Thursday, December 3, 2009

Flashback Records: The 80's Boxset [Disc 2: Ultimate New Wave Hits]

Disc Two:

Mickey [Toni Basil]—-Another gem from the 80’s that was built around a video presentation and a synth line that will stay in your brain for days. Toni Basil, a choreographer, made a huge splash with this very fun and unforgettable dance hit that still lives in our minds. This is great even if just for the synth line that is embedded in my brain for the next 50 years. Marvelous!!!!

Lies [Thompson Twins]—-Neither Thompsons nor twins, this trio helped to define the sound of the 80’s with their infectious synth pop that still plays well 20 some years later. this song, built upon layers and layers of different sounds features a vocal so cold and removed you just know it was made for the decade of indulgence.

The Break-Up Song [Greg Kihn Band]—-I really know nothing about this band…I do know that this was not the biggest hit of the band by any means…that would be Jeopardy, but none the less this is a huge sounding rock song that has an infectious and undeniable hook…the voice has a slight hoarse sound that appeals to me a lot. this is great…where was I?

Putting On The Ritz [Taco]—-One of the best novelty songs of all time, taco was an odd little man who delivered a song that was a throw back to the 50’s with 80’s synth. this was so fun and odd that you could not deny the guilty pleasure it brought. classic!!!

Do You Really Want To Hurt Me? [Culture Club]—-The song that started it all for the first pop drag Queen in the history of popular music…this song combined a nice 80’s dance beat intermixed with a reggae beat that made you care less about the appearance of the vocalist. This is classic 80’s pop…the emotion in the voice of Boy is incredible…you feel his pain and you can dance to it…marvelous!!!

Who Can It Be Now [Men At Work]—-Classic…the men from down under stormed the American pop charts with single after single in the early 80’s and then disappeared. This song, like many other 80’s hits was founded on the power of the video and the paranoid tale played very well on the TV screen. Colin Hay continues to record and tour today without the rest of the band, but this song will live on far after he is gone. wonderful.

Switchin’ To Glide [The Kings]—-Yet another band from the era that escaped my ears….if you know anything about these guys leave me a comment..please. The song is a huge overblown synth anthem that is accompanied by a vocal that fits in perfect with the era. the song has a huge chorus that evokes excitement and agitation…I really like this!!!

Dancing In Heaven [Q-Feel]—-I literally adore this song…the synths are overblown, the vocal drips of sex and you have to move as the song builds and builds. this is actually more like 1979, but who cares…this is wonderful!!!

Never Say Never [Romeo Void]—-Best known for the smash A Girl In Trouble [Is A Temporary Thing], this song still follows in the same vein…this is a nice post-punk/Goth feel song that you can dance to and groove to. Full of sexual innuendo and erotic moaning, the song also incorporates nice horns and a synth beat that is driven by actual drums and guitars. Very nice.

Cool Places [Sparks & Jane Weidlin]—-A really fun song from the first strains, the vocal of Weidlin and the Sparks are a huge contrast to each other and thus makes for a really interesting romp through synth land. the voice is far from the Go-Go’s, but you realize how important she was to the band as an accompaniment singer. This is literally fantastic!!!

**** out of 5

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