New Wave music reviews

Don't bother yourself with arguments on song selection, remaster, blah blah...., just take your seat and enjoy TFF.
I love the cover.

Sarah, Keren, & Siobhan have outdone themselves once again on this junior LP release. The follow up album to the Bananarama self title album takes a turn for those more intrested in catching the beat for strutting thier feet! Some tender moments take place w/ hits like "Once In A Lifetime". However back in 1988, when the album was released, the group recieved some tragic news that member Siobhan (shuv-on) Fahey was planning on leaving the group to consintrate on family. As tearful as this was for the other two members as well as the fans all blessings were given to her for the best. Later, Sarah and Keren would replace her w/ Jaqui O'Sullivan, then go back into the studio and re-record thier voices for the last single release from this LP entitled "I Want You Back", they would also film the video w/ Jaqui and record one full-legnth LP called "Pop Life". But just as quick as Jaqui joined the group she left just as abruptly. This particular LP is kinda of special for Bananarama fans because it was one of the last time the original band members would record together, but luckily they continued on as a duo after Jaqui! So this one is special because this is how we want to remember them as : Keren Woodward, Sarah Dallin, & Siobhan Fahey! and of course none of my reviews are complete until I name the best tracks so here they are;"I Can't Help It', "Some Girls", "Bad For Me", "I Heard A Rumour", "Strike It Rich" "Once In A Lifetime", and last but not least "Come Back". See I told you this Lp is good there's only 8-10 songs and i've just named more than 1/2 the cd! ENJOY!

This is the best Bananarama record ever. Every song on this album is a great song. I got this album when I was 13, and after 17 years of listening to many many records, I still count this one as one of the best recordings ever made.

Bananarama was one of my favorite bands in high school, and to this day they still are. This album is very good, my favorite song on it is Come Back, very well done, super catchy melody and lyrics. I love working out at the gym too Bananarama on my c.d. player their music is perfect to workout too. I can't believe it has been over 20 years since they started making hits. Other really good tracks on the album are Bad For Me, Some Girls, and Someone Like You.

If you have never heard of the Style Council, you are not alone. Despite their popularity in Europe, they never received much US airplay. That is a shame. Perhaps the most talented band to comes out of the 80's, the Style Council blend thoughtful lyrics into smooth jazz grooves (Blue Cafe), powerful vocals (The Story of Someone's Shoe), crunching rock and roll with blues mix (Walls Come Tumbling Down), and some great dance numbers (My Ever Changing Moods). You will love this CD!! All of the tracks are head and shoulders above most pop music. This CD shows off the wide range of musical talent from this outstanding band. A must have for any collection.

June 8th, 1988. A day that will live in infamy for every Depeche Mode fan. The day that this masterful and truly influential band performed at the famed Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California during their legendary Music For The Masses tour. If there are truly defining moments in life, then this certainly was one of them for DM.

As the opening track PIMPF plays, the crowd begins to lose control and as soon as Behind The Wheel starts up, they've completely lost it. Dave, Martin, Andy, & Alan are all in top form, playing and performing with an intensity unmatched by any other.

Most bands never sound half as good live as they do in the studio. Depeche Mode make it look easy. With the live version of Stripped, DM take an already fantastic single and make it ten times better. Utilizing a mix of Stripped called the Highland Mix, the boys take the opening notes, and instead of cutting them off short as they had originally done, they hold them the full length, which changes the whole diameter of the piece, giving it this truly epic feel. The crowd noise only enhances the experience, giving you this feeling as if the entire world is there screaming and cheering. After Dave sings the first verse and chorus, he cries out defiantly, "Yeeeaaaaaaaggggghhhhh!!!!!!!" igniting the crowd and it is such a powerful moment to behold. I have heard Stripped performed many times, but never with the same strength, passion and veracity that was shown here. I only wish this live version had been released as a single because it truly deserves the status. It is a classic performance all its own.

Martin Gore, our loving curly blonde songwriter, performs three very memorable songs for this concert: Somebody, The Things You Said, and A Question of Lust. Somebody is a love song so honest, pure and forthright in its intentions that one is overcome by its emotional resonance. The live version gives this very intimate song a public feel as the crowd watches and cheers for Martin. As he sings "ten..der..lyyyyy", you know there isn't a dry eye on any teenage girl's face. It's quite interesting that Martin follows up Somebody with The Things You Said, a very melancholy song about betrayal and disappointment which is a complete contrast to Somebody. Later on, A Question of Lust is performed, which is another passionate piece by Martin that's as deep and tender as it is inordinately honest and sweet. All very beautifully performed by Mr. Gore.

"A Brief..Period..Of Rejoicing". The words spoken by Mute Records own Daniel Miller. The song: Black Celebration. A song so darkly gothic and pure, that one becomes lost in it's beautiful tranquility (and never wants to be found). This song speaks to us all, and when performed live, Dave is singing to the choir as it were. This live version from 101 is loved also for speeding up the pace of the song, giving it this added extra urgency. It's hard to believe that this piece never became a single.

Another standout moment from 101 is Never Let Me Down Again, a song written on the grand scale with much debate over it's subject matter (Drugs? Homosexuality? Or just Martin's experience at taking a plane trip with a friend?) 101 director D.A. Pennebaker assumes it's about drugs, but is he right? The band of course never comment. The 101 live version of Never Let Me Down Again is best remembered for Dave getting the crowd to wave their hands back and forth in the air during the instrumental sequence of the song, as if they were fields of wheat blowing in the wind.

