Search - Howard Devoto :: Jerky Versions of the Dream

Jerky Versions of the Dream
Howard Devoto
Jerky Versions of the Dream
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (16) - Disc #1

Digitally remastered reissue of Howard Devoto's solo album, originally released in 1983. Devoto was the original vocalist for Buzzcocks but left after their first E.P, Spiral Scratch. He then went on to form Post-Punk le...  more »

     
?

Larger Image

CD Details

All Artists: Howard Devoto
Title: Jerky Versions of the Dream
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Caroline
Original Release Date: 8/14/2007
Release Date: 8/14/2007
Album Type: Original recording remastered
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
Styles: Hardcore & Punk, New Wave & Post-Punk
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 094638545026

Synopsis

Album Description
Digitally remastered reissue of Howard Devoto's solo album, originally released in 1983. Devoto was the original vocalist for Buzzcocks but left after their first E.P, Spiral Scratch. He then went on to form Post-Punk legends Magazine in 1977 and fronted that band until their demise in 1981. Jerky Versions Of The Dream contains the hit 'Rainy Season' plus 'Cold Imagination', 'Taking Over Heaven' and more. Devoto later formed Luxuria in the late '80s then reunited with his former Buzzcocks mate Pete Shelley for the one-off ShelleyDevoto album in the late '90s. Virgin. 2007.
 

CD Reviews

A welcome reissue of a neglected classic
aliled | Shawnee, Kansas United States | 10/16/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Many have elucidated on the genius of Howard Devoto, so the purpose of this review is primarily to list the pros and cons of this new CD reissue.



PRO:



1) Finally, it's available again . . . and at a reasonable list price!



2) All the contemporaneous non-LP and b-sides are added as bonuses for the first time. This means you get the 7" version of "Rainy Season," which was perfectly edited and remixed, as well as its instrumental b-side, "Rainforest (Variation N16)," mixed in a dubby style, but with some imagination, and the extended version of "Cold Imagination," which adds only 48 seconds to the album version, but has a punchier mix.



3) You also get the entire three-song Peel session from 1983. Never before released, this radio session features three album tracks in somewhat different arrangements from the album versions.



4) Liner notes are very accurate, very complete and full of details not every slack reviewer would know. (The revelation that the final live show promoting the album featured the Smiths as an opening act might serve as the perfect way to divide late 70s/early 80s postpunk from the onslaught of 80s/90s alternative college rock.)



5) Packaging is equally nice.



CON:



1) Like many CDs, it's mastered at ear-splitting levels which (somewhat) negatively affect playback quality. It's not *too* bad on this particular CD though, but I sure wish this ridiculous trend would end.



2) The Peel session tracks are clearly taken from a non-mastertape source of some sort. But the sound's not terribly distracting, so both of these cons are slight ones indeed.



One could call this Devoto's most commercial outing, but that's not a bad thing (and it's failure to set the charts on fire proves it wasn't that commercial!) The songs are wonderful and more emotionally evocative than most of Devoto's tunes from Magazine days and the production is stellar. Due to an enormous initial pressing, the album was a mainstay of cutout bins for years. In America (where it was issued on IRS, contrary to the sticker's claims that this is its first American release) and in the UK, it got a big promotional push, with a video or two even appearing on MTV and one of the two singles from the album ("Cold Imagination") featuring a beautiful full-colour booklet as a freebie. So, sadly, the faith the label had in it wasn't fulfilled, but that doesn't mean they were wrong. This is a fine reissue full of fab music, so don't delay in sticking it in your checkout basket."
'The Man's on Fire'
Paul Ess. | Holywell, N.Wales,UK. | 04/11/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Easily as good as anything from his Magazine days, Devoto's first solo lp follows on thematically (if not chronologically!) from the excellent 'Correct Use of Soap'. This sees young Howie stepping light, almost delicately through this clipped, precise collection of songs. Its as if he's deliberately moved away from previous sombre (but beautiful) Mags fare and is exploring lighter, may one suggest, happier territory (Is he really smiling on the cover, or is that just my wishful thinking?).



The album is chock full of clever words and subtle, insidious pop melodies. The standout example being the joyous 'Rainy Season', a song which arrives in an intro which made me jump in the air, and leaves in a flood! There's at least 6 other songs of that quality here; haunting, deliberate sleights of hand, swirling infectious snippets of soulful wizardry.



I remember this coming out originally(as a child obviously), even then I was blown away by its clear, fierce determination NOT to be Magazine (but being quite a bit Magazine, if you see what I mean). In fact, another slight swing to the left and we'd be in Costello country.



It has stood times test superbly,and is as good for us today as its always been. Devoto's lp deserves much wider recognition than it got in '83 - and if there's a God it'll get it.

Play alongside Colin Newmans' colossal 'Not To'.



"
Classic 1983 new wave--the perfect blend of punk and synthpo
Daniel W. Kelly | Long Island, NY United States | 08/20/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)

"tinkering with the sounds of the new romantics (as most of his post-punk colleagues were at the time), DeVoto gives us several really strong synthpop tracks on here with a hint of punk guitar perfectly blended into the mix at times. Although no major hits stemmed from this disc, you'll find shades of the Human League, Depeche Mode, Heaven 17, Blancmange, OMD, even The Clash--with that awesome moody male vocal we come to expect from new wave of this era. great to have the 12" of Cold Imagination as a bonus track, because it's one of the strongest tracks on here. Other synthpop gems include Topless, Rainy Season, and I Admire You. More punk influenced (but still tame) tracks include Way Out of Shape and Taking over Heaven. There are even some moody synth 'ballads', like Seeing is Believing and Some Will Pay. While not necessary to have on here, the original BBC demos of some of these tracks (which don't have the greatest sound quality) make for interesting comparisons to the much more polished and new wave radio friendly finals versions.



This is definitely a gem to have in your new wave collection with its range of new wave sounds of that era, all of which perfectly hit the mark."