Editorial Review

By the time the title track's triumphant riff chime-growls out midway through Read more

Features

• Explicit Lyrics
• Extra tracks
• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (27)

Fierce and Flawless
If Fleetwood Mac swallowed the Sex Pistols, it might sound like X. A unique combination of clever pop-rock song craft and genuine punk bite distinguishes all of X's recordings, and nowhere is this asset more apparent than on their masterpiece, "Under the Big Black Sun." Song for song, this Ray Manzarek-produced set boasts an abundance of infectious, guitar-driven hooks (courtesy of Billy Zoom), Bonebrake's kicking drums, and--perhaps most distinctive of all--beguiling vocal harmonies between rock-and-roll's most tumultuous husband and wife team, Jon Doe and Excene Cervenka. And while the band plied the same market as Black Flag and The Clash, X's "Under the Big Black Sun" pays generous tribute to Jerry Lee Louis, Bo Diddley, and Buddy Holley--with a little Patsy Cline thrown in for good measure. The resulting mix isn't as much eclectic as it is electric.
The Finest LA Band ever
I love X and love most all of their albums. For some reason, this one fell under my radar, having listen to the rest of the catatlog. I put it on and could not stop listening to every track. It's simply a great rock album and showcases the considerable talent of each and every member of the band. The first two albums, which are great, are more raw and greener. This is refined X and all the better for it.

Exene comes forward as the star
The first album by this band was awesome raw and defined the LA punk scene -it has it's place. Their second album Wild Gift got all the critics praise and showed that a truly great band can still be edgy and punk one year later. This is their third effort and the times have changed for the band and their fans. Exene's words are powerful and haunting and real. She sends chills down your spine with the thought of God choosing the next one to take this friday"which one will he save for this friday/ you can put him in a fish pond/ and watch him swim around/ then have a catholic dinner."Sheer poetry and grief-she learned to sing on this record too, which changed their sound and probably maked thier downfall as producers couldn't quite seem to capture their talent the way live recordings would after.You should own all of their stuff and I wouldn't recommend this as the first one to get but for this fan it is my most treasured. I grew and cried listening to Exene and Johnie and this took me places at a time other music didn't ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. American Underground    3. College Rock    4. L.A. Punk    5. Pop    6. Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Soundtrack

Reviews (10)

some brilliant renditions, but can't quite all mix together
I like the spirit of this album, which is to let the music of Kurt Weill attach itself to the many worlds it came from.This was classical music that also used elements of popular music at the time, all with a very dark and almost mechanical tone.So it would seem fitting to have exquisite voices like Teresa Stratas rub elbows with darker elements like Nick Cave in this collection.There are also the jazz influences developed by Charlie Haden and Betty Carter.
Cool and Camp
This is a very biased review- I originally had much of Weill'swork on cassette tape- way back in the olden days- before CD's- so I am already very partial to many of the tracks on this CD- I would recommend it not only to Kurt Weill fans, and the fans of the various artists featured, but I would also strongly recommend this to anyone who likes artsy, camp, fun burlesque, Bohemian European stuff. The record, even though performed by contemporary artists still retains much of it's zeitgeist, it evokes the era in which Weill was writing and it rounds out any great eclectic record collection. It's a great musical discovery for fans of all sorts of genres, and EVERYONE should own at least one recorded arrangement of "Mack The Knife". (You know, for parties and stuff!)

September Song Music of Kurt Weill
Songs from the film-documentary done by various artists. Excellent choice if you like Mr Weill's music. I saw the film and always wanted the CD. Now I have and I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th/21st Century Music for Voice and Keyboard    2. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Avant-Garde Jazz    4. Classical    5. German/Austrian 20th/21st Century Opera    6. Hard Rock    7. New York Punk    8. Opera    9. Post-Bop    10. Rock/Pop Collections    11. Showtunes / B'way    12. Singer/Songwriter    13. Solo Voice(s) and Orchestra    14. Standards    15. Traditional Pop    16. Vocal   

