lambchops's Full Review: Alterno-Daze: Survival of the Fittest-80's
Sometimes young music lovers lose sight of the fact that alternative music isn’t a new phenomenon. In fact, the genre’s roots extend much deeper than just New Wave and College Rock of the early 1980’s. But, one step toward what was to come to fruition in the 1990’s was New Wave like that contained on Rebound’s 1995 release of Alterno-Daze: Survival of the Fittest. As one of three collections outlining the evolution of alternative, this album proves indispensable, especially to budget-conscious musical connoisseurs.
Even though there are dozens of tracks that could easily have been included in this collection, just twelve were selected. Rather than dwelling on tracks from commercially successful yet wholly typical artists like Culture Club or Duran Duran, this anthology provides listeners with a few unexpected treats from oft forgotten artists like Joe Jackson, Modern English, and Squeeze. Overall, listeners should be very pleased with the selections…even if they are more obscure than you would have possibly hoped.
The CD version has two bonus tracks. The addition of Be Near Me from ABC and I Melt With You from Modern English nicely round out this brief set. Without further adieu, I’d like to lead you down the streets of the early 1980’s. Don’t forget to bring your hot pink hair bow or your mesh t-shirt. Girls and guys: the teased hair and make up are both a must…regardless of how foolish you look in reality.
1. Tainted Love (12” version) – [Soft Cell]
from: Non Stop Erotic Cabaret (1982)
It’s likely that a whole generation of music listeners wouldn’t have ever heard this track if it weren’t for a funny little commercial from Levi’s. Anyway, this is a different version than popularized again by the advertising campaign. Tainted Love was the product of a British duo, Marc Almond and Dave Ball. The twosome never regained the popularity that was awarded them after the success of this single. They broke up not long after it’s release. Tainted Love is an overall catchy and for that matter smooth example of New Wave. The track is very easy on the ears.
2. Change – [Tears For Fears]
from: The Hurting (1983)
I was first exposed to Tears For Fears during the late 1980’s thanks so a few poignant and pleading singles. But, this track from the British band’s debut album helped to bring them to the states. The duo of Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith were the driving force here. The synthesizers on Change are reflective of the era, but it really doesn’t translate as well as some of the more musically innovative tracks on this album. The track is important to New Wave, but Tears For Fears was much better on songs like Sowing the Seeds of Love and Shout.
3. I’m The Man – [Joe Jackson]
from: I’m The Man (1979)
Seen often as an imitator of Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson attempted to carve out his own indie niche throughout the 1970’s and 1980’s. He was able to do so with mild success. This track actually appeared before he got much critical or commercial attention at all. With a swagger and some amount of punk-pop attitude, Jackson sings with great emotion and great energy. This is one of the most important gems on this album. One listen to I’m The Man could serve pop bands and young listeners well. The chorus is one of the catchiest examples of pure fun power pop.
4. Relax – [Frankie Goes To Hollywood]
from: Welcome to the Pleasuredome (1984)
It’s impossible to imagine that there are people out there who don’t know this track. The song spawned a marketing frenzy with teenagers buying up t-shirts adorned with just one word. RELAX. The British band camped up homosexuality, even for this hit single’s accompanying video. The lyrics to this track were even very sexually suggestive, but with a driving dance beat club goers could care less. This is truly a New Wave pop classic.
5. I Melt With You – [Modern English]
from: After The Snow (1982)
Once again, this is a 1980’s song revisited in the 1990’s in a television commercial. Burger King exploited the song very well, and a whole new generation of listeners was handed the opportunity to appreciate New Wave. Surprisingly, I Melt With You was never a hit single. The possible reason it’s so recognizable is as a result of its use in the Nicholas Cage teenage love story Valley Girl. The track is very upbeat and very uplifting. Once again, this is a classic New Wave single dwelling in optimism. It’s difficult to go wrong with happiness.
