McCartney), I wish it could be Christmas every day (Wizzard), Merry Christmas everybody (Slade), Do they know its Christmas (Band aid), Fairytale of New York (Pogues and Kirsty MacColl), I believe in Father Christmas (Greg Lake), 2000 miles (Pretenders), A spaceman came travelling (Chris De Burgh), The power of love (Frankie goes to Hollywood), Driving home for Christmas (Chris Rea), Step into Christmas (Elton John), Merry Christmas everyone (Shaking Stevens), Another rock and roll Christmas (Gary Glitter), Little Saint Nick (Beach boys), Santa Claus is coming to town (Jackson 5), In dulci Jubilo (Mike Oldfield), Stop the cavalry (Jona Lewie), Christmas wrapping (Waitresses), White Christmas (Bing Crosby), The Christmas song (Nat King Cole), Mary's boy child (Harry Belafonte), When a child is born (Johnny Mathis), Mistletoe and wine (Cliff Richard), Walking in the air (Aled Jones), Rocking around the Christmas tree (Mel and Kim), Santa baby (Eartha Kitt), Lonely this Christmas (Mud), Pretty paper (Roy Orbison) and Gaudete (Steeleye Span).

Many of these songs, along with the other Cliff Richard songs included on the third edition, are regulars on UK Christmas compilations, though Brenda Lee's version of Rocking around the Christmas tree is sometimes used instead of the Mel and Kim version - both were UK hits at different times. Whatever you think of them, they, together with the traditional songs, are the mainstay of British Christmas pop/rock compilations.

It is good to see Lonely pup in a Christmas shop (Adam Faith) included. This was a UK top five hit but is rarely seen on Christmas compilations. It is also great to have Ring out solstice bells (Jethro Tull).

The remainder of the collection is mainly made up of covers but there's a great selection by great singers including Dean Martin, Doris Day, Andy Williams, Jim Reeves and Perry Como. Note that the Spinners who sing Twelve days of Christmas are the British folk group, not the Detroit soul group - they are always listed as the Detroit Spinners in UK releases.

If you only buy one Christmas pop/rock album, you cannot go wrong with the Best Christmas album in the world ever, whether you buy this edition or the third edition.

Really great album in which Nena is doing a great work in presenting different melodies and styles.
I really love this CD and don't seem to get tired of listening to it! ...

In order to at least comprehend the meaning of the non-English song titles, here are the English translations of those non-English song titles:

1. Manchmal ist ein Tag ein ganzes Leben( Sometimes a Day Is an Entire Life )
2. Was dann( What Then )
3. Ich kann nich' mehr( I Cannot Do It Anymore )
4. Mach dir keine Sorgen( Do Not Worry/Make No Worries For Yourself )
5. Ohne Ende( Without End )
6. Alles viel zu schoen( Everything Is Much Too Beautiful )
7. Was immer du tust( What You Always Do )
8. Conversation( English Title )
9. Bongo Girl( English Title )
10. You Don't Have to Cry( English Title )
11. Mein Koenig( My King )
12. Keine Luegen mehr( No More Lies )
13. Weit ueber den Ozean( Far Over the Ocean )
14. Outro( English Title )

The talent of this woman goes far beyond 99 Luftballons. The Nena Band split up, and if anyone thought that Nena would finish, you'll be surprised (is something similar to what happen when Vince Clarke left Depeche Mode). Nena recorded an amazin album: Wunder geschehen, and now, her second jewel: Bongo girl. Her passion for Africa, the new sounds of the grunge era are well represented here. Optimistic lyrics,good music and the loveliest voice of NENA make this album an absolute jewel. You must buy it.

Okay, that last review was so misleading I must respond. The first two albums in this collection are generally thought of as two of the greatest albums of all time. (The review I just read suggested they were second-tier clash.)
"Combat Rock" is the late clash that divides fans. The only reason to hold off buying this great set is if you'd rather own the U.K version of the first album, which is also now for sale in the states. Otherwise, this wonderfully priced set is the equivalent of finding "Sgt. Pepper," the White Album, and--oh, I don't know-- Revolverl for $25 total.

The three albulms in this set may not be fan favourites (while they do contain the "hit" tracks that still see radio play), but they remain three Clash albulms, which is about a third of the influential band's total output.

The self-titled debut albulm still sounds like furious punk after twenty-five years. It's so underproduced it is possible to believe that you're listening to the demo tape of a garage band. This set includes the U.S. version of the albulm, which is missing "Deny", "Cheat", "Protex Blue" and "48 Hours", but has five other tracks, including "Clash City Rockers" and a cover of "I Fought The Law", to make up for it. So much has already been written about "London Calling" it seems unnecessary to add to it; it is the albulm of a decade. "Combat Rock" serves as the other bookend in the set, showing The Clash at their most stylized; the down-tempo experiment of "Police and Thieves" from "The Clash" has gone "Straight To Hell", and their genre experimentation goes even farther to include pop hard rock. One can hope that someday Mick Jones' mix of the albulm will see a CD press.

