Album Description

A budget-priced 10-track greatest hits collection from Tommy Tutone.All original recordings. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

867-530 MINE
While searching for a copy of Tommy Tutone 2 on CD, I was forced to make a choice. I could pay more and get Tommy Tutone's first 2 albums on one CD or I could chose this CD that had everything I wanted off of TT2 and was cheaper. Truly a no brainer. A nice classic rock addition to my collection at a nice price. ... Read more

Album Description

Badfinger's 1974 studio album & second for Warner Brothers after their highly successful spell on the Apple label. Features nine tracks, including 'Got To Get Out Of Here', 'Know One Knows' and 'In The Meantime Some Other Time'. ... Read more

Reviews (30)

wish you were here
Badfinger are perhaps best remembered (when remembered at all) for their Apple release Straight Up, with its stately though ultimately timid retread of late BEATLES territory. Their subsequent releases for Warner Brothers never received the attention they deserved, yet is was here, at Warner, that BADFINGER finally emerged as legitimate heirs to the Fab Four's throne, rather than shirk as obvious pretenders.
Their Apple years brought BADFINGER a few mild brushes with fame. Their three core albums (Magic Christian Music, No Dice, and Straight Up) produced a stateside hit each. The McCARTNEY-penned "Come and Get It," from Magic Christian Music, is a note-for-note cover of the unreleased BEATLES original, bringing nothing new to the song ("Carry On Til Tomorrow," a hit in Asia, would have been a far finer introduction to the band). No Dice's "No Matter What" was a straight-ahead and unspectacular pop-rocker. The classic GEORGE HARRISON-produced "Day After Day," from Straight Up, finally brought melody to the fore. As their later work would reveal, melody was surely BADFINGER's strongest suit. (The band's final Apple release, Ass, is an easily-forgotten pastiche.) Their self-titled 1974 Warner debut was surely flawed, but nonetheless possessed some truly gorgeous pop songs, "Lonely You" being the obvious standout. But it was on their second Warner release, that same year's Wish You Were Here, when BADFINGER finally hit their stride, truly picking up where Abbey Road left off.
Just like the Abbey Road medley, Wish You Were Here overloads the listener with energy, melody, intricate harmonies, and screaming electric guitars fighting it out with strings and brass. The album begins with a jolt. In "Just a Chance" electric guitars leap from the speakers, chugging along with Pete Ham's impassioned vocal. It becomes immediately clear that Ham had now unleashed the true depths of his vocal abilities, as he effortlessly wraps his vocal cords around the soaring melody. His new-found vocal prowess is perhaps most fully displayed on Side One's final cut, "Dennis," a sort of JEFF LYNNE-meets-JOHN LENNON explosion of melody, which amalgamates no fewer than three distinct concepts into one overwhelming package. Side One also features Joey Molland's "Got to Get Out of Here," a harrowing tale of alienation with a sustained church organ drone, that suffers only in comparison to the previous album's "Give it Up," on which the former is too obviously based.
The pace hardly slackens on Side Two, opening as it does with the Mike Gibbins/Joey Molland medley "In the Meantime/Some Other Time." Again, melody and energy combine in an overwhelming assault. After the GILBERT O'SULLIVAN and PAUL McCARTNEY soundalikes (respectively) of Joey's "Love Time" and Tommy Evans' "King of the Load (T)," the album moves into medley territory once again: Pete and Joey's "Meanwhile Back at the Ranch/Should I Smoke" end the album with a climax every bit as dramatic as Abbey Road's "The End".
Chris Thomas is credited with album production, but surely, George Martin deserves special mention for inspiring the sonic treatment. Crystal clear electric guitars, Ann Odell's characteristically richly textured string arrangements, Average White's punchy brass, and inventive choral backing lay the rock-solid foundation for the vibrant, live-in-the-studio-sounding lead vocal. The album's aural constancy and short playing time (about thirty-six minutes) combine to make it one of the few LPs which actually improves upon translation to the CD format. Just like Abbey Road's Side Two, the few between-song breaks seem merely a bow to convention. Wish You Were Here, like few rock albums before or since, is truly of a piece.
The album was pulled out the shops only a month after its release, due to a legal dispute. It has languished unreleased in the states since that time. Within the year, Pete Ham was dead by his own hand. In 1983, after a couple of unsuccessful attempts to get the band going again, Tommy Evans also committed suicide. While the lion's share of tracks is in fact available on Rhino's Best of Badfinger, volume II--an excellent introduction to the band's Warner period--the CD version of the record, released only overseas, is the only way the songs achieve their full impact.

Only poor management kept this from being a huge success
The two albums that Badfinger recorded for Warner Brothers after leaving Apple were among the easiest to find in the days before cd's. They could usually be found languishing in used bins for relatively low prices, and it was this that initially threw me off. Finally, faced with the prospect of little known Badfinger over no Badfinger at all, I went ahead and purchased both albums. Imagine my surprise when I got home and found that both albums were loaded with songs on par with, and at times better than, the songs that the band did while with Apple. The whole album is strong, with leadoff shouldabeenahit "Just A Chance" Pete Ham is in fine voice, and one is left to wonder what could have been. "Know One Knows" and "Dennis" are equally strong, but it's the rather odd cut and paste songs "In The Meantime/Some Other Time" and "Meanwhile Back At The Ranch/Should I Smoke" that show the band's true brilliance. Within months Pete Ham would be dead and with his passing rock and roll lost one of the truly great songwriters as well as a hugely underrated guitarist. This album demands and deserves a listen and it's a risk you won't regret.

Abbey Road SIDE #3, maybe!?!?!?!??!
Well, I'm sure you all have heard the problems this band went through, so I won't even go into that. What you have here in Wish You Were Here is not to be mistaken by Pink Floyd's CD of the same title. Just over 30 minutes, this album broke new ground, a different approach then previous releases. I won't sit here and insult anyone's intelligence by stating this is their greatest work. Personally, its my favorite. From start to finish, no bad tracks, some medley's, some excellent choices of intruments never used before on a Badfinger record. This is by all means, the last record of the Classic Badfinger lineup. The comparisons to Abbey Road are prevelent.....but it stands to this day as a Classic Lost Album that will go down in history as just that.....Lost. No hit songs here, no tradmark sounds, just pure brilliance!!

This document should not be overlooked by any casual, hardcore or any Beatle fan!

An Overlooked Gem
I've picked up all of Badfinger's album and this one is the best. My favorite tracks include Got To Get Out of Here, Dennis, In the Meantime, and Meanwhile Back at the Ranch. The Production is fantastic - Big thanks to Chris Thomas - and the band is tight! The guitar ending to Meanwhile Back is thrilling. The songwriting of the group throughout the album stands head and shoulders above any of the other albums. Any potential hit singles to go along with Day After Day or No Matter What? No, but there's not a weak song in the whole album. It flows perfectly, pulling you along with its sound, craftsmanship, and melody. What a crime it was for Warner Brothers to pull it after only 3 weeks! A definite overlooked gem.

Overlooked Classic Album
Badfinger's second album for Warner Brothers was recording during two sessions - the first took place at The Caribou Ranch, Colorado in April/May 1974; the second at AIR studios, London in June. Though financial worries had begun to have great influence on the 4 members; they all felt that they had to put everything they had into these recordings. And this really shows on the album - another masterpiece - one of the really great albums of the seventies. It has been called "The Sergent Pepper of the 1970's"; personally I feel that it has more in common with "Abbey Road".

Badfinger had grown into an albums-band, and this album really works as a whole, especially the original side 2 which features two very succesful medleys. The album opens with Pete's very powerful Just A Chance and with Mike's light and catchy You're So Fine song by Joey and Pete - once again Mike proves himself as a competent songwriter. Know One Knows is another powerful melodic rocker by Pete - I love the Japanese voice that meddles with leadguitar part. The first side closes with another grand production which characterizes most of the album; Pete's Dennis written to his step-son. Besides the two medleys side two features Tom Evans' King Of The Load ( one of my favourite Tom Evans songs) and Joey's quiet Love Time. No singles were released from the album; this was a period when hit-singles didn't matter much to the progressive/ambitious bands. Just a Chance or Know One Knows might have been able to make the charts with the right promotion, though none of them have obvious hit-potentials. ... Read more

Album Description

1998 Japanese reissue on Geffen of their 1993 album with sixhidden bonus tracks: 'Genius Envy', 'Don's Gone Columbia', 'Chords Of Fame', 'Weird Horses', 'Golden Glades' & 'Older Guys'. 19 tracks total. ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A few good songs, but nothing special.
Thirteen marks the last full length Fanclub record with drummer/resident jokester Brendan O'Hare. There are a few good songs here (Radio, Hang On, The Cabbage) but after that, the album seems to fall apart. The production seems to get looser and the songwriting seems to sputter into uninspired, boring rock songs. After this album, the band went on to make "Grand Prix", and "Songs from Northern Britain" which are both stronger and more serious releases in my opinion. Fanclub is a severly under-rated band in North America. Which is a dam shame because they never tour here anymore. There are 2 version of "Thirteen". I'm not sure which one this is, but one of them has about 6 bonus tracks. It's very hard to tell the difference because the tracks aren't listed on the back and they are both DGC releases. The songs aren't that great, but they add value. If this is your first Fanclub purchase, try "Grand Prix" or "Songs From Nothern Britain" instead. Also, keep in mind that "Howdy" is just around the corner: October 23rd, 2000.

Much better than Bandwagonesque
Am I the only one who recalls Rolling Stone originally giving the beloved Bandwagonesque one star? While it is indeed a great album, Thirteen is 100 times better. Yeah, it's self indulgent, but so what? Fanclub made this album for themselves, not the fans or the press. Production-wise, it's a lot warmer than its predecessor, and with songs like "Escher", "Hang On", and "The Cabbage", what could be so horrible? Wake up and listen to Thirteen again.

