Cosmic Thing [Import]

 

 

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If "The B-52's" and "Wild Planet" were the keg parties, then "Cosmic Thing" is the 10-year college reunion: Great to see old friends again, but everyone's a grown-up now and conducts themselves with a better sense of decorum.

That's not to say "Cosmic Thing" isn't a good time, it's just not as weird, wild and wonderful as the music The B's were making at the start of the decade.

Wisely, the band chose the title track to kick off the album. A great party-sounding track, "Cosmic Thing" is an infectious upbeat groove where the drummer sounds like he's doing his thing using three sets of drumsticks. I think I detected a zither on this song as well. For sheer exuberance, this one surpasses even "Love Shack".

"Dry County" is a little more laid-back and reminds me a little of Scissor Sisters. The harmonies of Kate and Cindy really shine on this one as they back up Fred, who seems mellow here, fitting the song's lyrics.

There is nothing extraordinary musically about "Deadbeat Club", but the vocals make this one as good as it is. As the song opens, Cindy sounds like she's singing with a great big smile on her face. Kate soon joins her and their voices together can lift anyone's spirits.

The biggest hit the B's ever had was "Love Shack" (#3 on Billboard). Anyone who hasn't heard this song must have been living in a cave for the past 20 years. As far as party tunes go, "Shack" is to Gen X what "Louie, Louie" was to Baby Boomers. The song was featured in a memorable "Queer as Folk" sequence in 2002, and contains Cindy Wilson's famous line "Tin roof...RUSTED". The version that appears here is slightly longer than the radio edit. Though not my favorite song of theirs by a long shot, I can understand it's universal appeal.

"June Bug" sounds like it was recorded in a swamp, with crickets, birds and other insect noises chirping over the primal beat. Like the title track, this is another great rambunctious number.

"Roam" was the second single (also reaching #3 on Billboard), and is one of the rare hits NOT written by the group members. Time has been kind to "Roam" and I appreciate it more now than I did in 1990. As soon as that guitar slashes through the girls' celestial vocal intro, "Roam" becomes one of the best cruising songs ever. This is also slightly longer than the radio version.

"Bushfire" starts slowly, like a flame consuming a piece of newspaper, then breaks into an uptempo rocker, with Kate noticeably singing in a lower register.

Musically, "Channel Z" is probably the closest to the wackier B's of 1980. Interestingly, the music and outlandish vocals belie the environmental message of the lyrics.

The weakest track in my opinion is "Topaz". There's really nothing bad about it, it just doesn't have any discernable qualities.

The closing number is an unusual instrumental called "Follow Your Bliss". It's a pleasant marriage of guitar, piano and synths with occasional background vocals by Kate and Cindy.

In conclusion, those expecting something as offbeat as their first two releases shouldn't get their hopes up, but they may find "Cosmic Thing" enjoyable in its' own right upon repeated listening.

This album features the B-52's biggest hit ever,LOVE SHACK. The video is quite awesome also. The song was even heard in the 1991 Paramount film FRANKIE & JOHNNY. I even heard another hit,ROAM in one or two television commercials. The title track is cool so is DEADBEAT CLUB. Another hit is CHANNEL Z. The instrumental FOLLOW YOUR BLISS was probably inspired by Todd Rundgren's HELLO IT'S ME(they both sound almost identical). After this album,band member Kate Pierson would join R.E.M. recording ME IN HONEY on R.E.M.'s 1991 multi-platinum OUT OF TIME.

not bad for a belated "comeback". the bees hadn't yet sold their souls to the flintstones, so all was not yet lost. "roam" is still a pop masterpiece of the 80s, and maybe someday people will realize that and quit playing that infernal "loveshack" at weddings.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Love Shack Overplayed But Album Quality Can't be Overstated
"Love Shack" is the one song from this album that you probably can name without any hesitation. Read more

Published on Jun 28 2004 by Reviewer

4.0 out of 5 stars Insanely great
The B-52s are great, and this cd is definately their strongest. The songs are crazy, with the classic wild sounding tone that shows up again and again in songs such as cosmic... Read more

Published on Jun 12 2004 by Marie-Claire Bousquette

5.0 out of 5 stars Still fresh after 15 years
This album was the B-52's final masterpiece, considering thier follow-up GOOD STUFF wasn't exactly, well, good stuff. Read more

Published on May 3 2004 by passenger

5.0 out of 5 stars Tentpole album of the late 1980's - Unreal! Awesome!
It is doubtful that any music reviewer with any merit could discount the importance that the B-52's had on the late 1980's music landscape. Read more

Published on Mar 12 2004 by Get What We Give

5.0 out of 5 stars The "Tacky Little Dance Band" Hits The Big Time
The B-52's began life as a self-described "tacky little dance band" out of 1970s Athens, Georgia--and they sounded like musical refugees from a Twilight Zone episode that Rod... Read more

Published on Feb 17 2004 by Gary F. Taylor

5.0 out of 5 stars "Shake your honey buns!"
Following the tragic loss of guitarist/composer/lyricist Ricky Wilson in October, 1985 shortly before the release of the B-52's fifth album "Bouncing Off the... Read more

Published on Dec 10 2003 by M. Hart

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Recording
This album is a great collection of upbeat songs that continues in the great B-52's tradition and defies the classification of The B-52's as a New Wave band. Read more

Published on Oct 15 2003 by D. Hansen

3.0 out of 5 stars Hop on the cosmic wagontrain
This was the B-52's best selling album. "Love Shack" and "Roam" are great songs. Read more

Published on July 2 2003 by Johnny Heering

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite albums
This is the one that put the B-52s over the top. It is great social music. And yes, I believe they buried with a lot of others when Nirvana came along. Read more

Published on Mar 15 2003 by Pat McCurry

5.0 out of 5 stars Their finest work
I've been listening to the B-52's since their first album came out, and this, by far, is my favorite. Read more

Published on Feb 11 2003 by Michael Booker

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