Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
The B-52's were one of the great new wave bands, one of the ones who defined the style and cut one of the great records of their time (their eponymous debut), an outfit who maintained a dedicated following even as they fell off the radar of critics and hipsters, a group who overcame a tragic loss (guitarist Ricky Wilson) to make a startling, unpredictable comeback that launched them beyond college radio and to the top of the pop charts. It's a hell of a story, even if the final act was decidedly anticlimatic (after one follow-up to the Cosmic Thing comeback, 1992's Good Stuff, the group essentially disappeared apart from an embarrassing version of the Flintstones theme for the 1993 big-screen adaptation), and they're easily one of the more legendary bands of their time. Unfortunately, legend doesn't always translate to great music, and the fact of the matter is that the B-52's really only had two very good records: the transcendent debut and the comeback. The second record had its share of moments, more than the other albums that followed, and there were some sublime cuts scattered among the other records, but by and large they were a band who got by on their brilliant moments -- brilliant moments that were surrounded by competence and mediocrity. It really was the kind of career that could be salvaged and justified by a tremendous double-disc retrospective -- which Nude on the Moon: The B-52's Anthology unfortunately isn't. Make no mistake, it's pretty good and it has a lot of their greatest moments, but it stumbles at certain points, letting seminal songs like "Quiche Lorraine" or "Mesopotamia" be represented by alternate takes (1990 live take and remix, respectively), and padding it toward the end with album tracks that aren't that interesting. That's the worst thing about this lavish, lovingly produced set; no matter the care of the sound and presentation, there are just too many songs that are just average, not quite illustrating why the B-52's are so beloved. Of course, that's the fault of the band themselves, who never quite lived up to their early promise, but it would still be possible to jigger the final recordings to an artificial narrative, the kind that would show why people love this band. This isn't it; no matter the testimonials, the interviews in the comprehensive booklet, the great photos, or just the general warm vibe this Georgian band -- perhaps the greatest Georgian musical act this side of Jerry Reed or R.E.M. -- gives off. And that's because the material just isn't there. No matter their legacy, they have enough terrific material for a comprehensive single-disc set, not a double-disc set, and while this is more comprehensive and better-produced than the single-disc compilations, most listeners will find they'll skip over most of the material just to get to the good stuff from The B-52's and Cosmic Thing.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From $10.83/month
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Tambourine, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Additional Guitar, Organ, Vocals, Synth Bass - Keith Strickland, Drums, Percussion - Fred Schneider, Vocals - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer - Jeremy Ayers, Writer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Tambourine, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Organ, Vocals, Writer, Synth Bass - Keith Strickland, Drums, Writer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Tambourine, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Organ, Vocals, Synth Bass - Keith Strickland, Drums, Percussion - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Writer - Kate Pierson, Organ, Vocals, Writer, Synth Bass - Keith Strickland, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
Robert Waldrop, Writer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Tambourine, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Organ, Vocals - Keith Strickland, Drums, Percussion - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Synth Bass - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Tambourine, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Organ, Vocals, Synth Bass - Keith Strickland, Drums, Percussion, Writer - Henry Mancini, Writer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, Producer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar - Robert Ash, Engineer, AssociateProducer - Cass Rigby, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1979 Island Records
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals - Keith Strickland, Producer, Drums, Writer - Fred Schneider, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Rhett Davies, Producer, Engineer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, ExecutiveProducer - Ricky Wilson, Producer, Guitar, Writer - Benjamin Armbrister, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1980 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Producer, Drums, Writer - Fred Schneider, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Rhett Davies, Producer, Engineer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, ExecutiveProducer - Ricky Wilson, Producer, Guitar, Writer - Benjamin Armbrister, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1980 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Producer, Drums - Fred Schneider, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Rhett Davies, Producer, Engineer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, ExecutiveProducer - Ricky Wilson, Producer, Guitar, Writer - Benjamin Armbrister, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1980 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Producer, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Producer, Drums, Writer - Fred Schneider, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Rhett Davies, Producer, Engineer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, ExecutiveProducer - Ricky Wilson, Producer, Guitar, Writer - Benjamin Armbrister, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1980 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Producer, Guitar, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Producer, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals - Keith Strickland, Producer, Drums, Writer - Fred Schneider, Producer, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Rhett Davies, Producer, Engineer - CHRIS BLACKWELL, ExecutiveProducer - Ricky Wilson, Producer, Guitar, Writer - Benjamin Armbrister, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1980 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Keith Strickland, Writer - Fred Schneider, Writer - Ricky Wilson, Writer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1991 Warner Records Inc.
