Yes, I'm still bobbing around here somewhere, I'm just insanely busy with one thing and another. Fee...
Yes, I'm still bobbing around here somewhere, I'm just insanely busy with one thing and another. Feel free to visit my homepage (I'll update it soon - promise!)
Member since:23.07.2000
Reviews:215
Members who trust:102
I've spent the last few years travelling backward through my musical history, looking at the artists that I used to like, and ones that passed me by - to see how they stand up today. I found some to laugh at (purely in a "I liked THAT?!" type way), and some absolute gems. Spandau Ballet is one of these jewels in the crown of music, and I've been meaning to get myself a 'best of' for a while now. Thanks to Christmas - I now have one.
Gold is a 'best of' released just this year. There have been others which have since been deleted, but this one has all the best tracks that any fan or musical traveller like myself would be looking for. Spandau Ballet have many classic tracks - one of the more memorable bands of the early to mid-eighties. They were formed in a transition period between the soul and disco of the 70s, and the musical mish-mash that was the eighties. They stand out as one of the real bands to capture the imagination, with some innovative lyrics and a musical style all of their own - which is more than can be said for a lot of artists of the time.
So, what of the album? It has all the tracks you'd expect of it, and some you might not expect. Of the most well known tracks, we have the immortal 'Gold', the rather more serene 'True', the cool 'Only When You Leave', the funky 'Chant No.1(I Don't Need This Pressure On), 'To Cut A Long Story Short' and the rather sentimental ballad 'Through The Barricades'. The other tracks on the album are also great, but mostly have trouble living up to the standard set by the well known tracks! However, they're still great, favourites of mine being 'Musclebound', 'Round And Round', 'I'll Fly For You' and 'Instinction'. I also love the way they parody themselves at one point - in 'Highly Strung' there is the line 'Just like the song the pressure's on again', a subtle reference to Chant No. 1 maybe?
The musical quality is excellent, I particularly love the sax solos we get every now and again - they give the music a certain something else. However, the rhythm and bass guitar are played with style, you can expect some impressive riffs and a few beautiful solos.
Overall, this 'best of' album is everything it should be. It has a great mixture of tracks, and the Kemp brothers keep belting out one great song after another. If you're a fan with no albums, then I'd certainly recommend you get this one - it's worth the money, and you'll enjoy it over and over again.
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Another one of my all time favourite albums Ian. One of my favourite tracks from this album is Chant No1, it was the one song that I used to play over and over, in my younger days :-) and I still love to listen to it now. Great opinion Ian - Thanks Donna.
KarenUK 13.01.2001 19:49
They have done lots of great songs, I'd like to get this CD :-)
Connoisseur_Haggler 28.12.2000 20:04
woah! you have taken me back in time..I still have the pop videos!! True and dont need this pressure definitely strike a chord with me!! good opinion!!
In the days when boy bands played their own instruments, Spandau Ballet--a bunch of pretty ... more
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In the days when boy bands played their own instruments, Spandau Ballet--a bunch of pretty ... more
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Gold True Only When You Leave Lifeline Communication Instinction (Edit) Chant No 1 (I ... more
Don't Need This Pressure On) To Cut A Long Story Short The Freeze Musclebound Paint Me Down She Loved Like Diamond Round And Round Highly Strung Fight For Ourselves I...
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In the days when boy bands played their own instruments, Spandau Ballet--a bunch of pretty ... more
boys from north London with kilts, shoulder pads, bad 1980s hair, eyeliner and unmistakable good looks--caused quite a stir and soon had both major record labels...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Dec 28th, 2000
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