Editorial Review

Talking Heads' 30th anniversary is commemorated in typically artful style here, sonically upgrading their eight, era-defining albums via bonus-packed Dual Discs and encasing them in a molded white plastic box intricately embossed with the band's song titles. Each disc contains complete album tracks and bonus cuts remastered in High Resolution Stereo on its CD side, while the DVD programming on the flip offers up the audio tracks in expansive new 5.1 Surround Sound mixes, with all of the sonic upgrading personally supervised by Heads drummer Jerry Harrison. Those long overdue audio improvements alone would make it an attractive set, but fans of the band will find its wealth of bonus music (various B-sides and previously unreleased outtakes) and video (including a number of rare live clips seeing their first release here) supplements equally intriguing.Read more

Features

• Box set
• DualDisc

Reviews (42)

Packaging? meh. Music? yeah!
So Talking Heads fans will be wondering whether this is worth it if they already have most or all of the above-mentioned releases, and the answer is YES. This is true for all of the albums, but especially for Remain in Light and Naked, which really sound like new albums. Listening to either one of these records on the DVD-side surround mixes on solid speakers is a life-altering experience. (And furthermore, thanks to some tweaks and editing, in many ways the DVD sides really are different from the CD sides.) Even without surround, the remastered CD sides are an instantly noticeable improvement. The unreleased material and B-sides are generally excellent, and often provide insight into how the album, or its songs, were made or put together. The video extras, while few in number, are surprisingly good and aren't dated, grainy, or cheesy. Given how wretched music videos from the 70s and 80s tend to be, this is a testament to the artistic skill of the Heads.
SCRATCHED & GOUGED DISCS/JEWEL CASES: BAD HANDLING AT THE PRESSING PLANT!

Sweet Spot
Of course, the best way to hear this embarrassment of riches is to set up your system with the 5 speakers placed accordingly, set the levels for volume and distance, choose A.F.D. as your option to hear it as it was intended, then close your eyes and observe as the music swirls, plays games with you, peeks out and reveals structures you have never heard before. Have the synthesizers whoosh over your head to goose you in the backside, cavort back and forth in front of you, then high five the bass as it vibrates at your feet and beats at your heart, as the vocals (mixed down in many of the songs just enough to structure the music) lead you by your hyper-pleasured brain through the dark, funky and shifting landscape..
Read more

Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. American Punk    4. Box Sets (Audio Only)    5. College Rock    6. New Wave    7. New York Punk    8. Pop    9. Pop/Rock    10. Post-Punk    11. Punk    12. Rock    13. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

This is the album on which the monster that was Hüsker Dü truly came alive. From here on out, this Minneapolis trio would define new directions and open new vistas for rock music with every release. Bob Mould's spectacularly demented lead work and furious vocal delivery are driven to a frenzied pace by drummer Grant Hart and bassist Greg Norton.At times, as on the incredible opener, "Real World," the naked aggression and speed is hard to withstand. "It's Not Funny Anymore" is a great anthem, striking a blow against conformity and hinting at the pop territory the band would go on to explore more fully on future outings. "Diane," with Hart on lead vocal, is a ballad of sorts--and probably one of the most horrifying in the history of rock. Read more

Features

Reviews (13)

No Husker Du Collection is complete without this....!!!!
Despite being one of the few American Post-Punk /American Hardcore bands that had a succession of critically acclaimed albums to their name, as well as being a massive influence on other artists...H�sker D�, were never quite lucky enough to turn that considerable talent and ability into mainstream acceptance.And thus, although highly regarded in music circles, only really ever remained something of a cult band, with a devoted fanbase.
Husker Du's first studio effort for SST....
....resulted in this phenomenal EP.This is where the classic Husker Du was born.The production is tight, the instruments sound great, and the songs......the opening punch of Real World and Deadly Skies will leave you breathless, and they have really wry lyrics to boot.Grant Hart's sole contributions include the great It's Not Funny Anymore, and the haunting Diane, based on a true story about a girl they knew and her harrowing ordeal told through the eyes of the serial killer who killed her.The rest of the songs, while of lesser quality, are still very, very good.Great stuff on this album.

