New Wave music reviews

One of the best songs about women in 2003 featuring Coldplay, Melanie C, Blue, Sam Brown, Eva Cassidy, Norah Jones, Kylie Minogue, Westlife, Roxette and etc.

how can ya go wrong with all the top line ska bands on this cd. the "real" ska bands on the scene. the scofflaws, new york ska jazz ensemble,the toasters and more. every friggin song is great not a dud in the bunch.The best track is One Groovy Coconut's new wave crashed, the best new ska band i've heard all year.also dig the fab track from the pilfers, who rage live! a must get Cd for anyone into SKA and for everyone period.

I could Skank 24 hours straight to this off beat masterpiece! If you're to hip to be cool, then you sure as hell should have this in your CD selection! Original Rude Boy Style

I could Skank 24 hours straight to this off beat masterpiece! If you're to hip to be cool, then you sure as hell should have this in your CD selection! Original Rude Boy Style

Relaxing and invigerating. Puts me in a great mood every time I listen to it!

For my money, this is Tuxedomoon at their angst-ridden best: atmospheric, claustrophobic, neurotic, moody as hell. Tuxedomoon truly was San Fran's seminal postpunk avant-garde band, though Chrome also must be mentioned in this connection. It's too bad "Scream with a View," the group's other seminal late 70s ep wasn't included with this one as a twofer. But this would be a welcome addition to any elitist bon vivant's CD collection.

Sparks have made news of biblical proportions! They've got the number one song in Heaven! Of course, this has some holy rockers in a huff. Jimi Hendrix' "Angel" has been ousted from the #1 spot, and Jim Morrison's collaboration with John Lennon, "Light My Cigarette" is holding at #2. After sixteen albums with so few hits on earth, Sparks are aiming much higher to find a more receptive audience.

Why are you hearing it now, you ask? Sparks new CD single on Virgin Records contains three new versions of Sparks' 1977 song, prophetically titled "#1 Song In Heaven" - Part 1 Radio Edit, Part 2, and a rendition with guest vocalist Jimmy Sommerville. Sparks have hired a fifteen piece string ensemble as their backing band, Tony Visconti as producer, and of course Gabriel reprises his cameo role. Giorgio Moroder - eat your heart out!

The result is purely celestial. Imagine the fabulous original version embellished by twenty years of technological advancement and expertise. Visconti's lush orchestral arrangement on Part 1 adds warmth to the synthesized original, and Russell's vocals are stunning. Part 2 is techno-rrific! The extended version with Jimmy Sommerville is long enough for a trip to heaven and back. I'd have no sympathy for the devil if he were caught dancing to this one, and he probably is, along with the Marquis de Sade and the Fuhrer himself.

Heaven doesn't usually have much earthly musical competition (Mariah Carey is no great threat to Janis Joplin), but Sparks have been challenging from the start. They have many fans up there. "That Sparks song sounds so wonderful, it renewed my appetite!" exclaimed Karen Carpenter. "That catchy new #1 song inspired me to go on a diet, and I feel great!" said Elvis. "I loved the video--the keyboard player is a real star!" quipped Charlie Chaplin.

The single precedes Sparks' album Plagiarism, which comprises re-workings of their own material spanning from 1973 to 1994. There are, without doubt, countless other bands willing to cover Sparks' songs, but Ron and Russell Mael are probably the most qualified for the job. They auditioned themselves just to be sure.

A divine new studio awaits them, and the Three Wise Men have requested to audition as back-up singers when Sparks inevitably stroll through the pearly gates. Let's hope God can hold off awhile on that command performance he's requested from the Mael brothers. They've still got plenty of work to do here on earth. Heaven can wait!

A collaboration between the Mael brothers and Giorgio Moroder, with their quirky pop embraced in the hypnotic trance of Giorgio's best production since his work with Donna Summer. This song's got a heady beat, strong hooks, wonderful atmospherics, great falsetto vocals and hilarious irreverent lyrics. Try to get the album with the same title since it contains other cool tracks like Tryouts For The Human Race, Beat The Clock and Dolce Vita.

i really liked this cd, before it burnt up.

i use to dj and this cd was a nice little sneaky surprise to throw in... if someone requested a certian song from the 80's, i'd play it off this disk, and they still danced.

i actually liked "space age love soing" better then the original.

sorry!

anyways, it is a nice little add to any goth/80's music admirees.

This cd can be enjoyed by the goths and by the fans of the 80's. One can really appreciate the dark sounds this cd offers. I especially enjoyed Masquerade by Immortalis Amor, I don't think Terry Nunn could ever sound like that. You Spin Me Round is also good, even though Dead or Alive's version sounds better. So buy it if you love the 80's or dark morbid music.

I host a Christian alternative rock show on WIOJ radio in Jacksonville, meaning I hear my share of blistering guitars cranked up to eleven, piled atop thundering drums and raking, wailing vocals. And while I never tire of that, there are times when I need a pallot-cleanser: an antidote to all ear-splitting racket. Last spring, I was sent an airplay copy of New Wave of Joy. I took it for a spin in the CD player of my car and was instantly convicted. Why? One word: warmth.

One of the many reasons technopop groups of the 1980s lost credibility was the cold, mechanical quality of their music. Situation breaks the mold with warm, very human-sounding vocals: not the whiny, milquetoast crooning that infected so much of the so-called New Wave. Yes, there are layers of synthesizers and electronic percussion, but they're arranged in a non-cloying way, as was so often the case with 80s electropop aggregates. Situation's songs are delightfully bouncy, melodic and catchy, as with the winsome "Don't Go," and the sparkling "Blue Skies." They do show some techno tendencies with the irresitably dancable "I Turned." And despite its mild silliness, "Jesus Boy, Jesus Girl," is probably the most likeable gem on this CD. Fans will find bonuses in the remixes of "Starry Eyes," and "I Turned." As I am fond of saying, listen without prejudice.

This is an impressive first album for this Denver based Christian band. Although they describe their sound as "electro/synthpop/new wave," it is not that easily categorized. The music tends to be high energy & upbeat, yet it has a Moody Blues-ish quality as well. The vocals are first-rate: strong & innovative. Despite the complexity of the music, the message never gets lost. This is an album that energizes and inspires without being heavy-handed or preachy. It really is deserving of all five stars!

I was a bit disappointed that Teenage Jesus and the Jerks were not included in New York Noise, but, despite their absence, the album sounded quite good. This cd's insert was packed with photos and information on the bands and No Wave.

Of all the CDs in 2003, New York influenced my taste in music the most. While a bit pricey, New York Noise is a fantastic compilation of post-punk and early 80s tunes that still sound rockin' today. Featuring songs from Liquid Liquid, ESG, the Bloods, DNA, Theoretical Girls, and an amazing Glenn Branca song, this CD opened up a whole world of great bands I didn't realize existed. Perhaps the only downfall of this CD is the 10 minute rap song by K Rob; luckily, the other songs are catchy, creative, and hip. If you're a fan of bands like Yeah Yeah Yeahs or The Rapture and are looking to broaden your music horizons, you'll love this CD.