New Wave music reviews

Guitar Beat is the best Surf album of the 80's. Remarkable depth and oddly ahead of its time. The Ventures meet Link Wray in NYC during the height of the city's late 70's Rock'n'Roll renaissance. Where is Jody Harris now that we really need him. These guys spawned The Mermen, Los Straitjackets, and Huevos Rancheros almost as much as their 60's predecessors .
"Calhoun Surf " may be the ultimate driving song. (Los Straitjackets' later version is worth getting. )

If you like to drive fast. If you like guitar surf music. If you like the soundtrack of james bond movies, you'll like this album. all instrumental, guitar-surf music on amphetimines.
If you already you have this album, you might want to listen to a band called BAZOOKA-the same thing with saxaphone, or the VENTURES - In Space.

excellent! Jody Harris (John Zorn, Golden Palominos) and Pat Irwin (B52s) take surf music outside. Any chance of releasing "It's Only a Movie" and Jody Harris solo albums?

Whatever, this really grooves. I'm listening to the '86 vinyl release and it only has 10 tracks compared to the cd with 24 tracks, that would make this cd more than twice as good as the vinyl copy. Paul weller was one very cool guy and I can understand why he was and still is huge in the U.K. Check out his recent solo release "Illumination" ,nothing like this, as it is more mellow and bluesy, without it being blues, persay.

If you have any interest in The Style Council buy this CD. The band is almost impossible to categorize. Read the online reviews and notice how everyone's definition of their music is different. "White Soul" is one description that sticks with me and is supported by this CD. Unlike many bands, they sound even better live, probably because they are great musicians. They are loose but groove really well on this recording. It's a great mix of some of their finest songs at the peak of their history. This is the album that introduced me to The Style Council and it remains my favorite. The horns are strong, the strings are real and the band is tight. Camille Hinds is a fantastic bass player and Steve White is the most underrated drummer I know of. Listen to his little fills that show his jazz foundation. I also own the video tape version of this concert and it's the most enjoyable concert video I've seen. This is what pop music can achieve but rarely does - polish, soul, melody, instrumentation and class.

I bought this album while in Japan and it was the smartest musical purchase of my life. The Style Council is a fantastic band and this live performance doesn't miss the mark. During their hey-day of the 80's this talented British band was over-looked in the States--lost somewhere between New Wave & Wham. Paul Weller and his band made fine music though. "The Lodgers" and "Internationalists" are my favorite cuts on this exceptional recording. Funk, R&B and Pop collided and the result was Style Council. Check them out!

Whatever, this really grooves. I'm listening to the '86 vinyl release and it only has 10 tracks compared to the cd with 24 tracks, that would make this cd more than twice as good as the vinyl copy. Paul weller was one very cool guy and I can understand why he was and still is huge in the U.K. Check out his recent solo release "Illumination" ,nothing like this, as it is more mellow and bluesy, without it being blues, persay.

If you have any interest in The Style Council buy this CD. The band is almost impossible to categorize. Read the online reviews and notice how everyone's definition of their music is different. "White Soul" is one description that sticks with me and is supported by this CD. Unlike many bands, they sound even better live, probably because they are great musicians. They are loose but groove really well on this recording. It's a great mix of some of their finest songs at the peak of their history. This is the album that introduced me to The Style Council and it remains my favorite. The horns are strong, the strings are real and the band is tight. Camille Hinds is a fantastic bass player and Steve White is the most underrated drummer I know of. Listen to his little fills that show his jazz foundation. I also own the video tape version of this concert and it's the most enjoyable concert video I've seen. This is what pop music can achieve but rarely does - polish, soul, melody, instrumentation and class.

I bought this album while in Japan and it was the smartest musical purchase of my life. The Style Council is a fantastic band and this live performance doesn't miss the mark. During their hey-day of the 80's this talented British band was over-looked in the States--lost somewhere between New Wave & Wham. Paul Weller and his band made fine music though. "The Lodgers" and "Internationalists" are my favorite cuts on this exceptional recording. Funk, R&B and Pop collided and the result was Style Council. Check them out!

I personaly like all kinds of music, however this is the one to stand before all others. There is nothing to explain this song, but for the full effect, buy it today! You will NEVER regret it!

I really love it... And true, if you're truly deeply madly in love with someone, it's a great song to listen to. Believe me...