Yogi Horton, Drums - The B-52's, MainArtist - Kate Pierson, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Writer - Dan Hersch, Remastering Engineer - Bill Inglot, Remastering Engineer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - David Byrne, Producer, Guitar, Percussion, Synthesizer - Steve Scales, Percussion - Butch Jones, Engineer - Ricky Wilson, Keyboards, Writer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1990 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Writer - Kate Pierson, Writer - Keith Strickland, Writer - Fred Schneider, Writer - Ricky Wilson, Writer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2002 Warner Records Inc.
Steven Stanley, Producer, Engineer - Robert Waldrop, Writer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Ted Jensen, MasteringEngineer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Dennis Halliburton, AssistantEngineer - Benji Armbrister, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1983 Warner Records Inc.
Steven Stanley, Producer, Engineer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Ted Jensen, MasteringEngineer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Dennis Halliburton, AssistantEngineer - Benji Armbrister, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1983 Warner Records Inc.
Steven Stanley, Producer, Engineer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Ted Jensen, MasteringEngineer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Dennis Halliburton, AssistantEngineer - Benji Armbrister, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1983 Warner Records Inc.
The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Writer - Kate Pierson, Writer - Keith Strickland, Writer - Fred Schneider, Writer - Ricky Wilson, Writer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1990 Warner Records Inc.
DISC 2
Tony Mansfield, Producer, Additional Synthesizer - Shep Pettibone, Additional Production, Remixer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Bass Guitar, Writer - Phil Brown, MasteringEngineer - Michael Hutchinson, Engineer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1986 Warner Records Inc.
Tony Mansfield, Producer, Additional Synthesizer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Keyboards, Writer, Background Vocals, Harmonica - Phil Brown, MasteringEngineer - Fernando Kral, AssistantEngineer - TONY PHILLIPS, Engineer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer, Background Vocals - Don Peterkofky, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1985 Warner Records Inc.
Tony Mansfield, Producer, Additional Synthesizer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Phil Brown, MasteringEngineer - Fred Schneider, Vocals - Fernando Kral, AssistantEngineer - TONY PHILLIPS, Engineer - Ricky Wilson, Bass Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Don Peterkofky, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1985 Warner Records Inc.
Tony Mansfield, Producer, Additional Synthesizer - Shep Pettibone, Additional Production - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Writer - Phil Brown, MasteringEngineer - Steve Peck, Engineer - Ricky Wilson, Guitar, Writer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1986 Warner Records Inc.
Tony Mansfield, Producer, Additional Synthesizer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer, Sitar - Phil Brown, MasteringEngineer - Fred Schneider, Vocals - Fernando Kral, AssistantEngineer - TONY PHILLIPS, Engineer - Ricky Wilson, Bass Guitar, Writer - Don Peterkofky, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1986 Warner Records Inc.
Tony Mansfield, Producer, Additional Synthesizer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Background Vocals - Keith Strickland, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Writer, Background Vocals - Phil Brown, MasteringEngineer - Fernando Kral, AssistantEngineer - TONY PHILLIPS, Engineer - Ricky Wilson, Writer, Background Vocals - Don Peterkofky, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1986 Warner Records Inc.
Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Ed Brooks, SecondEngineer - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Freedman, SecondEngineer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Writer - NILE RODGERS, Producer, MixingEngineer - Patrick Dillett, SecondEngineer - Paul Argelli, SecondEngineer - Richard Hilton, Programmer - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - Steve Ferrone, Drums - Tommy Mandell, Keyboards
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989 Reprise Records
Cynthia L. Wilson, Writer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals - Ed Brooks, SecondEngineer - Kate Pierson, Vocals - Keith Freedman, SecondEngineer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Background Vocals - NILE RODGERS, Producer, MixingEngineer - Patrick Dillett, SecondEngineer - Paul Argelli, SecondEngineer - Richard Hilton, Programmer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Fred Schneider, Background Vocals - Sonny Emory, Drums - PHILIPPE SAISSE, Keyboards - Catherine Pierson, Writer - Frederick William Schneider II, Writer - J Keith Stickland, Writer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989 Reprise Records
Don Was, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Composer, Vocals - Kate Pierson, Composer, Keyboards, Vocals - Keith Strickland, Composer, Guitar - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, MixingEngineer - Chris Cioe, Horn - Dave Cook, Engineer - Martin Kunitz, AssistantEngineer - Paul Literal, Horn - Arno Hecht, Horn - Bob Funk, Horn - Carl Beatty, Horn - Charlie Drayton, Drums - Fred Schneider, Composer, Vocals
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989 Reprise Records.
