Reviews (page 3 of 10)
Rockabilly millor del que esperava
This picked me up on this Friday. "The B-52's" is the debut album from the Athens, GA new wave band The B-52's. The best description I saw of their music is a fusion of pop, surf, avant-garde, amateurish funk and white funk. Yep. And a description of the band as bad hairdos, sci-fi nightmares, pastels and dance crazes. All perfectly fine for me. Almost every review I read referred to their lyrics as kitschy. I see the retro in the band's appearance but is bikini whale really kitschy? OK, it is. Anyway, lots of fun here. The album was produced by Chris Blackwell and recorded in the Bahamas. Morse-code keyboards and a Peter Gunn guitar begin "Planet Claire." Two minutes in and vocalist Fred Schneider joins. Right away we're into the weird sci-fi lyrics and story. She came from Planet Claire where no one has a head and the trees are red. Another keyboard start in their third single "Dance this Mess Around." Cindy Wilson on lead vocals, singing and screaming. Guitarist Ricky Wilson bringing the chorus. And we come to "Rock Lobster" where Ricky Wilson told the other band members "I just wrote the stupidest guitar line you've ever heard." Yeah, and one of the best. That surf guitar. That sci-fi keyboard. The cowbell. The best use of sea animal sounds ever. Little did we know what finding a rock lobster on a beach would lead to. I had to re-watch their Saturday Night Live performance. It's still just as great as when I saw it live. "Lava" starts the second side and is more straight-forward punk/rock. Minimal keys. Cindy Wilson stressing she just needs to have that hot lava. Yeah! Cindy Wilson also kills it on "Hero Worship. Melodic guitar lines at the start. This song has a Stonesy "Some Girls" groove to it. Sleater-Kinney was listening. The closest thing this album has to a guitar solo at the end. My favorite deeper cut on the album is "6060-842" and its vocal chorus from Kate Person, Schneider and Cindy Wilson. I still have it in my head. Rick Wilson's guitar sounding very Gang of Four-esque. "Your number's been disconnected." I think the first two B-52 albums are fabulous. This debut album still rocks. I first got it on cassette; I know I don't have that but I do have the 45 of "Rock Lobster" which I'll put on later.
One of the greatest debut albums of all time
Classic trailblazer album.
I can describe this abum in 6 syllables; One-Hun-Dred -Per-Cent-Fun, with appologies to Matthew Sweet. Side 1 is as infectious as music gets and side 2, though not the perfection of side 1 still keeps the dance party going. 5 stars
Well this is iconic. Not sure if you can dredge up anything bad to say? I'm sure they do though. From the opening track it sets it's mark: Inventive, stylised, fun and energetic. Great band and great album at one of the most pivotal years in music history. 1979
The surfer heartbeat of this band has so much groove. The contrasting vocal styles is like you took everything about 60's surf culture, polished it to a mirror, and shot it back at the world. This album kicks ass.
For those of us who know how to party. I know the question you're asking right now: "Big Dog, what's stopping you from branding this thing a 5?" And the answer is nothing, nothing at all. Somewhat related: no one calls me Big Dog. Or Big Dawg.
I had heard Rock Lobster before, as I'm sure everyone has, but I never thought too much of it. Upon relistening to it, I loved it. This album is a ton of fun. I found that I was bopping my head and tapping my foot for the whole thing. I totally get why a lot of people give this album a low score, because it has a pretty unique sound, especially in the vocals. I, personally, love the unique sound this album brings. I'm a sucker for people with distinctive singing voices like this. I didn't expect to be giving this album such a high score, but here we are. My favourite songs were Dance This Mess Around and Rock Lobster.
This is just class. I think I needed to hear this when I went through my brief Cramps phase when I was about 20. Weird, punky, elements of Talking Heads at times with the natural awkwardness of DEVO. Could even hear echoes of Stories from the City by PJ Harvey, and bits of LCD Soundsystem in the guitar sound (especially the last 1min of Rock Lobster). Often flirts with becoming novelty but pull it back at the last second. Class. Mint. Belter. Toppa. 5/5 from me.
I really don't have to listen to this one again, but I will cheerfully. 5 starts. I owned it on cassette and then CD. Was introduced to them when I worked at the YMCA with Daffy and Zipper back in 1985 and loved it. It's fun, it's different, weird, and it's under 40 minutes. Planet Claire, Dance this Mess Around, Rock Lobster, Lava are so repeatable for me, and just the title There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon) makes me laugh. This is music that is hard to be depressed and listen to.
So singular—you know who it is from the first notes
cool
Classic B-52s album.
Banger
This is a 4.5 and I was tempted to just give this a 4, but I found myself choosing to play this again more than once before getting round to rating it - so it's a 5.
I'm totally going to sound all hipster-y when I say that THIS album was my introduction to the B-52's. Several years before Cosmic Thing I was annoying my friends with this album. I got this album from an aunt of mine who was cleaning out her closets and I asked if I could have that album as she was going to toss it, and I always liked the look of that cover. So I got it home and listened to it and seriously it was life changing in that I'd never heard anything like it before. And I loved it. It was so weird. So many great tracks on here that I tend to revisit often.
yes!
Top notch, A++
Wowza!
I enjoyed this album a lot. I expected I would as I already knew love shack and rock lobster
I do have a deep love and appreciation for this album. In the early 80s, as a young teenager, it was the first time I'd connected with music outside of the mainstream that appealed to me individually and authentically. It featured volcanoes, planets, sea creatures, bouffant hairdos, and "Downtown." It didn't take itself seriously. It sounded wonderful and fun. I particularly remember riding around in a car with a friend, listening to it, feeling exhilaration and connectedness to something that finally felt like it was meant for me. "Rock Lobster" was my favorite song at high school dances because it was the only time everyone went crazy to the music and did their own thing completely joyously and unselfconsciously. There would be a lot of wonderful music to come from the B-52s, but this one is particularly important to me.
This album runs through my rotation every now and again. It is fun!
I haven’t listened to this in a very long time. I smiled as soon as it came up. It sounds a great now as it ever did. Just perfect!
Love The B-52s!
I love the B-52's so much. Just out there in small town Georgia, all alone, inventing New Wave.
FIVE STARS An all-time classic and a personal favorite of mine. As is usually the case with those five-stars albums, I won't write a full-blown review about this particular record, because others have already written wonderful stuff about it and there's not much I can add that I feel could be relevant and interesting. It's just a gem. Go and listen to it a.s.a.p. Number of albums left to review or just listen to: 942 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 27 (including this one) Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 16 Albums from the list I will certainly *not* include in mine (many others are more important to me): 16
I got this album as a gift back in the early 80s. I knew Rock Lobster, the rest was new (to me) at the time. I immediately loved it. It really brings back memories. The LP I had skipped during Dance this Mess Around and it would loop on one track over and over again. I actually recorded the skipping version to a cassette… eventually, the album self-corrected and the skip went away. Every time I hear that song, it makes me think of the loop, and I heard it in my head…. The album is great, start to finish. I think Wild Planet (their next album) is just as good, if not better. Glad to see this one (at least) on the list. 5/5.
One of my favorite albums of all time. Nothing had ever been recorded that sounded like this musically, lyrically, vocally. Pure genius.
She came from Planet Claire I knew she came from there She drove a Plymouth Satellite A-faster than the speed of light
Classic kitsch party music from the early 80's, great memories
rock lobster so groovy - so groovy
Fantastic! One of those albums I’ve wanted to listen to for years but never got round to. Loved it! Fun, quirky and uniquely. A classic
10/10 this album is packed with so much personality and attitude, I love it I barely understood anything they were saying but it doesn’t matter all I need is some of this awesome boogie-woogie, talking-heads-meets-tarantino-score type music
Good fun. Not bad fun.
Some days everyone needs a bit of Rock Lobster in their lives. For me, yesterday was one of those days. Great upbeat tunes, I was bopping along all day!
Love this! Was a staple listen in the early 80s
I love them. They are so funky and cool and party like. Crazy, weird, loud and fun.
A classic in every respect
Roam around the world
I only heard this album for the first time a couple of years ago, but when I heard it I instantly loved it. I totally dig the energy and musicality of this group. Always a rewarding listen
YOU ALREADY KNOW
More edgy punk than I had expected. Kinda like art punk. What a vibe.
I went into this one with low expectations, but I actually kind of enjoyed it. Are the vocals jarring/annoying/weirdo? Yes. But was it fun? Yes, absolutely.
I mean, c'mon. How can you not love The B-52's? '
This is not something I get very excited over or something I'd listen to a lot, but I do have to really appreciate the writing and the way in which all elements of the music work together and work towards the same end goal and sound. A lot of guitar work is also fantastic.
cool album.
ya quería que alguno me agarrara en curva!!!! que oso no haber escuchado de los b52s antes. dance this mess around wow <<33333
Ain't nothing wrong with the B52s and this is a phenomenal and joyous debut. There's a delicate line that can be traced between Fre Schneider, Jonathan Richman, and David Byrne I may need to look into one day. And as a fun "prize" for fantasy football losing manager is making them speak in a Fred Schneider voice or accent for a week.
A great debut from a great band. The B-52's are a band that I feel doesn't get the recognition it deserves—at least not globally. Interesting fact: I used to listen to R.E.M.'s "Shiny Happy People," Iggy Pop's "Candy," and The B-52's' own "Love Shack," and for some reason, I felt there was a connection between them. It wasn't immediately obvious to me that the same woman sings on all three tracks. Amazing. It’s not a perfect album, but as I said, it’s a great debut. 4 stars.
They’ve got that weird art school new wave energy, paired with a twist on surf rock that becomes post-punk, as well as their own distinctive idiosyncrasies, and so it’s a bit like the gay-as-hell connecting point between Joy Division and Talking Heads somehow. So basically it’s catnip for me. I just need to, and will quite happily, come back to it some more for it to click more, because it’s nothing if not distinctive and an interesting challenge to come to cold-ish (mostly it’s that I need to revisit the second half to see if it holds up or drags down).
alright now we're having FUN
B-52s are always fun!
The B-52s are weird in a good way. This album sounds like nothing else going on. It's a fun listen!
Early un-cool coolness.
Fun! Never really listened before beyond Love Shack. I like their vibe and how consistent they are about the wacky good times while actually making quality music.
Say! Doesn’t that make you feel a lot better? If you don’t like this album, there’s something wrong with you. Admittedly It tails off a bit on (what was) side 2 but still brilliant fun music 40+ years on.
Quintessential party album!
Love the fun weirdness here.
Please. Groundbreaking. Fun. True. Passionate. I'm all in. Not an every day listen, but when it hits, it really hits!
Ні на YouTube music, ні на Apple Music цього альбому немає. Знайшов на звичайному YouTube, його виклав просто користувач. Загалом подобається, шкода що нема на Apple Music. Rock Lobster- взагалі бенґер.
huh! okay i know very little going into this one. i know Rock Lobster/Love Shack and i love Roam and that's the sum total of my knowledge of the b-52s. okay no upon looking at the track list i also know Planet Claire because people would meme on it on the internet but i don't know if i can recall the melody aha yes i do remember planet claire. 52 Girls is a lot of fun *really* like Dance This Mess Around i can't offer any kind of objective analysis of Rock Lobster. it's Rock Lobster. i cannot say if it's bad or good. but i am enjoying it more than i have been enjoying some of the songs i've already heard to death last few tracks are a bit weaker i think at the risk of sounding like i am completely up my own ass, this album feels simultaneously very of its era and also incredibly ahead of its time. like the sort of 'surf rock' sound is very 60s/70s, but there are a lot of other aspects that feel like they became the blueprint for a lot of alternative/experimental music. the vocal style is really fun i feel like i'm already repeating myself and i'm probably going to end up saying this a lot: i'm only really familiar with the extremely popular/'meme' songs, so i'm surprised by how much i like all the stuff i've never heard of in my life. solid
It's... cute? I cannot put it to words, but yeah, that album is cute. Quirky even.
Pretty much impossible to ever hear this with fresh ears. For better or worse, along with other so-called college rock acts like the Violent Femmes, this was just part of the soundtrack of my tween and early teenage years. “Rock Lobster” - which, being from 1979 meant it could’ve been from 1958 at our age - was as much a part of the culture as Young MC or Talking Heads or Spike Jones. It was both ancient and if not relevant, something of a gateway to kitsch or weird America. If it came on at a dance, it was a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. And then a few years later, the same band was known for very glossy, accessible, big time hits from Cosmic Thing, in some respects a change as difficult to make sense of as Disintegration-era The Cure from “Lovecats” or “Let’s Go to Bed.” Not sellouts exactly, you always had the sense their stature was earned, but not moving anything forward like their Athens counterparts REM or U2. It wasn’t until later in the 90s that a favorite Dischord band of mine did a “52 Girls” cover and I was like, that rules, and that’s from the same band as “Roam” and “Rock Lobster”? Tell me more! Ultimately I land more on the heartache Cindy voices in the follow-up, but the first display of that emotional rollercoaster is here on “Dance This Mess Around,” which, weird blackface aside, still threads an incredibly unique needle.
These guys must have grown up listening to the the same oldies station that I did. Weird but fun.
Listened before?: yes, many times Planet Claire - 4/5 52 Girls - 5/5 Dance This Mess Around - 5/5 Rock Lobster - 5/5 Lava - 4/5 There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon) - 3/5 Hero Worship - 3/5 6060-842 - 4/5 Downtown - 3/5 Average score: 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ one of my fav music-making gay groups performing some of their best hits. what's not to love yeah, there's a few tracks that aren't so strong, but it's so fun and weird that even the worst tracks here are worth hearing. they were way ahead of their time here
Loved it, maybe not amazing, but certainly a vibe and very fun
All I really knew of this album was the slightly odd guy in my A-Level Geography class who used to sing Rock Lobster at random. That at least led me to understand the reference when Family Guy did a bit about it. So thanks, Pete. Found this to be a pretty fun and funky affair. I like the fact that it doesn't take itself too seriously while still not being overly goofy. The rhythm and bass section is all brilliant, sits alongside the likes of Talking Heads as precursors to the Indie Sleaze/Dance revival in the early 00s. I probably won't rush out and buy it but it was well worth the listen and I'll have a go on some of their other albums later.
Pretty darn fun to hear modern sampling reference this
Happy to hear the ridiculous lyrics of this album. I am all hear for HOT LAVA and ROCK LOBSTER. Just fun.
Det var virkelig en fest af er album. En af de fester der er totalt wack.
dit was ech tleuk
Surprising
7/10
Innovative
Solid quirky early Nu-Wave , alternative cuts
Album #138: The B-52’s Genre (W): New wave, post-punk, dance-rock, surf rock, college rock Singles: Rock Lobster, 52 Girls, 6060-842, Planet Claire, Dance This Mess Around I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: What a delightfully fun and quirky album! It reminds me a lot of Tom Tom Club except more influenced by 50’s and 60’s pop, which makes it very, very fun! I loved it. Favorite tracks: Side One, Lava, Hero Worship, 6060-842, Downtown
Great album from a fantastic band
Coole pre-fem-Punk.
This album is a real ripper! I wrote a long review and then it got lost but basically this album is all killer and mostly no filler. “Dance this mess around” and of course “rock lobster” are full of upbeat playful energy, even if the lyrics are silly. Only downer was “downtown” with the other singer. Too whiny for me!
I can dig it!
[4/5] new wave. listening to people having fun, surfing through each song. pure chaos and wild vocals that grew on me quickly. the first side was more enjoyable. track notes: 1. i’ve got my own bond/interceptors title sequence and everything. hope you like my car, i’m going to duck and dive under some lasers 2. family road trip where nobody is arguing. such a smooth and powerful guitar surfing the waves into my ears 3. life support. shouting in church trying to get the priest to cut shapes 4. fun to skiboobada. snake charming. spooky egyptian haunted pyramid. wildly chaotic vocals and sound effects 5. groovy wall of sound like a high energy theatre show 6. breaking news! the moon is the moon 7. fun guitar lick 8. yearning for that sus phone call 9. playing musical chairs with my ears, the way it suddenly stops then returns to a rampage
Imagine seeing this live, crazy stuff
This album is pretty good, but it is a little top-heavy. It's a mid 4
The B-52's take me back to my college days. Rock Lobster came out my freshman year. It was perfect for the time. Interesting band - unique style. It's a bit of a one-note-song though. The album is a bit uneven. Because of its innovation, it's not just an average release, so I feel obliged to give it four stars. But I do so more on the strength of style, innovation, and achievement in history than on the strength of the album as a whole.
Party central.. Who says music shouldn't be fun. Fred can't sing. But so what -with the two girls alongside they make a fantastic vocal combo. And who would dream of making a party playlist without the full 6 minute version of Rock Lobster on it? (or Love Shack for that matter!). Ok some of the songs share the same licks but who cares. This is an album to goof about to.
dosta zabavan novovalni album, odmah me podsjetio na devo, xtc, pa i na toking hece. sviđa mi se kako si pašu muški i ženski vokal. druga polovica mi je ipak bila nešto slabija, album kao cjelina negdje mi je između trojke i četvorke, no dat ću četvorku jer sam dobre volje i jer se ovomu namjeravam vratiti
Punk meets kitch and camp. Bought this record 30-some years ago and still put it on. My ten year old loves it. It’s just fun.
Cool. Interesting. Fun. Not sure I'd listen again. But maybe.
Primary colours, beehive haircuts and demented dance rock.
so silly and so fun. loved this
--Planet Claire...Mars Attacks! --52 Girls...fun rhythm guitar. nice harmonies from Kate and Cindy --Dance This Mess Around...Cindy Wilson takes over for this one. it's a left turn. not sure it's the correct direction but her voice is great --Rock Lobster...I've read John Lennon loved this song. it makes sense so I choose to believe it's true --Lava...hot groove. you know what? I will turn on my lava lamp. nice guitar tone --There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon)...they're not wrong. I feel like we're retreading ground now --Hero Worship...Cindy Wilson letting loose. don't think it's in tune but it whatever --6060-842...Ricky Wilson providing some cool harmonics. catchy but the recording seems compressed. could be a me issue --Downtown...I can only think of Seinfeld when I hear these lyrics
Exciting debut album from the B52s, a really fun listen. While there was no monster hit song like Love Shack on this album I enjoyed the guitars, vocals and slightly off kilter songs. Reminds me of Talking Heads crossed with the Slits. 4 stars.
Decent enough debut album. The band appear to be having fun and the production is spot on. Some of the Somes are a bit forgettable however Planet Claire and Rock Lobster are classics. 4 stars if you don't take your music too seriously
Výborná prvá strana. Druhá strana nie je taká vyrovnaná. Inak skvelý debut. Baví ma to aj dnes.
Really fun. The groves are great. The vocals are off putting I a good way. Over all a really good time
74/100. The B-52's self-titled debut is an alright record. While it’s not my personal favorite style of music, it has its charm. The mix of new wave, surf, and garage rock creates a quirky, energetic sound, though some of the layered noises throughout the album didn’t quite work for me. Overall, a fun and unique listen, even if it’s not entirely my thing.
how can you not love rock lobster? my heart's crackin like Krakatoaaaaa.