My soulmate and I believe in every word of this song although we can"t be together physicaly the song keeps us together emotionally, it keeps our sanity,and it keeps us ALIVE-MAGICMAN!!!

A local radio station specializing in music of the 60s, 70s and 80s (after recently dropping its 50s playlist and "Oldies" tag) included Nick Lowe and his "Cruel to Be Kind" on a recent "One Hit Wonders" weekend. Technically, that's true I guess. But for those of us whose perspective on rock music goes a bit further than the U.S. Top Forty, Nick Lowe deserves a little more respect and recognition than this benighted station was bestowing.

Anyone with at least a passing knowledge of rock history knows that Nick Lowe was a seminal figure in late 70s New Wave. As a producer, solo artist and band member (Rockpile), his contribution to that underappreciated genre (more tuneful than straight-on punk, truer to the spirit of rock 'n' roll than all that arena rock junk) cannot be emphasized enough. As good a songwriter and performer as Elvis Costello or Joe Jackson, he never got the recognition he deserved--at least on this side of the Big Pond.

"Cruel To Be Kind" was indeed pure pop for now (and "then") people, but the album itself was much rockier, and thematically edgier than the hit single might imply. "Born Fighter," "Switchboard Susan," and "Skin Deep" are bristling rockers. "Big Kick, Plain Scrap," a cooler, slower talk-song is a fairly frank, non-condemnatory drug song (not TOTALLY condemnatory anway) which probably didn't exactly enhance the likelihood of the album's getting more extensive airplay. Neither do the numerous not-so-ambiguous double-entendres in any number of songs on the record.

Nick Lowe seems to be enjoying a comeback of sorts as a dapper elder statesman of rock 'n' roll. I caught him at a festival last summer on his tour backing THE CONVINCER. The audience didn't need much convincing, however. As rockers go, Nick Lowe is the genuine article. If you're a newcomer to his music LABOUR OF LUST is a great place to start. But don't stop there. There's a whole catalog of material from the 80s and 80s to explore. And maybe...just maybe...someone will see fit to release his first solo record PURE POP FOR NOW PEOPLE on CD sometime in the near future.

Jesus of Cool was a jukebox, spinning out a series of perfectly crafted - and decidedly quirky and subversive - pop singles. In contrast, Nick Lowe's second album, Labour of Lust, is the work of a bar band, in this case Rockpile, playing the hell out of the same type of songs. Naturally, the result is a more coherent sound that may be a little less freewheelingly eclectic, but it is no less brilliant. Recorded simultaneously with Dave Edmunds' Repeat When Necessary, Labour of Lust benefits from the muscular support of Rockpile, who make Lowe's songs crackle with vitality. Working primarily in the roots rock vein of Brinsley Schwarz but energizing his traditionalist tendencies with strong pop melodies, a sense of humor, and an edgy new wave sensibility, Lowe comes up with one of his best sets of songs. Not only is his only hit, the propulsively hook-laden "Cruel to Be Kind," here, but so are the rampaging outsider anthem "Born Fighter," the tongue-in-cheek, Chuck Berry-style "Love So Fine," the wonderful pure pop of "Dose of You," the haunting "Endless Grey Ribbon," the druggy "Big Kick, Plain Scrap!," and the terrific "Cracking Up," as well as his definitive version of Mickey Jupp's "Switchboard Susan." It's an exceptional collection of inventive pop songs, delivered with vigor and energy, making it one of the great records of the new wave. - Stephen Thomas, AMG

There is nothing more perfect than that "two minute" beauty. Mr. McMannes said it was easy to write the lengthy drone, but to create the perfect two minute song, well that is brilliance.
I have never understood why Nick Lowe was never embraced as a PopGod kind of guy. Who else writes the best pure pop for now people?
I came to the conclusion that we (ok, society) simply cannot embrace perfection, even broken, while pure and alive.
As usual, the Grand Poets universally embraced all had to die first.
Well, consider your first pilgrimage to a future grave.
But have fun along the way and buy this album.
Even tonight, in a STORE, I heard "Cracking Up," but not from Nick.
It was simply grand.

Do not take these 2 albums for the hit machine Level 42 became later on. It's the awesome rhythm section consisting of bass player Mark King and drummer Phil Gould that drives this high-class jazzfunk piece of music.