Great album throughout!! I could listen another 100 times.
If this was still the day and age of records or cassettes, I would have worn this album out. I've listened to it completely through a few hundred times over the last 7 or so years, and I'm still not tired of it. It's that good! Get it.

Underrated
Thirteen really was a good record, and at the same time it is easy to understand some of the poor reviews. I like it because it is long and has a lot of great ideas. I can imagine this as being a classic if possibly some parts were re-written or changed. Some of the songs somehow sound like the tape speed has been slowed down. But with these faults aside, you have to admit that it makes an interesting listen and it ages well. And as always with Teenage Fanclub, there is some truly great guitar playing and songcraft.

Fanclub's the Heat
It is true: this record takes more than one listen to reach you. So much the better, I say. After years of ambivalence, I have come to consider Teenage Fanclub a 'top 5' band -- somewhere just below the Beatles, Kinks, and Big Star. All of their records are good, and all have idiosyncrasies. Missing out on Thirteen is a mistake. The extra tracks belong on their own, but they are amazing, too. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Why didn't anyone do this before?
This is a natural. It's great to hear soulful singers reinterpret these classic Van tunes, and emphasize the blues/soul/gospel influences inherent to Van's music. Many of these artists are getting on in years (as are many of Van's fans!)and rarely top Van's own versions, but they convey a real feeling for the form. Many of us have been disappointed by less than stellar "tribute" albums ("Blues on Blonde" comes to mind)but I think any Van fan would respond to this. A solid, diverse collection: great songs, great singing.

Magnificent!
I have been a pretty intense Van Morrison fan since the mid 60's. He has been my favorite artist since around 1967. But I usually don't care for most covers of his tunes by other artists (for example, Johnny Rivers or Rod Stewart). There was, a few years ago, another tribute CD to Van with the singers being (I think) younger rock and pop stars. I didn't buy it because I felt pretty sure they wouldn't sing the tunes as good as Van himself.This CD is something different though. I love all 15 of these performances. Several are absolute killers. If I were to make a list of my top 20 Van songs of all time, only 1 or 2 of the 15 songs on this CD would be on that list. From my point of view, these 15 tunes seem like a "random" sample of Van's work. Some of the songs I've heard so many times (like Tupelo Honey and Moondance, for example) that I wasn't expecting to be moved at all by them this time around. Yet I was - it was like discovering new Van Morrison material, because great singers can each, in their own style, bring new feelings from great songs.

I also love great blues singers and great soul singers ("soul" as in the 60's soul artists). The 15 singers on this CD sing with such feeling - they're magnificent. They each demonstrate how beautiful and significant each of these songs really is. They bring back to life, and with their own passionate slants, these classics. The fact that (at least for me) these are just a sample of Van tunes, together with the fact that if I had never heard these songs before I would consider this one of the greatest blues and soul compilations I've ever heard, serves to underscore my belief that Van is one of the greatest songwriters of the 20th century.

This album should appeal to all blues fans, and to all true Van Morrison fans. Just as I seem to do with every Van Morrison record I buy, I haven't been able to stop playing this CD since I got it a few days ago.

Bettye LaVette Does What Great Soul Singers Do...
VANTHOLOGY: A Tribute to Van Morrison

Some people don't like the practice of singers covering other performers songs. I do. Especially if they can give it a different slant and if they can improve on the original. If you are a Van Morrison fan, you might be among the first mentioned.

I liked this CD from the opening song, "Tupelo Honey" mainly because I have always admired Little Milton and have had his records in my collection for years. I did listen to excerpts from Van's original recordings and liked what I heard. He has an undeniable quality that makes you like, not only his voice, but also his compositions. Milton adds much to this song and his years of blues singing is clearly on display.

Syl Johnson, another favorite does justice to "Jackie Wilson Said." Another distinctive voice that isn't heard enough these days. William Bell, I recently saw on PBS and he has lost none of his charm. His rendition of Morrisons' "Have I Told You Lately" is perfect. What a fabulous singer he has remained throughout the years.

It seems that a lot of my favorites are here, including the great Freddie Scott, doing "Brown Eyed Girl." Marvelous singing. "Into The Mystic" by Frederick Knight was very special. He really got into the song and stretched for days!

The only female on the CD is the incomparable, Bettye LaVette. When Van heard this, he probably fell out of his seat! What can you say about Ms. LaVette except that she is a true genius. She does with "Real Real Gone" what great soul singers do: she takes an ordinary song and makes it a great one. Her soul is so deep, it's frightening! She sings this in her ferocious '70s voice. I can't think of any female that could top this performance. I loved the ending when she shouts and testifies about what Wilson Pickett, Sam Cooke and James Brown "used to say..." The major highlight of the entire CD.

The rest of the performances are first-rate. So nice to hear Chuck Jackson again. He sounds as good as ever singing "Moondance." I would like to have heard Otis Clay sing another song. He's so soulful and churchy; "Warm Love" didn't seem like his type of song.

Many dj's have picked up Bettye's "Real Real Gone" and have added it to their playlists. Can't say that I blame them, it's a joy to hear a genuine soul singer go go go!

What a pleasure it is to hear singers that can SING! Ellis Hooks, Henry Butler, Bobby Patterson, Dan Penn and Son Seals are all wonderful. Looking at today's crop of young "singers," the field is pitiful. You won't find any off-key singing here, only PROFESSIONALS who realize that recordings are forever and understand that when you lay down a track, it will be there for future generations to hear.

When they hand out Grammys next year, this CD should be nominated judging from the junk that DOES get recognized and WINS these awards. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Hi, my name is Valerie and I love you.
Well, not really, but wouldn't it be cool if it was? At least the second half is true. I loved Material Issue and I miss Jim Ellison. This album defined guitar pop to me. The songs are simple, but catchy and melodic. They convey the emotions of naive happiness, flirting with superficiality because of their girl-crazy lyrics. Yet they have always made me feel oddly sad, at times even desperate - even before I heard of Ellison's death. Tragedy has many faces.

My favorite song is the classic Valerie Loves Me, which has an ingenious melody and a story to tell. I also love Li'l Christine and Very First Lie, and the aggressive title track. Do yourself a favor and find out how full of energy guitar pop can be.

Excellent Defunct Pop Band
Who? Most people haven't heard of this band, although I'd wager they've heard their songs, if they listened at all to the radio in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Material Issue brought industry interest back to Chicago, paving the way for bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Urge Overkill, Jesus Lizard, and Liz Phair. All of them owe a debt to Material Issue.

Sadly, this band is defunct with the suicide of its lead singer/songwriter, Jim Ellison. Material Issue reveled in straightforward, tuneful pop. Songs like "Valerie Loves Me", "Diane", "Renee Remains the Same", "Chance of a Lifetime" all show strong pop craftsmanship by this trio, all the more because there's always a tone of desperation amid these upbeat songs. This is a very listenable album. My only objections are that Ellison had a tendency to get sentimental on some of his works, like "Very First Lie", but the strength of his best work offsets that, in my opinion.

Seems like most of their catalogue has evaporated, but this album still turns up, so it's worth your time, if only to get a glimpse of alterna-pop before the term "alternative" was really in place to define a generation of musicians.

Classic Pop Tunes from Zion, IL
This is, without a doubt, one of the all-time classic "Power Pop" albums. Jim Ellison was one the greatest song writers of the late 80's and early 90's, and his band rocked big time. With influences ranging from the Raspberries, Cheap Trick, the Jam, Beatles, the Sweet, and Thin Lizzy. This album, the band's debut, is one pop hit after another, with killer rock tunes like "Diane", "Crazy", "Valerie Loves Me", and the amazing ballad "A Very Good Idea". This cd still holds up well 14 years after it's release, and is always great driving around with the top down music. For anyone into classic American guitar pop, this is essential! Also check out the band's follow up records "Destination Universe", "Freak City Soundtrack", and the posthumous release, "Telecommando Americano" for more power-pop classics... R.I.P. Jim Ellison.
Cheers,
Mike A.

OK Power Pop
The only thing special to me about this was the fascination with women's names in song titles. There's some good melodies and catchy tunes, but the whole record got samey after a few spins. Still, a decent effort with some redeemable songs.

unsung heroes
Having grown up in Chicago and seeing this band develop (along with the usual local suspects as Smashing Pumpkins, Liz Phair, Urge Overkill, etc.) - I can only say how sad it was when they had to disband. MI never got the credit they deserved, and one can only hope that they'll eventually get their due as time passes. A truly great and original band, and they've got the chops to prove it. ... Read more

Album Description

Remastered reissue of the Aussie alternative rocker's 1983debut album that's unavailable domestically. Includes twobonus tracks, 'Who Do You Love' & 'Be My Guru'. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

One of the Best Surf Movie Soundstrack ever.
Anyone that grew up surfing in the early 80's will remember the surf movie "Beyond Blazing Boards" and the sounds that went with it. Outside of the song "Wild Child" by The Untouchables this is the movie sound track. I Was A Kamikaze Pilot, was the wipeout segment song and to this day every time I hear it I can see the movie in my head --- OH THE PAIN!

All in all if your like myself and many of my friends that watched this movie every time the surf was flat it will bring back memories just hearing it.

This CD will make you want to get in the water big time.

Enjoy.

Tojo never made it...
For those of you unfamiliar with the music, Australia's Hoodoo Gurus were American pop culture obsessed power poppers with a garage rock side (or vice versa, depending on your perspective, I guess). They put out a lot of great albums, but this one, their first, is probably the best, with the other main contender being the follow-up, 'Mars needs guitars.' "I want you back" is as good a power-pop song as was released by anyone in the 80's, and most of the songs are first rate, from the melancholy "My girl," to the Cramps-ish "Dig it up," and the evocative "Zanzibar." This re-issue comes with two bonus tracks not on the original l.p.-- a rambunctious cover of "Who do you love," and an original, "Be my Guru," which borders on hardcore punk. Dave Faulkner was one of the strongest male vocalists that emerged in the 80's. Recommended for a cool rock 'n' roll collection. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Great artist, lousy compilation
You may have been to your music store lately, and noticed several compilations under the name "Super Hits." What are these compilations, you ask?