Pretty good for an introduction
I started reading the book "Our Band Could be Your Life" recently, in which Husker Du is but one of thirteen bands profiled in the survey of American indie rock. Intrigued by the author's insights on the band, and always a sucker for a cool band name, I decided to try a little H-D myself and picked up this EP at a local store.Read more

Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. American Underground    3. Hardcore Punk    4. Pop    5. Punk    6. Rock   

Editorial Review

"Wanna buy a monkey?" It'd be more exciting than this safe collection of musical performances from the Read more

Features

• Live

Reviews (13)

Sheila Rogers Produced This CD?
Let's face it, this compilation is so outdated, no wonder it comes in at a whopping 87,000 on Amazon in sales!The singers on this CD are dinosaurs and some are extinct!
Worth a Reprise
"Live On Letterman" is a great collection that stands up 8 years later.Sheila Rogers has done an excellent job producing this for Reprise Records.The sound quality is crisp.The audience applause flows seamlessly between tracks giving the sense to the listener that you're listening to one long concert.There are some delightful tracks on the disc.Lou Reed's "Sweet Jane" blazes out with his edgy vocals and slashing lead guitar.Aretha Franklin may have sung "Think" 3,000 times, but she belts it out with an energetic band that'd have James Brown looking up their phone numbers, "I ain't no psychiatrist or doctor with degree, but it don't take much high IQ to see what you're doing to me."Lenny Kravitz also blasts out with "Are You Gonna Go My Way" with a thunderous guitar storm.Other tracks on the set are also strong including R.E.M.'s "Crush With Eyeliner" & the softest track on the set, Elivis Costello & Burt Bacharach on "God Give Me Strength."This little walk down memory lane from the small screen is worth a reprise on your changer.Enjoy!

Live On Letterman : Music From The Late Show [LIVE]
I've read the other reviews for this incredible CD; and have to admit...many of you are missing the big picture here. This collection of artists and titles are a must for any music buff. I play it regularly and find it endlessly entertaining. I just wish there were others produced and available...with Dave's fame and continued run on late night TV...I'm certain there'd be a dozen by now. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Adult Contemporary    3. Album Rock    4. Alternative Pop/Rock    5. American Trad Rock    6. Baroque Pop    7. Blue-Eyed Soul    8. Brill Building Pop    9. Celtic Folk    10. College Rock    11. Country    12. Film Music    13. Folk-Rock    14. Funk    15. Hard Rock    16. Irish Folk    17. New York Punk    18. Pop    19. Pop/Rock    20. Popular Music   

Reviews (10)

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.

Some missteps, but not bad
Summer of Drugs/Soul Asylum Great intentions, fair CD
Sweet Relief is proof that the best of intentions don't necessarily guarantee a great CD.Read more

Subjects:  1. 90's    2. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Album Rock    4. Alternative Country-Rock    5. Alternative Folk    6. Alternative Pop/Rock    7. Americana    8. College Rock    9. Contemporary Folk    10. Folk & Traditional    11. Folk-Rock    12. Glam Rock    13. Hard Rock    14. Indie Rock    15. New York Punk    16. Pop    17. Pop Underground    18. Pop/Rock    19. Popular Music    20. Power Pop   

Features

• Enhanced

Reviews (51)

Boycott Victory Records (Not a kid's review by the way!)
Okay first off, Our Gang's Dark Oath was an amazing album I loved it, I still do. Then they moved to Victory Records and I, knowing that all of Victory's bands sound the same, was very skeptical as to what the change in the label would mean for this band. Nonetheless, I bought Nightmare Anatomy and me being skeptical was washed away when I heard Knife Blood Nightmare. I thought to myself, Aiden is back! All of those feelings of thinking Aiden is still making great music were soon washed away when I heard Die Romantic. This was probably the most generic emo songs I had ever heard. While I will admit, it was catchy, I was disgusted by the fact that Aiden had written it. From that moment of the CD on, my feelings did not change, every single song goes into this poppy attempt at having a catchy chorus and not only does it sound cheesy, it shows the band was quite simply running out of ideas. I was offended by the fact that this band had put this CD out. Did they think that their fans are a bunch of idiots and not realize that this is a sad attempt at becoming popular? Anyone who tries to correct me should listen to this: the big craze right now in music is emo. Aiden, a band that WAS NOT emo before they signed to Victory Records BECAME emo. A band that was not emo before becomes emo when the genre is popular. Hmmmmmm sellouts? Ummm yeah! The funny thing is Victory promotes this, which is why I say boycott Victory before they take yet another once-great band and turn them into every other band that is on their label. If not, you guys can watch your favorite band turn into My Chemical Romance Version 4572364578.

very good!!!!!!!!!
I bought this cd after hearing the song die romantic this band is a little genric but it is good!

