ERASURE - LOVEBOAT

Until "Loveboat" came out, the last Erasure album I liked all the way through was "Chorus".  Because "Loveboat" wasn't released in the US until 3 years after it's release in the UK and Europe, my copy is an import from the UK.  I actually downloaded a pirated copy of the disc and listened to it before I bought it.  I couldn't believe it didn't have a US release!  I thought it was phenomenal!

In my opinion, "Loveboat" is one of their strongest albums.  There's not a single track on this disc I don't absolutely enjoy.  From the opening strums of guitar on 'Freedom' to the fade out on 'Surreal', I was completely hooked.  Each of the tracks is catchy, sensible and all around fun to sing and dance to.  It's rare for a pop band to release a disc loaded with one great tune after another.  For me, Erasure achieved that with this disc.

There are songs I like more than others, but when I play this disc, I put it in and let it go.  I have all the tracks memorized and I sing along without hesitation.  I find it engaging.  Even some of the slower tunes are above average.  'Where In The World' is a slower number, but it has some interesting vocals that make it fun to sing.  There's a difference in the drum sounds used on this record too.  It seems like Erasure got an upgrade in their sound banks.  The first track this is evident on is 'Crying In The Rain'.  When the song starts, you hear a drum I can only describe as matte finish drums.  It doesn't have much of an echo but it does sound funky.

On the next track, 'Perchance To Dream' we get more of the new drum sounds and an interesting vocal arrangement by Andy Bell as he sings part of the song in his falsetto.  'Alien' is a track that relies on Vince Clarke's trademark sound effects to build the song.  Fans of the band all enjoy Clarke's ability to fill the spaces between the chords with his electric whirs and pops.  It's part of the appeal.

My favorite track on the album is probably 'Here In My Heart'.  It reminds me of so many other Erasure tracks I've loved over the years.  One song in particular it reminds me of is 'In Your Arms' from "Cowboy".  My second favorite track is 'Catch 22' and it also fits into that perfect Erasure song category for me.  'Moon & The Sky' is a powerhouse tune.  You get some drums that sounds similar to the Linn Drum Machine clap sounds.  The bass lines are deep and the groove is funky!  This is an excellent jam in my opinion and I love the R&B soul feel to it.  It's very Prince-like.  

The final track on the album is 'Surreal' and for me, this song would feel right at home on "Chorus".  I adore it.

According to my online research, Madonna's Maverick label shelved the album for lack of a hit single.  I find that absolutely ridiculous.  I hear hit singles all over this record.  It did eventually get a US release.  Along with the cover album, "Other People's Songs" in 2003.  In my opinion, that was a huge mistake.  A band like Erasure has a hardcore following.  There are Erasure fans who will purchase anything the group puts out.  That being the case, Maverick could've been assured of at least a certain number of units sold.  I'm not sure what that figure would be but I'm sure it's more than most groups on that label could pull off at the time.

I think this is an album that Erasure expanded their sound, songwriting and musical styles successfully on.  It could be considered at experimental as "Erasure", but in this case, the result was much more positive.  I think they did exactly what they set out to do.  My second favorite Erasure album for sure...  My final words:  AN OVERLOOKED GEM IN THE ERASURE BACK CATALOG.

ERASURE - LOVEBOAT
01. Freedom
02. Where In The World
03. Crying In The Rain
04. Perchance To Dream
05. Alien
06. Mad As We Are
07. Here In My Heart
08. Love Is The Rage
09. Catch 22
10. Moon & The Sky
11. Surreal

WENDY & LISA - FRUIT AT THE BOTTOM

By the time this disc had come out, I'd already decided Wendy & Lisa were two of the greatest songwriters I'd ever heard.  Their first album left me utterly breathless.  I loved it from start to finish.  And what's even more interesting is when you compare their solo record to the albums Prince was releasing after they'd left, you could hear their influence on him and why certain songs sounded the way they did.  There's simply no way to completely understand the impact these three musicians had on each other.  They challenged each other and brought out aspects in their music they couldn't have achieved alone.

Now, I'm not going to go on forever about how great Wendy & Lisa are.  I've already done that a bunch of times in other entries, but I will say this...  "Fruit At The Bottom" caught me completely off guard.  I hadn't seen the video for 'Are You My Baby' or heard the actual song before I bought the record.  If I had, I might've been prepared for some of what I was hearing.  As unconventional and interesting as "Wendy And Lisa" had been, "Fruit At The Bottom" seemed to move in an entirely different direction.  Some of the songs seemed to be written to appeal to an audience.  To fit into a genre.  There was an attempt to make this release more commercial.  As a fan, I was more interested in hearing the new places I thought the two would take me as a listener.  I didn't want to end up backtracking into the familiar suburban Wonder Bread sound of Top 40 pop.