Budget-priced compilations, WITHOUT the budget price (though some dealers are smart enough to sell them for such a price.)

Each CD in this series has TEN tracks, no more, no less (meaning they don't even come close to filling the eighty minutes you can fit onto a single CD.) And, of course, they omit many key tracks (any other hits compilation by this artist is MUCH better.) This series is obviously a ploy by the record industry to rake in cash, by making compilations that look better than they really are.

THIS IS BY FAR THIS ARTIST'S HITS COMPILATION! Get a different one, since it will have more tracks. BUT DON'T EVEN BOTHER WITH THIS!

if these boys dropped this lp today......................
oh man, this would be a massive hit album! if you listen to it the melodies, the guitars, the influences (60's pop, surf, and ska!)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! what a album! pick this up for a good time to be had by your ears! you'll thank yourself later.

Try the new album ...
This is actually a pretty good cross-section of the Romantics' music, because it includes songs from four of the band's five albums from 1979-1985. The song selection was pretty good for this (although there are several I would have chosen over "Do Me Any Way You Wanna" and I can't believe they left out "A Night Like This"). The band has a new album due out Sept. 9 titled "61/49." If you buy this collection, you should try the new album too, because from what I've heard of it on the band's website ..., it's a more up-to-date, full sound than much of the older stuff.

80's Power Pop
This Detroit-based band were different from a lot of new wave groups in that they never forgot rock's roots in r&b and the blues. Anyone who grew up in the 80's will remember hearing their straight-to-the-point rock, all over the radio airwaves. Led by propulsive drumming and the no-nonsence vocals of Jimmy Marinos, they left behind a legacy of great 80's power pop. This album features, as it says, their 'Super Hits', and all have been digitally remastered which is a plus and a necessity for true fans.

A good overview, but....
This is OK, but the Romantics' true "super hits" are all found on their debut album, which completely creams any of their hits compilations. That album has the best stuff. The later songs pale in comparison. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Once largely written off by critics as arena-rock dinosaurs, Rockford, Illinois's favorite musical sons have become darlings of an influential cadre of alternative and modern-rock superstars and the subjects of an overdue catalog upgrade--and for a slew of good reasons. The first of those would be Cheap Trick, the blistering 1977 debut that confounded reviewers nearly as well as it captured the band's edgy song sensibility and musical chops honed by their 200-plus-gig-a-year work ethic. Producer Jack Douglas wisely opted for a deceptively raw tack that captured Cheap Trick's manic live essence better than any other album--save, of course, Live at Budokan. The band's later bubble-gum rep is viciously and hilariously undercut here by songs about youth-culture cynicism ("Elo Kiddies"), pedophilia ("Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School"), mass murder ("The Ballad of TV Violence"), and gigolos ("He's a Whore"), not to mention a tasty cover of Terry Reid's "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace." Guitarist Rick Nielsen's loud, trashy fretwork presaged "grunge" by a good 15 years, and Robin Zander's vocals show why he's since been tagged the Man of a Thousand Voices. And the rhythm section of drummer Bun E. Carlos and Tom Petersson was (and is) one of rock's most underrated.This Sony Legacy "Expanded Edition" restores the album's original running order (the previous version flipped the vinyl's A and B sides) and features new photos, liner notes, and five bonus cuts. One of rock's greatest albums, unsung or otherwise. --Jerry McCulley ... Read more

Reviews (39)

We're All Alright...
What a concept - pair two pretty boys with two, uh ordinary looking guys, release a stellar album braced with songs running the gamut from power pop ("Oh, Candy") to proto-punk ("He's A Whore" - perhaps their finest moment) to you-name-it ("Ballad Of TV Violence"), and let the critics sort it out. Despite being saddled (or marketed - take your choice) with a comic book image, Cheap Trick was always a crack instrumental unit. It's inevitable that anyone who owns as many guitars as Rick Nielsen has to know how to play them, Bun E. Carlos just wallops the the hell out out of his tubs on every song, Tom Petersson's shuffling bass line on "Mandocello" sticks like a spoonful of peanut butter, and if there's any better front man around than Robin Zander I'd like to see him. The Little Band That Could from Rockford, Illinois is still going strong 25 years later, navigating a career that has seen them go from world-beaters to has-beens and back again, but they've yet to equal the standard they set for themselves with their eponymous debut.

5 Stars is not enough for one of the best albums recorded
This is a great, Great, GREAT CD!!! The music can stack up against ANY album. It is the "Abbey Road" of Cheap Trick. It starts with the powerful "ELO Kiddies" and the alarm clock ringing at the beginning of the song lets you know that this is a band you should wake up and pay attention to. It then changes gears with Tom's bass into the sickly twisted "Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School." It then transitions smoothly with the sound of kids playing (shades of the Beatles) into "Taxman, Mr. Thief," where they directly tip their hats off to the Beatles by using the name Mr. Heath. "Cry Cry" changes up the pace with a slip-sliding slow chunker, then "Oh Candy" spotlights the band's ability to create hard hitting up beat rock songs. Another change up into the slamming steamroller "Hot Love." This song rips is like a sports car at full throttle. Robin's beautiful voice is show cased in the haunting ballad "Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace." Another smooth transition with Bun E's sharp drum beat: "He's a Whore" kicks in, with Rick soloing like a deranged punk rocker. The soothing "Mandocello," named after the instrument it is played on (double strings tuned like a cello), can make you float away on a cloud of dreams. The last song from the original album, "Ballad or TV Violence," ends the original recording with a portrait of a mental murderer. When Cheap Trick played this song live, Rick used to open up his sweater to reveal a picture of the real life killer the song is about, crazy! This is a CD of a recording of when albums were albums, not just a collection of hit tunes. The songs move and support each other. This CD is made to be listened to in one sitting. Like Abbey Road by the Beatles, there is a cast of characters in the songs, some songs stand in isolation while others link into the next track, and a variety of instruments, tones, and textures keeps the selections fresh. The bonus material is good and interesting (like the early style of "I Want You To Want Me" they used to play live), but it is the high quality remix of the original recording that makes this CD a "must have" for any music lover. This is truly a masterpiece of music; the best Cheap Trick album ever (and that is saying a lot when you think about the fine albums that followed). This album had no flaws, and the only way to improve it was to remaster the tracks to let the brilliance of Cheap Trick shine through.

She's Got a Face That Could Stop a Clock
Just about any Cheap Trick fan, obsessive or not, would be quick to agree that for better or worse, their prime came right during their first releases in the late '70s. The general consesus, of course, is that "at Budokan" is the best live album and "Heaven Tonight" is the best studio album. However, I'm going to be frank and admit that although "In Color," "Heaven Tonight," and "Dream Police" are classic power pop, I really don't listen to them all that much these days. I heared "Heaven Tonight" and "Dream Police" first, but once I heared "In Color," that became my favorite. Then I heared the first album, and I knew my mind was made up. No offense to the band, but the first album proves that subsequent studio albums didn't really need all that polished production. Some bands just sound better with all their raw,rough edges intact and Cheap Trick proved they were one of those bands with "at Budokan." No offense intended to those who disagree, but the next time any Trick fanatic finds the sugar-coated gloss of the other early albums hindering the enjoyment of the songs, they should return to the debut, which will always be the studio album that rocked the hardest. The standout tracks for me are "Elo Kiddies," "Daddy Should Have Stayed in High School," "Taxman, Mr. Thief," and "He's a Whore." The other tracks are great too and have grown on me with time. The only track I have a minor qualm with is "Mondecello," which, while a decent song by itself, breaks up the flow of the album and doesn't really fit in with the rest of the rockers. So pick it up; surely it's one of the more underrated debuts of '77.

Cheek Trick
Pretty audacious, all things considered, and there is a lot to consider. For one thing, this was originally released in 1977 along with the Sex Pistols' NEVER MIND THE BOLLOCKS and The Bee Gees/Robert Stigwood's SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER. Quite a year, eh? And it still holds up after all these years. Producer Jack Douglas fortunately opted for a raw, live sound that sounds loud no matter how much you turn it down. The songs are top notch and it's a shame that there is no lyric sheet because the lyrics are almost overly intelligent, ranging from the junk culture critique 'The Ballad Of TV Violence' to the exquisite in-lust ode 'Mandocello' to suicide in 'Oh, Candy'. (There seems to be a Beatles fixation as well; 'Taxman' and 'Any Time At All' come immediately to mind and there are others; spot your own.) The 'problem' is that so much of this is so tongue-in-cheek that it's easy to take none of it seriously. The bonus tracks are good but not essential, although the early version of 'I Want You To Want Me' is interesting if only because it shows that Letters To Cleo added exactly nothing to it in their remake, whereas Cheap Trick did. Songs I like: 'Taxman, Mr Thief' (an ode to Harrison's ode and, for my money, even better); 'Oh, Candy' (beautifully melodic and bittersweet and with a brief but awesome guitar solo); 'He's A Whore' (punkier than The Lurkers, heh heh); 'Mandocello' ('I could be you lover, let's pretend'); 'The Ballad Of TV Violence' (reputedly an anti-ode to Richard Speck). Songs I don't like: 'The Coward Of The County'; 'Big Rock Candy Mountain'; 'Hey, Jude'; and boy am I glad they aren't on this CD!

The most underated rock album of the 1970's
Like most teenagers in 1979, I bought Live a Budokan and liked it alot, but it was when I went back and bought their first album, that I really fell in love with Cheap Trick.

From the first track to the last, this album is very nearly perfect, and captures the wild, infectious energy that Cheap Trick lets loose every night in their stage shows, better than any other album they've ever made has been able to. This album can be at any given moment: hard, frenetic, insane, wild, edgy, chaotic, sexy, and outrageous. It will leave you begging for more the second the last track is over.