The pointless ramblings of my mind on modern music
I recentley saw the Aiden and HIM concert in Chicago.I had loved the band HIM for two years and just couldn't wait.Althought my teenage heart did beat for Ville Valo, Aiden stole the show.The music cranked and the band had thousands of people cramming in so close together, all sweating buckets, but happy doing so.I had heard the singles "Die Romantic" and "The Last Sunrise", but they weren't my favorites on the cd.I personally liked "Goodbye Were Falling Fast" and can't wait to see a video for it.All the same, Aiden seems to have jumped on the "slit your wrists and die in the arms of your lover" bandwagon, and I enjoy every moment of it.The screaming and screaching with beautifully dark lyrics puts me to bed every night.I am also very glad I met the band before listening to the cd.I got to talk to wiL for a couple of minutes, honestley the nicest man I have EVER met, and he talked to me about the album and life in general.ALl of those lyrics are written form their hearts, they pour their souls into their work and give so much for their fans. I would have a hard time giving this cd anything other than a five. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Metal    2. American Punk    3. Emo    4. Hardcore Punk    5. Pop    6. Pop-Metal    7. Pop/Rock    8. Post-Hardcore    9. Post-Punk    10. Punk    11. Punk Metal    12. Punk-Pop    13. Rock    14. Rock & Roll    15. Rock/Pop    16. Screamo    17. Skatepunk   

Editorial Review

Although Exene Cervenka and John Doe should be remembered as the most influential punk songwriting team after the Clash's Joe Strummer and Mick Jones, they remain a cult favorite. Oh well, that hardly diminishes the lasting impact of Read more

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (22)

Not only one of X's greatest albums, one of the greatest albums ever!
I know that a lot of X fans are upset that this truly legendary band never got the commercial success that they truly deserved. However, that never really bothered me. Because after all of these flash in the pan and flavor of the week groups are dead and gone, their music will be as well. However, X's music will live forever. Which is what is so remarkable about this band. Some twenty years later, their music is so contemporary, it does not sound dated at all (well maybe one their albums does). I guess the two biggest hits off this great album are "Poor Girl" and "Breathless." However, every cut is great, from the start to finish, each track is blistering and fresh. Los Angeles legends, just like their first and best producer.

X's Best!
I've had "Los Angeles" and "Wild Gift" for quite some time now, for some strange reason I always thought I wouldn't like any other X album,I was wrong, "More Fun in the new world" along with "Under the big black sun" are by far my favorite X albums,
walking the line
X has a funny way of tip toeing the line between raw punk and gritty, classic rock. For one, John and Exene sing extremely well together. The fact that they sing harmonies in a punk band is unusual, but it works. Then there is the fact that they can just churn out the most adrenaline injected punk you will ever hear. These elements are really evident on this and albums after Los angeles and wild gift. X will live on the heart and minds of fans as one of the most dynamic and kick ass bands punk music has ever produced. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. American Punk    3. College Rock    4. L.A. Punk    5. Pop    6. Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (9)

Everything you need from the milkmen
When the Dead Milkmen first released this album i thought that it wasn't going to capture all of the work they've done over their illustrious career. I was wrong, being a huge DM fan for a long time i knew what their best songs were and what should be on this album. I saw the track listing online a while ago and said, "wow, this is all their best songs on one cd, it looks like someone finnaly made a great greatest hits album!" and it's true, if you wanna get into the DM, get this one.

