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Even in the weird, quirky world of new wave and post-punk in the late '70s, the B-52's' eponymous debut stood out as an original. Unabashed kitsch mavens at a time when their peers were either vulgar or stylish, the Athens quintet celebrated all the silliest aspects of pre-Beatles pop culture -- bad hairdos, sci-fi nightmares, dance crazes, pastels, and anything else that sprung into their minds -- to a skewed fusion of pop, surf, avant-garde, amateurish punk, and white funk. On paper, it sounds like a cerebral exercise, but it played like a party. The jerky, angular funk was irresistibly danceable, winning over listeners dubious of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson's high-pitched, shrill close harmonies and Fred Schneider's campy, flamboyant vocalizing, pitched halfway between singing and speaking. It's all great fun, but it wouldn't have resonated throughout the years if the group hadn't written such incredibly infectious, memorable tunes as "Planet Claire," "Dance This Mess Around," and, of course, their signature tune, "Rock Lobster." These songs illustrated that the B-52's' adoration of camp culture wasn't simply affectation -- it was a world view capable of turning out brilliant pop singles and, in turn, influencing mainstream pop culture. It's difficult to imagine the endless kitschy retro fads of the '80s and '90s without the B-52's pointing the way, but The B-52's isn't simply an historic artifact -- it's a hell of a good time.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
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The B-52's, Main Artist - Frederick William Schneider, Author, Composer - Keith Julian Strickland, Author, Composer - Henry Mancini, Composer - Boo Fant Tunes Inc. - Northridge Music Co.
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
The B-52's, Main Artist - Catherine Elizabeth Pierson, Author, Composer - Cindy Wilson, Author, Composer - Frederick William Schneider, Author, Composer - Jerry Ayres, Author, Composer - Keith Julian Strickland, Author, Composer - Ricky Helston Wilson, Author, Composer - Boo Fant Tunes Inc.
℗ 1979 The Island Def Jam Music Group
The B-52's, Main Artist - Catherine Elizabeth Pierson, Author, Composer - Cindy Wilson, Author, Composer - Frederick William Schneider, Author, Composer - Keith Julian Strickland, Author, Composer - Ricky Helston Wilson, Author, Composer - Rondor Music Ltd.
℗ 1981 The Island Def Jam Music Group
The B-52's, Main Artist - Frederick William Schneider, Author, Composer - Ricky Helston Wilson, Author, Composer - Cynthia Wilson, Author, Composer - Keith Julian Strickland, Author, Composer - Kate Pierson, Author, Composer - Island Music Ltd.
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
The B-52's, Main Artist - Catherine Elizabeth Pierson, Author, Composer - Cindy Wilson, Author, Composer - Frederick William Schneider, Author, Composer - Keith Julian Strickland, Author, Composer - Ricky Helston Wilson, Author, Composer - Rondor Music Ltd.
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
The B-52's, Main Artist - Cindy Wilson, Author, Composer - Frederick William Schneider, Author, Composer - Ricky Helston Wilson, Author, Composer - Keith Julian Strickland, Author, Composer - Catherine Elizabeth Pierson, Author, Composer - Island Music Ltd.
℗ 1979 The Island Def Jam Music Group
The B-52's, Main Artist - Ricky Helston Wilson, Author, Composer - Robert Meriwether Waldrop, Author, Composer - Island Music Ltd.
℗ 1979 The Island Def Jam Music Group
The B-52's, Main Artist - Catherine Elizabeth Pierson, Author, Composer - Frederick William Schneider, Author, Composer - Keith Julian Strickland, Author, Composer - Ricky Helston Wilson, Author, Composer - Island Music Ltd.
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
The B-52's, Main Artist - Tony Hatch, Author, Composer - MCA
℗ 1979 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Albumbeschreibung
Even in the weird, quirky world of new wave and post-punk in the late '70s, the B-52's' eponymous debut stood out as an original. Unabashed kitsch mavens at a time when their peers were either vulgar or stylish, the Athens quintet celebrated all the silliest aspects of pre-Beatles pop culture -- bad hairdos, sci-fi nightmares, dance crazes, pastels, and anything else that sprung into their minds -- to a skewed fusion of pop, surf, avant-garde, amateurish punk, and white funk. On paper, it sounds like a cerebral exercise, but it played like a party. The jerky, angular funk was irresistibly danceable, winning over listeners dubious of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson's high-pitched, shrill close harmonies and Fred Schneider's campy, flamboyant vocalizing, pitched halfway between singing and speaking. It's all great fun, but it wouldn't have resonated throughout the years if the group hadn't written such incredibly infectious, memorable tunes as "Planet Claire," "Dance This Mess Around," and, of course, their signature tune, "Rock Lobster." These songs illustrated that the B-52's' adoration of camp culture wasn't simply affectation -- it was a world view capable of turning out brilliant pop singles and, in turn, influencing mainstream pop culture. It's difficult to imagine the endless kitschy retro fads of the '80s and '90s without the B-52's pointing the way, but The B-52's isn't simply an historic artifact -- it's a hell of a good time.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 9 track(s)
- Total length: 00:39:30
- Main artists: The B-52's
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal Music Division Maison Barclay
- Genre: Pop/Rock Rock Punk en New Wave
© 1979 The Island Def Jam Music Group ℗ 2015 The Island Def Jam Music Group
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