Search - Damned :: Phantasmagoria

Logan E. from BATON ROUGE, LA
Reviewed on 8/7/2006...

A great album, in my opinion, the pinnacle of Dave Vanian's songwriting skills, and the beginning of The Damned's transition from serious punk to goth.

At last!

J. Onorato | Hobart, IN USA | 03/31/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I can't believe it has taken so long for this album to finally make it to downloads. I've looked all over the place for a copy of the CD - it seems non-existent. I always thought it kind of groundbreaking. It was like The Damned had finally learned how to write music. It was a very trendy album at the time of it's release. Heck, Ferris Bueller had a Phantasmagoria poster on his wall in his movie! Considering it's role in pop culture - I mean, Dave Vanian DID kinda help bring the whole Goth thing to the masses- it never made sense why the album would be so impossible to find. But now, finally, it's here. Yeah, it sounds dated, but I've been dying to hear 'The Shadow of Love', 'Is it a Dream' and 'Edward the Bear' in their original forms. That remix / B-side cd from a while ago was just dreadful.

This is The Damned at their most 'pop.' If you're a fan of mid-80's music, you'll probably like Phantasmagoria and also, their follow-up album, 'Anything.'"

The Damned's best work

Christopher Hollrah | Dark Nomad | 03/10/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"All I can say is that back in the day my Hard-core Punk-rocker friends tried several times to turn me on to The Damned. I resisted, as I was a Bauhaus / Joy Division style Goth Rocker and "had no need for their pound-it-out punk rock." One day about 5 of them jumped me, held me down, and put Phantasmagoria on the stereo. I was immediately impressed, and this album remains my favorite work of this '80s phenomenon known as The Damned. They are a band I always recommend, and this album in particular. Lastly, the woman on the cover, in her garb, and in that setting makes her one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen."