Customer Reviews

Ampology

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Even if you're not familiar with the Gurus you need to get this superbly assembled collection of the best songs from one of the very best bands to hail from Australia. The songs range from mellow pop songs to all-out garage rockers. The song selection is near-perfect, with maybe a couple of songs that should have made it but didn't, most of which are on the incredible debut, "Stoneage Romeos", and I prefer the studio version of "In The Wild" but that's a minor quibble. The remastering is quite good, if a bit too loud. Even if you have all of the Gurus' CD's you still need to get this compilation if only for that reason, and the very low price (for a 2-CD import) is another incentive to buy it.

Trying to find Hoodoo Guru material a few years ago was difficult in Canada as many of their titles had been deleted by the distributor. It seems that they are now only available as imports. I remember hearing of and seeing the Gurus for the first time at an outdoor, university Frosh Week concert during my first year in 1986. When I was looking for some new CD's to buy a couple of years ago, I decided to see if I could find a good Hoodoo Gurus compilation as all my old vinyl was a little worse for wear, low and behold, I find Ampology. It cost me a few bucks, but well worth it. Infectious power-pop, ballads and a few other gems that make this a must have for any Gurus fan. This is one of those albums that if I were stranded on a desert island with only 10 albums to have, this would be one of them. Every time I listen to the Hoodoo Gurus, it takes me back to some of the best times of my life.....young, carefree, idealistic, at university with all sorts of women to chase, great friends and not a worry in the world. 17 years later with the sometimes drudgery of career, marriage, mortgage payments,etc. the Gurus provide an instantaneous escape back to a time I then wished would never end. Sometimes the greatest music comes from out of nowhere when you least expect and it becomes instantaneously timeless. Definitely one of the great, under-appreciated acts to ever come out of Australia.

All too often these reviews are (inevitably) somewhat biased, as, for the most part, they're written by die-hard fans or sworn enemies of an act. I'm writing because I'm right in the middle: Prior to buying "Ampology," I'd heard only one Gurus track, the early single "I Want You Back." I have long been a fan of power-pop and was rounding out my 80s collection when I came across this collection and decided to take a chance--well let me tell you, it is worth it. The Gurus are certainly not as well known as many of their power-pop contemporaries here in the US, but they deserve to be: from space-age rock, to surf, to "cowpunk," to Stonesy rock-and-roll, to flat out pop, they manage to cover it all in the space of 40 tracks. Nearly every hit is represented here along with several Bsides, album tracks, a few new songs and a couple of live cuts, covering the band's entire career. The Gurus have quite a breadth of material, from some rather dirty rockers on to slick pop like "Good Times." And the price--which is quite reasonable--makes it within almost anyone's budget (in fact, moreso than the one-disc import-only singles collection). If you're a power-pop fan or just a fan of good, hooky rock and roll, the Hoodoo Gurus are worth checking out, and this is an excellent introduction. Check out my list of "Top 15" albums if you'd like to get an idea of other things I've raved about, and if you agree with me at all... then you NEED this disc.

This excellent 2 disc compilation spans the Gurus' entire career. Great liner notes with lots of photos and some of the stories behind the songs. Stellar digitally remastered sound. You can't go wrong!

This album would have to be a best buy of hits from one of the best bands that Australia has produced, it spans the albums of Stoneage Romeos to Blue Cave with a few rarities. Forget about Gorilla Biscuit get this one it has all the songs plus more.

When I heard that a new Gurus compilation was coming out I was psyched. I have been a gurus fan for years. When the album came out I was a little disappointed, to be honest. I mean, the songs are great, but for someone who already has the whole Gurus collection there was little on there that was new except for some interesting stories in liner notes. So, I would recommend this set to anyone interested in getting started with the Gurus, but for those who have everythign from Stoneage Romeos through Blue Cave, don't bother.

OK maybe the Gurus are not the most well known band from Down Under, but David Faulkner and the boys really do know how to rock. This is a great collection of there works, but it is missing some of the better works from the earlier albums. It would be nice to have some more cuts from "Mars Needs Guitars" and "Stoneage Romeos" but, all in all, "Ampology" does a very good job of covering this period of the band.

So why did I give this 5 stars if it missed some of their better work? Because this one album has re-awakened in me the desire to delve deeper in to the Gurus offerings. And that is a good thing.

They really are a good times band that sound like a collaboration between a b grade movie, surf music and straight ahead rock. Throw in some great hooks and thats them. This best of wont disappoint the casual fan or punter. Great for the car and sounds at its best pumped up. Enjoy.