Interesting and foundational
Bonus points for the album cover, certainly. It also managed to find a sweet spot between weird and annoying. Solid stuff. This is one of the albums that makes me glad I'm going through this list. I'd never listened to a whole album by The B-52's before. They're just as kitschy as expected, but I can also appreciate the groundwork they laid for later weird alt-rock bands. 3.8
7/10 Quirky, fun, absurdist new wave. Perhaps the only thing I can ding this album for is that every song is just a bit too long. Like, do we really need 7 minutes of Rock Lobster?
The B-52's are fun! Kate Pierson can be a bit much though.
dachte kurz ghost busters aber nö war nur ein hummer hoppla
This should really be a 3 star album for me, but they get an extra star for originality. 4 stars or B-.
Not a record that is full of great lyrics or amazing compositions. It is just a fun good sounding record and with classic songs that take you to a time and place when you were 16, 17, 18 years old.
iconic. Didn't think i would like it as much as i did.
A fun listen!
Leuk album. Vooral 'Planet Claire' en 'Rock Lobster'
🏄♂️🪐🦞🌊👙
Ok
This bright, campy, quirky cheerful music. The band is obviously very talented.
Found myself tapping my foot and bobbing my head for pretty much the whole duration.
It’s so fun :)
if you're in outer space don't feel out of place there are thousands of others just like you
The B-52’s could be easily reduced to a fun party band. Because they are clearly having a lot of fun, and generating a lot of fun, and you can tell these songs were meant to be performed live in small, crazy venues. But they are something more, too. They are combining so many sounds and styles and sometimes they are really saying something. (“52 Girls” seems to be a reflection on passing beauty.) Within my musical wheelhouse, they sit alongside early Talking Heads and Was (Not Was). They also influenced Sleater-Kinney, a strong Riot Grrrl band at its peak two decades (!) after the B-52’s hit the scene. Favorite songs for now are “Planet Claire,” “52 Girls,” and their quirky cover of “Downtown.” Enjoy!
I never know quite what to do with the B-52's. Their early albums are good and their later work is also good. It is just different. But going back to the earlier work reminds you of just how quirky and innovative they were. There is a bold energy that weaves through the album that is infectious. I can't image what their live shows were like in the early days, but I can't imagine walking away without wanting more. Their diverse voices, range, and style don't work on paper, but they most certainly work in the musical world.
Really love this. Probably the cream of the bright side of post-punk.
Banger
This is such a fun album. Music that exists because people were having fun. I almost think they could kick it up a notch or two and still be alright. While you're listening, I want you to remember to watch out for that piranha and try not to take shit so seriously ⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is a record that I have been listening to for decades at this point. I like all the work of the B-52's, but its hard to argue that the initial work seen on this album and its follow up, Wild Planet, are probably the strongest albums the band made. (I originally owned a cassette that had both albums on it so that creates a strong association for me.) It's an album that is obviously operating in the post-punk atmosphere at the time, but bringing a retro party vibe to the mix, with a strong garagy sound with some strong surf elements to the guitar. However, it still also brings in avant garde elements with the vocals. The songs are also just great, although the first half of the album is a little stronger than the second. The weakest element is the cover of Downtown at the end of the album, but even that is a lot of fun. Overall, a great album.
Fantastique de devoir écouter ce petit chef d’œuvre après les Overrated Oasis 🤣😂😁
A manic fun that keeps the energy moving.
This album is weird as hell but I love it so much. Gotta love the 5 minutes of animal noises on Rock Lobster.
Delightful!
So fun. Currently living in Atlanta so proximity to the source. I'm having fun
Var det B-52's som førte an den flåsete 50-tallsnostalgien på 80-tallet? Gøy er det i hvertfall.
Har alltid sett på dette som et slags festlig tulleband. Men de er jo faktisk både litt morsom og kule. Snill firer.
What a raw, spastic and delightful record!
Rock Lobster and Planter Claire - that works for me! Couple of other great tunes in here too A stand-out record from 1979
So so so fun!
Quite enjoyed this
Loved this so so much
Infectiously silly and unapologetically weird. Probably one of the few albums where you can learn about animal sounds and the planets. Likes: Dance This Mess Around; Rock Lobster; There’s a Moon in the Sky; 6060-842
Fun rock album with a spacey atmosphere. Front-loaded but still pretty great. Feels like it comes from another dimension.
I just love it. it's a super fun time!
A punkish parade of aliens crashing a retro-futurist prom. The vocals are pure cartoon charisma, and the music's this perfect storm of surf rock meets new wave. Vintage charm without being tired or gimmicky. +1 for Rock Lobster. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Planet Claire - 52 Girls - Dance This Mess Around - Rock Lobster
fun and whimsical but I was dragging by the last song. I think if it cut a song it would be a 5. High 4.
front to back bangers…almost a 5
This album was so much fun! I am convinced that if you don't like this album that you need to inject a little more whimsy into your life. It does lose some steam a bit after "Rock Lobster" but it kept my interest and my head bobbing all the way through. Also I firmly believe that "Rock Lobster" has one of the best opening guitar riffs of all time. I don't know where it would be placed on a list (maybe top 25?) but it certainly deserves to be on a list. 4/5
Craaaaazy!
Already knew rock lobster but the rest of the album was very good, arguable better
fun, funky, fresh
261020 10:57 3.5
Nostalgia gives it 4/5. Realistically probably 3/5. It was a really unique and interesting sound at the time though.
I remember when this album came out. Completely different than the Guitar Rock I'd listened to up until then. I'm not convinced it was totally revolutionary. There were other bands around the time doing innovative things, but they were one of the first in this wave. Great album, all the tracks are fun, some are classics. Worth of a place in the 1001 albums.
Lots of fun, just not enough variety for the full marks.
Such a fun debut and amazing first album, you can tell the beginnings of the band. Despite all that, the production and mixing is great, vocals feel the strongest and vibes are unique. Love the album.
#380/1001. 3 for the music, 5 for the hairdos.
Timeless and so cool
Local music is the best music. Not the big bands playing arenas, but the quirky upstarts playing the pubs and clubs in your home town, where you take a chance and maybe find something that you love. I’m lucky enough to live in Sheffield which has a vibrant music scene (past and present), but if I didn’t live here then I think that Athens, Georgia circa 1980 would be a pretty good alternative. Aside from REM, the B-52s are probably the best known example from the post-punk new wave era, with Rock Lobster being a reliable floor filler at Student discos back in the day. The rest of the album shows that they are more than a novelty act, with lots of interesting and quirky tracks mixing punk energy with 50s retro vibes. The overall effect is a huge amount of fun and still holds up well. Seafood-tastic!
