The one that got me hooked
Fabrisse | Dorchester, MA United States | 08/04/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Usually when the word radical is used about a piece of music it means that it's unusual (or you're under 25). With the Flying Pickets, and especially this album, it refers to the politics. Most of the album is covers, but my favorite tracks were written by Rick Lloyd. *Remember This* is an upbeat number that includes the lyrics, "Remember this, requiems don't quite make up for the loss of a life." *Disco Down* and *Wide Boy* (a British slang term that is roughly the equivalent of 'gangbanger') are both social commentary about the problems (and escape from them) of a disaffected and largely unemployed young underclass. The most devastating and beautiful of these songs is *So Close* a love song about the necessity of breaking up with someone who disagrees with you politically. Musically, every member of the group sings lead at some point. Gareth Williams, their usual bass man, is glorious on almost every track. Red Stripe does *Masters of War*, Rick Lloyd sings his own *Disco Down* and also the cover *Psycho Killer* (When I saw them live in 1985 he was absolutely frightening on this one). Brian Hibbard sings lead on the 2 top 10 hits *When You're Young and In Love* and *Only You*. Ken Gregson is responible for most of the sound effects. David Brett's is usually the first voice you hear on the track (bass on *Remember This*; tenor lead on *I Heard it Through the Grapevine*). Mostly though it's the lushness of the harmonies that you take away from listening to this lovely album.Now if we can just get their earliest album "Live at the Albany Empire" onto CD I'll be happy."
One of the best
Fabrisse | 05/05/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"If you have more than ten cd's then this should be one of them"
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1