Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (6)

Ripping review
I'm going to handle this the same was as Kiss Me and not say anything about the CD itself, what for?We all know it by heart anyway.The bonus stuff?Interesting, but hardly essential.
Its Midnight And The Crows Are Beckoning: The Cure Resurrect A Goth-Pop Classic
CD Review: The Cure - The Head On The Door: Remastered And Expanded Edition
A dramatic shift.
A distinct change of direction, "The Head on the Door" finds the Cure drifting towards pop music for the first time.This is really enabled by the band-- with the return of bassist Simon Gallup to the fold, leader/vocalist/guitarist Robert Smith had the anchor that the band needed.Gallup could play the morbid, goth sort of basslines that the band cut their teeth on, but he could also manage a bright funk and pop sound.Ditto for drummer Boris Williams, who provided a fine foil for Gallup in the rhythm section.But just as key was the presence of guitarist Porl Thompson, who allowed Smith to construct shimmering guitar textures.The group is rounded out by founding member Lol Tolhurst, contributing on keyboards (although in the liner notes, his contribution is played down quite a bit).
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. College Rock    3. Goth Rock    4. New Wave    5. Pop    6. Post-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Reviews (4)

All Those Precious Vinyl EPs . . .
After all this time, I finally have those early non-album Cocteau tracks from the 80's on two tight, pristine and affordable CDs (with some notable exceptions - see the review below by Laurence Upton who offers detailed commentary on exactly which songs and different versions made the final cut).
In a word, it's... cool.
The Cocteau Twins were one of those mysterious bands that the really cool kids in High School were into. You know, the ones with lots of black clothing, complicated footwear, hip hairdos, and surprisingly easy access to mind-altering substances. In other words, not me.
Complements the 4AD albums
Lullabies was the Cocteau Twins first EP, released in Autumn 1982 a couple of months after their debut album Garlands, and Violaine marked the final release by the band in the summer of 1996. Now that the lavish 4CD box set has sold out, the discs have been made available in two double-CD sets, of which the first represents their 8 year association with Four AD, and the second their period with Fontana. This distinction is less marked in America, where albums from Blue Bell Knoll onward were all on Capitol.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Ambient Pop    3. Dream Pop    4. Pop    5. Post-Punk    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Scotland   

Editorial Review

This record shook up the snoozing world of rock in 1979, becoming a truly classic disc, one full of landmark moments and heavy with possibilities. Most "real" rockers in the late '70s tried hard to ignore the Sex Pistols and the Clash, claiming the punk tumult was a merely a fad; but fun-loving types couldn't resist the magnificent hooks and grooves of the B-52's debut. They fell into the "new wave" while dancing their tushes off. The magnificent "Rock Lobster" remains unmatched in terms of its relentless, spastic power to move one's feet; ditto "52 Girls," with its nod to '60s trash rock. A Cramps-ish guitar grinds through "Lava," which features his-and-hers innuendo-laden lyrics. "I'm not no limburger!" goes one line from "Dance This Mess Around," but you just never question why. Brilliant. Read more

Reviews (43)

Wild fun!!!!
I bought this record back in 1979 or 1980 and I loved it for it camp sensibility, catchy pop and danceable tracks. This is a FUN album with great songs, especially "Planet Claire" and "Dance This Mess Around". Turn the volume on these tracks and blast back to New Wave interpretations of early 60's pop.

B-52's - 'The B-52's' (Reprise)
Their 1979 absolute must-have (or least borrow it first)eponymous debut effort. A new wave classic. I, personally remember when this lp first hit the stores. Something like six months later, ALREADY vinyl bootlegs were obtainable. Let's face it, at THAT time the music scene was in need of several changes. Totally dug about every track on this CD reissue, such as "52 Girls", the awesome "Dance This Mess Around", their smash hit "Rock Lobster" (ironically, my LEAST favorite cut on this disc), "Lava", "Hero Worship" and their version of "Downtown". Highly recommended.