While we wait for a comprehensive Clash box set this package allows us to pick up part of The Clash's catalogue at a cut-rate price. But caveat emptor: these are the original Epic CD releases, NOT the remastered ones now available. I have a suspicion that the set represents a way for Sony to have cleared out stock of the older versions before re-releasing the entire catalogue. Buying the set here on Amazon means that you'll be paying roughly nine bucks per albulm, instead of twelve each. It's a good deal if you're not wild about the remastering, allowing the completist to save for "The Clash (UK)", "Give 'em Enough Rope", "Super Black Market Clash", "Sandanista" and "Cut the Crap", while the casual fan gets to add some early punk credibility to the CD collection rather than buying "The Singles".

I bought this last summer to get into the Clash, and had I known about the music, I would've paid the full price just for London Calling. This is for anyone who wants to listen to the Clash's first two albums in their entirety but still wants the popular tracks off of Combat Rock.

Weel, this surely is one hell of a great live album. If you want itnroduce yourself to Saxon, it?s a good start.

The set list (ten songs) DOES NOT contain all their best material up to that point, when they had recorded four albums (but they did not use here any song from their debut album). Also this album is the debut of drummer Nigel Glockler, a very resourceful addiction to the band, replacing Pete Gill.

It has tons of energy (altough "Wheels of Steel" gets a bit boring....). Good acquisiton, if you like compilations.

This is pure hard rock at it's best. If you never heard
Saxon or 80's british metal start here. This is like a
greatest hits live album. I bought this after seeing
them in concert and I was blown away. I only have
2 other albums by them but this is by far the best...
Every song just kicks *** and I highly recommend it!!!!

SAXON are the unsung heroes of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM). They came out around the same time as IRON MAIDEN and DEF LEPPARD, but had only a fraction of those bands' success. "The Eagle Has Landed" represents SAXON as an unstoppable Heavy Metal band. What they lacked in catchy commercial hooks, they more than compensated in the heaviness and aggression departments. This is indeed a very intense album with a sound lacking in most "live" albums now-a-days. This has to be simply one of the best live metal albums of all time, along with PRIEST's "Unleashed In The East" and MOTORHEAD's "No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith". It's fast, loud and uncompromisingly brutal. From the opening song, "Motorcycle Man" to the all out Thrash-before-Thrash of "Fire in The Sky/Machine Gun", this album will kick you square in the butt. An essential purchase for ANY fan of Vintage Heavy Metal!

Stunning really. Andy records to tape his musings in his garden shed and explains how two completely independent thought processes come together to make the song Easter Theater. Essentially he weds a melody that he noodled in his brain a dozen years ago with a piece that he's currently crafting. As he struggles, blocked over where to bring his work of that day, he spontaneously recalls this earlier phrasing and the two come together in a song that climbs, soars and now transforms into a wonderfully complete piece. Really a spectacular feat.

Humorous, self-deprecating, all-to-human, brilliant. He walks us through his associations to sounds, rhythms, feelings, the elements of seasons and simple but deeply rooted Enlish rites and cultural icons that somehow come together in this beautiful song.

Invite me in that shed any day Andy. Marvelous.

Easter Theatre the title track of this CD single deserves 5 stars. The original demo is...less blessed. It sounds identical to the final version in terms of arrangement, etc. Perhaps I was expecting something a little different. I would much rather have heard an acoustic demo.

The last track is terrific and funny as hell. Partridge explains the origin of the song, Easter and the tounge in cheek Christian references that pop up throughout the song. It would have been a little more fun if Colin could have given his opinion (since they usually are good at poking fun at one another) and, yes, even the "evil" Dave former guitar player, arranger extrordinare would have been fun to hear from. Not that that was likely to happen in this lifetime.

Altogether 5 stars but, again, guys if the demos sound so much like the final version give us something different--like an acoustic version, or, better yet, some of the live recordings from your last radio tour.

Oh, and Andy, don't put all your chocolate eggs in one basket. Only Yoking!

its melodic, yet literate. its sophisticated, yet accessible. its xtc improving on the classical influences of "nonsuch" and the seasonal mood pieces of "skylarking" while still creating "this is pop" new millenium style. long time fans should get the cd just for the audio dialogue of andy in his shed. what an engaging chap. its a hoot.

Jim Carroll is by far my favourite writer. Read some of his poetry or his famous diary and you'll understand.
As a fan, i bought his band's cds as well...what can i say? It sound so 80s in a way, you can feel N.Y.C's 5 boroughs in it, and tight punky jeans with dirty white converse shoes...
The music is ok (honest 80s garage-rock) but lyrics are the best...lyrics are top!
Read some of his books before buying this album!

In 1984 James Spader & Robert Downey (this movie is so old school the he wasn't even a JR yet) starred in a movie called
Tuff Turf and in that movie there is a scene in a warhouse where this band was playing live and I heard Voices for the first time
Jim Carroll was the voice I heard and the Jim Carroll band was the band I fell in love with. If you buy this CD at no time will it disappoint you.