Favorites: "43" is a long instrumental track fueled by an awesome bass, "Why are you leaving" a superb ballad with a crispy saxophone, "Heathrow" is atmosperic as an airport (!?), while of course "Love games" with it's trademark bass riff needs no introduction. "Dune tune" has a juicy buildup with the bass and guitar trading places (sounds unique).

Though less consistent, the bass is even juicier on the best tracks of their debut album. The tracks "Sandstorm", "Love meeting love", "Woman" and "88" are the standouts for me.

The self titled debut album of Level 42 is seamlessly
brilliant and I DON'T care what anyone else thinks!The first
three songs are fantastic-the breezy uptempo soul of "Turn It On",the funky instrumental "43" and the highly sensual R&B
of "Why Are You Leaving"."Almost There" and "Love Games" are
slamming uptempo funk with fantastic guitar licks while the
pulsing "Heathrow" and the deeply grooving "Dune Tune" take funk
fusion to new depths!"Starchild" ends off as the album begins with a heavily crafted funky R&B-pop song featuring great
keyboard work by Mike Lindup.
'The Early Tapes' is it's own beast altogether.Level 42
hadn't yet polished there sound and while the caribbean-inflected
groove of "Love Meeting Love" and the lilting "Wings Of Love" are
great early single material the album is dominated by bassy
funk-fusion such as "Sandstorm","Woman","88" and the marvelous
"Mr.Pink",but those are a sure fire treasure for funk fans!
Sadly even in their own native UK Level 42 were marketed as a
pure new-wave/pop band,even before they started commercializing
their music at all!And the fact that both CD's in this twofer
have nothing to do with new wave and everything to do with soul
pop-R&B and most importantly funk makes their label's marketing
plan an absolute disgrace to everything that this brilliant band
stood for!Level 42 should have been the group that would bring
the sound of jazz funk/fusion to the masses with their clever
songwriting,slick style and wonderful instrumentation-much as Steely Dan did several years earlier.But that never happened to you,the open eared listener,will have to imagine what could have been yourself by owning these two albums-a couple of the most accomplished of this era!

By C.S.

The British Invasion that hit all shores in the 1980's had many an artist that proved to be disposable from it's initial stages and in the long run over a time tested period - from Dead Or Alive to Bucks Fizz to Rick Astley and so on.
But some acts material resonate in a timeless and seamless mannner- hence the four piece from Southhampton known as Level 42 that bear that prestigious distinction.
Named best band in Britain and best group overall seven consecutive years, the release of the "Early Tapes" in 1982 on the heels of their sucessful debut LP Level 42, soldifies the band's powerful foothold in music history.

Upon the re- release of of their albums over the years in re-mastered form, the double CD package of the first album and the Early Tapes are a both a collective treat and an absolute steal for both semi and die- hard fans,and a great place to start for those looking to get a learn something about the group.
The first album contains a hybrid of commercial accessibility fused with the slap bass playing exploits of Mark King and the soaring falsetto vocals of keyboardist Mike Lindup.
They work well in tandem on the band's first release,"Turn It On" and combine eforts well with the drumming of Phil Gould on the jazz- fusion inflected instrumental "43".
Swirling and innovative keyboard melodies and synth effects high- light the radio friendly tunes "Love Games, Starchild", and the power ballad "Why Are You Leaving",which builds from an innocent trot to a full blown sprints as King whips out this bass plucking attack,giving the song a different look against the grain of standard love songs, a trademark that created their vast legions of followers.

Compared their compelling live renditions the original studio version of "Almost There" and "Foundation and Empire" which is one of the five bonus tracks offered on this re- mastered version, these tracks prove to too technical and in the case of the latter,poorly recorded despite the technological touch ups.
Overall,their first album was a 3 1/2 to four star effort in retrospect, but the strength of this double disec is bolstered by the material provided on "The Early Tapes".
Released in 1982 due to public demand for more Level 42 music after they intially burst on the scene, the tracks were, in actuality,recorded in 1979 and 1980 before the band secured a record deal.
Mark King's percussive style of fusion funk bass playing is in full force and he puts an emphatic stamp on the Level 42 name from the opening bell on the album's opening stanza,the instrumental "Sandstorm".
Though Lindup's keyboards sound department store like in spots,he offers smooth backdrops in tandem with King while the guitar playing of Boon Gould is of higher prominence versus their more commercialized efforts. He unleashes a strong rhythm guitar solo on "Theme To Margaret",sonic treatments on the live versions of "Sandstorm" and "Mr Pink",two sparkling live gems that are among the five bonus tracks included in the new and improved package here.
R>The same distinction holds true for drum playing brother, Phil.His smooth finesse and driving back-beats help shape the sound of the "Early Tapes".
"Wings of Love, Love Meeting Love and the funky and sentimental bass plucking atmosphere that canvasses "Autumn"( Paradise Is Free)are delicious main dishes that add spice and balance to the raw and edgy nature of the record.
These distinctions,coupled with the explosive cohesion of their live material,make this a five star disc. Though there are a couple of bumps that may pre-clude some from making that assessment, the overall net effect of hearing,in so many words, THE REAL LEVEL 42, make this package of "Level 42" and "The Early Tapes" in it's combined format,a solid five star record.

