Adventures in Modern Recording

Buggles | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl
• Label: CBS
• ASIN: B001RPUKES
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #656,134 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

This Is A Used Record in VG plus Condition or Better! More Info Album 9 tracks

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On CD: Adventures with the Buggles 2nd album, July 23, 2001

By 

Rae Schwarz "post-modern Renaissance woman" (Seattle, WA United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Adventures in Modern Recording (Audio CD)

I actually own a genuine record album version of this second foray by the same gentlemen behind "Video Killed the Radio Star." This series of sessions was made in 1981, just after Trevor Horn and Geoff Downes participated with YES on their 1980 album "Drama." More exploratory than "Age of Plastic," their debut album, this group of songs is mostly driven by Trevor Horn, but musical elements clearly foreshadow Downes' coming work with ASIA and Horn's future as one of Europe's premier music producers (Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Seal). Bonus tracks include two singles, "Fade Away" and "Blue Nylon" plus a 12" remix of "I Am A Camera", known as "Into the Lens" on the YES album "Drama." My only regret is that I can't read Japanese kanji, as there appears to be a lengthy interview and history inside the CD booklet.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Buggles Fans will want this, March 4, 2010

By 

SRFireside "ZOOM!" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Adventures in Modern Recording (Audio CD)

Oh Trevor Horn. What craziness have you come up with on this record. I'll be the first to admit there is a reason why the Buggles never gotten past Video Killed the Radio Star. That being said I am happy to have this album. It takes concepts from Trevor's previous album and moves into a different level. Does that level work? Well... no better than his first album, but for the Buggles fan it's a great addition.

The biggest drawback on Buggles music is that while the song concepts are fantastic when a song gets to the chorus the limitations start to really fall away. It's like Trevor Horn couldn't find that catchy or melodic hook to take the song to that next level. That was evident on the Plastic Age album and it's evident here.

For example I AM A CAMERA is my favorite song on this album. It has an awesome CR 78 drum machine playing some tight rhythms and the verse is as beautiful as any song you can imagine. But then the chorus comes in and it just sounds like Trever ran out of creative juices and just coasted through. In spite of that I still say I AM A CAMERA is an awesome song, but it's just an example of what to expect.

Another cool song of note is VERMILIAN SANDS. It's another song with some sweet flowing chords putting you in a nice laid back mood. The chorus isn't so bad, but still limiting. Funny thing about the song is that it breaks into a fast coctail jazz riff near the end and kind of goes on for a while (using drum machines and synths throughout). Feels out of place, but the song is still good.

The previous release of this CD was back in the late 80's and it had become extremely rare. Now people get another chance at grabbing this album along with some additional upsides for one the CD is remastered so there's better fidelity. Also you get bonus tracks. Lots of them. The original album had nine songs on it. This remastered CD has 19. Not bad, huh?

I guess what I'm saying is the music isn't perfect, but the creativity is at a level you just don't find anymore. That makes up for a lot. Plus now you have a CD packed with much more Buggles goodness than previously released. You won't find any VIDEO KILLED THE RADIO STAR type songs in here. However if you listened to The Age of Plastic and really liked what you hear there is a very good chance you will feel the same way here.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Scientific, so scientific..., November 23, 2003

By 

Mithras (Cleveland, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Adventures in Modern Recording (Audio CD)

Out with the old and in with the new, the rise of technology - the underlying theme of the Buggles. It's cleary been the case since the initial release of Adventures (just listen to restored versions of the works of Simon and Garfunkel, Bill Joel, Blue Oyster Cult, etc - how's that for technology?). Foreshadowing? Too easy. Insightful? Perhaps. Interesting? I'd say so.

The album packs an interesting punch. The different version of "I am a camera" included here (also appearing as "Into the Lens" from Yes's Drama, same lead vocal) is IMHO by FAR the better version. It's slightly understated and often down like a real sense of loss flows through it, but it lashes out, too. It's certainly one of the standout tracks.

Lenny ("scientific, so scientific... but you were walking on glass"), Inner City ("run... one last train for the inner city run..."), and Adventures in Modern Recording ("so carefully directed for modern mass appeal") are excellent tunes that easily could have appeared on Plastic Age, the Buggles awesome debut showcase. The other tunes are just okay.

I purchased the Japanese issue with the 3 extra bonus tracks (includes a saucier version of "I am a camera," a spicy "Blue Nylon," and a bbq "Fade Away." perhaps these are wholly accurate descriptions, or perhaps I am hungry for chicken wings. more than likely it's both). This CD is NOT complete without these three tracks. They really add to the dynamics of the compilation. The Japanese issues also includes all of the lyrics in Japanese and English. Theres's other material within the booklet, and if could read Japanese, I'd comment on it.