When I heard 'Are You My Baby' for the first time, I was disappointed.  I liked the song, but I couldn't reconcile it with what I was expecting from them.  Many years later, I sorta figured out why I felt the way I did and why I was so quick to write it off.  Although Wendy & Lisa weren't out as gay or as a couple, I kinda assumed they were.  Or maybe my young inexperienced gaydar was responding to something I saw in them.  I didn't consciously know they were gay...  Nor was I completely aware of my own sexuality...  But there was an awareness inside of me.  Like always knowing I made my grandpa and other people uncomfortable because they could see something in me they didn't like.  That quality being my sexuality.  Even at a young age, I felt that awkward twinge and hearing Wendy sing a love song to a man seemed like selling out to me.  Add to that the bubble gum peppiness of the song and you get one confused kid.  I eventually realized they were writing and releasing music the label wanted.  

Part of that was more fully embracing the Minneapolis Sound they'd contributed so heavily to during their time with Prince.  You can hear some of that on this record.  Despite the push for more commercial Prince sounding tracks, Wendy & Lisa still delve into the realm of magical notes and produce some stellar music on this disc.  

Certain tracks were meant to be more radio accessible.  These are obviously 'Lolly Lolly' and 'Are You My Baby'.  I love both of these tracks, but the fact is once you get past them you discover a wealth of more complex and interesting music.

'Satisfaction' features Jesse Johnson, formerly of The Time and this gospel tinged rock number is a powerhouse track.  It's totally different from anything else on the disc and more rockin' than the duo had been up to that point.  'In My Dreams' is the first track that heralds back to the sound of the previous record.  I always viewed that album as jazz tinged, even though it has a strong Minneapolis vibe, it feels more like Jazz than pop music.  And that's part of the reason I loved it so much.  'In My Dreams' is a straightforward ballad, but it's got such wonderful instrumentation, it feels organic.  More like Jazz.  'Everyday' continues this vibe.  

'From Now On (We're One)' features Lisa on lead vocals on the verses.  This song became an anthem of sorts for me.  As much as 'The Beautiful Ones' came to describe my longing and desire to find love, 'From Now On (We're One)' describes the love I hoped to find in my life.  I can't tell you how many times I'd sit and listen to this song and wonder what it would feel like to fall in love.

'Tears Of Joy' is transformative.  This is a powerful bit of music.  It's about discovering yourself and finally understanding what you're looking for and what you want.  I could totally relate to it.  'Someday I' is another track I think is incredible.  There are other musicians who produce music I think sounds similar to Wendy & Lisa and frankly, this is the record I usually judge them against.

'I Think It Was December' is a bluesy jam that reinforces my deep, unspoken belief Wendy & Lisa were a couple.  This song makes me think they were deeply in love even though there's nothing in the song or the music that points to that.  I can't explain it.  'Fruit At The Bottom' is a fun tune but gender confusing again.  Why would her lover have fruit at the bottom?  Never made sense to me.

I've listened to this record so many times, I know each song inside and out.  It's become a core part of who I am and I truly love it.  I honestly think Wendy & Lisa were pressured to make this album the way they did.  If they'd been given free reign, I think it'd been something radically different.  No matter how you slice it, the disc did what it was meant to do.  They had a couple mediocre hits and made some money on the record.  Of course it would've been more interesting if they'd done exactly what felt natural and real to them.  For many years, these two have lived with a mandate to conform to a corporate music market and I'm so happy that's no longer the case.  Artists of this caliber need to be free to do what feels right.

Although it didn't start off being a good album for me, that changed over time and now I can honestly say, this is record everyone should own.  If you don't have it in your collection, find a copy and add it.  Now!!!  