The only improvement I've ever heard to any of the tracks on this album, can be found on The Essential Cheap Trick in the form of a live version of the track Mandocello. Although the version of it found on this album is very nice, it's the only song on the album that sounds slightly dated by the era it was recorded in. The live version however, will leave you spellbound, and is definately worth checking out.

Although this album contains a half a dozen or more songs that sound like they should be standard FM Classic rock fare, I don't remember hardly ever hearing any of these songs played on the radio over the last 20+ years, except maybe by a cool DJ here and there, and that fact is sad indeed. However, I often wondered what might have happened commercially with this album if it had been released, say 15 years later, during the Grunge era? If it had, Cheap Trick might be as much a houshold name today as Nirvanna. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Is there ever really Enuff?

Okay, yes, I will admit it - I have a ton of Top 40, light rock, and euro-alt-dance music in my collection. But sometimes a person just wants to ROCK. And when I get the urge to just kick back, relax, have some fun and listen to some drivin' guitars and thumpin' drums, Enuff Z'Nuff is right toward the top of my list. Introduced to the band by the single "Fly High Michelle" (as I am sure many people were), I was surprised to find this "big hair band" album to contain quality rock material that compositionally and attitudinally has the right stuff to make a kick-butt and take charge piece of music.

Starting off with the fun and driving "New Thing," the lyrics call us to move on to new things to get a different perspective or to just to get a kick out of life. "She Wants More" is a rocking ballad that talks about how the main character can be very successful, but she's "gotta lose the guy." The harmonies in the chorus are especially cool. Successful as a single, "Fly High Michelle" is an awesome anthemic rock ballad that melds the drum and guitars with superb synths and vocals. I still remember the MTV video that featured the band flying in the sky amid clouds and rainbows; a bit cheesy, but the song does has a light and ephemeral quality to it. Back to fun and driving rock, "Hot Little Summer Girl" is a great guy anthem while laying out on the beach and cruisin' for hot babes. "In the Groove" returns to slow sultry ballad mode with a groove similar to Alannah Myles "Black Velvet." The lyrics are dedicated to those of us who like to really experience music and know when "you're in the groove." While a tad trite with its tribal beat and whoops and yells, "Little Indian Angel" is a fun rocking tune that moves along with a strong beat, though compositionally it is a tad shallow. "For Now" is another classic rock anthem that calls us all to enjoy life and live for the moment, especially since we know things can't stay exactly the same. Another guy anthem, "Kiss the Clown" rocks as it tells the typical guy story -- we're just out cruising for some fun, not necessarily looking for love. "I Could Never Be Without You," like it sounds, is a power ballad that calls out to the listener to "just keep me from life on my own." Pumping the testosterone again, the release closes on a thundering note with "Finger on the Trigger," that vents what we feel as what sometimes seems the best solution to our problems.

I give the release a strong 4 star rating. This music isn't exactly my normal taste, but sometimes it is just perfect for that right moment. It gives me a new and refreshing perspective on myself and life, and while it isn't exactly a life changer for me, it is a definite attitude adjuster. I'm not a big fan of rock, so I'm not sure exactly how it compares. But it sounds good to me, and that's all that really matters when you listen, isn't it?

With a healthy dose of good beats, fun lyrics, and that added shot of testosterone, Enuff Z'Nuff is fun, party-attitude release that gets your blood pumping and body rocking. However, it does have its moments as a thoughtful and reflective piece that gives some grounding amid all the fun, thus making it anything but a one-dimensional release. Recommended to guys everywhere who like a good rock album, and a definite classic for you fans of 80s big-hair bands.

I doubt I'll ever get too much of this release. Amid my collections of Top 40 and Euro pop, sometimes a good shot in the arm of this release is Enuff to put me in the right attitude to enjoy life.

A Little Too Hair-Metal, But...
It's weird because when I first got into this amazing band, I really had no idea they used to be full-on Poisonesque glam. I was only 9 when this album came out, and not into the whole MTV music scene yet, so I missed when "New Thing" and "Fly High Michelle" were actually popular. The first album I actually bought from them was "Animals With Human Intelligence", their '93 release, after reading countless rave reviews. I liked their look during that time, too...Donnie kinda reminded me of a glammed out hippie (like Chris Robinson, I guess). Anyhow, this album was the third one I bought from them after Strength, and I was suprised how glam rock it was! At first I was kinda appalled, after being used to the power pop, Jellyfish-like tunes that graced albums such as Peach Fuzz and Seven. But the more I listened to it, the more I started to realize that after you get past the way-too-much reverb on the guitars (plus Derek Frigo's notey guitar noodling), there are actually some really great songs on here. Highlights, for me, are New Thing, She Wants More, Fly High Michelle, For Now, and In The Groove. I still can't stand Hot Little Summer Girl (maybe because it reminds me of that one 90210 episode) or Kiss The Clown, but that's my humble opinion. It seems like Z'Nuff's fan base is divided into two types of people: the ones who love this sort of pop-metal stuff, and got into them when they first arrived on the scene (kinda the Bon Jovi/Poison crowd). Then there's the fans like me, who got into their later, more poppier releases by word of mouth from friends or something (the Jellyfish/Beatles crowd). It's kind of sad that most people only know them from their cheesy videos that came from this album, and only remember the big hair and paisley spandex, and from these videos were not able to really listen with their EARS instead of their eyes. I don't think I'd be able to get past that image now if I saw one of their old videos without knowing who this band is or what they're about.

All in all, their debut is a good album...and I am a die-hard fan (even got the green peace sign tattooed on my ankle), but albums like Strength and Paraphernalia do it for me more than this. This just seems like a mean ploy the record labels tried to do to make them more popular at the time, and it hurt them more than helped in the longrun.

my guiltiest pleasure
I hate just about everything about this band; the hair, the pop, and so on, but they are -good-. Chip Z'nuff's roots go back further than his glam competitors, and his melodic sense is ..well.. melodic, (generally not the case in this style), which adds up to actually music from a genre that usually is all hype.

Nice addition to the EZN collection
This is truly a LIVE album. No over-dubs, no studio fixes (at least as far as I can tell), and is a great collection of EZN songs recorded in Chicago at the House of Blues.

If I'm not mistaken, this CD features primarily (if not only) the original 4 band members, even though it was released long after Derek Frigo (gtr) and Vikki Foxx (dr) left the group. It'd be nice if there was a mention somewhere of who really plays on this CD, but it's not included.

The playing is pretty tight, the sound (for a live album) is great, and all the tunes you expect are included.

twhy aren't these guys big as hell after this album?
i couldnt understand it after listening to this album. this album has awesome songs on here. melodic and cathcy. all the songs are great to listen to. the album after this "strength is yet another electric charge of fun also. bthese guys rule album after album, their praised by lots of critics, and legendary rock stars. i would recomend this album any time to anyone who wants to try somethin different. yeah their glammy but they put those other glam boys to shame with well written songs and energy!!! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

60s Retro
Interesting album. Much different than later Rain Parade. Much more earnest and less cynical. Very mellow.

For great Rain Parade see the EP Explosions in the Glass Palace

Greatest Neo-Psychedelic Album - EVER
One of my favorite records! Fans of the Byrds and early Pink Floyd will find a home here. Essential and required!

EMERGENCY's appearance in '84 was mindblowing. An album of its type had not been seen since '67-'68. Given the trends of the time, it was totally unexpected, but ohhhh soooo welcomed!!

The album stands on its own feet, relying on inspiration from its forbearers instead of nostalgic plagarism. The DNA might be obvious, but the mutation is completely unique - as it should be! Ghostly Floyd-inspired organ lines collide with Byrdsy Rickenbacker chimes and harmonies.

Along with True West, The Long Ryders, Green on Red and Dream Syndicate, I was hopeful that a second golden age of psychedelic-folk music was beginning to flourish. Alas, this was not to be. By '87 Rain Parade and most its compatriots would be gone.

But for a while there.........Oh well, at least we were left with this wonderful record!!

A WORD OF URGENCY: This disk has had a history of going in and out of print quickly. If you are a fan of fine psychedelic music, buy it immediately! It deserves a rightful place along side PIPER AT THE GATES OF DAWN (Floyd), NOTORIOUS BYRD BROTHERS (Byrds), and ANTHEM OF THE SUN (Dead)!

Enjoy!!!!

Sadly over-looked band
Debut releases from a band that could have really gone somewhere. Melodic psychdelia that had a melancholy tinge. Lost in a music business pre-occuppied with big hair and a greedy bravado. If you can get this, do. Later releases were more focussed but "No Easy Way Down" and "This Can't Be Today" are sublime and worth the admission price alone. Too out of time to be a classic but well worth hearing.

Best American Band from the 80's
This is a classic. If you can find it, get it. These guys were the only american band worthy of recognition to come out of the 80's. If your a fan of dreamy, psychedelic pop in the vein of The Beatles, The Birds, The Kinks, and Pink Floyd, and the Zombies, you'll love this. Believe me.