I'm so much cooler than you
Dead Milkmen were my "I'm cooler than you because I like this band" group I chose in high school. The only song I had ever heard by the band was "punk rock girl", but I said your typical hard core fan stuff like how much I liked their earlier stuff and compared them to other bands like Frankie's Weiner that no one else had heard of. Did you have to know what you were talking about? NO, of course not. It's all about image. I formed several bands in high school that never played a show. I would put up flyers all around the school and cancel the shows the day they were supposed to go off. I would tell people the club didn't meet fire code. Girls would ask if they could sleep with me to cheer me up. There was a six month period where I fronted nine fake bands that never picked up an instrument, but I had a rock star following. That is why I'm where I am and you are where you are.

coolest cd ever
This is a great cd by the Dead Milkmen. it has a great variety of music- compare "tiny town" to "instant club hit". It starts off pretty straightforward and gets really weird after the 8th or 9th song but it's still a great album that I can listen to all day and be amused every time.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. American Punk    3. College Rock    4. Comedy Rock    5. Novelty    6. Pop    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (12)

grey noise and static empty shells
Terminal Tower is the album that got me into pere ubu. There are tracks on this that are so powerful that they chill your spine. Especially the song "heart of darkness". This song, to me, is the anthem of conscience. The first sound was truly the best intro of a pere ubu record. Though I wasn't alive when they started in Ohio, I heard that David Thomas would strike an anvil with a sludge hammer in this song. Songs like "30 seconds over Tokyo" and "final solution" are also very powerful and interesting. There is even a version of "modern dance" (the song) without the "Mamba Mamba" part of the verse. Generally this is a very interesting CD.

Cleveland band Rocks the Terminal Tower
"Terminal Tower," a singles and B-sides collection by art-punk Cleveland band, Pere Ubu, is mostly a shot of well-envisioned musicianship.The first three songs here-- "Heart of Darkness," "30 Seconds Over Tokyo," and "Final Solution"-- are stellar examples of depressing, but high-concepted tunes, and are a testament to why this band was one of the leading forces of the American Punk Underground in the 1970's.
PROMISE OF GENIUS
The promise of genius certainly shines through on these early tracks, but I was a little disappointed as this album does not quite have that hypnotic quality of, for example Dub Housing, where they create such exquisite sound sculptures on the synthesizer in a thoroughly rock idiom.Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. American Punk    3. American Underground    4. Experimental Rock    5. Pop    6. Post-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop    9. United States of America   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (11)

my first patti smith album
for as long as ive known, ive grown up listening to distinct, strong, female voices.my father constantly played fleetwood mac and lone justice and looking back it has obvious influenced my musical tastes.the most fascinating and dimensional music to me today lies in bands like the distillers, hole, etc.This is because it shows the way in which a woman can take hold of something crude, something broken and make it new.i thought this was a purely modern thing until my father gave me "radio ethiopia".i love it, and honestly, i have trouble drawing any comparison between patti smith and ani difranco or liz phair because i don't like either of them.i think that the musical direction of today is such a good indicator of the way in which smith was so ahead of her time.i mean, "ask the angels" was released in 1976, but it was covered by the distillers in 2000 and i beleive it is just as relevant.
Radio Ethiopia
Smart, elegant, raw, pure, energy, power, shining, depth, grace, spirit, body, flesh, bones, earth, race, agonizing, despair, heartbreaking, squeak, elegy, life, ground, roots, leaves, perfection, high, languid, beauty. The Best of the Lot
I have always considered this to be the BEST Patti Smith album of them all, rocking, wild, raw energy and rebellious spirit, decidedly uncommercial and I still go crazy when she does these tunes live.Read more

Subjects:  1. Keyboards    2. New York Punk    3. Pop    4. Popular Music    5. Proto-Punk    6. Rock    7. Rock & Roll    8. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

"Ice Cold Ice," in which Bob Mould rails against "barren lands and barren minds" and Grant Hart falls in on the supercatchy chorus, exemplifies the Hüsker Dü career development that peaks on this final album. Without sacrificing the emotional intensity of earlier albums, the Minneapolis trio beefs up the guitar-based melodies and sneaks in pop songcraft in lieu of the old fast-and-loud hardcore style. On this 1987 double album, as usual, guitarist Mould supplies the personal songs ("Standing in the Rain"), while drummer Hart remains more broadly political ("Tell You Why Tomorrow"). Read more