If you like Outgrabe's "Love Cream Pie," you'll love this album!
The B-52s are my favorite old-time band! Super bouncy and fun, with that weird double-throwback thing going on. Whenever I feel like a trip to the 60's via the 80's I pop on the B-52s, and this first album is their best! Let's hear it for girl singers, ironic commentary, and guitars! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. College Rock    2. New Wave    3. Pop    4. Popular Music    5. Post-Punk    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. United States of America   

Editorial Review

Aside from the Milwaukee trio's 1981 debut, the Violent Femmes have made a career of tacking one or two great songs onto otherwise mediocre albums--so this 1993 best-of is perfect for consumers. It has all the good stuff, from the retro radio hour staples "Blister in the Sun" and "Gone Daddy Gone," plus the creepy murder-suicide story "Country Death Song," the should've-been-a-hit "American Music" and ephemera like live versions of "Add It Up" and "Kiss Off." With Gordon Gano's never-aging teen whine and a crack rhythm section, the Femmes have had brief moments as America's best rock & roll band. This collection captures some of them. Read more

Reviews (41)

Oh what an album.
I heard "blister in the sun" from a mixed CD my friend gave me and I decided to check out the femmes. This is the first CD I bought of theres, and I absolutely loved it. After i bought this CD I pursued my interst in the femmes, I now own every single one of their CDs as well as merchandise. The femmes aren't for everyone, they have a very unique sound and painfully honest lyrics--but those who will like them will love this album. It is a compilation of the best of all their music.

so good and way ahead of their time
HEY...If you're not already, start listening to the Violent Femmes!This collection, along with the reissue of their first album (at least), is a must-have for any fan.And, to all you "Emo" people, pick this CD up first.Teen angst and policital activism all wrapped up in on CD.

Why bother with this review?
It's the Femmes.What else needs to be said? ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. College Rock    3. New Wave    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Post-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

When Devo's debut album came out in 1978, nobody knew what to make of the mutant new-wave quintet from Akron, Ohio. With Brian Eno's skillful production, Mark and Bob Mothersbaugh, Jerry and Bob Casale, and Alan Myers emerged fully formed and outrageous with their razor-sharp social commentary and exhibition of subversive media savvy.Beyond their industrial uniforms and pseudo-devolved demeanor, Devo also happened to be a rocking little band. Classic rave-outs like "Mongoloid," "Jocko Homo," and "Uncontrollable Urge" illustrate the band's perky-jerky intensity. On their inimitable cover of the Rolling Stones' youth anthem, "Satisfaction," Devo's avant-garde robot funk takes the song to a new level of alienation and discontent. While the band went on to greater fame, this was the only album they made that truly mattered. Read more

Reviews (60)

Look What The Rubber City Exported
A band that dressed like spacemen, moved like robots and had a painting of pro golfer Chi Chi Rodriguez gracing the cover of its first full-length album. No wonder Devo had to escape northeast Ohio to find their musical niche in London during the "Year of Punk (1978)."
If You Like Music, Buy This Album
DEVO has not been given appropriate credit for their contributions to modern music. Written off as a "One Hit Wonder" (for "Whip It" which is not on this album but is on "Freedom Of Choice"), DEVO bridged the gaps between punk and new wave and again from new wave to electronica. They have influenced more bands than most people realize. If you fancy yourself as one who has a big CD/MP3 collection, it is incomplete without this album! Also, visit their web site: http://www.clubdevo.com . They are still alive and kicking and they occasionally tour. Buy this album and go and see them. I've met them, they are very nice guys!
Devo's Best
This is not "Whip It".
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Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. American Underground    3. New Wave    4. Pop    5. Popular Music    6. Post-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording reissued
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (56)

The Police - ZENYATTA MONDATTA (1980)
Though The Police had their commercial breakthrough with 1979's REGGATTA DE BLANC, it was on their next album, 1980's ZENYATTA MONDATTA, that they firmly established themselves as one of the biggest bands in the world.Considered by some to be the group's finest album, ZENYATTA MONDATTA found the group perfecting their unique blend of reggae-rock.The result is some of the band's most stellar material: the hit singles "Don't Stand So Close To Me" and "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da", the radio hit "When The World Is Running Down, You Make The Best Of What's Still Around", and numerous other masterpieces such as "Canary In A Coalmine", "Man In A Suitcase", and "Driven To Tears".Guitarist Andy Summers and drummer Stewart Copeland are at their best on this album; Copeland contributes another very fun composition, "Bombs Away", while Summers' instrumental "Behind My Camel" grabbed a Grammy Award."Shadows in the Rain" received a superior makeover years later on Sting's debut album, THE DREAM OF THE BLUE TURTLES, but the rest of the songs are untouchable.

