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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
When Earth and Wireless collide, March 13, 2004
...Or The Americanization of Thomas Dolby.Thomas Dolby took a long sabbatical between his second and third albums. He produced artists as wide ranging as George Clinton, Joni Mitchell and Prefab Sprout, scored a couple of movies (including the legendary disaster, "Howard The Duck") and moved to Los Angeles, where he recorded "Aliens Ate My Buick." The Hollywood influence not only seeps into his lyrics (sample from "Pulp Culture": "There's not a lot of people there, but an awful lot of cars"), but into the music as well. The album kicked off with a great hard-swing ride up and down the 101 (Los Angeles drivers will catch that reference) on "The Keys to Your Ferrari" and then strikes a very "Wireless" tone on "Airhead." But after that, things get confusing. "Hot Sauce" was a leftover from the George Clinton sessions, and, sad to say, while Thomas Dolby may be talented enough to produce and play with Clinton, he ain't very funky. Same goes for the sterile sounding "The Ability To Swing." While a great song in its own right (Patti Austin wisely recorded it better for 1994's "That Secret Place"), Dolby is out of his depth as a vocalist here on his own song. And the less said about the dopey "May The Cube be With You," the better. Still, I doubt I'll ever give this CD up. "Budapest By Blimp" is the kind of greatness that would have fit perfectly on "The Flat Earth," and is just what you would be hoping for from a Dolby disc. Same for "Airhead" and "Ferrari" (especially that Robin Leach intro!!). It's just that, when it comes to an artist whose debut CD would fit onto my desert island disc list short list, "Aliens Ate My Buick" seems just a little too pre-chewed.
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A CLASSIC GEM OF AN ALBUM, March 7, 2004
By many, Thomas Dolby is considered a one hit wonder with the classic song, "She Blinded Me With Science", however, music gurus who know the real genius of this artist know better. "Aliens Ate My Buick" examplifies the often zany, but talented musical genius and wit of Thomas Dolby. All 8 tracks here are hook filled fantastic cuts starting with the dance moving, funny, driving "The Key To Her Ferrari" followed by the equally hilarious "Airhead". The mood moves to George Clinton-like funk with "Hot Sauce" as the funk, pop and fun continues on. "The Ability to Swing" is one energetic pop song and one of Dolby's best. Even better to even a classic in my opinion is the the unbelieveable "Budapest By Blimp", 8:38 of pure listening indulgence that floats along so smoothly. Due yourself a favor and get this CD.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dolby's best effort, bar none, July 14, 1998
This album is what Dolby fans live for, pure energy! Thomas Dolby moves this album through a series of changes that takes each song and pushes the energy level up a notch, in succession, the album builds and builds, bringing a climax that starts at the beginning and holds you there with a majority of the album. KEYS TO FERRARI is fun as he pulls you into the driver's seat and tells you what he REALLY thinks. HOT SAUCE is fun, bringing the level up yet again, its zesty and has a funk to it that will move even those who dare not dance in public. Dolby does himself justice with this album, as it looks as though he took all that musicality that flows through his body and put it into something that is difficult to replicate. For anyone who has or has not heard Dolby, THIS IS THE ALBUM TO BUY. If it hooks you, then get the others, but this is where to start.
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