Customer Reviews

Are You Normal

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

 

 

"Are You Normal" follows Ned's Atomic Dustbin's formula of success first seen in their debut album "God Fodder:" First, you have the consistent bouncy two bass driven sound with its distinct British sensibility; second you have quirky lyrics that fit perfectly with the tunes.

While my favorite two Ned's songs are both on "God Fodder," ("Selfish" and "Gray Cell Green," which I think are really meant to be heard together), I believe that "Are You Normal" contains more terrific songs than its predecessor. Who can resist the energy of "Walking Through Syrup" - my favorite song on the album - with its infectious chorus ("Here's a prediction/ You get an affliction/ You gain an addiction/ You grab what you can/ Get introduced to a good lady bubblehead/ whe thinks she's seducing Peter Pan")? Other highlights include "Legoland," "Tantrum," "Not Sleeping Around" (a minor hit for the band), "I Don't Want To Do That" (reminiscent of "Happy" from "God Fodder"), "Spring" and "Intact." Overall, the album maintains at a very high level, and is just plain fun to listen to.

FYI: At the end of the first song, "Suave and Sophisticate," the narrator says: "What are they gonna say about him? What are they gonna say? That he was a kind man? That he was a wise man? That he had plans? That he had wisdom? Bull**** man!" This is a direct quote from "Apocalypse Now," spoken by the Dennis Hopper character about Kurtz (brilliantly played by Marlon Brando) after Kurtz dies. I'm kind of surprised no one else brought this up.

God is this CRIMINALLY under-appreciated... I can not believe there has not been a remastering/packaging job yet. It is "feel-good music" at its best; much better than the campy Lemonheads and dour Nirvana records that blocked the view of this gem back in the day.

So... Do we need to get a pettition going for this to be re-issued? Sony, wake up and remaster this. It will cost you nothing compared to the garbage you waste money on.

Ned's Atomic Dustbin is composed of a solid drummer, a trio of bass players(the weakest of the three was forced to play lead guitar instead, but they are all bassists and their playing style shows it) and a lead singer with the voice and emotional scars to perfectly convey the feelings you have pent up inside you as your relationship is crumbling around you. That is pretty much what this cd is all about, but it does so without sounding whiny...it's hard to explain without just quoting the songs, so give the samples a listen. inventive, intelligent twisting of words make the lyrics worth a read by themselves. If you understand that music is emotion made audible, and have been in a bad relationship, you will find a kindred spirit here.

Track 9 on this album is not "Let End in His Own Boots" but instead "A Leg End in His Own Boots" - inventitive titling at its best.

Another great album from ned's. This one, while not as fresh as godfodder, is certainly more elaborate and educated listeners will find it ultimately interesting. All this, without losing ned's characteristic fun and easy beat.

There is something about Ned's that is just captivating. They have a truly original sound, interesting lyrics, and are the only band both my brother and I enjoy; we have quite a different taste in music. Ned's is great. And Are You Normal is Ned's greatest.

I find it strange that, although I first bought this album when it first came out on the 10th November 1992, I still religously listen to Are You Normal! daily. And each time you'll listen to it sounds completly different, completly. You can't listen to any one song alone because the rest just flow. Before you know it you've listened to the album, ten fold, and then you reach for the single - all of them, from Twenty Three Hour Tooth Ache to Stuck.

This ablum (and the rest) are all 'unsung' and if I won the lottery I pay Neds to perform one more time, (infront of the world), to prove that all there material is the best in the world.

Obviously if youre viewing this you must be a fan.Its easy to forget how superb these guys were with their first two albums.There is a great flow to this one with one song just moving onto the next with the same general upbeat tempo,the sing-alongs- are quirky enough as is the wordplay of the lyrics---these guys are not brooding,the songs are light-minded poppy tunes with enough stuff going to keep you musically involved.Being made in the early '90's one criticism I would have may be with the mixing of this cd--and I may be wrong but as its stated this band created a some sort of "wall of sound"--but the guitar seems to get lost just a little at some small points where I feel if it was up into the mix a little more wouldve only been for the good....while there are a couple of tunes a little better than the next,I cant seem to find one that you would skip---really theyre all good.

well, i think this group was death, but still alive. very undergound, y excellent brith music.

This 1992 release was their 2nd of three releases. A unique aspect about Ned is that they feature two bassists. Rather than the traditional rhythm and lead guitar, their sound is more like a wall of guitars strumming, sort of a cross between Big Country and The Alarm and sometimes U2. Very dated.