Maybe it’s because I have listened to so much music in my life, but Im really attracted to weird off the wall shit like this because it is patently different. New wave is a great genre because it pushes boundaries. B-52s, Talking Heads, Didjits… It’s certainly not for everyone but I love this shit. The album itself is great. Very high energy, genuine bangers on this album. Fav travks: Lava, 52 Girls, Planet Claire
i think i like the b-52s; two vocalists who do weird interesting shit with their performances, fun wacky subject matter on some songs. i dig the instrumentals, too--easy to move your body to. fav: rock lobster… sorry
un meteorito cae en un pequeño pueblo...Una orda de zonbies surfistas lo destrozan todo,y las naves extraterrestres sobrebuelan un cielo iluminado por sus rayos de plasma verde electrico .A lo lejos por las colinas ,bajan gormigas radiactivas gigantes .Todo es un caos, mientras en un vagón de sodas los chicos bailan al rededor de una rocola...la banda que suena es b 52.
Schneider’s vocals, the beehive hairdos, the roller-rink organ, the strange lyrics; all of it screams “weird” (in the best possible sense). And then they went on to have a multi-decade career. Apparently they were on to something. This debut album was good at the time and it still holds up.
such a fun album, i love how goofy it is. this is what a lovingly made scrapbook with magazine cutouts would sound like i think
good and fun, I like the b-52s but this album doesn't have any bangers that really stick in my brain, it's just pretty good all the way through, so it's a 4 the P!ATD sample surprised me, don't know how they did that
Such a fun whimsical album. The production, instruments, vocals. It feels like a local theater production. I'm bathing in the warm embrace of it all. 4.5
So much fun. Got me boogying and a groovying. There really is no band like the b-52s and they're very good at what they do
Recognized a few songs was very halloweenie i will be re listening for sure in October
This was kinda weird? And I liked it
ROCK LOBSTAH
solid 4 for me i liked it as a person who likes rock n stuff like that
This is the sorta weird I can get behind. The riffs are great, the weird layering of the keyboards and the interplay of the talk-singing and harmonies is all really great. So fun, so bright. Also, "There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon" is such a great, stupid song title that it made me laugh out loud.
I think the B 52’s is a fun jam rock band. I listened to it while I cleaned the apartment. They have a fun beat to dance and get stuff done to imo. I liked dance this mess around, Rock Lobster and Downtown the best
9 / 10
This is very 70s funk The second song is kinda fun. I like the rhythm section. Is this about first ladies? Googled it. It's random names and about the beehive hairdo This album is kinda chaotic lol You can tell it inspired modern artists
The B-52s are always a fun listen.
We were at the beach, everybody had matching towels. Somebody went under the dock and there they saw a rock. It wasn't a rock ... was a Rock Lobster! Genius!
Favorite Track: Lava Least Favorite Track: Downtown
Absolutely pioneers. I love the sci-fi surf sounds
Fun. Rock Lobster is great.
Звук ровный немного нервный и холодный. Вокалистка знает толк в девчачьих воплях.
No one else sounds like them. At times in my youth I found them annoying, but there are certain elements to their sound that are just so fabulous: the jangly guitars, the baselines, the women’s voices. Looking back it is wild to me that they were quoting a period only 15 years before their time. It seemed so retro! A great album with some real classics.
Even a miserable bastard like myself can't hate this. They're just too energetic and fun/funny plus great lady singers and solid music.
The B-52's B-52 is a fantastic album but it's not exactly my style. Each and every song on this album is great and the vocal performance is amazing. Rock lobster is truly the star of the show as a song that has survived in memes and for its own merits but songs like Planet Claire are also highly underrated. That being said I think the songs can be a bit non-unique or monotonous sometimes blending into each other. I would've liked a bit more experimentation. Fav song: Rock Lobster Least Fav: 6060-842
Peppy and fun, an awesome blend of great genres. Unique and fulfilling.
++: Planet Claire, Dance This Mess Around, Rock Lobster, Lava, Hero Worship +: 52 Girls, There's a Moon in the Sky (Called the Moon) +-: 6060-842, Downtown 7,9/10
Very catchy and groovy, nothing overcomplicated. A couple of duds, but I enjoyed most of the tracks, especially the first two.
Perhaps tone of he first true prototypes of indie rock as we have come to know it. The B-52's debut album came at a time in 1979 when many things were stressful in life (inflation, U.S. hostage crisis). And yet, rather than bemoan, they released something that was wonderfully wacky and offered a true escape from the issues of the day, rather than endlessly navel gazing them. I dug most of the album with the exception of the cover of "Downtown".
Surprised I’d never heard this before. Vocally distinctive and committed to their sound, for once I am agreeing that this is an album that deserves to be on this list.
The b-52's are one of a kind. They made an album that sounds incredible, is completely unique and defies catagorization. The rhythm section and song foundations are post punk and angular and occasionally sparse. I proper listen reminded me of Joy Division. On top of that the melody and lyrics are mad, california surf, up beat and silly. The contrast should not work but it undeniably does. There are a small number of bands who are in a genre of 1, do it well and are instantly recognisable to all generations and The B52's are one of them.
Blind album, finally listening to this and I TOTALLY get it. So many catchy hooks, its honestly crazy. On first listen, I will need to give this a 4, but this may be one of those albums I go back to before I even know it.
I was born the same month this album came out. I live less than 2 hours from Athen, GA. I feel cosmically connected. Fun album. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pretty good stuff, it’s always good hearing the 7 minute version of ‘Rock Lobster’ instead of the abridged one you get on the radio. I don’t blame them for making ‘Love Shack’, since their first two albums are really weird and you gotta pay tha bills! Kate Pierson is a national treasure.
A very cool band. This album just makes me smile. Good vibes all around!
This is a punk rock record. Don't let the album cover or the kitschy delivery and themes distract you from the fact that this is an album criticizing the post-war 1950s culture and putting directly in conversation with the monolithic nature of American violence. It's memorable and surprisingly satiric when it wants to be. You can dance to this record and analyze it in equal measure. Very pleasantly surprised.