Reviews (50)

Disappointing Final Release
That this record gets better listener reviews than Flip Your Wig drives me crazy.Yes, there are some very catchy pop tinged songs on this release that I really do like but this record as a whole totally lacks the intensity of the SST works.Am I just a bitter fan who wanted to keep the band small and non-corporate?-Maybe, okay almost certainly.-I do understand that bands evolve and there sound changes ( I feel your pain Metallica fans!) with each trip to the studio but this recording sounds totally phoned in and forced.No, it's not terrible but clearly is the work of a band well on there way to imploding.If you are a fan you should certainly have this in your Husker Du library but if you are not familiar with the band start at Zen Arcade and work your way to this one.

One of the top bands of the 80s (Essential) (If not THE top...)
Husker Du was the greatest power post punk band of the 80s.They had a rapid, loud, searing sound like no one else.With songs like Ice cold Ice and She floated Away, HD defined their own sound in spades and waves of power chords.Both Mr. Grant and Mr. Mould combined to create incredible waves of guitars wrapped around and through Ramones-influenced short, frenetic songs that lyrically scaled poetic heights other bands just couldn't reach.
"Familiar places that we turned into gardens"
Warehouse:Songs and Stories was the last Husker Du studio album.It was released in 1987.They are one of my all-time favorite bands and they seemed to get better and better with each album they made.In Warehouse they left their fans with a double-album filled with great tracks and absolutely no fillers.It's unfortunate that they broke up seemingly so soon, but both Grant Hart and Bob Mould continued with excellent solo records (I especially recommend Intolerance by Hart and Workbook and Black Sheets of Rain by Mould) as well as new bands Nova Mob and Sugar.Here is the warehouse-full of awesome tracks offered on this album:
Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. American Underground    3. College Rock    4. Hardcore Punk    5. Pop    6. Punk    7. Rock   

Reviews (10)

GREAT ALBUM, GREAT BAND, SO WHY NOT GREAT RE-RELEASE?
There is no question in the power of Devo's music, philosophy or art (especially in "Duty For The Future"), however this edition of the recording is quite lackluster considering a previous version of "Duty" far out weighs it. The Infinite Zero label (reissue label ran by Henry Rollins) produced a quality re-mastered version sporting two great bonus tracks (Soo Bawls, Penetration In The Centerfold) with lyrics to boot. The release here features no extra tracks, on lyrics, and adding to the insult a weak re-mastering (if any at all). The CD sleeve itself consists of a single 4.75" X 4.75" paper square. The original vinyl gave you more than that.
Devo Most Representative Work
This album is truly unique and is brilliant.The songs are purely Devo.A picture of the future in all its glory.Smart Patrol/Mr. DNA is the purest Devo statement and is balanced by a treasure trove where everything hit its stride.If you want the most melodic and smartest albums buy this and Hardcore #1.

Enter the World of Devo.........if you dare!
One of my top 10 favorite albums of the 70's.There is no other album anything like this one.Well, maybe perhaps Devo's 1st, but I still prefer this album.Almost a Theme album with each song having Devo's signature craziness stamped all over it.How much more insane does a song have to get than 'Pink Pussycat'.How nasty and irresistibly creepy is 'The Day my Baby Gave me a surprise', telling the tale of a hospital bound boy with horrific injuries being given the joy of a baby boy by his girlfriend who can't bear to look at him.'Wahooo-ooooooo-oooooooh!' indeed.'Secret Agent Man' is a great catchy remake whilst 'Smart-Patrol/Mr. DNA' is the best thing on this record.This track is Devo's very own unique creation and the sheer verve and excitement of it really draws you into their unique world.'Red-Eye Express' shows you how to build a very simple record with just one fantastic hook, that hook being a helicopter like rotating beat that leads into a true New Wave Classic.Fantastic use of earlyish Synth technology it's a perfect mix of guitar's and electronic music.They were a highly innovative and influential band.This album was possibly 'Devo's' last hurrah as they never really made anything as good as this again, save a few singles and the obvious 'Whip It' single.This whole album tells a story completely unique to itself.Make no doubt about it 'Devo' were more revolutionary than most self-professed punk bands and between this and their 1st album they could do no wrong.Perhaps someone could explain to me how 'Devo' songs always seemed to end up on 'Heavy Metal' album compilations.This album I think would surprise a lot of people and shows what Devo were really all about.They lived and breathed their own world through their music and anyone who might have had a passing interest in Devo but never got past 'Whip It', well then you should really pick up this & their 1st album.I think you'd be amazed. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. American Underground    3. New Wave    4. Pop    5. Post-Punk    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (8)

