Songs for Future Generations

The release of a new B-52's LP, 'Funplex', has sent me back to my old CDs to listen to the wierdos in beehives and loud clothes and what a lovely sound they make and what wondrous images they conjour up. We need more bands like The B-52's.

I bought 'The B-52's' when it first came out in that loud yellow cover. 'Rock Lobster' was so different to everything else around at the time, when music went all 'new wave-y' and bands were trying to out-wierd each other and electronica started to become more mainstream. A rather strange time for pop music. And along flew The B-52's dropping sonic bombs in their wake. I was quite partial to their bon tempi organ sounding 'Downtown' which sounded just right along side all the other adventures they took us on on that first album, from 'Planet Claire' to the moon and back again via a wrong phone number.

They've kept the core stable over the years in all their different guises, with Fred shouting out his odd phrases and Kate and Cindy taking turns with vocals and some delicious harmonies. Kitsch imagery and mall-themed songs, outer space sci-fi trips and, above all, danceable tunes. Not all their albums have been a success - and I don't have them all - but at least they experimented. I missed a couple of albums and I only really like about half the tracks on 'Whammy!'. But then they went global...

It was nice when 'Cosmic Thing' churned out such great singles, the ubiquitous 'Love Shack' and the marvellous 'Roam'. 'Good Stuff' continued the journey (don't you just love Fred's complete un-pc-ness singling about hot pants?). 'Good Stuff' has been ably followed up (finally) by 'Funplex' the latest album and it's as if no time at all lapsed between the albums. A bit more electric but the same swooping harmonies and wierd lyrics, a natural progression. It's going to be great fun seeing them do these news songs live in a few months time - that's going to be a sweaty night!

Buy 'Funplex' - you know you want to. Go on, dance this mess around...