B's Here Now
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It would feel wrong – cruel even - to toss any negativity in the direction of the affable new-wave group the B-52’s. They’ve always been such founts of positivity – drolly witty ambassadors of good cheer, and purveyors of empowering, willfully inclusive garage-pop songs that are carried along by wacky cartoonish lyrics and jubilant dance beats.Sure, a lot of their output could be considered little more than novelty tunes, especially the numbers when Fred Schneider’s strange, surreal raps take precedence over the girl-group harmonizing of his fellow vocalists, the (usually) elaborately bewigged singers Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson. But it’s all poppy, multi-colored fun.
So, it’s with that in mind that I’m loathe to find fault with Funplex, the Athens, GA, party band’s first full-length studio album in 16 years. That’s a helluva long time. And they’ve worn pretty well. All that aside, there is little on the new collection that is as memorable and insanely hilarious as their bizarro breakthrough, the indie single “Rock Lobster,†or as relentlessly catchy, goofy, sexy and sly as their first major label hit “Love Shack,†or as coolly sophisticated and disco-floor-ready as the subsequent hit “Roam.â€For sure, it’s nice to have Cindy back and sharing vocals with Kate and Fred. After her brother and fellow B-52 Ricky Wilson passed away, there was a period where Cindy was essentially on hiatus. Now, she’s back, and her endearing, beseeching lead on “Juliet of the Spirits†– a lovely bit of mid-tempo woman-to-woman encouragement – might be my favorite part of Funplex. (It’s certainly the most easy-on-the-ears song in the bunch.)The production is shiny and smooth with lots of state-of-the-art electronica in place to counterbalance the idiosyncratic, charmingly ragged voices of the three singers. Again, any quibbles would be about more of the same with less resonance than the career highpoints from back in the day.A hard-driving (and appropriately named) “Pump†starts things off with a throbbing beat and mean licks courtesy of guitarist Keith Strickland who is flat-out the album’s MVP. Motoring forward, it’s got the energy and the flair that you expect from these guys, but it evokes the earlier signature sound of "Whammy Kiss†a little too closely.The same problem plagues “Hot Corner,†which pales by comparison to the immutable “Love Shack.†You get the usual B-52’s shout-and-response catch-phraseology. Fred’s “Hey y'all! Last call! Last chance to dance!†would be more charming if it hadn’t been trumped by previous and better material.“Ultraviolet†sports some seductive harmony turns by the gals, punky guitar chords, and dizzily ascending electro-notes, putting a different spin on their sound without losing the essential style they’ve developed over the years. And the cheeky (slightly lurid) subject matter is a treat. The title track “Funplex†adds a few more wrinkles to the usual formula, and the funniest lyrics on the album. When Fred spouts "Faster, pussycat! Thrill! Thrill!" (evoking tongue-in-cheek soft-core film auteur Russ Meyer's movie “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!â€) and "Hey, lady!" in the manner of Jerry Lewis, it’s more than a panic at the Funplex. It’s an all-around panic.And the antics continue through “Eyes Wide Open,†a wistful mix of secretive romance and neo-house music; “Love in the Year 3000,†a boilerplate B’s blend of burlesque and futurism; “Deviant Ingredient,†another highpoint with Kate and Cindy implying an uplifting message of pride in one’s differences; the bouncy/catchy Go-Go’s-styled “Too Much to Think Aboutâ€; and the percolating new-wave throwback “Dancing Now†with Fred standing strong as a survivor.“Keep This Party Going†closes Funplex with the usual sentiments - but is that a political statement? Among the words they sing: â€Take this party to the White House lawn…Keep this party going all night long….Things are down and dirty in Washington." It all wraps with a "Dancing in the Streets" litany of places where the party will continue - including, of course, their haunts Athens and New York City.Had we never heard them before, this would have been stunning. As it is, call Funplex pleasant, sometimes silly ear-candy that doesn’t quite hit the heights of their greatest stuff. Oh yeah. Does anyone else think that a little of Fred’s nasal whine – while sometimes very amusing - goes a long way?“Funplex†video, anyone?
