Artist Reviews #1: The B-52s

Hello!!! Since I've got a ton of free time for 2 weeks, I've decided to finally go through my list of bands, artists and albums I've wanted to check out. Every day (hopefully) I'll spin my wheel of all the options and listen to their first 3 albums. If I like em, I'll listen to the rest (which also means it might take an extra day (or more) to finish). If I'm not so much of a fan, I'll leave it at that and then I'll write up a review :3 Today, it's the B-52s!! I'll talk about the albums I listened to and give some stand out songs and then an overall rating of the artist 😋 

If there are any artists, bands or albums YOU want to see reviewed, I am always taking suggestions! Keep in mind the current list has over 100 entries, so of course no certainty I'll get to a suggestion fast, especially once I am busy again. Now, onto the review!!!

The B-52s (1979)

Starting off with their debut album! Of course 'Rock Lobster' is the most well known from this album (and for good reason, its so catchy) and 'Planet Claire' is another great single, but how does the rest of the album stack up? Personally, I really enjoyed it! Each song has it's own uniqueness about it while still being distinctly B-52s. 'Lava' and '52 Girls' are standouts of the album for me :3 At the time of it's release, it was subject to multiple positive reviews from critics and hailed as one of the best albums of the year. Up till today, it is still remembered as an iconic album and an important part of pop music.

Wild Planet (1980)

Their 2nd album once again produced a really enjoyable listen! 'Give Me Back My Man' has such an interesting vibe, this one easily got stuck in my head and the vocals are a really good strength of this song. 'Party Out of Bounds' is a really good album opener and I knew I was going to like the album from the moment I heard it. For my standouts, 'Devil in My Car' has to be mentioned!! Actually such a wonderful track and makes me jam :3 'Quiche Lorraine' is mellower than other songs on this record, one of its strengths in my opinion. I really liked how they did the instrumental and it's another one that I could get stuck in my head. Overall, even though it is not as critically acclaimed as its predecessor, this album holds up as a memorable record and is one I would return to!

Mesopotamia (1982)

This EP was originally meant to be their third album but it never came to fruition, only 6 of 10 songs making the cut. That doesn't make it any less worthwhile of a listen. I thoroughly enjoyed the title song, 'Mesopotamia', it is one of those songs that once I start I just have to finish listening to. The backing vocals with the 'ho-ha's are such ear candy to me. I also really enjoyed 'Deep Sleep'. It is another low-key song that strays from the expected sound of rest of their discography up till now (as most of the EP does), but it has a vibe I really enjoy. It gives me like. Something you'd hear in an old movie in a dark alley way or maybe a jungle. I like it!!! The way this album differs from their previous albums is done in a really good way here, it's just a shame the whole album wasn't released!

Whammy! (1983)

In this album, you can see where they were getting to from Mesopotamia. When I started listening, I wasn't sure if I would like it as much but after a few songs I had my mind changed! 'Song For a Future Generation' is what caught my ear at first, each member having their own little part is a really cool idea I think they executed well! The song itself is also a bop. I also really like 'Big Bird', which is one of the Mesopotamia tracks that wasn't released on that EP! It is more similar to the bands earlier music than the rest of the album but it still keeps that vibe of the rest of the album. Not much else to say on this, I thought it was a good album, maybe not my favorite but with some great tracks. Before I finish, I'd like to give some quick appreciation of the album art. The pop of color on the dresses is so nice I love it!! Their use of colors in all their covers is so visually appealing. :3

Bouncing Off The Satellites (1986)

This album started off well, I was jamming to 'Housework' in my kitchen, and the backing vocals worked really nicely for 'Drive Thru Your Mind', also the lyrics are really fun to listen to. After that, though, I wasn't feeling it as much. 'Wig' and 'Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland' are probably the only other two songs I would listen to again. I don't dislike this album but I'm not as big of a fan of this direction for the music as I was in the previous two. The use of synths and the instruments isn't too bad and I do like a lot of it, but in the songs themselves it doesn't come out as well. Overall, not a bad album but no where near their best.

Cosmic Thing (1989)

Possibly the bands most iconic album, this record produced their biggest song, 'Love Shack'. This was also their first album recorded after the death of their guitarist, Ricky Wilson. It was a wonder if they would continue the band after his death, but after a 2 year hiatus returned with this album. The second I heard 'Cosmic Thing', the opening track, I knew I would love the rest of this album. The record feels like the combination of their older sound with influences from the previous two albums. The development in their style of music worked out really well for this! 'Channel Z' and 'Dry County' are two standouts that I enjoyed a lot and would consider favorites off the album, alongside the previous songs I mentioned. I really enjoy this album and will definitely be returning to it in the future!

Good Stuff (1992)

Good Stuff is the bands first, and only, album that does not feature the founding vocalist Cindy Wilson as she went on a temporary hiatus. Kate Pierson does not disappoint with her vocals, though, and I actually thought the vocal performance was some of the best in their discography. Especially in the first two songs, 'Tell It Like It T-I-IS' and 'Hot Pants Explosion', I adored the singing from Pierson! I wasn't a massive fan of some of the last few songs, they felt a bit meh in general but 'Bad Influence' and 'Is That You Mo-Dean?' really helped my overall rating of the album. The lyrics for the latter are also great, anything UFO related is such a vibe. Not much else to say, honestly. I liked the record but it doesn't stand out to me with the rest of their discography.

Funplex (2008)

The last album in their collection came in 2008. This album is probably the most different to any of their others. There was a larger rock influence throughout the album than previous ones. Some songs I could listen to and not realize it was the B-52s, which made it an interesting listen. I thought 'Hot Corner' was a really good track and felt very its time in terms of its sound. Something I noted about this album was that the freak level was very high which is not unusual for this band, but I really noticed it this time around. With some lyrics like in 'Love in the Year 3000' it was difficult not to notice.. Similar to Good Stuff, I thought the album was pretty good and I really enjoyed a few songs but it wasn't particularly of note.

Concluding Thoughts

Coming into this, I knew I would have at least an overall good opinion on this band by the end from what I'd previously heard. I was pleasantly surprised by how well they held up, even through different styles of music and decades. My favorite albums were Cosmic Thing and Mesopotamia. These albums both represent turning points in their career, whether through personal experiences or the changing of the music being made. From this they created some extremely memorable and satisfying records. I'll definitely revisit many of these albums and songs, they have such a unique style that I adore. 

Song: Lava - The B-52s