New Wave music reviews

This is a MUST HAVE in your Ant collection. Adam is a BRILLIANT song writer. And it shows in this...his first release (although tweaked a bit in 1983 when rereleased.....I dont think it is even possible to get an original copy of this album.....too bad). Please....BUY THIS! You wont regret it.

Apart from being one of my favourite Adam Ant CDs, this is one of my favourite CDs of all time. There is just something about the simple clarity of all the tracks that really stands the test of time. Although every track on this Cd is good, outstanding tracks are Digital Tenderness, Nine Plan Failed and Cleopatra. While some of the production is obviously late 1970's, that adds to the overall charm of this excellent CD. Dont expect anything like Prince Charming mind you, this is from the punk era.

I bought this on cassette when I was a 10th grader in 1979 at a little music shop in Center City Philly. What was I doing walking around Philly at that age? Don't ask. If it wasn't for this cassette and a few others, I would have committed suicide. I have the album and still play it. As soon as I got a record player I bought the album which is one of the best in album art ever. It will always cheer me up. The CD is crisp and the extras a lot of fun

Melt the guns
Dismantle the bombs
Love your neighbour
Wherever they're from

Nobody writes lyrics like that anymore.

This album is my fave Ian Dury & the Blockheads. This is the one album I can count on to get ME out of the doldrums. I knew of Ian & Co from New Boots and Panties but this is THE one to own IMHO. It's so slick and wonderful and I'm not really a fan of slickness. But the competancy of the musicians and the insanity of the lyrics makes me smile from ear to ear (or ear to arse).
Playing it almost 30 years later (!) reminds me of how many different bands and people were releasing incredible and interesting music back in the day. They don't seem to do that anymore. Which is probably the reason I'm listening to music that is almost 30 years old...

This release best captures the spirit of the times with its quirky sound of fused punk, new wave and disco.
Most people know the song "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll," another Dury song that captured the era, but the songs on Do It Yourself blended the mental state of the club kids I best knew at the time.
Alienited(sp) and counter-culture but not wanting to do much more than spend the evening on the dance floor.
I regard this album along with Remain In Light by Talking Heads, and the first B-52's album as the best reflection of the care-free times of my college days. ***Also: give Ian's son Baxter Dury a listen. His debut CD is fantastic.***

I bought this on cassette when I was a 10th grader in 1979 at a little music shop in Center City Philly. What was I doing walking around Philly at that age? Don't ask. If it wasn't for this cassette and a few others, I would have committed suicide. I have the album and still play it. As soon as I got a record player I bought the album which is one of the best in album art ever. It will always cheer me up. The CD is crisp and the extras a lot of fun

Melt the guns
Dismantle the bombs
Love your neighbour
Wherever they're from

Nobody writes lyrics like that anymore.

This album is my fave Ian Dury & the Blockheads. This is the one album I can count on to get ME out of the doldrums. I knew of Ian & Co from New Boots and Panties but this is THE one to own IMHO. It's so slick and wonderful and I'm not really a fan of slickness. But the competancy of the musicians and the insanity of the lyrics makes me smile from ear to ear (or ear to arse).
Playing it almost 30 years later (!) reminds me of how many different bands and people were releasing incredible and interesting music back in the day. They don't seem to do that anymore. Which is probably the reason I'm listening to music that is almost 30 years old...

This release best captures the spirit of the times with its quirky sound of fused punk, new wave and disco.
Most people know the song "Sex and Drugs and Rock and Roll," another Dury song that captured the era, but the songs on Do It Yourself blended the mental state of the club kids I best knew at the time.
Alienited(sp) and counter-culture but not wanting to do much more than spend the evening on the dance floor.
I regard this album along with Remain In Light by Talking Heads, and the first B-52's album as the best reflection of the care-free times of my college days. ***Also: give Ian's son Baxter Dury a listen. His debut CD is fantastic.***

There aren't any dogs on this album (just a reference to doghouses). "Sugar Mama" is sultry and note-perfect; "Rockin' Robin" has great energy. But the originals--which constitute most of the album--are at least as good as the covers. "I Won't Lie" is unforgettable; "Helen" is pleasing; "One Way Street" is clever and catchy; and my favorite of all is "You Can't Please All The People All The Time." No indeed. But if you can't please most rock 'n rollers with this music, maybe it's not worth bothering....