My final words:  YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM TO GET ALL THE EXCELLENT FRUIT ON THIS DISC.  JUST PICK A TRACK!  A+

WENDY & LISA - FRUIT AT THE BOTTOM
01. Intro
02. Lolly Lolly
03. Are You My Baby
04. Satisfaction
05. Always In My Dreams
06. Everyday
07. From Now On (We're One)
08. Tears Of Joy
09. Someday I
10. I Think It Was December
11. Fruit At The Bottom

JUNO REACTOR - ODYSSEY 1992-2002

Although it's not stated as such, "Odyssey 1992-2002" is essentially a greatest hits package of sorts for Juno Reactor.  There's nothing exceptionally different on this disc from the previously released versions of these songs other than they seem to have been re-mastered.  The sound quality sounds a bit clearer.  Still, I don't hear much of a difference in the arrangement or mix of the tracks aside from flowing together.  For me, as a huge Juno Reactor/Ben Watkins fan, the purpose in buying this release was purely for the pleasure of having a new album from them.  And truth be told, I didn't actually buy this for myself.  It was on my Amazon wish list and I got it for my birthday one year from my sister.  I was super happy to have it!

One thing I can say about Juno Reactor is they're more than just the music they release.  The band has a unique and interesting image.  The artwork featured on their CDs is almost as interesting as the music itself.  They're a very visually satisfying artist as far as I'm concerned and this disc is no exception.  I love the cover artwork.  I think it's amazing!

I do enjoy the convenience of having these songs assembled on one disc and the way they play into each other.  It's often hard to choose favorite songs from this group as I like so much of what they've done.  

There is one previously unreleased track on this compilation and that's 'Hotaka'.  It was also released as a single for the album.  That's another incentive to purchase the disc.

If I had to sit down and give examples of why I think Juno Reactor is such a great band and why the music is so terrific, I would probably put together a compilation disc similar to this one and let the music speak for itself.  After all, that's where this group really shines!

"Odyssey" may not be a must have album for Juno Reactor fans, but it's a great place to start if you're interested in discovering this incredible electronic band.  Consider picking this disc up and explore the science fiction world of the Reactor.  My final words:  ANOTHER STRONG RELEASE BY THE QUINTESSENTIAL ELECTRONIC BAND!

JUNO REACTOR - ODYSSEY 1992-2002
01. High Energy Protons
02. Laughing Gas
03. Rotorblade
04. Feel The Universe
05. God Is God
06. Conga Fury
07. Komit
08. Pistolero
09. Hule Lam
10. Masters Of The Universe
11. Hotaka

MORRIS DAY - DAYDREAMING

You'll probably recognize Morris as the lead singer of The Time and star of "Purple Rain".  Believe it or not, Morris is still around and being just as funky today as he was back then.  After The Time disbanded, Morris went on to launch a solo career.  Like many former Prince associates from that time, he continued to release music based on the Minneapolis sound they'd become so famous for.

During this time in the 80's, there was glut of bands who were writing and trying to copy this sound.  Morris may have had his roots in the movement, but on his own his music lacked a lot of the substance and soul of other artists working in this genre.  His material can often sound somewhat generic and uninspired.  That never stopped him from working though.

"Daydreaming" was his second solo effort and even though it was a vast improvement on his previous record, it didn't break any new ground for the singer.  At least it didn't as far as I know.  There is one significant difference between this record and "Color Of Success"...  On this record, he enlisted the help of former Time members, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.  This duo had their own brand of Minneapolis funk and they'd used it to catapult artists like Janet Jackson and The Human League to superstar status.  In all honesty, this is probably the best move he could've made.  'Fishnet', the Jam And Lewis track, was a huge hit for him and gave him his most popular single as a solo artist.

The two producers also worked on a second track on the disc, 'Love Is A Game'.  If he'd been smart, Day would've hired the them to produce the entire record and worked with them while he was writing this material.  They would've helped him put together a stronger, more solid piece of work.  

I really like Morris and I want to see him do well.  It's discouraging when an artist you like doesn't deliver the work you know they're capable of.  

I'm not really into this disc beyond the two Jam & Lewis tracks.  But I do have some memories of it.  The first time I saw Morris and The Time live, he signed my copy of this CD.  The second time I saw them, he pulled me up on stage to sing the hit single from this record, 'Fishnet' with him.  I'll never forget that.

I wish I could recommend this disc but I don't think it has enough appeal.  If you're a Morris Day fan, this is a must.  If you're a Jam & Lewis fan, it's also a must.  But for those of you who casually like to listen to some Minneapolis funk now and then, stream or download 'Fishnet' and be done with it.

My final words:  A DISAPPOINTING FOLLOWUP FROM A DYNAMIC PERFORMER!