Psychedelia-Lite; An Overlooked Piece of Trippy Nostalgia
Pop Kulcher Review: The Rain Parade were one of the better bands in Southern California's early-80s "paisley underground," presenting a laid-back, neo-psychedelic sound that made for excellent (if relatively unexciting) background music. This album is full of melodic, meandering gems which hang in their air and wash over you. Despite a reasonable amount of reverb creating an odd distancing effect, the psychedelic feel is created more through relaxed pacing and jangling guitars than through special effects. A thoroughly enjoyable outing for sixties afficianados. (Guitarist David Roback later formed Opal with the Dream Syndicate's Kendra Smith, as well as the better known Mazzy Star.) ... Read more

Album Description

Powered by two great songwriters in Chris Stamey and PeterHolsapple, 'Stands For Decibels' and 'Repercussion' veeredfrom psychedelia to new wave but never left the hooksbehind, resulting in two albums that any serious collection of '80s alternative rock can't be without. This Collectors' Choice Music release features the bonus tracks, 'Judy' &'Soul Kiss'. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Winston-Salem Is Smokin'
I agree with the below review by leeleedee. The dB's were marvelous in the studio and lousy live. Holsapple did sweat too much for a power-popper; the essence of the music is no sweat. Be that as it may, this ranks almost up there with the twofer of Big Star's "#1 Record" and "Radio City" as essential power-pop. The dB's were more abrasive and experimental than the Memphis group, and Holsapple and Stamey didn't sing as well as Chilton and Bell (although Chris Bell could sound a little shrill at times). The first LP gets the nod as truly essential, but "Repercussion," suffering as it does from a slightly fussy approach, is still a very solid record. Again, the essence of this music is a certain mannerism, so it's a question of how mannered you want to get, right? These two records originally appeared around '81 on the Albion label and have been reissued in various configurations since. In the '80s, the dB's put out a "six-pack" of singles featuring "Judy," "Soul Kiss," "pH Factor" and "Baby Talk," as well as a slightly different version of "Cycles Per Second." All good stuff. "Like This," the third dB's record, isn't bad but it's more standard-issue American power-pop, and Holsapple's voice doesn't match his songwriting. The B-side of "Love is for Lovers," "Darby Hall," is one of their best songs ever and as far as I know is unavailable on CD. Too bad. In my opinion, the dB's, Big Star and Marshall Crenshaw are the ultimate in power-pop; the Raspberries, the Flamin' Groovies, the Shoes, the Records, 20/20, Artful Dodger and the Scruffs all did nice stuff and any aficionado of the style probably owns some of their work. But in varying degrees their work, fine as it is, lacks both the meaningful idiosyncrasy of "Radio City" and "Stands for Decibels" and the warmth of Crenshaw's "Field Day."

It Crawled From the South
It's strange how we associate some music with certain moments/periods in our lives, but it's true. For me, the dB's are there in just about every memory of college in Fairbanks, AK. That's where I was introduced to their music in a conversation with a girl I was head over heels for, but too shy to say. She was telling me about this song called "Amplifier", and how if I could find it, I had to play it on my next show at the college radio station (later she would introduce me to The Jam and the Smithereens' "Behind the Wall of Sleep"). As if by design, the next week I found a bargain bin tape of the dB's "Like This" (which featured a remake of the song)at the student union. I was immediatly smitten with the rich vocal harmonies, snappy lyrics that were goofy and heartfelt at the same time, and THE tightest rythm section I'd yet to hear. Of course, when I played it for her, she revealed there was another record they did that had the same song and was even better! My search began, leading to later records like "The Sound of Music" (and it's blue-collar anthem, "Workin' For Somebody Else" which quicly became a staple of my radio show) and the Chris Stamey LP, "It's Alright" (which is worth having just for "Cara Lee", as another reviewer so rightly put it). Finally, on a spring break trip to Wasilla (a little town an hour north of Anchorage, but 5 hours from Fairbanks), I found it. Holsapple and Stamey had just released "Mavericks". I picked up the tape so we could listen in the car, and again, by merest of circumstances, there was "Repercussions" on CD. from the Big Star-meets-Wall of Sound production on "Living a Lie", the one-two punch of "We Were Happy There" and "Happenstance", with its roller coaster of spare then busy arrangement; then the jaw dropper: "From a Window to a Screen". If it's possible, everything in this song sounds like it's in the background, or coming from another room. Again, the whole record is amazing, but I keep coming back to that first half. And as luck would have it, I was able to find "Stands for Decibels" on my next trip down to Wasilla, at the same record store, no less. What struck me was how quirky compared to "Repercussions" this one seemed at first. Opening with the hyperactive kiss-off, "Black & White" and the keyboard-heavy funk workout ala "96 tears" of "Dynamite" (with the weirdest vocal harmony of the band's recorded output). Then Stamey catches me off guard again in "She's Not Worried", the dream child of Boyce & Hart and the Beach Boys. The next few songs ("the Fight" through "Cycles per Second") return to the long-lost "college rock" sound of the 80's that so many bands from the south perfected like Pylon, Guadalcanal Diary and of course, IRS-era R.E.M. Finally, Holsapple and Stamey earn all those comparisons to Chilton/Bell, Lennon/McCartney, etc. with "Big Brown Eyes" and "Moving in Your Sleep".

Believe me, at first, many of these songs will seem to be going in two different directions sometimes and as others have said, Stamey can come across too clever for his own good. But hear them out all the way through, and you just may find little touches and harmonies striking you by surprise when you least expect it. For the last 12 years, the dB's have been the one band I try to get all my friends into and they've been an influence on my own songwriting as well as leading me to other great bands like the Posies and Big Star. Sadly, their music is incredibly hard to find (even more so now than when I began my quest in 1991), and if you're a fan of guitar pop, great songwriter teams, quirky new wave-meets-British invasion college rock, you really REALLY owe it to yourself to check the dB's out. I'm glad I did, and thank you Angie, wherever you are.

Sounds Great 20 Years Later ...
The 2nd album has been one of my favorites since it was released in the early 80s. Great quirky pop music. The two primary songwriters are Chris Stamey and Peter Holsapple. They tend to compliment each other in a Lennon/McCartney or Difford/Tillbrook sort of way.

If you like this, there are other CDs by the dB's and later work by Holsapple and Stamey that you should check out:

1. Like This - dB's after Stamey left - hard to find on CD. While I miss Stamey, this still pretty good.

2. Sound of Music - again, post-Stamey and again, hard to find on CD. I like it a little better than Like This - there is a little more richness in the songwrtiing.

3. Ride the Wild Tom Tom - full band, this is their earliest material. There are some throwaways, but most of it is very solid - great Stamey/Holsapple tunes you can't find elsewhere.

4. Fireworks and It's Alright - two post-dB's Stamey solo albums. I prefer the first one, which is a little more introspective, but both are excellent.

5. Sneakers - Racket - very hard to find, this is a pre-Wild Tom Tom CD with Stamey and Mitch Easter. Sounds like ... the dB's and Let's Active ... very cool. Includes an early dB's song or two. Similar in feel to the Tom Tom CD.

6. Mavericks - post-dB's reunion of Stamey and Holsapple. A little less poppy than the dB's, but great stuff.

All this stuff is out-of-print, but you can find it over time on ebay, Gemm or your local used record store. Great band - enjoy!

Tobacco Warehouse Beatles
What is it about musicians from the south of the United States and Anglophilia? Power-pop bands came from Cleveland too but the best ones were from the South: Big Star and the dB's. Both were great in the studio and lousy live. I saw the dB's a few times after Chris Stamey left and they never were any good. Peter Holsapple always sweated too much. Now he lives in New Orleans and has a band, the New Cowsills. Stamey runs a studio in the former Soviet Union. Will Rigby plays drums for Celine Dion. Gene Holder is the second guitarist for Phish. Original vinyl copies of their first two albums go for as much as [$$$] each on eBay.

the greatest music ever
Like a Roman Candle, this band created two of the greatest CD's ever made and then broke up and, like Lennon and McCartney, were never as good independently. The music features a wide range and really cut into expanded the boundaries of music with use of syncopation and other cacaphony. It was that edginess that probably prevented the band from becoming mainstream. Still, there are some fine pieces of music here, the equal of Sgt. Pepper or anything by the Who. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Some missteps, but not bad
Summer of Drugs/Soul Asylum
Probably the darkest song Victoria has ever recorded. Soul Asylum does a good job. Almost as good as the original.

Main Road/Lucinda Williams
Victoria's version is kind of hard to crack, somewhat overproduced. Lucinda does a great job finding the "song" and bringing it into sharp relief. One of the CDs highlights.

Crazy Mary/Pearl Jam
Not a Pearl Jam fan, but this is the definitive version of Crazy Mary. I sure don't miss the Van Dyke Parks string arrangement that bothers me on the original. Eddie Vedder sounds awesome.

Merry Go Round/Buffalo Tom
A delightful, punky version of the original.

Weeds/Michael Penn
Penn does an admirable job. Instrumentation/arrangement is tops, but this is one of those songs that only Victoria can really bring to life.

Animal Wild/Shudder to Think
Indie guitar rock version of one of Vic's lesser-songs sounds like it was written just for them.

Tarbelly and Featherfoot/Lou Reed
I know Lou Reed is a big Victoria fan, but this sounds like a reject from Songs for Drella. Doesn't come close to capturing the wonder of this classic Victoria song.

Opelousas/Maria McKee
McKee sure has a big voice and this is a big production. An interpretation that doesn't stray to far from the original

This Moment/Matthew Sweet
Too bad this has yet to appear on a Victoria studio album. Very nice.

Frying Pan/Evan Dando
Another Victoria classic. I had the fortune of hearing Vic's version first. Some songs just shouldn't be slowed down.

Lights/Jayhawks
Another Victoria song that is kind of hard to grasp. But the Jayhawks turn it into a memorable, twangy treat. Another highlight. The best cut on the CD.

Why Look At The Moon/Waterboys
Fluffy, jaunty, entertaining version, played like an Irish jig or something by the Waterboys.

Big Fish/Giant Sand
Unrecognizable in the hands of Howe and friends. Not very listenable either. For much better Giant Sand/Victoria collaborations, check out Ramp, by Giant Sand.

Holy Spirit/Michelle Shocked
Shocked's dramatic bellowing doesn't really do this song justice. She tries hard. It's okay, I guess.

A victory for "Victoria'.
This disc was released as a benefit for "Victoria Williams", but I feel like I've benefited from it myself as well. Her songs are all good, but the group of musicians covering them is even better. "Pearl Jam" probably got the most people to buy this, however I like the songs done by "Soul Asylum", "Evan Dando", "Waterboys", and "Lucinda Williams" just as much. "The Jayhawks" and "Matthew Sweet" do a good job too. Basically it's just a really good bunch of music. Also, there's currently 121 used copies on here for sale, so it shouldn't be too hard to come by.