The Police hit their commercial stride with album #3
THE BAND: Sting / Gordon Sumner (bass, guitars), Andy Summers (guitars), Stewart Copeland (drums & percussion).
On the fence
This is the third of five records The Police put out before they disintegrated in the mid-'80s.For those who are not very familiar with the history of the Police, suffice it to say where they started was a long, long way from where they ended up.
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Subjects:  1. Album Rock    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Drums    4. England    5. New Wave    6. Pop    7. Pop/Rock    8. Post-Punk    9. Rock    10. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

Even after all of the musical trends, fads, waves, genres, and sub-genres, Devo still sound fresh. There was a certain zeal and enthusiasm that went into works like "Satisfaction," "Through Being Cool," and "Gates of Steel" that belied all of their cynicism. "Read more

Reviews (33)

greatest 80's hits
l really enjored the cd and the process of getting it through Amazon was great an easy.

HITS
one of many Devo cd's but this one is the second best (Besides an import) with some of the best songs by devo plus some remixed songs this is worth buying to any devo fan or anyone that likes devo music

This Spud's For You
The wonderful weirdness that is Devo emerged during a very bleak season in pop music; they were indeed a welcome breath of odd air.Devo's minimalist, abrupt style caused many to label them as punk, but they were far too smart and musically innovative to fit under this heading.Punk seemed determined to thwart music while Devo simply redefined it.Putting aside for the moment their marvelously worked-out theories of de-evolution, the songs were actually very stripped down rock and roll reminiscent of early Kinks, delivered in streamlined techno packaging.It may have been robotic, but it was electronic fun with a danceable beat.Their covers, Satisfaction, Coal Mine, are particularly amusing; no matter how straight the delivery seems to be their tongues are always planted squarely in their cheeks.Devo's lyrics were sly and worth listening to, and the visual element of their presentation put the icing on the stainless steel cake.This was a complete act that delivered on every level.There are numerous Best Of Devo CDs out there, I recommend this one, it's got many of the "must have" tracks like Whip It, Girl You Want, Coal Mine, Satisfaction, and Through Being Cool.The companion CD, Misses, complements it nicely, and if you really have to go the distance there's the 2-CD retrospective, Pioneers Who Got Scalped.Always interesting to see which groups last and which do not.At the time those red hats and jumpsuits seemed to usher in a novelty act that would be gone in a week.Twenty years later, Devo sounds better than ever. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. American Punk    2. College Rock    3. New Wave    4. Pop    5. Post-Punk    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop    8. Synth Pop   

Editorial Review

Minutemen's Read more

Reviews (109)

Essential album.Lame reissue!
I rank Double Nickels on the Dime in the top ten albums released in the 80's.I am very glad I held onto my vinyl because for reasons I can't fathom, three songs on the original release are not on this reissue, which is why I am not giving it the five stars this album deserves.
Worth so much more than nickels and dimes
If the show Jackass ever did anything worth admiring, it was choosing "Corona" by Minutemen as it's theme. At two and a half minutes, it's one of the longer tracks on this nearly 45 track album. It's also one of the more conventional punk anthem's they've done, considering how far the horizons stretch when it comes to this band and being creative.
Blows away all of today's limp, soggy music!!!!!!
DOUBLE NICKELS ON THE DIME ('84) stuffs 43 short songs on two LP's or one CD.The album meshes quite a variety of musical styles:punk, funk, spoken bits, jazzy instrumentation, folk, and even polka!
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. American Underground    3. Bass    4. College Rock    5. Hardcore Punk    6. Pop    7. Post-Punk    8. Punk    9. Rock    10. United States of America   

Features

• Box set

Reviews (58)

Very good set, with some good suprises!
An excellent collection of 80's music.Includes the early and late 80's and has a very wide selection that includes everything but country music!:) There are some hard to find recording as well.Extremely good selection!

perfect title for a perfect 80s collection
the only thing missing from this collection is a rubiks cube.someone dug deep into the archives to find the billy crystal song. some songs here are garbage "da da da" and "you dropped a bomb on me"....however....some songs featured here cant be found anywhere else like the theme song from "hill street blues". 7 discs and 140 songs and someone forgot about madonna / genesis / the police / def leppard / and AC-DC (just to name a few). "video killed the radio star" was dropped a notch to song #2 on disc one...quite a small tragedy considering that one song took pole position for MTVs debut. the song by foreigner "i want to know what love is" is perhaps one of the greatest songs of all time, the best slot would have been at the end of disc 7 instead of the middle of disc 5. everytime i hear the song "geopardy" i cant help to think of its parody song by weird al yankovik "i lost on geopardy". the price of the set is reasonable considering the average price per disc is about 12 dollars..... wake me up when the matching vidios are released on DVD.