Robert Waldrop, Writer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Ed Brooks, SecondEngineer - Kate Pierson, Vocals - Keith Freedman, SecondEngineer - Keith Strickland, Guitar - Leroy Clouden, Drums - NILE RODGERS, Producer, MixingEngineer - PIERSON, Writer - Patrick Dillett, SecondEngineer - Paul Argelli, SecondEngineer - Richard Hilton, Keyboards, Programmer - SCHNEIDER, Writer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - Stickland, Writer - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Ricky Wilson, Composer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989 Reprise Records
Don Was, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Keyboards, Writer - TOM DURACK, MixingEngineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Martin Kunitz, AssistantEngineer - Charlie Drayton, Drums - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989 Reprise Records
Don Was, Producer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Keyboards, Writer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, MixingEngineer - Dave Cook, Engineer - Martin Kunitz, AssistantEngineer - Charlie Drayton, Drums - Fred Schneider, Percussion, Vocals, Writer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989 Reprise Records
Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Writer - Ed Brooks, SecondEngineer - Kate Pierson, Writer, Background Vocals - Keith Freedman, SecondEngineer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Keyboards, Writer - Leroy Clouden, Drums - NILE RODGERS, Producer, MixingEngineer - Patrick Dillett, SecondEngineer - Paul Argelli, SecondEngineer - Richard Hilton, Keyboards, Programmer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar, Keyboards, Background Vocals - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Fred Schneider, Writer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1989 Reprise Records
Don Was, Producer - Jamie Muhoberac, Keyboards - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - Lenny Castro, Percussion - The B-52's, MainArtist - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Vocals, Writer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Pat Dillett, AdditionalEngineer - Dan Bosworth, AssistantEngineer - Rik Pekkonen, AdditionalEngineer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - Scott Hull, Digital Editor - Ed Cherney, Engineer - Brian Pollack, AssistantEngineer - David McMurray, Saxophone - Mike Reither, AssistantEngineer - Pat Irwin, Keyboards - Zachary Alford, Drums
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1992 Reprise Records for the U.S. and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the U.S.
Sterling Campbell, Drums - Robert Waldrop, Lyricist - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Kate Pierson, Composer, Vocals - Keith Strickland, Composer, Guitar, Keyboards - NILE RODGERS, Producer - Richard Hilton, Keyboards - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Fred Schneider, Vocals - Scott Hull, Digital Editor - Tracy Wormworth, Bass Guitar - Hiro Ishihara, AssistantEngineer - Victor Deyglio, AssistantEngineer - Jon Goldberger, AdditionalEngineer - Justin Luchter, AssistantEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1992 Reprise Records for the U.S. and WEA International Inc. for the world outside of the U.S.
Don Was, Producer, Choir - Jamie Muhoberac, Keyboards - Russ Titelman, Choir - Lenny Castro, Percussion - The B-52's, MainArtist - Kate Pierson, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals, Writer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, Engineer, MixingEngineer - Pat Dillett, AdditionalEngineer - Dan Bosworth, AssistantEngineer - Rik Pekkonen, AdditionalEngineer - Fred Schneider, Vocals, Writer - Moby, Additional Production, Remixer - Scott Hull, Digital Editor - John Fischer, Choir - Carlos Rivera, Choir - Ed Cherney, Engineer - Stephen 'Doc' Kupka, Baritone Saxophone - Tracy Wormworth, Choir - Artie Smith, Choir - Kevyn Aucoin, Choir - Brian Pollack, AssistantEngineer - Holly Wormworth, Choir - Mike Reither, AssistantEngineer - Pat Irwin, Choir, Keyboards - Zachary Alford, Choir, Drums - Alan Tessler, Choir - Alpana Bawa, Choir - Angel Zimick, Choir - Beatrice Desault, Choir - Berns Frye, Choir - Booty Man, Choir - Brent Richardson, Choir - Bruno Sandbichler, Choir - Carol Perkins, Choir - Chase Myth, Choir - Chris Isles, Choir - Connie Empress, Choir - Courtney Weaver, Choir - Dean Riddle, Choir - Denise Walch, Choir - Diane Derkowski, Choir - Don Reuter, Choir - Doug Redler, Choir - Dr. John "Weed" Werber, Choir - E. Wildgirl Peterson, Choir - Ellery MacDonald, Choir - Jed Root, Choir - Jeff Loshinsky, Choir - Johannes Kepler, Writer - John Cote, Choir - Jonathan McVey, Choir - Julia Goodman, Choir - KA-chin, Choir - Mercedes Wallner, Choir - Michelle Gutenstein, Choir - Monica Flowers, Choir - Nabe, Choir - Neil Meltzer, Choir - Nelson Savinon, Choir - Penn Jillette, Choir - Phillip Gunnels, Choir - Robert Lachow, Choir - Ron DiCesare, Choir - Scott Totten, Choir - Susan Kroll, Choir - Terri Gloyd, Choir - Thomas Sandbichler, Choir - Tim Rollins, Choir - Todd Oldham, Choir - Amy Shulman, Harp - Gregory Purnhagen, Choir - Ricks Lee, Choir
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1992 Warner Records Inc.