Great intentions, fair CD
Sweet Relief is proof that the best of intentions don't necessarily guarantee a great CD.

The first and foremost goal of this CD was to raise money for musician for Victoria Williams, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and had no medical insurance.

The CD's songs are written by Williams and covered by some of the hottest "alternative" bands of the 90s. How disappointing, then, that the disc's inspired performances are the exception rather than the rule.

Things start out promising enough with Soul Asylum's acid-tongued performance on "Summer of Drugs", which arguably features some of Williams' best lyrics:

"Sister got bit by a copperhead snake in the woods behind the house/Nobody was home so I grabbed her foot and I sucked that poison out/Sister got better in a month or two when the swelling it went down/But I'd started out my teenage years with that poison in my mouth."

Equally outstanding performances are logged by Michael Penn on "Weeds", Pearl Jam on "Crazy Mary" and the Waterboys on the bouncy "Why Look at the Moon", but the rest of the 10 songs are merely fine to passable.

As a Williams fan, it's also worth asking why there isn't a song included by Williams herself, especially since she has a wealth of overlooked music and has continued to tour and record since her diagnosis and this CD's release.

Think about it: if more people bought her original recordings, her relief might be even sweeter.

Uneven, but Worthy
Williams' songs are idiosyncratic, to say the least, which means that some of the artists here fail to connect with the material. Check out Lou Reed and Giant Sand's ponderous selections for the ugly details. However, there are some fine things, too, not the least of which is Maria McKee's barn-burning title track, the only cover to actually improve upon the original. Elsewhere, Lucinda Williams brings the right amount of laconic yearning to "Main Road," Pearl jam does a bang-up job of "Crazy Mary" and Michelle Shocked proves herself a top-flight gospel singer on "Holy Spirit." Those who find Willaims' material loopy, self-conscious and/or rambling will find nothing here to change their minds, but its all for a good cause, and there's plenty to enjoy.

Many songs on this CD are my absolute favorites
I LOVE Lucinda Williams singing about "Little redbud, off the main road, lucky little girl." Don't know if I can exactly explain why. The melody and lyrics are fey, slightly off-kilter, but in a good way. Lucinda's voice is a perfect match with the tone of the song. Also I love the song about wild-eyed, crazy Mary. The lyrics are beautiful and perceptive, and the tune is so sad. The place associations (Louisiana) resonate with me in a specific way, since I lived in Lafayette and Baton Rouge for a short time and I have many enigmatic memories of that place. On the upside, there are 4-5 songs on this CD I cannot do without, but the rest I can take or let go. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

Success was not the best
Success was an appropriate follow-up to the sensational Working Class Dog album, because it kept Rick's young fans interested, and hooked those curious older listeners who wanted to know what all the hype was about. However, the album seemd to miss something -- Rick's heart. "Don't Talk To Strangers" was a hit single, nevertheless, on a whole, the album lacked the lyrical and melodic surprises of any of his other albums of the 80s. "I Get Excited" had a nice melody, but is too short (barely 3 minutes long); "Calling All Girls" is a good dance piece, but Rick's vocals are somewhat muffled, making it difficult to catch everything he's saying. The remake of "Black is Black" served little purpose except as a filler. The only song which is clearly from Rick's soul is "April 24, 1981" -- a two-minute piece about the then-recent death of his father. Rick himself stated that he had been less involved in the production of Success, than of any other album since then. If Rick were more involved, the album may have been even stronger. It's an okay album if you want to hear fun music, but if you want Rick at his greatest, get KARMA. (I haven't heard it yet, but it's supposed to be awesome.)

A Guilty Pleasure
While this is a classic Rick Springfield album, this is also the album that sealed Springfield's fate as a bubble gum pop star. Just a look at the track listings--"Calling All Girls," "How Do You Talk To Girls" and "The American Girl"--will tell you who this album was written for. Still, this is also the album that produced "I Get Excited," "Don't Talk To Strangers" and "Kristina," a song which has been given new life during Springfield's 1999 KARMA Tour. This is also the album that contains "April 24, 1981," a song Springfield wrote about the death of his father and the beginning of a theme that runs throughout the rest of his later work. Add this CD to your collection. At its worst, it's formulaic pop. At it's best, it's a guilty pleasure.

Great blast from the past!
I remember having this on vinyl back in the 80's and I limited my self to just what was played on radio. What a mistake! Anyone who listens to the entire CD will get a picture of Rick's talent that no radio station can showcase properly. The cut "The American Girl" really described how I was back then "passion in the eyes, the blush on the cheeks"--those of us who came of age in the 70's and 80's often weren't as "sophisticated" as we tried to play, and that song truly captures that essence well. Of course I like the other cuts on the CD, but the one about his father passing away April 24, 1981 was a departure and it gives you just a glimpse into the kind of spiritual and musical growth that Rick will display on later records. So if there was a Rick Springfield 101 course, I would make this one required listening.

Success Hasn't Spoiled Rick - He Just Gets Better
Actually like this even better than Working Class Dog. Great beat - super hits evolved here - Don't Talk to STrangers can't be beat; American Girl is phenomenal & Rick's voice (still a touch of accent) is irresistible. A must for any Rick Springfield fan - a different sound -one that we've all come to love and appreciate and adore. Buy it - you won't be sorry.

Typical 1982 Album
Guess what is my #1 favorite? Not What Kind Of Fool Am I, nor Don't Talk To Strangers which became huge hits in the US.

I really like Kristina it really rocks!! But even Rick has not yet escaped the trend of 1982. Dance Pop yielded to hard rock. Rick has secured his positon between hard melodic pop rock bands (such as Styx, Boston, Journey and Survivor)and blues or country flavored rockers (such as John Cougar Mellemcamp, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Segar and The Silver Bullet Band).

The album is nearly as enjoyable as Working Class Dog. ... Read more

Reviews (66)

Good pop-punk/emo from a great new band
I bought this CD having been referred to them by various punk/emo fanatics across the net. Although this CD only has ten songs, I find it satisfying in that everyone of those songs has something of value. Some of the songs, "August in Bethany" and "For Evangeline" are very well written and touching. Among the highlights on this CD are:

Track 1, This is Not a Love Song; Track 2, Duane Joseph; Track 7, Show Me the Money; and Track 10, P.S. We'll Call You When You Get There. But I would say the standout song is Song 6, "The Closest Thing." This is by far one of the most moving songs ever. Whether you're a Shakespearian lover, a romantic poet, or a grunge rocker, this song will move you in a very strong way. I would recommend this CD if you're looking for a solid, catchy, and semi-romantic CD to listen to when you're down. 3 stars.

Buy Me. I Need A Home.
For those earthlings out there who have already boughten Juliana's "Emotion is Dead" album and are afraid this previous one won't sound as good, get over it. While hardly any album could sound as well-written as "Emotion", this a great CD with great hooks. It's a bit more rocky (more electric guitars), although there are some beautiful pop melodies.

Case in point: "August in Bethany." That is one beautiful song. The melody will sweep you away into dreamville (I'm starting understand what the title means). Some other great tracks include "Music Box Superhero" and "The Closest" (which contains some very well-written lyrics).

So, no, it's not as good as Emotion is Dead. Like I said, few bands could create a masterpiece like that. But this is one wonderful CD. Play it when your friends are over. They'll be like, "Hey! This band is awesome!" Then show them "Emotion is Dead." That'll make them even more bonkers!

Good, probably 4 and a half
This is a very good cd, definitely the only JT cd you ever have to pick up. However, the vocals can get very annoying at times, which is why I would've liked to down-half a star it. But, songs such as 1, 2, and 7 and 8 totally compell this cd forward into awesomness. There's a lot of mixed feelings about this cd, but I feel it's a good one. Buy.

mediocre emo-pop.
my friends had told me this CD was wonderful, awesome, changed their lives, etc. it did not impress me much at all. the whole time i was listening to it, i kept thinking that many, many local bands have CDs like this, yet THEY can't get a record deal. i've heard better from TJT. the only standout track was #6, "The Closest Thing."

Utterly Amazing...
This is the first cd I have heard from The Juliana Theory. But I must say, I am impressed. I popped this into my computers cd player and I found myself sitting there staring into my speakers in amazement. Buy their whole collection. From the sound of this record, I am positive the rest of theirs will be at this calibre. ... Read more

Album Description

Their 1970 debut release, highlighted by the hit 'Go Back.' Other tracks include 'The Other Side', 'Catherine', 'PeaceBy Peace', 'To All My Friends', Try', 'Can't Live My Life', 'Some Madness', 'Hunger For Love' and 'How Long Will ItTake'. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Juicy and Ripe Apple.
Crabby Appleton was one of those early bands that had all the right stuff. Live they were a hell of a band, Michael Fenelly is a great writer and better singer. His solo stuff is also a nice buy so don't forget to find them. Felix 'Flaco' Falcon was to me the first Latin Percussionist to bring Timbales and latin Percussion to the Rock field. yeah some of you will say it was Chepito with Santana but believe me, I was there and he did it long before. Flaco passed away in 81' and it was a big loss to the music world as he was gifted in all fields of music, Jazz, rock etc. But most important is that we have this great music now on Cd, Crabby Appleton was a band that only comes along once in a lifetime and I am so thankful for Cd technology because my albums and tapes are worn.

A forgotten gem...thanks be to the CD gods!
In the early 70's we did a mean rendition of Go Back, but during rehersals in that tiny garage I somehow lost my copy of this album. Talk about being bummed! That was, I think 1973, of course in my mind altered state I wouldn't sware to anything.

