After hearing the ultra-sheen producer Steve Osborne smoothed across New Order's 2001 album Get Ready, the B-52s' guitarist and music director Keith Strickland found the sound that would bring his band into 21st century. The ultra-slick, synthesizer and drum machine driven Funplex is the result, and while it doesn't make up for the 16 years since their last full-length, it's a good argument that they should get off the revival concert circuit and get back to the studio more often. On the opening "Pump," singers Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson prove right away they can still create sweet harmonies, while Fred Schneider displays that he's lost none of his campy spark and still sounds credible when barking out stories of hot mamas cruising the mall while high on diet pills. The track's exciting Stereolab-meets-Duane Eddy construction vindicates Strickland's hunch about Osborne, whose half-new wave, half-MP3 age production is a great match throughout. The band's shimmy and shake performance is as energetic as ever and with songs like "Hot Corner," "Juliet of the Spirits," and the title track bringing warm reminders of "Roam," "Summer of Love," or "Good Stuff," the B-52s in 2008 are still adding fine material to their catalog. Bright moments that loyal fans will cherish dot the album, like when Fred delivers a "Robots-Bootybots-Erotobots" chant ("Love in the Year 3000"), or when a simple, quintessential B-52s riff mixes with intoxicating future disco ("Eyes Wide Open"). Problem is the songwriting seems a bit forced at times and the towering highlights found on their top-shelf efforts are missing. Nothing here is as gripping or as perfect as "Rock Lobster," "Private Idaho," or "Love Shack," and the songs that are borderline filler get pushed into one big forgettable lump towards the end of the album. Turns out, being the world's greatest party combo isn't just like riding a bike, but the B-52s are certainly pointed in the right direction. Think of Funplex as a likeable album from a lovable band and adjust your party planner accordingly.
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 considere
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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 considere
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The last time the B-52's released a studio album Texas billionaire H. Ross Perot was a Presidential eventually losing out to a young man by the name of Clinton.Recently the pioneering new wave rockers announced their first studio album in 16 years; ??Funplex?? (Astralwerks) is slated to drop March 25.Originally founded in 1976 in Athens, Georgia the B-52's have maintained a consistent sound wit...
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A week from Today (March 25) the B-52's will release ??Funplex??(Astralwerks) their first album of new material since 1992's ??Good Stuff??(Reprise), BUT today you can listen to the entire album streaming via AOL Music."CLICK HERE to listen!":CHThe band took a long time to shop the album around to different labels in order to secure favorable intellectual property rights to the music, something...
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It's been 16 years since we've gotten a new B-52's album. The wait will be over March 25. Meanwhile here's the tile track.
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Here's another one off the upcoming B-52's album Funplex. Fans are gonna dig it.
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The B-52's announced on their website that they have recorded a new album that will be released early next year! Better yet, they say there will be more electronica on it - HORRAY! Here's what they just added to their Bio page:The B-52’s have just completed recording a brand new album, their first in 15 years, with producer Steve Osborne (KT Tunstall, New Order, Manic Street Preachers) and pr.
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Guest Post by AMJ's Florida Office Editor Ziona KocherAs my parents and I drove all day on Saturday, the only thing I could think of to be happy about was the prospect of seeing the B-52's. Everything else seemed so depressing (to me, at least). Everybody keeps telling me how great college is, and that I will love it, but I wasn't convinced. I was moving away from the people I loved most to go ...
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| Title | Lyrics | Buy |
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| 1 Pump |
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| 2 Hot Corner |
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| 3 Ultraviolet |
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| 4 Juliet of the Spirits |
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| 5 Funplex |
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| 6 Eyes Wide Open |
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| 7 Love in the Year 3000 |
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| 8 Deviant Ingredient |
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| 9 Too Much to Think About |
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| 10 Dancing Now |
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| 11 Keep This Party Going |
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 "Funplex")