c.s.
1-19-04

originally reviewed in Fall of 2003

very cool record. loud, trashy, twangy chords that sound like they were strangled out of the guitar's neck intermingle with pounding drums and killer bass. The Blackouts rock with an urgency that is clear and concise in it's delivery. they never sound like they are searching for an identity, they seem to have a strong musical backbone and it shows on the confidence in their swagger on this album. Link Wray's garage rock stomp updated on Husker Du's dime?

If I hear the S-word one more time in relation to the B-word I will find the person who said it and...well, i probably won't do anything. But keep this in mind. As labels pay big bucks to "break" such "talented" bands like the Strokes and the "Kings" of Leon overseas, one only needs to look to the nation's midsection (right above her belly button) to find what A&R people at major labels, after not signing these fine boys, will undoubtedly refer to as "the mistake of their lives."
The Blackouts.
Best live rock'n'roll band i've seen. Ever. Joe is the best guitarist i've seen. Ever. Pat is the best drinker i've seen. Ever. Steve's got the most soul i've seen in a white boy. Ever. And I think Mark, in addition to being an amazing drummer, has Bun E. Carlos totally licked at smoking cigarettes whilst playing drums. And the best part of this is that it all translates beautifully to recording. But you know, their demoes sounded pretty stellar, too. I honestly think they're just that good of a band. Hands down the best Rock'n'Roll (in it's truest form) offering since the Face's A NOD IS AS GOOD AS A WINK...TO A BLIND HORSE.

I started listening to this CD 3 weeks ago and it has not left my CD Player. Like the review title says Simply Awsome and a must buy for your CD collection.

Living Ornaments is an amazing recording. It's good to see Beggar's Banquet has reissued the entire concert.
This was Gary Numan's first tour and he wanted to make a big impression and he succeeded, musically and visually. Numan certainly proved the synthesizer was an incredibly powerful instrument if desired. I can easily imagine the floor of the Hammersmith Odeon vibrating to the opening notes of 'Conversation', 'M.E.' and of course 'Down In The Park'. The band play brilliantly. Drummer Cedric Sharpley and bassist Paul Gardiner made a great rhythm section. A good deal of the songs feature the signature synthesizer solos from Ultravox member Billy Currie who toured with Numan on the European half of the tour. One of the best synth solos I've ever heard is on the song On Broadway (the old R&B classic). Even though Numan's voice was emotionless on his studio albums, one can detect a bit more emotion in the vocals on Living Ornaments.
The visual impression Numan made you can get an idea from the cd cover. Two keyboard players on platforms, 20 foot high pillars of lights that looked as they were rotating and a huge pyramid of light over the drummer. The concert was filmed and released on video under the name Living Principle. It would be great if Beggars Banquet were to rerelease the concert video on DVD. There are bootleg versions available and well worth seeking out.

And Gary's first.The songs are welcome variations to those of the studio versions.Richer in texture and less agressive,especially on the guitar parts,maybe approaching the style of the album they were presenting at the time �PLEASURE PRINCIPLE�.This was a bit of a letdown to my punk and heavy metal mentality,used as I am to live versions being faster and rawer,but this is another kind of music and I take it at face value,and it's EXCELLENT.Even �Bombers �is presented with nice arabian synth licks.The sound is incredibly dinamic,very bass heavy,and the Sharpley/Gardiner rhyhtm section is up front in the mix all along the 85'+.It's a bit synth-weak as I'd heard before I bought the record,but as good as live recordings got by late 70's.