I was bummed out about loosing this album for the next decade. Then in the mid 80's my wife (girl friend then) and I were tripping around Manhattan when we went into a little funky used record store...there it was "Crabby Appleton"...one problem,it was $125.00, I swear, incredible as it sounds. I didn't get it! Kicked myself for the next year. And then, my girl friend (still not wife yet) found a copy of this gem in a used record and book store on campus at the University of Maryland! IT WAS FIVE BUCKS...HONEST...I STILL HAVE IT. IT SOUNDS LIKE CRAP NOW!
BUT NOW I CAN LISTEN IN PURITY AGAIN.
By the way after my girl friend gave me the vinyl, that's when she became my wife. Don't tell her! She hasn't put two and two together yet.

Go Back is well worth the price of admission! Actually if Go Back was the only track on it, I would still buy it, and it would still get 5 stars!

Do yourself a favor...buy this, 'GO BACK' in time, and bend your mind...again!

Crabby about Crabby
This eponymous album has some decent music, but sounds forced, as if the band is struggling to conform to creating a pop music sound. Their "Rotten to the Core" album is much better, a real forgotten gem from the 70s. I was elated to finally see "Rotten..." on CD, and bought this album based on the strength of that album, but frankly, I was disappointed.

70's pop rock classic
I owned the 45 rpm of GO BACK before buying the Lp. I played the album so many times. The guitar work is excellent along with the driving percussion. The vocals are pop magic. The songs are well crafted masterpieces. I ordered the CD from Collectors Choice Music. Buy this CD if you love 70's rock.

Crabby Appleton's Power Pop Debut Finally On Cd!
Originally released in 1970, Crabby Appleton's self titled debut album produced one major AM Radio hit with "Go Back" which peaked on the charts in July 1970. The album was full of excellent rockers such as "Try", "Peace By Peace", "Can't Live My Life", "Some Madness", "Hunger For Love" and "Go Back". Crabby Appleton's music was power pop rock, that combined great vocals, harmonies, electric guitars and lots of percussion. To say they had a unique sound is an under statement. There are a few nice slower songs on the album such as "How Long Will It Take" and "Catherine". Crabby Appleton released one more album entitled "Rotten To The Core" which is also available on compact disc. If you like seventies rock such as the likes of The Guess Who, Three Dog Night, Sugarloaf, and Five Man Electrical Band, etc. then buy this cd, you won't be dissapointed. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Living In Oz Demands Respect
"Heart in my mouth, pulse in my head, mercury rising into the red, the smell of the skin can light up all the fires in me," is the first line in the extended version of "Affair of the Heart." This guitar-driven song previews what to expect throughout the entire album. "Living In Oz," the third Springfield installment of the 1980s is a thoughtful, intelligently written, guitar-driven ensemble which demands the respect that Mr. Springfield had been searching for previously. The dancebeat "Human Touch" is funky, but touches on loneliness: "I'm so scared and isolated in the modern world." "Living In Oz," is Rick's second finest song ("Rock of Life" being the first), catches the listener with the hard-edge shrilling guitar introduction, and keeps the listener with its emotional lyrics which border on cynnicism: "Everybody's got to fight their demons, and you know I had to fight mine too; it took alot outta me, it took a lot outta you to be living in oz." This song wreaks of emotion both in lyrics and in the strength of the guitar. Every track is worth a listen. "Souls" is a guitar-powered ballad. "Motel Eyes" is hard-core lyrics, hard-core guitar. The final piece on the album "Like Father, Like Son," is a classical tribute to Rick's lost father. The album is at the top of my list of Best Rick Albums. ***A note to the Eastern US of A Steve Perry fan: check this album out. It is totally awesome, and Rick no longer expresses issues with women-:)

A Great CD
I have never had anyone ask me which Rick Springfield album is my favorite, but if I had to give an answer, I would have to say Living in Oz. This album defines Rick as a singer/songwriter who can really make his fans rock. My favorite songs include Human Touch (because "we all need it"), Affair of the Heart and Me and Johnny, which is based on Rick's life. For any Rick fan this album is a must have for your collection.

Love to relive it !!
The only album I have ever owned where I've enjoyed every single track! And I never get tired of listening to any of them.

A surprisingly superb recording
Back in 1983 when this recording was released I was fresh out of high school and a friend talked me into going to a RS concert in Louisville because it would be full of girls. While we guys were certainly the minority, what I experienced was nothing less than one of the top five live performances I've ever seen. This man is a master entertainer and this album (showing my age :-) was the one that proved he was more than a pretty face (in fact, he was a musician long before taking up acting to pay the bills).

Living in Oz displays a maturity in songwriting as well as subject material that makes this recording a good one to listen to in private with headphones.

This is definitely a two thumbs up!

classic Rick Sprinfield
Living In Oz is among Rick's best sets of music (along with Rock Of Life, Tao, and Success Hasn't Spoiled Me yet). Of course the hits are great - Human Touch, Affair of the Heart, and Souls. He also hits the mark with Me & Johnny, Motel Eyes, and Living in Oz. It's a straightforward collection of mid-80's pop-rock. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Armed with a sharp new drummer and outside producer David Bianco(Pixies, Tom Petty), the three veteran members of Glasgow, Scotland's TeenageFanclub were determined to redeem themselves after 1993's wretched flop,Thirteen. Grand Prix, the group's fourth full album, is fresher,more direct and less cluttered than its predecessor, but it fails to match thegrungy exuberance of the band's debut or the Big Star jangle of 1991'sBandwagonesque, which remains its best effort. --Jim DeRogatis ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Well worth $7.98 -- or $17.98 for that matter
Ignore the unfortunate album title and cover art; this is a solid album, the best "under $10" disc I've seen yet.

Teenage Fanclub writes sincere, buoyant, straight-ahead power pop very much in the Big Star tradition, with lots of vocal harmonies and big blocky guitar chords.

I prefer Grand Prix over everyone's usual favorite album, Bandwagonesque. On Grand Prix, Òthe FanniesÓ explore a bit wider musical range, pen lyrics a bit more articulate and imaginative, and lose the "high school gymnasium" sound. This album is infinitely clearer and more vivid without losing the band's punch.

"Sparky's Dream" is this album's trump card -- ecstatic, near-perfect power pop that positively beams, far and away the best song they've ever written.

Raymond McGinleyÕs songwriting falls far short of Gerry Love and Norman BlakeÕs, as usual, but the 9 Love/Blake songs here make this well worth your time.

Blissful, sun-kissed summer soundtrack....
Teenage Fanclub are so good I can't believe they've failed to break out of indieworld and into the bigtime - still, that's the (lack of) taste of the record-buying public for you. Grand Prix is their best album so far, just shading Bandwagonesque for sheer loveliness. As ever, the Gerry Love songs are the best. The man is a songwriting genius, and if you thought Noel Gallagher was good, just listen to Gerry's efforts on this one - Sparky's Dream, Don't Look Back, Discolite and the gorgeous Going Places - the mono-browed one would kill to write songs like these. Grand Prix mines that seam of melodious guitar pop, sixties style, better than any other 90s album I can think of. Think Byrds, Beach Boys, Big Star, even REM, for that lovely sunny vibe - all jangly guitars and three part harmonies. The album is a bit patchy because of the democratic split in songwriting duties - in all honesty Raymond McGinlay should stick to just playing guitar, but Norman's efforts are pretty good, Tears undoubtedly the best of them. Buy Grand Prix NOW! - it makes the sun shine, even in winter.

Happy, Happy! Joy, Joy!
Just like Stimpy said. An album full of stuff so good Alex Chilton would blush.

Ecstasy inducing.

From Byrds to Beatles
"Grand Prix" leans very heavily upon the Beatles in terms of song and sound style. A very poppy record, it is the most sugary of all the Fanclub's releases. Several winning songs are here but a lack in variation in sound and tempo hurts the overall impact of the disc.
It's still a great cd to own, but I'd get others before this in the Fanclub catalog.

tfc rules
This is the best tfc album ive heard. Believe me. Its excellent. Theres no bad song in it. The best song in this album is "ill make it clear". One the best song ever. Btw, tfc never made bad album. All of their album is excellent. Every album have their own greatness. But this is just the best. i never tired of it. Buy this album. CHeers. ... Read more

Reviews (16)

A Gem Of An Album!
How truly sad it is that Off Broadway's time in the spotlight was so brief; they were and still are a great band! This classic debut features their sole hit "Stay In Time", but also features some equally accessible and fun songs such as "Bully Bully", "Bad Indication", and "Full Moon Turn My Head Around", a song that a band I used to be in played as our show-opener!

I saw Off Broadway in late 1979 at the International Ampitheatre in Chicago; they were the opening act for Cheap Trick, and they were great! Unfortunately, some people in the audience were heckling the band; they just came to hear Cheap Trick and would barely give them any attention, which they SO much deserved! You couldn't help but dance and sing along to Off Broadway's infectiously catchy power-pop songs; and lead vocalist Cliff Johnson's distinctive voice and high energy stage presence were the highlight of their show!

I recommend this CD highly!

one of my all-time favorites
I caught this band by chance in 1979 - they led off a stadium show for Cheap Trick. I liked their show that night (hilarious theatrics; tight musicianship; edge-of-the-stage energy) and began hearing "stay in time" on the radio. I bought the album and was thrilled that the rest of it held up as well as the single. I've listened to it regularly ever since. It reminds me of my favorite Shoes, 20/20, Cheap Trick etc. albums.

If you like great staightforward rock&roll - you won't be disappointed with this album. It has creative guitar work, is packed with melody and it sustains energy without suffering from every song sounding the same. Highly recommeneded.

Great Wild Dancing Music
Saw them in Oshkosh, Wisconsin in 1980. They were great in concert! Songs had that Beatles feel..that fun feel, that innocent feel.

What are Cliff or John doing these days?

Best in the Midwest
I suppose the lack of public acclaim for this truly great band has only made their music all the sweeter--especially if you're
a midwest native. I saw them live in '97 at a small club in Chicago's north side- on a full moon!!-They played all the hits
from "ON" and a few from "QUICK TURNS". "ON" is one of those rare musical statements from a time and place that will never be
duplicated. It was of it's time and in retrospect out of time as
well. Now after all these years, Off Broadway can be assured of
"staying in time"- and "ON", their most lasting musical state-
ment will endure on cd and on vinyl for those of us lucky enough
to have a copy in good shape. Music like this keeps ya' young.