I was brought up in the North where anything that came from London was well advised to stay there. That was a near disaster for me as it was only through more enlightened friends that I heard of Nine Below Zero. I was given a copy of Don't Point Your Finger and instantly warmed to the thrash blues genre which seemed to combine Chas and Dave, Billy Bragg and a whole host of others. In short, I loved it. That was twenty years ago and I still haven't heard anything that comes close to the raw energy and "you will have a good time" mentality of a Dennis Greaves gig. That Mr Greaves isn't a household name is a real tragedy. This album has it all, from fast sweaty tunes like the opener, Back in the Doghouse to the almost ballad Helen. All of life is uncovered here. Anyway, if you like your music well done with extra energy and edge, grab it. Buy the rest of his stuff, as you'll soon want to and catch a Master Bluesman on top of his game. "These guys could make a morgue jump"? No doubts here.

No matter the ridiculousness of the music (be it pop, rock, techno, dub, house, industrial, new wave, psychedelic -no particular order), This band from Screen Gemz, Freur, and both the pop and techno versions of Underworld, created some of the coolest and refreshing music that stands the test of time. Albeit recent fans out there now only have ever heard the newer Underworld (1992 - 2003), it's nice that us old school hardcore fans are still here, nods Bill Skulley. Those old tapes and vinyls are worn out!!!

The re-release of Freur's Doot Doot was a wonderful surprise as most of their stuff is super rare. It's a truly extraordinary cd for it's time and reminds me of how much I truly adored Duran Duran's Rio when I first listened to it. Karl Hyde just has a rapturous voice to listen to, not unlike Simon LeBon.

When the Dubnobasswithmyheadman cd came out in '94 I was totally thrilled they didn't give up, and honestly I was ecstatic with the album...a most brilliant album...one that will never leave this boy's cd player.

I RECOMMEND ANYTHING BY KARL HYDE AND CO.

an inpirational album from the band that would eventually become underworld.not a poor track on this album that just wants to be played again and again.i can't recomend this album enough so just buy it now.

Dreams of Sedona has rich musical texture with various themes through the many cuts on this lovely CD. Alexanders music is unique. It connects directly to the heart and touches us there, awakening our deepest and highest emotions. I cannot overstate how highly I regard this music--I listen to it all the time.

I was not the only one who loved this CD. I accidentally left it in my mother's car and she immediately asked how to get her own copy. Very calming, spiritual music to listen to anytime.

I enjoyed listening to this CD very much and would definitely recommend this CD to other people who are interested in the group T?l?phone. They have a great sound and rhythm. There lyrics were great. As well, I liked the emotions that they exuded throughout their songs. T?lephone is a great band.

As an American who lived and worked in France for two years, I really recommend this CD to people who speak some French and like the 80's sound. T?l?phone is well known in France and for good reason. Lovers of French and 80's music will never regret the purchase!

This whole package is a must have for any metal fan. I can't say that one part of the CD was a high point, because to me all parts were a high point throughout both CDs. Saxon knows how to put on a great show!