🪨🦞 Favorite track: Rock Lobster
: ) 😄
This is a bit tough to score. This version of the B-52's is more punk than pop which is awesome. This album is also innovative. It's like Blondie mixed with the Talking Heads and bands like The Pixies took cues from this album which is so awesome. That said, a lot of these songs overstay their welcome. I love Rock Lobster but i doesn't need to be almost 7 minutes long. Similarly a lot of these almost 5 minute tracks would benefit from a minute being lopped off. Cool album/band for the list though.Everyone should hear this at least once.
So much fun
🌕🌕🌕🌕🌑 Not the easiest 4 of my life only because I so wanted to give this a 5. If they could've kept up the momentum of the first half this wouldn't been perfect, but as much as I love "Lava" or "There's a Moon in the Sky Called the Moon" or even that cover of "Downtown" everyone seems to hate, it wears a little thin after a bit. Still a monumental altar of weirdness and I love them so much H.I. 1: Bad | 2: Okay, No Desire to Revisit | 3: Good, Conditionally (OR Inconsistent Mix of Qualities) | 4: Great (OR Technically amazing but missing the sauce emotionally) | 5: Amazing
I really liked this album.
It's the 80's, it's ridiculous and over the top and nonsensical. It's everything I should hate. Maybe I'm in a good mood or something but this is so ridiculous that I couldn't help but groove to it. 8/10
This album was one of the greatest and most popular albums of the late 70's and early 80's new wave scene. It incorporates a lot of rock and synth-pop. It's got a really nice sound to it. The screechy vocals seem to complement the music. Sounds a bit like X-Rey Spex. Really good!
a thoroughly enjoyable record, tongue in cheek, quite varied in terms of style. will return to it because I like how it oozes fun [NEVER LISTENED BEFORE + NOT STREAMING HERE, HAD TO PIRATE]
Really interesting listening to this after Marquee Moon, Talking Heads 77 and Parallel Lines. It feels of a piece with other New Wave albums but with a kitschy Americana feel that honestly seems a bit more authentic.
A vibe and a half
Five star side A and 3 star side B = 4 stars of unique, influential indy music.
Great album. Very fun! They invented a new sound by cobbling together some old sounds. Cool! The ladies have great voices. Fred does not. But he's having a great time and it's infectious. I'm in. "Planet Claire" is a winner! Love the Peter Gunn guitars. This is pretty ad I like a lot of it, BUT it does get to be a bit much all at once. I'd rather have them sprinkled into a mix than listen to this whole album. I'd give this a 3.7, but since aren't being that granular here, I'm giving them the 4 because they brought something new that nobody else has duplicated.
Planet Claire has so much attitude and lyrical sharpness to it. I don’t like a lot of punky sounding stuff but this stuff is so good I can’t deny it.
Great album. Ground breaking. Almost a 5. Starts strong but small decline toward the end of side 2.
I would hopefully be forgiven for thinking this band’s entire output was Rock Lobster and the Rocko’s Modern Life Theme.
The beginnings of greatness.
Favorite track: Rock Lobster
I thought this was cool. I like the New Wave vibe in general, and the mix of surf rock was definitely to my taste. I didn't /love/ this but I would put it on again for sure. Rock Lobster is a legit jam IMHO - the rest was less catchy but still fun and interesting.
me encanto full ochentosos 4/5
Groovy, weird, short, and just plain fun. 8/10
Hit me as if it were dropped from a large plane. A bomber, if you will.
New wave classic. Fun and funky and silly.
Literally had me grooving around my sitting room for half an hour with newborn in tow, a secret i share with the users of this website alone
Fun maf goeie energie, motion in the ocean frfr
I love absurd New Wave, but the accents on this one confused me greatly.
jaa heerlijk love de b52s. kitschy, newwave, wat surf rock, dom haar, topcombo. there is a moon in the sky called the moon. ROCKLOBSTERRR het gitaarriffje zit ook in een panic! at the disco nummer maar ik weet even niet meer welke
Generally a three star album but Rock Lobster adds a star on its own
De otro planeta
4 stars...feels more like 3.5 stars if I could?
I love the B-52's and this is my favorite album of theirs. Most people have heard "Rock Lobster", but there are so many other good songs on this album. The songs are goofy. The lyrics are strange. Some people don't like their voices. But I think it's just fun to listen to their music. This debut album has a lot more "punk" sound to it than later albums, which is why I think I like it out of some of their other stuff. Lots of fun listening to this one!
This is #day630 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… let's dance this mess around, shall we? I've seen this record cover many times before, but I never got around to actually listening to it. As frustrating as it is, it's not available on Spotify or YouTube Music, so I had to dig it up on YouTube as a one-track upload. Anyway, late-'70s punk/new wave must've been a fun time: bands were part of the same movement, yet all doing their own thing. Think American new wave, in particular: Blondie, Devo, Talking Heads, the B-52's... Everyone had something to say, and these guys are no exception. "Rock Lobster" is, of course, a signature tune. This is a 4 out of 5. Looking forward to #day631.
Joy Division mais animado e, ao mesmo tempo, parado. não o suficiente para ser comparado com New Order. O vocalista homem se assemelha bastante com Ian Curtis em certas músicas, mesmo não sendo britânico. Bom album de estréia, bom ritmo e, apesar de soarem um tanto repetitivos e lembrarem a trilha sonora algum filme sobre espiões, são riffs e batidas bem produzidas no geral. Vejo um pouco de The Doors e de Siouxie and the Banshees. Em Dance This Mess o controle vocal da mulher é absurdo (motivo de ser exaltado aqui). Rock Lobster merece o sucesso que teve. Album extremamente interessante.
Rock Lobster
Listened Before? Y Absolute weird masterpiece. Take note, other musicians.... it IS possible to be strange and creative without taking yourself too seriously. Also: Rock fucking LOBSTER! Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Rock Lobster
It’s all they do, and they do it well.
✈️💣
I believe that this, right here, is what the kids nowadays would call, “serving c*nt”.
My favorite parts of this are when it's Kate and Cindy on the vocals, even though Fred is the face of the group. They just have a more lovely style of singing even when they get particularly aggressive and weird with it. That being said, "Rock Lobster" is my favorite song on here. I can only imagine what was going through people's heads in 1978 when that song showed up for the first time. And to think this isn't even the best band to come out of Athens...
Soft spot in my heart for this band Playlist add: "Lava"
pretty dope actually
They were just in that studio doing whatever the hell they felt like at the time… and I like it!
Único en su especie.. maravilloso
Enjoyed this album, a few songs I already knew but most I didn’t. Very different for the time from what I have been told. Solid.
