Customer Reviews

Are You Okay

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

 

 

On this album, Was (Not Was) explores various blends of funk, rock, dance and pop styles with delightful results. There is much quirky humour in a song like I Feel Better Than James Brown, an addictive tune with a hypnotic beat that pays tribute to James Brown's masterpiece I Feel Good. The lyrics are just priceless!

Unusually for Was (Not Was), they also explore the dark side of life in Maria Novarro, a powerful song with a nervous beat and disturbing lyrics about domestic violence: "In the city of Angels, there's no mercy and there's no tomorrow for Maria Novarro ..."

Adding to the charms of this multifaceted album is Leonard Cohen who contributes the main vocal on Elvis' Rolls Royce over a jazzy background. The next track Dressed To Be Killed is a jerky rap number with lovely sax infusions, whilst Just Another Couple Broken Hearts is a mellow ballad.

Always the masters of rhythmic innovation, Was (Not Was) provides a dazzling display of textures on Are You OK? It is my favorite album by these imaginative musicians.

This is one of my favorite albums from the 80s-90s. It has that upbeat enthusiasism of the 80's with the edge of funk, rap (and even some "scratching" on the turntables). There are several straight up R&B songs which I'm not so fond of, but they don't dominate the album. Papa Was a Rollin' Stone is the perfect updating of that 60's pre-women's liberation anthem. Several have very thoughtful and passionate lyrics -- Maria Navarro killed by her husband, even though she tried to get the cops to stop him, etc. My own personal anthem - "In KMart Wardrobe" -- I hum it every time I wear my purchases...
The CD has excellent sound -- probably better than my old cassette, which melted long ago.

I had this on tape and wore it out. My fave album from the Wases, and a funky, smooth, danceable blast from beginning to end. It's challenging, if you listen closely, and you will. But you can just enjoy the groove too without getting too caught up as well. Great guest vocals. Well worth the $9.

It's hard for me to believe that this album is overshadowed by Was (Not Was)'s lesser album, "What's Up Dog?". Filled to the brim with pop hooks and perfect perfomances by a stellar cast of guest artists, this album was on my turntable nonstop for weeks when it first dropped in 1983.

"Smile" sung by the Knack's Don Fieger is more poppy and memorable than anything on "Meet the Knack", and that album sold zillions. It's saying something that the weakest track, "Betrayal", also sung by Fieger, isn't half bad.

"Man vs the Empire Brain Building" was my philosophy of life for much of the eighties. It's hilarious AND infectious. Just try to get it out of your head.

"(Return to the Valley of) Out Come the Freaks" is better here than the recycled version on "What's Up Dog?"; here the melody rocks rather than rambles.

But the best track is the opener, "Knocked Down, Made Small (Treated Like a Rubber Ball)", a growling R&B shiv that skips the Was "brothers" trademark tongue-in-cheek and reminds you why you have a hammer, anvil AND stirrup.

This was absolutely one of my Top Ten albums from the entire 80's decade.