Strong Compilation from start to finish!!
I admit that I bought this CD originally for the want of 2 songs - Spanish Stroll and Each Word Is A Beat of My Heart - which remain my 2 favorites, but this collection is so much deeper.Would You, Could You; Maybe Tomorrow; Just Give Me One Good Reason; A Train Lady - are all excellent.This has moved into my Top 5 personal play list and it will be there for a long time to come.I was a casual fan of Mink/Willy Deville before I bought this CD, but I'm hooked now.

An Unknown Classic by a Genius
This brilliant compilation showcases Deville's amazing talent to the full. The sound of these wonderful melodic songs is a gripping blend of Springsteenesque rock, Phil Spector type pop and Hispanic infusions.My favorites include This Must Be The Night, Spanish Stroll, the edgy Cadillac Walk, Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl, Just To Walk That Little Girl Home, A Train Lady and Guardian Angel, but every song has something special. Mink has a soulful voice and the arrangements are perfect. This classic album at times reminds one of the best work of artists like Tom Petty, Nick Lowe and Elvis Costello. Catchy hooks, divine vocal harmonies, soulful vocals and poetic lyrics make every song a masterpiece. Mink Deville is one of the obscure geniuses of rock and this collection is a timeless classic.

A WAY UNDERRATED TALENT
I love this album! Spanish Stroll is a virtual treasure trove of fantastic R&B music that's done with a Latino twist, and a whole lotta soul. Deville is another one of those hard luck story coulda, shoulda, woulda artists that, after you here this great Best Of comp, wonder what the heck happened? Mink Deville's story began in San Francisco, where they managed to go nowhere fast with their style of music. So he moved his band from San Fran to New York, and found minor success playing the leather bar and lounge circuit with the punk and new wave acts that were so popular in N.Y. at the time. Deville may have looked the part with the pink zoot suit and pencil thin mustache, but this guy was no new waver, and definitly not a punk. He's an accomplished songwriter and an excellent singer who, in my opinion, had an influence on the east coast heavyweights like Southside Johnny and even Springsteen. Just listen to the Boss on his later albums starting with the River, and you'll see what I mean. I can't help but think that if he had had a big time backing band like the Ashbury Dukes or the E Street Band, that Deville would have become a superstar. He might have anyway if it hadn't been for all the numerous record label changes and a music industry blackball due to previous drug problems. But despite all that mess, Deville still remained hungry enough to keep making great music through this fertile period of 77-87. His early stuff which makes up the first half of this CD I think is his best work. Among my faves is "Mixed Up Shook Up Girl". The wonderful "Spanish Stroll", which was the only song that even came close to being a hit. It made the top 20 in the U.K. My alltime Deville favorite is "Just Your Friends", where he sings Ben E King style with a Stand By Me sounding full orchestration backing, and a very infectious sounding harp and strumming acoustic guitar. This song shoulda been a hit. A big hit. Deville wrote, or had a hand in writing almost everything here, with the exception of Moon Martin's "Cadillac Walk". Also a great Arthur Alexander song "You Better Move On". And Van Morrison's "Could You Would You", where he displays some of his best singing. Every R&B/soul lover should have this generous 21 track 75 minute cd in their collection. It's simply delicious! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. New York Punk    3. Pop    4. Pop/Rock    5. R&B/Soul    6. Rock    7. Rock & Roll    8. Rock/Pop