What an interesting album. It feels like such a fallout to the nuclear age (pun intended). The visuals and music feel like an ironically idealistic version of the 50s and 60s. But the shouty vocals and the almost meaningless lyrics juxtapose what that whole era wanted to represent - perfection. I would definitely listen to this again. I recognised a few songs like rock lobster but it was interesting to listen to this as a whole I think.
It was a very original LP.
Man, albums being less than 40 minutes was a golden age. It's also somehow way cooler. Everything is so self-indulgent now. "I am a deeply troubled soul who also happens to have a panache for writing oh so beautiful songs, here is 85 minutes of that being showcased." Instead of that tripe, lets go absolutely nuts for 39 minutes and simultaneously be punk, unabashedly queer, and incredibly fun. In less than 40 minutes, this thing shrieked and caterwauled its way into my heart. It's so off-kilter and self-assured, and above-all, it's pretty angry. The ability to bring punk sensibilities into different artistic expressions has always intrigued me, and the B-52's do that extremely well. I have no idea how a few of their songs cracked the mainstream, pricing that even a broken clock is right twice a day. Everybody, lift up your rock!! You're all getting new cars!! Except for the guy who got a lobster. I'm sorry, you will be publicly executed. 4 HIGHLIGHTS: Persnickety is fun word.
Great
I really like this! Much more than I thought I would!
Fun, retro, probably like a 3.8
Really fun, energetic album but I have to listen to this in chunks or else it gives me a headache lol.
Surprisingly good, especially once out in the context of things like Talking Heads. Not a million miles from something like Chumbawamba, and the disconnect between their chart success and the rest of their output.
A solid opening album from these guys.
I don't know anything about the B-52's beyond their three big singles. This album is entirely on-brand with what I know of them, for better or worse. This is a fun happy album, and it's very well done, for what it is.
This was fun as hell. Super weird but never in a way that felt overbearing or forced and several absolutely banging songs too. Fav Songs: Rock Lobster, Lava, 6060-842, Hero Worship Least Fav: Downtown 8.6/10
Fun cheeky little album. Ended up listening to Cosmic Thing as well today, definitely more my style! The B-52s have such a silly approach to music, you have to laugh at how much they use 4 note chromatic lines through out the album, but it works! I see more B-52s in my future.
Classic!
This band is better than their singles. This is the first album by them that I have listened to front to back, pleasantly surprised. Good album.
Favorite: Rock Lobster Yayyyyyy. Rock lobster is life. I need this to be the soundtrack when I'm studying lobsters. 🪨🦞 Also, Lava is really good. This album is probably realistically a 3-3.5, but I love it
everybody had! matching towels!!!
i love this album more every time i listen to it. perfect blend of weirdness, nostalgia, great riffs, ... what else could you want? really having a hard time deciding between a 4 and a 5, but a 4.5 would definitely be the sweet spot.
Loved it. Not sure I could listen to this very often.
Slapper on slapper, white people BEWARE
Excellent album ! Not one bad track and an new wave album that was very popular back in 1979 when released
Great album. Technically so clean which gives it a modern drive as the songs have an old school style.
This was weird in all the right ways. I’m so grateful that I got to rediscover the masterpiece that is Rock Lobster. This is an album that will continue to grow on me over time
I find the B-52’s fun but only in small doses. After an entire album it starts to feel like a little much. It’s partly because this is so frontloaded with hits. Planet Claire, 52 Girls, Rock Lobster, and to a lesser extent Dance This Mess Around and Lava are all great. Their shtick starts to wear thin after that — and Downtown I found particularly grating. The songs are at their best when the guitar licks are pulling more of the weight. Torn between a strong 3 and a light 4, but the three strongest songs win out.
Nice upbeat music. 4/5
I loved this album. There were some great moments of unexpected absurdity and though the singing ranged from really talented to "wtf, is this guy just shouting things?", everything really worked in this alternate surf rock universe. I was also surprised by the amount of punk in this, loved the guitar work!
I am starting to feel like Daniel reconciling with his previously held belief that he didn't like psychedelic rock ... do I like New Wave? This was fun, the background singing by the ladies was excellent (I love the occasional scream), and the album never flirts with one sound for too long, which is essential since any of the sounds on the album could be annoying after more than a few minutes. 4.5 rounded ...?
This is one of those albums that remind me that you don't need to be a good singer to be the lead. Fortunately, if camp had a soundtrack, it would probably be something like this and that is a sound I can get behind.
SLAY so silly and fun a true classic
rock lobster all timer fun vibe fun sound
The B-52’s surprised me in a good way. It has a playful, quirky sound that feels more like new wave than straightforward pop, with a hint of punk attitude. Tracks like Rock Lobster stand out for their unusual structure and sense of humor, making the album both fun and slightly strange. Even though they are an American band, the detached and ironic tone gives it a somewhat British feel.
The kitschy catchy silly new wave sound is a good listen every once in a while. The surf/new wave feel of the record isn't unwelcome at all. I can easily see how this was a pretty big hit.
A lil fun and cheeky innit. Majority of their best songs on this album.
i had low expectations due to only knowing love shack but this was actually a very good album
Better than Coldplay
An album meant to have a great time to
Great pieces of art strive to answer important questions. In this case, if you’re anything like me, you’ve often asked yourself, “what if The Jetsons went to the beach and it was directed by John Waters for some reason?” And here is my second favorite Athens, GA post-punk band to answer that question. i love the b-52s so much <3 and if you don't i cannot be your friend i am sorry for any breakups that occur as a result of this sentence Some scattered observations: - we need to bring back bands where no one has ever even held an instrument until after the band has formed and they just pick who plays what based on what looks coolest - we need to bring back songs that say “do the…” and then just throw out a bunch of nouns as fake dances - I love all three vocalists in this group because none of them are especially good singers but they all sound great. I watched some recent clips of Fred Schneider and he just... still sounds like that. - “Rock Lobster” is beyond reproach and I will tolerate no slander. The “here comes a dog fish chased by a cat fish” line lives in my head rent free and I say it every time I encounter a water level in a video game. -6060-842 coulda had the success of 867-5309 if they’d just picked a catchier phone number. - I watched “Interview With The Vampire” over the weekend so this album is somehow the second gayest piece of media I’ve consumed in the last 48 hours i do think i maybe like wild planet more than this one tho and my curve is a little fucked atm so it gets a 4. Hoping for something terrible tomorrow!!!