Jim Carroll's personality comes through strong in his poetry and famous "Basketball Diaries", but seemingly even stronger in his music. To read about this guy's unbelievable experiences is one thing, but to hear him put work them into songs with a 70's punk flavor is another thing entirely. "People Who Died", "Crow", and "Catholic Boy" are probably the most autobiographical songs in Caroll's canon. One is never sure of Carroll's position on his extensive drug use. In a "World Without Gravity" there is a catching lyric "We need some pure pure white/Yeah we can nod all night" and only after one hears it a few times does one realize just what he's making reference to. I've always wondered what Carroll would himself say about drug use in general as a result of his experiences. The closest you'll get is this album and his other ones, since in the diaries and poems he is flippant with the issue. All in all this is a great album, the smartass junkie tongue coming through loud and clear with a kind of existential abrasiveness that reminds us:Carroll still has the rebellious heart of the teenager and twentysomething he once was.

ever wonder if robert smith was say................less than completly straight? i mean he wears make up and all like that.but it could just be for theatrics like kiss.theres a b-side out called "a man in my mouth".thats more than a little suspicious.hes got a borderline feminine way of singing and can hit high notes pretty easily,like on love cats.theres the lip stick laden album kiss me kiss me kiss me.the single "why cant i be you" about a chick.well,he is married.what about the song "lullaby" where "spider man is having him for dinner tonight?"once again,this sounds a little fishy.then theres THE SINGLE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THAT ALL THAT LED UP TO.he has no kids and then released this single "the 13th".it has a very flamboyant and fresh from the closet feel to it.in it hes watching a chick on a stage and falling in love.its all good despite the closet thing.then theres the lines "i think i get a bit confused.am i seducing or being seduced?".thats not a question a guy with a girl would ask.i think hed have a pretty good idea.then it goes on to talk about "ill be all the things in a world ive never been.see all the things in a world ive never seen".............you see where im going with this.hes batting for the other team for the 1st time.also,theres the line"its like tonight im really not me at all".that could be alluding to something .and his lover,the girl,offers to"take him on another kind of ride".it just comes off less than masculine.oh yeah,and what about that video where theyre all in a closet together?then its to be continued and the big suprise at the end is it breaks and they all come out of the closet?i was a really big cure fan before this single came out but im not so sure now.they did an album called paris too.they couldve named it after any city in the world but named it after that one with a reputation for..................well,id better get back to the facts here.i hitchiked in the rain to go and buy this album and was downright disturbed to realize finaly that this guy id been defending the whole time had more than likely became a switch hitter!theres a unreleased b-side like with every cure single since they are after our money and do everything from a buisness standpoint.

Before I get into how good the stuff on this single is, to set the record straight, "Wild Mood Swings," which seems to be spoken of only pejoratively, is a very good album; it's no "Disintegration," but nothing is. Regarding this single, "It Used to Be Me" is absolutely disgusting; it's literally sick how good this song is. I don't know that I, personally, would characterize it as sounding like a b-side from Disintegration, but, it's definitely good enough to be characterized as such. Beyond this, the remixes of "The 13th," especially the so-called "Killer Bee Mix," and "Ocean" are all quite good.

I can take or leave these 13th remixes. The song isn't that great to begin with. However, this is the only place that you can find "It Used To Be" which sounds more like a Disintegration B-side than one from Wild Mood Swings. A dark and moody song that is vintage Robert...vintage Cure. It is worth the price of the CD to be able to listen to that song over and over again.

I can't believe you had this cd. It was in excellent condition and was a great listen, especially for hip-hop heads interested in the roots of Talib Kweli and DJ Hi-Tek.

No need to sound redundant, but this album is a must for anyone who considers underground hip-hop their lifeline. In my opinion, the most original hip-hop debut, comparable to Blackstar. A historical album resulting in the Kweli and Hi-Tek introduction which led to Blackstar and Reflection Eternal. Word is they are in the lab in Cincinnati working on the new Mood album "7 days, 7 nights".

I feel sorry for the retard who dogged on Mood because he thought their name was doom. Hey buddy, write reviews once you know what your talking about. Quit hatin on groups you don't even know about. Especially Mood. The group, which consists of Main Flow, Donte, Jahson, and Hi Tek on the ones and two's, molds together nicely, all their rhymes have a unique twist, but compliment the others nicely. The beats are all smooth, yet got the vibe to have your head nod. They definitely represent by birth city nicely, C-Town rocks. This is a must have for all the true hip hop heads. To convince you, most of the cd's I own, theres always at least one song that I skip, and I own close to two hundred hip hop albums or compilations. This, no song to skip, great beats, great DJ Hi Tek solo songs, even though I wish they would be longer to here him spin the 1's and 2's longer. On the last note, they have some good collaborations on here, with Talib Kweli getting broke into the game on 4 tracks and definitely doing his thing,and Sunz of Man letting there skills shine. This is a must have. Get this while it's still out there.