Nice Overview of the 80's
This collection will save you alot of money. Think if you were to go out and buy every CD that these songs are on. Here you get over 141 top hit songs of the 80's on 7 discs plus an awesome collectable box and a novelty 80's book with facts and pictures for every single year. Information about all the songs, artists, events , tv shows, movies and happenings during the 80's. Open up the Box and you see all the popular dances of the 80's including the Head Spin, The Wave, The Tick, The Mannequin and more. It also shows you how to do them with pictures step by step! The box is truly unique. Heres the song listings disk by disk.
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Subjects:  1. Adult Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Adult Contemporary    3. Album Rock    4. Alternative Pop/Rock    5. Arena Rock    6. Blue-Eyed Soul    7. Box Sets (Audio Only)    8. Club/Dance    9. College Rock    10. Comedy Rock    11. Country-Pop    12. Country-Rock    13. Crossover Jazz    14. Dance-Pop    15. Disco    16. Euro-Dance    17. Euro-Pop    18. Film Music    19. Funk    20. Fusion   

Features

• Extra tracks
• Original recording remastered

Reviews (10)

Behold...
This might be the finest album ever to be created. Every song is of high quality but they all work so well as a whole. When I first heard side one of this lp, I said to myself, this is one of the best album sides I have ever heard, and then I flipped it over. Good God Man! Sell the house, sell the kids, and go buy it NOW! You'll treasure it forevermore.

grand affair
this album is wonderful.
It IS the best album ever made
At live shows from the time of Ocean Rain's release, singer Ian McCulloch introduced tracks as being from the "best album ever made, by the best band in the world."McCulloch's unremitting ego might be one reason the band never got the recognition they deserved, but his audacious statement about this album was at least partially right.From start to finish, Ocean Rain is stunning, of the same caliber as the greatest works by that other band from Liverpool.The last four songs (side 2 of the original LP, now tracks 6-9) have been justly referred to as the greatest LP side ever.Stop reading and buy this album.If you already own it, buy another copy for someone you love. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. College Rock    3. England    4. Neo-Psychedelia    5. Pop    6. Post-Punk    7. Rock    8. Rock/Pop   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (7)

WOULD GIVE IT 5 STARS BUT IT IS MISSING ONE KEY SONG
Human Leagues "The Very Best of" is fantastic, however it is missing one very key song which is one of my favorites. The song is "Love is All the Matters" which was the third single from the "Crash" CD.
There's more to Human League than "Human" and "Don't You Want Me"
While I am not sure if I would say this album HAS to be be a definite part of your collection, even if you are an eighties child, I must say it showed me that there's more to The Human League than the classics they became most famous for: "Don't You Want Me" and "Human". There's a handful of other tracks in here (most of them already mentioned by other reviewers) worth checking out, but most of them don't size up to the level of "classic" that their most famous ones have reached. Overall, this compilation highlights the nice labor of a synth-based pop band that left their mark and will go down in musical history as one of the genre's pivotal acts.

All their hits!
This CD brings back memories of the 80's when Human League were in top form. All the recognizable hits from the artists are here including their #1 chart topping hits Don't You Want Me, (Keep Feeling) Fascination. The CD contains other lesser known tracks as well like my favorite track on here Love Action (I Believe In Love). The only problem I have with this release is they should have released a remixes cd or included it with this release. It would be great to hear their hits remixed.
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. Club/Dance    3. Dance-Pop    4. Disco    5. New Romantic    6. New Wave    7. Pop    8. Pop/Rock    9. Post-Punk    10. Rock    11. Rock/Pop    12. Synth Pop   

Features

• Original recording remastered

Reviews (9)

Crazy, over the top, and brilliant
Robert Smith sounds likes he's losing his mind throughout this entire cd.
This Is A Psychedelic/Goth Masterpiece! -- A Note About The New Remaster . . .
Complaints that Rhino "screwed up the pressing" are flat out wrong. I queried Rhino directly about this release and "Dr. Rhino" subsequently informed me that Robert Smith himself took the opportunity to make some adjustments to certain aspects of the album he was unhappy with. The opening drum roll on "Shake Dog Shake" has been edited to meet Robert's original intentions and he also intentionally sped up "Bananafishbones" by a semi-tone.
Brilliantly Remastred Version of an Already-Amazing Album
I've read other customers' comments about "Shake Dog Shake's" drum roll being edited.I've been listening to this album for sixteen years now and have NO idea what they're talking about.It sounds perfect!
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Subjects:  1. Alternative Pop/Rock    2. College Rock    3. Goth Rock    4. Pop    5. Post-Punk    6. Rock    7. Rock/Pop   

Editorial Review

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Reviews (58)