Everything Counts, the final song performed, is the icing on the cake. This is one of the best pieces of music that Depeche Mode have ever used to close a concert. It's perfect because not only is it a tremendously powerful song all its own, but it involves the audience at the end. : "The grabbing hands, grab all they can! Everything Counts in large amounts!" over and over again in unison. A very bonding experience for both the band and the audience. After such a breathtaking performance of all these songs, it's hard to believe that the band had thought they had played badly when they left the stage. Very humbling. But it couldn't be further from the truth. 101 is truly a defining moment for Depeche Mode.

Now finally, all these years later since this epic event, 101 the concert has been digitally remastered as a Super Audio CD (SACD) in 5.1 Surround Sound & 2.0. The original 2.0 Stereo version is also included on this 2 disc set. You must have a SACD Player in order to listen to the concert in 5.1, otherwise it will just play in 2.0 Stereo. According to different sources there are errors on tracks 3, 4 and 5. The multi-channel playback does not work on these tracks. Still, a small price to pay to have this remastered 2CD in my opinion.

As a special bonus, the entire opening of PIMPF is included on Disc 2. A few minutes after Everything Counts ends, PIMPF begins. A wonderful treat. This SACD is the perfect companion to the 101 DVD and a nice addition to any Depeche Mode collection.

Keep Moding!

LCDStumm101 / 0724359470726

Sparks has provided some absolutely amazing music over the years, and this collection of "12" mixes" provides a fascinating glimpse of some of the Mael Brothers' substantial talent. This is a far less extensive collection than the awesome Rhino collection released in 1991 ("Profile: The Ultimate Sparks Collection," which contains 40 songs on two CDs). Nevertheless, the brilliance of Sparks comes across - their ability to put just about any subject into intelligent words with a great beat and sound. These geniuses are fun, fun, fun!

The Wipers were a influential punk band that began in Portland, Oregon in 1977. Greg Sage lead the group to recording many "underground" albums that created a small yet humble following with their songs about hardship, pain and frustration. Their music struck a chord that influenced the founding members of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain (who orchestrated the concept of making this tribute album) and Krist Novoselic. Here are a collection of Wipers covers with strong effort put into all of the recordings. Nirvana's recording of "Return of the Rat" is amongst the strongest of the collection. In addtion, "Return of the Rat" is a rare collector's item for Nirvana fans since this recording is in its original state without any editing unlike the version found on the 2004 "With the Lights Out" boxed set. You'll find Honey's take on "No One Wants an Alien" to be a light semi-acoustic masterpiece with a beautifully sung rendition of Sage's lyrics. Poison Idea's cover of "Up Front" takes a rauccus and sonic approach you'll find nothing less than fantastic. If you aren't a fan of the Wipers, you will be after listening to this album. 14 Songs for Greg Sage is a thoroughly enjoyable and fitting tribute.

I bought this because I heard Nirvana was on it. I also really like the Wipers because bands like The Wipers and Meat Puppets were good influenzes on Nirvana, unlike the crap that Devo and Led Zeppelin did

This is a bunch of covers of Wipers songs, as you might have guessed. All the covers are really well done, and pay a positive tribute. Nirvana's cover is especially well done. Quality music for any fan of the Wipers.

This is just one record I think the most of us just don�t deserve.It�s too good,too great and too romantic (in its good sense,if there�s still any...) for one�s sake... In fact I would recommend listening to it accompanied by someone you really matter,and move your lips to the lyrics that Robert Forster and Grant McLennan so charmfully sing...If he/she doesn�t fall surrendered in your arms,maybe he/she is a stone...The group seem to be emotioned and deeply concerned with what they were doing,and this reflects on the album�s surface inflicting a beautiful pain to the astounded listeners...If you share "16 Lovers Lane" with somebody,be sure that he/she will love you...If a friend suggests you buying this record,it�s undoubtedly a good friend... Best songs are "Love Goes On","You Can�t Say No Forever" and "Streets Of Your Town",but I always had an unexplainable preference for the miniature "Devil�s Eye"...don�t ask me why... In fact,"16 Lovers Lane" will stick eternally to your skin,once you listened to it...So,be advised!...

What a great selection of classic roc

Having "come of age" in the 70's, Top 40 radio back then played it all-from nonsensical ditties by one-hit wonders to classic guitar rock to disco, and this collection is the best I've ever heard. It has something for everyone, not a loser in the bunch. A friend of mine recently bought this collection on cassette and the tapes are always on in the car and you never tire of hearing them. This is when music was a helluva lot of fun and when people were actually talented. Move over 'Super Hits Of The 70's-Have A Nice Day'-all you'll ever need are these 5 cd's to capture all those great 70's memories! Enjoy, Rock On and Shake Your Groove Thing! Yeah Yeah!

An excellent concert in Bercy (June 3th, 2003) was recorder for this new album. Great songs like Electrastar, Punishment Park, J'ai demande a la lune, Marilyn and others was performed with energy by the best french group. If you are fan of Indo or if you like very good music, you must buy this double cd.