Great Forgotten Rock Album!!
This album rocked back in the summer of 1980 and was HUGE in the Chicago suburbs! And still holds up. I played my cassette to death in college.

"Stay in Time" was a minor national hit but wasn't even the best song on the album in my opinion. ... Read more

Reviews (12)

You Think You Like The Apples? This Is The One To Get!
I am not an expert on this band yet; I own 3 albums- the other 2 being Science Faire and Tone Soul Evolution, and contrary to popular opinion 'Fun Trick' is the creamiest so far, trust me. Although the reviews seem to favor 'Tone Soul', take a listen and you'll see I'm right.

In 'FTN', you can tell the band is influenced by certain sounds of the 60s, but as opposed to 'TSE', they always keep it sounding original. Although Tone Soul is a good album and has some tasty bits to keep you coming back, overall the album isn't nearly as original. Some of it comes out sounding too close to the Monkees, or some other band from the mid to late sixties who caught on a little too late to be hip, ending up sounding synthetic.

For instance, "Seems So," Tone Soul's first song, is just too happy- it almost sounds like something The Partridge Family would have done. Tracks like that were a little disappointing to me, considering that the sublime Fun Trick was my first Apples purchase. FTN to me doesn't venture that far into 60s-happyland. Although sounding retro, it keeps a hint of danger lacking in some of TSE, with hard-driving, sinister guitar riffs; always catchy and original- and yes, fun.

That's not to say Tone Soul Evolution isn't worth getting, it definitely is, but as a starter you may want to consider Science Faire, or better yet, the tastiest dessert treat the Apples in Stereo have to offer--- Fun Trick Noisemaker.

Long live original music and praise the death of today's silly circus performers (who call themselves 'bands' and are somehow recognized by the music industry as important), whenever it comes.

Their best album, from what I can tell
I don't have all of AIS' albums, but of the three I either own, or have owned, this one's much better than "Tone Soul Evolution" and TONS better than "World Inside the Moone," which I turned right around and sold about two weeks after buying it (read my review of it!).

This album does sound original, not too derivative of the sunny 60s, and is a helluva lot of fun. It sounds a LOT like Let's Active to me as well -- Schneider's vocals are almost dead-on Mitch Easter. The only flaws, as with other Apples albums, are that I'm not too fond of Hilarie's vocals, and there were a few times when I was listening to the album that I forgot I was listening to it; that is, I sort of tuned out.

"Dots 123" is my favorite song on the album, by the way. A FUN blowout!!

Psychedelic Wonderland
How this band can play such ultra-lighthearted, blissful, trippy pop reminiscient of Saturday morning cartoons when Gen X were children without being schmaltzy and pointless, I have no idea. Must be genius. :~)

Like many I saw them first on Cartoon Network in the video for their great "Signal in the Sky" song done for the Powerpuff Girls series. But since then I've delved deeper into the band's work and found a lot of gems there. My favourite Apples songs weren't to be found here, but there were some great new discoveries to be made.

As I said before, their music is pure fun, pop in its truest and purest sense. Most bands that try this come across as trite and silly, but not the Apples. The only other band I've seen manage it are the B-52's.

I've already ordered some more of their CDs. :~)

Standing On the Shoulders Of Giants
This is a great album to have if you enjoy psychedelic pop bands of the sixties, especially bands like The Beatles (who doesn't?), The Beach Boys, and The Zombies. On FUN TRICK NOISEMAKER, The Apples mine the same sonic territory that the aforementioned trailblazers created more than three decades ago. Yet, with FTNM, they wisely avoid creating a hackneyed throwback to an abandoned era of pop music. Instead, they forge their own refreshing definition of psychedelic pop music that comes off relevant, exciting, and even unique.

One reviewer compared Apples In Stereo to Pavement, an observation that I fully agree with. They sound like Pavement creating music in the psychedelic sixties (only the Apples never get as experimental as Pavement.) Thus, although their sound is strongly influenced by The Beatles et al., they don't sound as if they've been living under a rock since the end of the British Invasion. They've obviously been paying attention to the indie pop movement of the 80's/90's.

It's kind of odd to me that this kind of music isn't more popular, that this band hasn't gained a stronger fanbase. I would honestly recommend (at least listening to) this band to almost anyone - my friends, my siblings, even my parents. I think there's a good chance that most people will find something to like about FTNM.

There aren't really any bad songs on FTNM. "Green Machine" is one of my favorites. It's a very nostalgic look at that golden period in your life when you're young, have tons of friends, and life is just simple and fun. "Saturdays and Superfriends / these are things I thought would last forever." If you had a Green Machine when you were little like I did, then you'll totally get this song. Nostalgia seems to pervade every song on this album. Other favorites include the first two songs (after the intro): "Tidal Wave" and "High Tide," two near-perfect pop tunes awash with marine imagery and catchy hooks. "Pine Away" is a great closer. Honestly, if I go on I'll name every song on the album so I'll just cool it.

OK, so not everybody gets into this album. Why? One reason that I can think of is that it is a bit lo-fi. However, I love that aspect - it lends the album charm and personality while reinforcing the link to an older era of pop music. Others may say that a lot of the songs sound identical. I will agree that if you listen to FTNM over and over without a break, the unique qualities of individual songs begin to disappear. But the same can be said of so many great albums and it's no reason to bypass this one. Probably the most legitimate complaint, in my estimation, concerns Rob Schneider's voice. Although I liked it immediately, it will probably be an acquired taste for most people, if they ever like it.

I'm so glad that I discovered this album.

It's Fun but not so Trick...
Fun, I will agree with that part of the album title, but you need to be careful how often you play this disc, it can get old fast. Never heard The Apples in Stereo? They have a similar feel to that of "Pavement" playing the greatest hits of the Go Go's or "Cracker" playing School house rock. It's happy it's fun, it's not going to challenge you musically. It might be just what the doctor ordered, it might be like the same joke that made you laugh in grade school. Oh yeah, I remember when milk shot out of my nose. ... Read more

Reviews (13)

A crucial album
...

I got this cd in my junior year of college, and it pretty much changed my life. It was sort of like a latter day Simon and Garfunkel album in that it captured the innocence of being young and the complexities of a grown up world at the same time. Sure, that sounds cliche, but there's just something about this album that reached inside me and yanked hard. I bought it after liking "Frosting on the Beater" and several Posies fans telling me that this was the cd by them I had to have next. They were right. It's become one of the best cds I own.

It's pure pop- beautiful melodies, jangly guitars, and witty lyrics. Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow have gorgeous voices that blend and lift and soar. It's rare that an album has both amazing songwriting and excellent performance of those songs- usually one outshines the other. But this album manages to combine both. I literally had to sit down when I first heard "Any Other Way" - it was that powerful. Other standout songs include "Suddenly Mary", "You Avoid Parties", and "Flood of Sunshine".

It was the perfect album for the emotions I was going through at the time. It is the soundtrack for being caught between wanting to grow up and looking forward to the future and being scared to death of what is to come. It is a combination of love, independence, fear, and joy. It's just a beautiful album. Buy it.

A Power Pop Tour-de-Force
The Posie's second album is a remarkable collection of bombastic, over-the-top, endlessly enjoyable tunes that focus on the band's superior songwriting ability and strong understanding of pop music history. Few bands since the Hollies have such wonderful harmonies. You can't help but sing-along. There isn't a single dud on the album. Tracks like "Golden Blunders", "My Big Mouth" and "Suddenly Mary" are instant pop classics and "Any Other Way", "Mrs. Green" and "Flood of Sunshine" are forceful, huge statements that show hints of 70s progressive rock. "You Avoid Parties" and "Everyone Moves Away" shows the band's acoustic side, which works undeniably well. The album is certainly overproduced, but that is part of this album's joys. It might sound pretentious, but "Dear 23" has so much life, energy and skill - powerpop essentials - you just have to be charmed. One of life's cheap thrills.

a classic album
I can't say enough about this album, or "Frosting on the Beater" for that matter. Funny enough, the first song I heard from the Posies was "I can dream all day" (from "FOtheB") and I was not in the mood for 60's-Summer of Love-ish pop given the grunge revolution that was unfolding. On further review, that song is OK but there are at least a dozen songs on these two albums in particular that are even better. Beautiful but hardhitting. I saw one review that called the Posies "near-perfect" power-pop, which sums it up, I think.

Grunge killed these rock stars
Beautiful vocal harmonies reminiscent of the Hollies married with soaring pop melodies showcase the Posies first major label release. As perfect a record as any band could hope for, The Posies journey into the music world was downhill from here. Dear 23 was a commercial failure because of the overnight sensation of the grunge scene that also hit in 1990, leaving little interest in a Power Pop band. Songs that should have become classics include "Golden Blunders," "Apology," "Suddenly Mary," and "Everyone Moves Away."

The best CD you've never heard of...
I first heard this CD when I was a junior in college and it quickly became an instant fixture in my stereo. This follow up to the very catchy "Failure" is a geniune pop masterpiece. Released around the time when grunge was king, Dear 23 was an overlooked album that can easily compete with their other Seattle counterparts in quality. Although "Frosting on the Beater" was probably their biggest commercial success, this album is by far the gem of their career.

The harmonies of Jon and Ken are seldom rivaled and are what seperates them from the pack. This release shows their very diverse song writing talents, from the emotionally powerful "Any other way" to the jazzy "Mrs. Green" to the heavy "Help yourself" with two excellent acoustic numbers in between. Never lost is their remarkable sense of melody and catchy hooks. With lyrics like, "The lines across your face are drawn with hate, 'cause I'm drawn to someone else..." this album has a very dark, anti-relationship message throughout. This is a must-own CD for any fan of clever, well written pop songs surrounded by excellent harmonies. ... Read more