A solid album with two classic New Order songs
"Blue Monday" probably stands as the very best techno-pop dance song that New Order ever did, and, indeed, must be considered one of the best songs of this genre.But "Blue Monday," and its instrumental (and somewhat redundant) counterpart "The Beach" are only a part of what makes "Power, Corruption and Lies" such a strong album, the second in New Order's discography.A much different song, but just as compelling, is "Age of Consent," with off-beat lyrics and bass line you can't get out of your head (copied, by the way, by "The Jesus and Mary Chain," towards the end of their classic "Head On").These two songs alone would probably make this a worthwhile album.Other strong tracks include "586" (I would have cut out the introduction and just gone right into the danceable part), the ethereal "Your Silent Face," and "Leave Me Alone."
Total Classic
One of the best rock records of all time. One of the best dance/electronic records of all time. Way ahead of the pack at 1983?!, timeless and not stuck in 80's /new wave AT ALL if you ask me. Much more musically varied and interesting than much of today's electronica scene as much as I like all of that too. Early electronic dance music with a post-punk attitude. Emotionally moody and yearning. Great imagery. Sumner's vocals are weak and strained but ultimatly that becomes a huge charm as it seems vulnerable and..well..punkish in spirit in an odd way. Also..a surprizingly soulful record too with the italo-disco element...but this time existentailly wounded. Funky and pyschedelic too with all the key bending stuff on the synths. If all alternative and dance music could be this interesting. All this AND one the best record covers of all time by Manchester graphic designer Peter Saville also..way ahead of the curve. A reason to have it on vinyl however(which includes a secret message in the color codes on the the back of the album which refer to Factory Records' release catalogue system!). This record is a total winner.

New Order's Apogee
If you think "Blue Monday," New Order's signature New Wave dance track, is the only song worthwhile on this 1983 release, you couldn't be more mistaken.As I'm sitting here attempting to collect the necessary words to write this review, I hear wave upon wave of Gillian's magnificent synths in "Your Silent Face."With an album filled with songs of this high calibre, where can one go wrong?I suppose I've got to say that POWER, CORRUPTION, & LIES is THE New Order album, my favourite out of the band's (currently) eight LPs.While the others have their own charm and spirit, this one perfectly captures and blends the post-punk ethos of Joy Division with the new lease on life that is New Order--and it's the one I find myself drawn to the most whenever I feel the need to pop in a CD and enjoy some music.Incessant, stacatto, almost militaristic beats courtesy of Stephen Morris and an assortment of drum machines icily pulse in the listener's ear while the aforementioned synthlines, delicate and forever lovely, create a dreamy, lush, and warm effect.This album is thus a very strange mixture of frost and warmth as displayed on the cover, a still-life of roses (now the desktop picture on my personal computer).When you're finished looking at the cover and you pop the CD into the stereo, you're instantly grabbed by the urgent riff of "Age of Consent"...and you're not let go until the last notes of "Leave Me Alone" fade away (well, unless you choose to listen to "The Beach," the instrumental/dubbed version of "Blue Monday," which was rather uselessly tacked onto the American re-release).While "The Beach" may ruin the ending flow of this masterpiece ("Leave Me Alone" is the PERFECT closer), "Blue Monday" fits snugly in between its prototype, "586" (quite possibly my favourite New Order song), and "Your Silent Face" (certainly in my top five).If you, however, feel the need to listen to the album minus the "bonus" tracks, feel free to do so.But I've written enough:if you're reading this page and looking for something new, something different, something grand, read some of the wonderful reviews already posted and do purchase this album.I can't guarantee you won't regret your decision, since we all have different musical tastes, but I can tell you that this album changed my life and the way I listen to music--and it continues to do so every day. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Alternative Dance    2. Alternative Pop/Rock    3. Club/Dance    4. College Rock    5. Pop    6. Popular Music    7. Post-Punk    8. Rock    9. Rock/Pop    10. Synth Pop   

Editorial Review

Released in 1987, at the height of the compact-disc revolution, Read more

Reviews (86)

I wanna hold you like a doll...
I followed the infectious scent of Just Like Heaven (the greatest pop song ever written) to this album, and found myself listening to one of the greatest records I've ever heard. A few of my favorite songs on this record are as follows:
In response to SRS
"Breathe" and "A Chain Of Flowers" are available on the Join The Dots boxset.
Problematic
Firstly, the CD is still missing Hey You, even though modern CD players can play 80 minute discs. Further, it's missing the songs Breathe and A Chain of Flowers, which