This is certainly the best Saxon live material. It was recorded in 1995 during the Dogs of War tour. It incorporates the new guitarrist Doug Scarrat, which plays (very well) the guitar parts originally played by Graham Oliver, although in my pessoal opinion I prefer the style of Graham Oliver. The band is very well tuned, with powerfull guitars. The quality of this recording is amazing ! In my opinion, the high point of this double live recording are the tracks "Crusader" (With a magnific guitar solo by Paul Quinn), "Ain't gonna take it" (With an amazing and powerfull guitar riff), "The great white buffalo'' and "The eagle has landed"(With a powerfull guitar riff too). There are too a great guitar solo by Paul Quinn on the introduction of the track "Princess of the night", a guitar solo by Doug Scarrat on the introduction of the track "Wheels of steel", and a bass solo of Nibbs Carter on the introduction of "Crash Dive". All Saxon fan must have this recording, pure heavy metal !

my favorite I would say is The Stars We Are , but this one is very nice Marc has put some time into this one, I recomend this one

Following marc through his many phases, I still find myself going back in time to this, his finest moment. The full album has exotic tastes, tinges of sadness, happiness and that "all important sleaze factor" that Marc does so well! It will take you on a journey to Spain, the Far East, the sea, and other dark places... if you think Marc Almond was washed up after Soft Cell, forget it, this is the mature Marc, I never tire of every song on it!! a must buy for anyone with taste...

this cd is my most prized posession. i've memorized every word of every song, every line of melody and harmony... every song is completely different, fantastically moody, magically brilliant... what poetry in his lyrics! what passion in his voice! i'm convinced i will never own an album i prize more than this one. i'd give it a sky full of stars, but since i can only give five, that's what i'll do.

This is the culmination of all the work XTC put in on the road and studio as a touring band before they became Andy, Colin and Gregsy's studio project. At the time of English Settlement XTC were completely in sync with one another musically, and the result is this brilliant album. Because the band was still playing live, the overdubs are kept to a minimum in order to accomodate live performance. So no endless string orchestrations and such. The economy of sound actually serves to make English Settlement that much stronger and tauter an album. In other words, it rocks. Musically XTC were such an original band. Terry Chambers deceptively simple thud, whack drumming is instanly recognizable and PERFECT. After he left their sound changed quite a bit. Dave Gregory's guitar and keyboards are impeccable, hell everyone is excellent and the songwriting is some of the best Partridge and Colin Moulding would do. Unfortunately soon after it's release Andy Partridge suffered crippling stage fright partially brought on by bussiness pressures and XTC never toured again, in store gigs notwithstanding. Terry Chambers quit and the "classic" XTC period was over. On subsequent albums their sound would change quite a bit and not all of it for the better. The third of the classic XTC records: Drums And Wires, Black Sea and English Settlement.

Yes, this is really just your old LP version of XTC's English Settlement but much smaller and sounds much better than the previous CD releases of it. The sound and the cute little inserts of the *original* inserts with tiny writing (and a cute little booklet with japanese lyrics) are the only reasons to get this import. Most importantly: IF YOU DON'T HAVE THIS ALBUM ON CD, IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO GET THIS IMPORT. THE OTHER US RELEASE SOUNDS LIKE ... Least importantly: "Leisure" and "Fly on the Wall" are still really enjoyable songs and the album wouldn't work well without them. Anyway this import is like a classic Hitchcock film finally available in THX. Got me?

Although not the band's finest album, English Settlement has highlights that are among the strongest this band ever produced. The main flaw with ES (and I should state for the record that, despite its flaws, it's my favorite Xtc album)is too much filler. Fly on the Wall and Leisure have no business on this album. They would make fine b sides but can't match No Thugs in Our House or Snowman for sheer depth and creativity.

This Japanese reissue has terrific sound (courstey of remastering engineer Ian Cooper)and reproduces the original album graphics perfectly (right down to the embossed cover). The inner sleeves are faithfully reproduced (including lyrics in English). This edition also includes a separate sheet with lyrics in both Japanese and English.

This album marked the end of the rough and tumble sound of Xtc. The next album Mummer would go for texture over substance. While that album has its merits (including the acidic Funk Pop a Roll and pastoral Love on a Farm Boy's Wages), it was a bit of a let down after this edgy, satire laced classic.