For Numan fans looking for "Living Ornaments 79/80 you're halfway there.The double cd has the complete 79 show with tracks not found on the original LP.Sadly this set does not have the 80 show(see track list).Still a must for the Numan fan(especially early GN).Hopefully someone will release the 80 show as well done as this.

Can I remember how many times I saw the Fuzztones during the 80s? Whew. A lot! These guys were the royalty of the NYC garage scene: dark, snotty, cool-looking and great performers. Most of their songs were covers of some of the best original obscure 60s garage songs, songs from compilations like Pebbles, Mindrockers, Back From the Grave, etc. They did have some great originals, too. But their great taste in covers really put them on the map. Besides the fact that Rudy & Deb (singer & organist) were great eye candy for both girls & guys.
The subject matter of their songs always leaned towards the dark & dangerous, eerie and macbre. (When they hooked up with Screaming Jay Hawkins, that sealed it!) If that's your kind of garage music, then you MUST give this one a spin. There are too many good songs on here to even pick out a favorite. I'd say that if you are going to get only ONE Fuzztones CD, let it be this one.

Word to the wise: If you're like me, a garage purist, then watch out for the later Fuzztones stuff, when Rudy went all heavy metal. Yuck. Seems that most of the garage bands went that way when the garage scene dried up. Stick with the earlier stuff!

If you like punk, if you like rock n roll, or if you like r'n'b,...you ought to give Lysergic Emanations a listen. Almost 20 years on, this album still sounds powerful, fun & emotive. If The Doors had taken speed instead of pot they might have sounded like The Fuzztones

One of the best rock albums of the 1980s. Your art punk friends will pat you on the shoulder and tell you to invest in some Naked Raygun when you start talking about '80s music. When they do that, knock the table over, break your chair, and throw this on the CD player. Some great guitar work, some greasy organ work, it's all here. I'm sure the Murder City Devils listened to the Fuzztones during their formative years, and they still can't come close. It's not their fault, few groups can. This is a great record. Awesome cover too.

This is one of the best albums for Killing Joke fans and for anyone who loves music. It's dancy, punky and gothy sounding. Song & Dance, Dominator, Let's All Go (To The Fire Dances)...all very good songs. I play this album very frequently. There's nothing bad about this album except that it's too short. Clocks in at 39 minutes.

Im older now so alot of the KJ's output isnt lasting the test of time though they will always hold a special place for me. That being said- firedances and nighttime still get quite a few listens. Firedances in particular is one of the strangest records ever made- and it always seems to put me into a trance whenever i listen to it. Theres a weird vibe it gives off- as some reviewers mentioned almost like a bright heat and it makes me wonder if colemans forray into the occult cast a spell on this record! tribal drumming fierce but uplifting wall of guitar that sounds like elephant call put through distortion. most of the songs are repetitive in style-pulsing funklike dub disco bass- tom heavy drums-colemans "positive calls" in celebration of life- of drink wine and sex. It sounds like the soundtrack to some primitive fireorgy. But it truly sounds unlike any other recording out there Sure it has some pil(early) and some of KJ's early frenzied energy- but its a new beast entirely. Theres hardly a weak track though be warned these are not your normal structured tunes-more like mantras magnified to epic proportions. The title is perfect- because it makes you feel as if your dancing naked around a bonfire while preparing to sacrifice yourself to the lust almighty. Its pure unintellectual caught in the moment magic- with hints of secrets only known to the band or some secret order. Theres a freshness after the apocalyptic tone of the first three records- this is oddly positice but still mysterious and by no way a "happy or safe" record. Perhaps their most uncommercial record- the title track being the only song people seem to remember if at all. ANd i swear the record conjures up strange dreams after listening to it! Not everyones cup of tea but one of the most original sounding records ever released.

my Friend Stack i think you dont have any idea what are you talking about?Fire Dnaces it is an incredible album ,it was
the bombastic response at teh first taste caused by the Revelations album,huge, powerful, sick ,and no doubt about it
this is whre the Jaz voice was totally inmersed in psychedelia
adn power.

please dont pay attention to Mr Stack words.
i think you should have listen to this Fire Dances again
really near to a fire ,perhaps in a night camp.

no doubt 5 stars in this marvelous albums,
one of the best ever of the 80s.
cheers.Maurice