Dave Robbins, SecondEngineer - Bob Ludwig, MasteringEngineer - The B-52's, MainArtist - Cindy Wilson, Composer, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Kate Pierson, Composer, Producer, Vocals, Writer - Keith Strickland, Composer, Producer, Guitar, Writer - Patrick Dillett, MixingEngineer - Sara Lee, Bass Guitar - TOM DURACK, Producer, MixingEngineer - B52's, Lyricist - Charlie Drayton, Drums - Fred Schneider, Composer, Producer, Writer - Pat Irwin, Guitar - Matt Gold, SecondEngineer - Sue Kappa, SecondEngineer
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 1998 Reprise Records.
Album review
The B-52's were one of the great new wave bands, one of the ones who defined the style and cut one of the great records of their time (their eponymous debut), an outfit who maintained a dedicated following even as they fell off the radar of critics and hipsters, a group who overcame a tragic loss (guitarist Ricky Wilson) to make a startling, unpredictable comeback that launched them beyond college radio and to the top of the pop charts. It's a hell of a story, even if the final act was decidedly anticlimatic (after one follow-up to the Cosmic Thing comeback, 1992's Good Stuff, the group essentially disappeared apart from an embarrassing version of the Flintstones theme for the 1993 big-screen adaptation), and they're easily one of the more legendary bands of their time. Unfortunately, legend doesn't always translate to great music, and the fact of the matter is that the B-52's really only had two very good records: the transcendent debut and the comeback. The second record had its share of moments, more than the other albums that followed, and there were some sublime cuts scattered among the other records, but by and large they were a band who got by on their brilliant moments -- brilliant moments that were surrounded by competence and mediocrity. It really was the kind of career that could be salvaged and justified by a tremendous double-disc retrospective -- which Nude on the Moon: The B-52's Anthology unfortunately isn't. Make no mistake, it's pretty good and it has a lot of their greatest moments, but it stumbles at certain points, letting seminal songs like "Quiche Lorraine" or "Mesopotamia" be represented by alternate takes (1990 live take and remix, respectively), and padding it toward the end with album tracks that aren't that interesting. That's the worst thing about this lavish, lovingly produced set; no matter the care of the sound and presentation, there are just too many songs that are just average, not quite illustrating why the B-52's are so beloved. Of course, that's the fault of the band themselves, who never quite lived up to their early promise, but it would still be possible to jigger the final recordings to an artificial narrative, the kind that would show why people love this band. This isn't it; no matter the testimonials, the interviews in the comprehensive booklet, the great photos, or just the general warm vibe this Georgian band -- perhaps the greatest Georgian musical act this side of Jerry Reed or R.E.M. -- gives off. And that's because the material just isn't there. No matter their legacy, they have enough terrific material for a comprehensive single-disc set, not a double-disc set, and while this is more comprehensive and better-produced than the single-disc compilations, most listeners will find they'll skip over most of the material just to get to the good stuff from The B-52's and Cosmic Thing.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 35 track(s)
- Total length: 02:36:29
- Main artists: The B-52's
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Rhino - Warner Records
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
© 2002 Warner Records Inc. ℗ 2002 Warner Records Inc. Marketed by Rhino Entertainment Company, a Warner Music Group Company.
Improve album information
Why buy on Qobuz?
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalog with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets, and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.