6. Our Lips Are Sealed – [The Go-Go’s]
from: Beauty & The Beat (1981)
This track is my favorite on this collection. Everybody knows all about The Go-Go’s. Their story is that of a five good girls gone very, very raunchy. Yet, this track is still when they weren’t too jaded and when they still got along creatively. Relying on upbeat pop riffs and beats, Belinda Carlisle sings happily with a slight hint of New Wave/punk attitude. As one of the band’s biggest hits, this song hit number twenty on the charts.
7. Video Killed The Radio Star – [The Buggles]
from: The Age of Plastic (1980)
MTV chose to air this song as their first music video (note the tongue inserted in the cheek). Somehow, that today seems like a very appropriate choice. The synths are hollow and the vocals are muted and synthetic. If it weren’t for MTV’s support, I don’t think this song would have ever found much of a following. This is one of the less interesting songs on Alterno-Daze.
8. Black Coffee in Bed – [Squeeze]
from: Sweets From a Stranger (1982)
As one of the most shining and clean examples of New Wave pop, the British band Squeeze gave fans a few great tracks in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Their star didn’t last long. As New Wave faded, so did Squeeze. Their sound is much truer thanks to their utilization of real guitars, drums, and keyboards rather than just synthesizers. Black Coffee In Bed is a bluesy and rhythmic track that surely appeals to more listeners than straight New Wave. The track never hit the charts in the US, and it peaked at a disappointing #5 in the UK. Don’t recognize the name of this band? How about hit track (my favorite from Squeeze) Pulling Mussels From The Shell.
9. I Know What Boys Like – [The Waitresses]
from: Wasn’t Tomorrow Wonderful? (1982)
Annoying is a good word to describe this track. I’m sure there is some audience some where for jangly hollow and in my opinion completely useless schlock like this, but it’s certainly not me. Anyway, the track is overall very catchy, but only because of its novelty…not because it’s perfect or innovative. This is the worst of New Wave. The line Na Na Na Na-Na is enough to make a girl gag.
10. Be Near Me – [ABC]
from: How To Be A…Zillionaire (1985)
As ABC’s first top ten hit in America, Be Near Me cashed in at the end of the New Wave movement. It’s not a particularly good track. In fact, I’m nauseated by just how sticky sweet the song sounds. This could be called New Wave LT (light). Its release in 1985 was probably well-placed considering that by that time, the whole music scene was generally pretty watered down. ABC was just able to gain enough of a following thanks to people still looking for something good in music. This was not it.
11. Mexican Radio – [Wall of Voodoo]
from: Call of the West (1982)
Once again, I’m disgusted by the tinny quality of a New Wave song. Mexican Radio is pretty catchy thanks to a strange Western theme to the track and strange vocals including repetitive lyrics. Besides that, I’m not buying into the novel approach, samples, and synthesizers. I realize that people really do enjoy this song, but I’m a bit confused as to why.
12. Robert DeNiro’s Waiting – [Bananarama]
from: Bananarama (1984)
A usually light band, the British Bananarama speaks about rape on Robert DeNiro’s Waiting. I’m not a fan really of the song as a whole because of a complete disregard for creativity. That aside, it’s refreshing to see a band tackle something besides a shiny happy world in New Wave music. Cruel Summer is a much more interesting and musically relevant track as a whole…if you disregard the poppy lyrics.
As you can clearly see, this is a collection chock full of both goods and bads. I see no reason to listen past the eighth track unless you are a particularly fervent fan of The Waitresses, ABC, Wall of Voodoo, or Bananarama. For the $6.99 I spent on this album, I feel very fulfilled. It’s a great addition to any music collection, but especially people interesting in 1980’s music and New Wave. I personally purchased it to round out my Alterno-Daze collection. Overall, I give Alterno-Daze: Survival of the Fittest although I also highly recommend it as a result of no fewer than six great New Wave classics.
In all, there are three Alterno-Daze albums. This is the second. I’ve already reviewed the third and expect the first in the series in the not too distant future.
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