Search - Various Artists :: Monsters of Goth [3 CD Boxed Set]

Excellent collection of proto-goth tunes

Ruadhan J McElroy | Ann Arbor, MI | 11/13/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"That's about the best description I can think of for this boxed-set - proto-goth. This collection runs the gamut from Batcave (Alien Sex Fiend) to deathrock (Lords of the New Church) to the "wave with no name" (Echo and the Bunnymen) to Lydia Lunch (try categorising her music, I dare you).This comp predates and in many ways far surpasses all three two-c.d. sets in Mick Mercer's _Gothic Rock_ collections despite having only half as many discs. Going from Bolshoi's soft almost-pop of "Lyndi's Party" to Lydia Lunch's industrial/noise opus "Stinkfist" to Faithful Dawn's oh-so-goth "Enchant Me" and Scarehead's downright fun ode to insanity, "Ha Ha" and Ghost Dance's cover of "Radar Love" this comp proves that yes, there *was* gothic rock before London After Midnight and no, it didn't all sound like Siouxsie Sioux or Bauhaus.While the biggest "monsters" of goth on this comp are Alien Sex Fiend and Valor's incarnation of Christian Death, I think they should have chosen a different title, but oh well, like the hair metal comp of similar moniker most of these guys are Titans by association (Ghost Dance is compiled of former members of the Sisters of Mercy) and influence to the modern bands.An excellent choice for those disoriented with modern goth music and heard all sorts of rumours about what it was like before Projekt Records."