new introductory bit here.
This is a reviews page based on my own collection, which just keeps growing despite itself. If it isn't listed here, it's because I don't own it yet, or I haven't gotten around to it yet.
Also, bother your local "new rock" radio station and make sure they are playing "new rock" and not "Rock the Casbah," which is not new.
note: entries in red text indicate my pick for the artist's best available album. A gold numeral indicates the POPocalypse winner of the year's best album; second- and third-place winners are in blue. Green lettering indicates an obviously exploitative record company compilation without apparent artist input.
After three really good dance pop efforts in the early-mid 80s, Bananarama became "singer of the month" for '80s UK hitmakers Stock-Aitken-Watermen. There are some good singles on their fourth album like their last US hit "I Heard a Rumour" and "Love in the First Degree," but the songwriting isn't even up to their meager potential and the inclusion of lackluster "12" mixes" in place of "proper" versions of two songs just seems lazy. Their fifth LP, now under the production aegis of Youth, is a harder-edged dance affair which features one of their best singles ever, "Tripping on Your Love." It also features their amazing cover of the Doobie Brothers' "Long Traing Running." It was not promoted at all in the US -- no singles were drawn in this country, if you can believe the stupidity of that! -- and despite club play and some UK charting, this would be their last to be released for a US major label.
As their chart action waned, Sarah and Keren signed to indie Curb Records in the US for their seventh LP in 1995, which I understand still hasn't appeared in England. (Fair, I guess, since the sixth wasn't issued in America.) This continues the Pop Life vein of strong, contemporary dance music with little resemblance to the pop ditties of 12 years before. Incredibly listenable. (Dissenting opinion: Deborah said it sounds "juvenile," but then again, she likes Dead or Alive.)
BANANARAMA: The Greatest Hits Collection (1988, UK #3, US #151, ****)
Reasonable packaging and presentation of 15 UK hits (they only had three US top 40s, but all of those were top 10), in what looks like, at first glance, random order. Actually, it just starts with all their Stock-Aitken-Waterman singles before hitting seven highlights from their first three LPs and then their charity cover of "Help!" But where's "The Wild Life"?