MORRIS DAY - DAYDREAMING
01. Daydreaming
02. Yo' Luv
03. Fishnet
04. A Man's Pride
05. Standing On The Line
06. Are You Ready
07. Love Is A Game
08. Moonlite (Passionlite)
09. Sally

RAMMSTEIN - DU RIECHST SO GUT '98

"Du Riechst So Gut '98" is the second single for this song by Rammstein.  Like other European singles, it comes in a slim case.  And this one is packed to overflowing!  There are 8 versions of the song on this disc along with a multimedia file with the music video for the track.  Once again, Rammstein delivers the goods.

The first track is 'Du Riechst So Gut '98'  This is an updated version of the "Herzeleid" track released during the promotion and touring for "Sehnsucht".  The music video at the end of the disc is the original version.  The first mix appearing on the disc is a remix by Faith No More.  They sorta give you an orchestral acapella rendition of the song.  Gunter Schulz of KMFDM provides two mixes on this single.  The first of these is a hard rock minimalist version that explodes into a electronic frenzy when the chorus comes in.  It's a fun mix.  Schulz's bandmate, Sascha Konietzko is up next with a heavy techno mix of the song.  This version is built up mostly around the drum patterns playing underneath.  It's not bad, but it's not as full as the original.

Olav Bruhn from Bobo In White Wooden Houses delivers a super hard drumming version next.  It's so intense, it's hard to listen to at times.  Live, this version would certainly drive a crowd crazy, but here, it just overloads the senses.  Sascha Moser also from Bobo In White Wooden Houses is up next with a remix I like.  He uses some vocal distortion and uses a techno drum beat on the bottom end to create a tempo for the track.  

Jacob Hellner and Marc Stagg mix the next track and stay largely faithful to the original just using effect patches and high hat crashes to change the sound slightly.  Of the bunch, this one is easily my favorite.  Gunter Schulz finishes the disc with a 'Migraine' remix.  It's essentially an instrumental version of his first mix, with Till singing the chorus faintly a couple of times.  The video for this cut is actually pretty cool.

I love me some Rammstein and I gotta say, this band never fails to pack their singles with lots of value.  Part of the reason I enjoy them so much.  My final words:  A WHOMPING LIGHTNING STRIKE OF A SINGLE!  LOADED WITH EXTRA GOODNESS TO MAKE YOUR LISTENING PLEASURE COMPLETE.

RAMMSTEIN - DU RIECHST SO GUT '98
01. Du Riechst So Gut '98
02. Du Riechst So Gut (RMX By Faith No More)
03. Du Riechst So Gut (RMX By Gunter Schulz-KMFDM & Hiwatt Marshall)
04. Du Riechst So Gut (RMX By Sascha Konietzko-KMFDM)
05. Du Riechst So Gut (RMX By Olav Bruhn-Bobo In White Wooden Houses)
06. Du Riechst So Gut (RMX By Sascha Moser-Bobo In White Wooden Houses)
07. Du Riechst So Gut (RMX By Jacob Hellner/Marc Stagg)
08. Du Riechst So Gut ('Migraine' - RMX By Gunter Schulz-KMFDM)
09. Du Riechst So Gut '95 (Multimedia Originalvideo)

fDELUXE - LIVE & TIGHT AS A FUNK FIENDS' FIX.

fDeluxe made all of our dreams come true when they released this little gem!  Sold exclusively through their website, this disc is a live show recorded for your listening pleasure and let me tell you, they don't disappoint.  This is one jamming concert!

I've had the pleasure of seeing fDeluxe live before and nothing can quite prepare you for this band.  Although they were a creation of Prince as a vehicle for his material and as a favor to various band members, the group has continued to progress musically and returned a few years ago with a stunning follow-up.  Getting a live release was like a cherry on top of an fDeluxe sundae.  Sweet and perfect.

All of your favorites are here.  From the original Prince tracks he wrote for the band, to their own compositions, you get it all in one heaping serving.  It's nice to know a band you like can cut it live and this CD certainly shows the strength of the group as a unit.

Basically, you won't go wrong if you add this delightful disc to your collection.  I can't encourage you enough to pick it up.  It's just...  Wow!  My final words:  fDELUXE PROVE ONCE AGAIN THEY'RE WORTH YOUR TIME AND MONEY!  BUT THIS RECORD!

fDELUXE - LIVE & TIGHT AS A FUNK FIENDS' FIX.
01. High Fashion
02. Gaslight
03. Sanctified
04. Screams Of Passion
05. Nothing Compares 2 U
06. Leeds Line
07. You Got What You Wanted
08. Desire
09. Lover
10. River Run Dry
11. @8
12. Drummers And Healers
13. Mutiny