Search - Book of Love :: Book of Love

Great Under-Your-Radar Femme Synth Pop

SandmanVI | Glen Allen, VA United States | 03/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Funny that with the explosion of female-driven electroclash that more people aren't singing the praises of the 80's femme synth pioneers Book of Love. This eponymously titled album was likely their best and while it may have sounded like sugar-coated pop the content often pushed the envelope with its innuendo. "Boy" is an 'alternative lifestyles' anthem with its deviant insinuations. "I Touch Roses" was also a club hit as was "Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)", a tribute to the Renaissance Italian painter. Several remixes of these hits appear at the end of the disc - remember this was the new age of CDs when everyone felt obligated to fill all 70+ minutes of available capacity.So much for the singles, there were other great songs here. "Still Angry" showcased bitter and jagged little females decades before Alanis Morissette ever did. "You Make Me Feel So Good" is another innuendo wonder. "Yellow Sky" is a mid-tempo masterpiece - truly excellent. "Die Matrosen" (German for "The Saliors") is a bubbly, sing-song affair that reminds me of a cool Nena song (no, not that one). And "Book of Love" got some club play too.All in all, a very strong synthpop album that has influenced many more acts than you probably would imagine. I'm certain that Ladytron, Chicks on Speed and Peaches were all spinning this 15 years ago."

Great eighties album

Susan Cole | 10/24/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although I didn't hit my teenage years until the late eighties, through my older friends I became a book of love fan. This album is one of the best of its genre- whether you classify them as new wave or whatever. Modigliani is a very uplifting song that puts you in a great mood. Boy, whether or not they intended it, is a lesbian anthem...read into the lyrics and you'll see why. I Touch Roses also, perhaps...hmm.Even the dinkier moments like Die Matrosen are great synth-pop. I can't believe that Book of Love didn't get bigger than they did."

Their first and Best!

Taylor | San Jose, California | 02/13/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you like 80s dance music, buy this album! More than 10 years ago, my best friend and I treked to San Francisco to see them live at the Filmore. It was one of the greatest concerts I've ever been to (ranks up there with seeing Midge Ure at the Filmore and Icehouse at the original Warfield). At that time it was clear people really didn't really know the group that well. In fact, as we were waiting to get into the Filmore, we didn't realize we were leaning on the group's van. When they came out of the building after their sound check, they walked up to us and my friends and I stood awe struck! What was more amazing was that nobody else in the crowd even moved! They had no idea who the people in front of them were! I was sickend at the fact that such a great band was not even recognized! Enough about the fact that people really didn't appreciate them...this was a great album...one of my DIDs (along with anything Ultravox, Icehouse and Killing Joke!)."