The B-52's

The B-52's- The B-52's

This has to be one of my all time favourite albums, so I only thought it right to spend this grey and boring Sunday afternoon reviewing it.
The early B-52's were one of the most adventerous bands of their era combining a bunch of contradicting genres creating an eccentric arty punk sound. “Planet Claire” is probably one of the greatest album openers instantly making you want to move your feet to the extra-terrestrial keyboards and the almost robotic singing of Fred Schneider. During the more swinging “52 Girls” we get the same cleanly-produced but punchy guitars, slightly false harmonies by the 2 women, weird synth-accents, and a combination of girl group cheesiness and punk energy.The album begins to flow into its own at this point managing to make the most reluctant person at at a party dance with "Dance This Mess Around" and the real gem of the album "Rock Lobster". The second half of the album, on the other hand, is a bit less impressive, still amazingably listenable and danceable at the same time however. The ecstatic shrieks and excitable guitars of "Hero Worship" and "6060-842" push the album along with with jerky musicianship and a bouncy rhythm. The last song on the album is a cover of Petula Clark's classic "Downtown" which the B-52's don't fail to dissapoint by totally ripping the song to shreds with more cheesey keyboards, out of tune backing vocals and false harmonies.
This is definitely a party record, one that will crack you up guaranteed, and that will have you jerk and bounce along for almost 40 minutes. It proves they were truly a one-of-a-kind bunch that effortlessly dabbled in musical history and came up with a damn fine debut, which everyone, who ever plans on having a party, should have.
8.5/10

By Ben

Two Charlotte Poems

The little old lady sat at her window,
Looking out yonder and at what was below.
Her lovely house sat perched up in the mountain,
Up at the top with the waterfall and fountain.
She looks across the snowy mountaintops,
No will in the world to be in the buzzing shops.
It was quiet up there no wind or sound,
Not another person was ever to be found.
Yet she lived content and full of glee,
Not willing to see either you or me.
Because she was not lonely at all,
She had herself as company and noone to call.
For she knew what it was like to be surrounded,
A similar feeling up here she had founded.
Knowing that down there it made no difference,
Whether you were surrounded by people or a wooden fence.
It was a lonely place to live down below,
So she decided a long time ago that solitude was where she’d go.


As she treads in to this empty home,
To afraid to find someone or use the phone.
Shes all alone with noone around,
The love of her life is not to be found.
She hesitates as she walks into every room,
A horrid feeling of overwhelming doom.
Where has he gone? Where will he go?
She is terrified she will never know.
Wishing that moring shed uttered a word,
Though that sound he would not have heard.
A quarrel occurred and those words not spoken,
Now there is not love or any token.
Wishing beyond the stars that he is well,
Though for all she knew he could be in hell.
Whether he is alive or to be found,
The lovers together were bound.
Both ill-fated and lost to the world,
That night she was found dead and curled.
As she lay silently in peace and slumber,
Outside all to be seen and heard, lightening and thunder.