It was fun. 3.5 rounded up because the end of track 3 goes well with the Garth Crooks GIF
Дуже давно не слухав цей гурт і альбом зокрема. Мені досі чоловічий вокал іноді ріже вухо, нічого не можу з цим поробити. Проте це дуже стильний запис, з танцювальною енергетикою. Із задоволенням переслухав зараз.
If John Waters made G rated music, this is what it would be. Also never realized how long Rock Lobster is. That should be like 2 minutes tops
An infectious blend of bubblegum pop, surf and (proper) rock n roll nicely skewed through a post-punk lens.
I tend to prefer the more melodic tendencies of the B-52's than the weirder (read more Kate Pierson than Fred Schneider), but it's a classic yin/yang and they made the leap to the mainstream while retaining their idiosyncrasies as gracefully as any act. Nonetheless, this remains an auspicious and infectious debut. (I remember buying this on vinyl and listening with Matt Johnson and being struck by how amateur the drumming is on the closing sort-of cover of "Downtown.")
Tubular
Surf rock, new wave, bizarre vocal lines...The B-52's self-titled debut has it all. The energy emulating from this record is very much its own beast. Fred Schneider's spooky, David Byrne-esque vocals contrast quite sharply with the sweet-yet-provocative vocals of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson, and that 'off-the-wall' vocal combination, alongside surf rock-inspired guitars (courtesy of Ricky Wilson) and the neatly paced drums of Keith Strickland, create a sound that is very much unlike any other. It's true that some people probably find the music of The B-52's a little grating, especially Schneider's strange voice, but there's something rather unique about this record, as if the beauty is in its weirdness. The songs are all toe-tappers and while they're relatively simple musically, the electric presence of Schneider, Pierson and Wilson working together on vocals is hard not to appreciate. All three bring their own distinctive flavour to the songs, and there's no doubt The B-52's would be a very different band without them. 'The B-52's' is quite the unique record that emerged at a time where music was getting weirder and zanier, so they couldn't have arrived on the scene at a more ideal time. Best songs: Planet Claire, Rock Lobster, Lava, Hero Worship, Downtown
This thing slaps
I've been a fan of Rock Lobster since DDR in 2005. But the rest of the album is really good too.
Apparently marrying punk music and surf rock creates new wave? Listening and learning. A lot of fun. Catchy and practiced but not too serious. I could see it rubbing me the wrong way if I was in a certain mood, but as it was I got a kick out of it. And “Rock Lobster” is a crazy banger.
Very fun listen. There is something raw it, and it's a delight.
Лень искать, где можно переслушать, по памяти вроде прикольно было, еще и обложка крутая, пусть будет 4
Лучщая песня: Rock Lobster Худшая: Downtown Побольше бы роклобстеров
самое сложное в прослушивании было - найти этот альбом, а так люблю rock lobster давно, другие композиции тоже вызвали только положительные эмоции, твердая 4ка
Начались сложности челленджа: даже всерьез раздумывала купить винил, так как на стримингах альбом отсутствует. По первым трекам, найденным на ютубе, сначала даже пожалела, что не взяла - звучание как у моего любимого музла. Женский вокал и музыка звучали бы актуально и на нынешних фестивалях. Но для 30 минут альбом тянулся слишком долго, слишком однообразное звучание , которое поначалу цепляет
Until fairly recently I thought the B-52's were a bit of a novelty pop act based largely on Loveshack. It was only when I got into Squid and read positive comparisons I started to see otherwise. This is pretty great stuff. Spikey, catchy, varied new wave / art pop. It's close to a 5 (in part due to my modest expectations), but I started to find it ever so slightly annoying by the last couple of tracks.
Even if you’re like me and expected Love Shack (I didn’t realize that came out 10 years later!) this is a blast. Awesome quirky rock.
I really don't know how to rate this other than to say it was not at all what I expected and also was exactly what I expected. It's certainly not listen-in-the-background-while-working music, so that's biased my feelings about it. But I also wouldn't play it on a run or while doing laundry or while trying to unwind. So that basically leaves road trip music, and this excels in that.
Fab, fun album full of vibes, playfulness and energy. Glad to revisit.
Had this album for years. Have not listened to it for years. Holds up pretty well.
rock lobster!!!!
Were they from the beach, or outer space? Maybe both??? Whatever, this is a timeless collection of punky New Wave anthems, centred on the amazing nearly 7 minutes of madness that make up Rock Lobster. Honourable mentions to Planet Claire, Lava, and a rambling take on ‘Downtown’. All up, fantastic fun and highly recommended.
So fun and groovy. Surprising to know this came out in '79. It has such an experimental, silly, robust and entertaining vibe. This is a group that was really just about pushing the limits with creativity, allowing themselves to be playful and joyful with these uplifting harmonies and lyrics. This is a really enjoyable listen, especially when I need to be reminded to strive to be happy in life.
I knew Rock Lobster going in. The rest of the album was just as fun.
A properly done fun album. Great distinctive sound
Aww, brings back memories. I had Cosmic Thing back in the day with their best knows songs and loved it. They are fun and quirky. This is more new wave than I was expecting but that’s no bad thing . Makes me smile and want to dance round the room
It brings a smile to my face.
Oh shit this is fire and I need more of this, please.
Comes in hot. Fades out a bit at the end.
This is really a well done album. I don't have anything else clever to say because I have a migraine from hell.
I love them. Started listening when I was 11, when this came out, I'll never forget it bc I was at Barbara O'keefe's house and her big sister was laistening to this album w some friends. I picked up the sleeve and said 'who are the B 5 twos? They all laughed and I Was embarrassed : ) I LOVE old B52s and this album CRANKS - starting from the f-ing AMAZING Planet Claire, what a crescendo! The last few songs are so-so, but this album is allmost perfedt
Super fun quirky creative album. A whole lot of unbridled spontaneous squeals, screams, and howls. Who doesn’t want to be at this party!
This is theatre camp. A bunch of unrestricted youths joining forces to create something that both amuses them and pokes holes in all of the established rules they want to rebel against. It's fun deep to the core. It’s youth.
The first great album of the 90s was actually released in 1979. While grunge gets the headlines the real story of the 90s is "anything goes". Punk, pop, 70s funk, twee, dance, hip hop, surf, noise, disco, country (in both its alterna and vintage forms), ska and metal all have their day. And if you want to mash up a few of those - go for it - especially if you throw in a bit of earnest detachment - just enough to keep em guessing. The b-52s touch most of these genres and add in a little yolo ono to boot. Still sounds fresh 45 years later. The songs on the back have could be stronger but overall it's a great listen.