So, it’s with that in mind that I’m loathe to find fault with Funplex, the Athens, GA, party band’s first full-length studio album in 16 years. That’s a helluva long time. And they’ve worn pretty well. All that aside, there is little on the new collection that is as memorable and insanely hilarious as their bizarro breakthrough, the indie single “Rock Lobster,†or as relentlessly catchy, goofy, sexy and sly as their first major label hit “Love Shack,†or as coolly sophisticated and disco-floor-ready as the subsequent hit “Roam.â€For sure, it’s nice to have Cindy back and sharing vocals with Kate and Fred. After her brother and fellow B-52 Ricky Wilson passed away, there was a period where Cindy was essentially on hiatus. Now, she’s back, and her endearing, beseeching lead on “Juliet of the Spirits†– a lovely bit of mid-tempo woman-to-woman encouragement – might be my favorite part of Funplex. (It’s certainly the most easy-on-the-ears song in the bunch.)The production is shiny and smooth with lots of state-of-the-art electronica in place to counterbalance the idiosyncratic, charmingly ragged voices of the three singers. Again, any quibbles would be about more of the same with less resonance than the career highpoints from back in the day.A hard-driving (and appropriately named) “Pump†starts things off with a throbbing beat and mean licks courtesy of guitarist Keith Strickland who is flat-out the album’s MVP. Motoring forward, it’s got the energy and the flair that you expect from these guys, but it evokes the earlier signature sound of "Whammy Kiss†a little too closely.The same problem plagues “Hot Corner,†which pales by comparison to the immutable “Love Shack.†You get the usual B-52’s shout-and-response catch-phraseology. Fred’s “Hey y'all! Last call! Last chance to dance!†would be more charming if it hadn’t been trumped by previous and better material.“Ultraviolet†sports some seductive harmony turns by the gals, punky guitar chords, and dizzily ascending electro-notes, putting a different spin on their sound without losing the essential style they’ve developed over the years. And the cheeky (slightly lurid) subject matter is a treat. The title track “Funplex†adds a few more wrinkles to the usual formula, and the funniest lyrics on the album. When Fred spouts "Faster, pussycat! Thrill! Thrill!" (evoking tongue-in-cheek soft-core film auteur Russ Meyer's movie “Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!â€) and "Hey, lady!" in the manner of Jerry Lewis, it’s more than a panic at the Funplex. It’s an all-around panic.And the antics continue through “Eyes Wide Open,†a wistful mix of secretive romance and neo-house music; “Love in the Year 3000,†a boilerplate B’s blend of burlesque and futurism; “Deviant Ingredient,†another highpoint with Kate and Cindy implying an uplifting message of pride in one’s differences; the bouncy/catchy Go-Go’s-styled “Too Much to Think Aboutâ€; and the percolating new-wave throwback “Dancing Now†with Fred standing strong as a survivor.“Keep This Party Going†closes Funplex with the usual sentiments - but is that a political statement? Among the words they sing: â€Take this party to the White House lawn…Keep this party going all night long….Things are down and dirty in Washington." It all wraps with a "Dancing in the Streets" litany of places where the party will continue - including, of course, their haunts Athens and New York City.Had we never heard them before, this would have been stunning. As it is, call Funplex pleasant, sometimes silly ear-candy that doesn’t quite hit the heights of their greatest stuff. Oh yeah. Does anyone else think that a little of Fred’s nasal whine – while sometimes very amusing - goes a long way?“Funplex†video, anyone?
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Comments (22)
I listened to this back when you first posted and again just now. I kept your post because I couldn't watch the vid at the time. I really like this stuff! I never got into the B's when I was younger, wasn't really my thing at the time, but now I'll have to check them out! Thanks Mike, and great review!
Appreciate the catch-up, etc., p. Enjoy!