B-52's [Import]

B-52's | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Reprise / Wea
• ASIN: B000002KKD
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,313 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #88 in Music > Alternative Rock > New Wave & Post-Punk > Post-Punk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This record shook up the snoozing world of rock in 1979, becoming a truly classic disc, one full of landmark moments and heavy with possibilities. Most "real" rockers in the late '70s tried hard to ignore the Sex Pistols and the Clash, claiming the punk tumult was a merely a fad; but fun-loving types couldn't resist the magnificent hooks and grooves of the B-52's debut. They fell into the "new wave" while dancing their tushes off. The magnificent "Rock Lobster" remains unmatched in terms of its relentless, spastic power to move one's feet; ditto "52 Girls," with its nod to '60s trash rock. A Cramps-ish guitar grinds through "Lava," which features his-and-hers innuendo-laden lyrics. "I'm not no limburger!" goes one line from "Dance This Mess Around," but you just never question why. Brilliant. --Lorry Fleming

Product Description

Wb QBS 3355: The B 52s by B 52s

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Best B-52 album, September 18, 2004

By 

balefireelegy (Binghamton, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: B-52's (Audio CD)

Many of my friends hate the B-52's.. frankly at times I don't blame them... their music circa cosmic thing was so overplayed when I was growing up. Yes Cosmic thing is a fun album and every party I attended in MIddleschool usually ended up playing Love shack before the night ended... but it lacks something compared to their first album.. or could be thought of as over burdened.

Secondly I admitt to loving Pop music.. But the First B-52 album sounded so fresh and unique.. the band members weren't great musicians technically... but so much more energy radiates through when the band itself plays and writes their music as opposed to having other musicians and tons of production.

This is just a fun album and one of the most interesting sonic experiences out there. The first four songs are what makes this album classic.. Planet claire is the perfect way to immerse the listner into the B-52's sound. Starting with the soft menacing guitar at the begining then breaking out the organ... enter fred...

Lava and Hero Worship are good songs, they aren't the same quality as the first four and by this point in the album feel alot less fresh and creative.. the songs at the end tend to run a bit together.. while there's a moon in the sky and 6060-842 get a bit annoying an repetitive..

The cover of Downtown feels appropriate as a closer..

Overall this album is a good time and probably the most interesting and invigorating B-52 album...

Even some people who hate the bands later material will concede that the music on this album is something worth hearing.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I say, dont that make you feel a whole lot better?, December 30, 2003

By 

Stanley B. (Beachy Head, England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: B-52's (Audio CD)

What's that you say? You want party music. You wanna dance like a monk-funk mowgli, but you don't want to be seen to be a trend-hound, you don't want to leap aboard this funk-punk-disco wagon that doin' the rounds. Hmm... let me see now... Well there's always this, you can't go wrong with this. It's a joyous meisterwork from Athens' finest, the B-52s. This could whip up a mother thumpin' rumpus in a mausoleum. It's new wave gospel music. And these Georgians preach a fearsome hip shaking truth... Yeah, this is the one. Hearing this again... It's making my ears all prickly. Wow I mean look at these songs. Planet Claire, that's a kind of spooky b-movie sci-fi, exotica, hypno-rhythmic monster, if you follow me. 52 Girls, that might be my favourite. It hits this, this incredible surf guitar groove that sends shivers up and down my spine. And Dance This Mess Around, there's your perfect party song right there. You could goad your friends into doing the Hip-o-crit, or the Aqua-velva, or or the Escalator! Oh yeah, and then of course you've got the demented Rock Lobster. You must know that one. It'll have you beating the dance floor like a loved-up baboon. Side two doesn't really live up to that sublime flip but, you know, it's still good stuff. I mean that 6060-842, yeah that's a cracking little song. So, anyway, has that helped? Come on, be honest. I don't mind. You were lookin' a bit down in the mouth. This will give you that sparkle, I promise. Look at my eye. See that sparkle? And I'm just sitting here talking about it...

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This album is da BOMB. Even I can dance to this!, February 28, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (West Viriginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: B-52's (Audio CD)

I can't say how much I love this album! It has so many gems, the most successful being "Planet Claire," "52 Girls," and "Rock Lobster." The album has 6 other gems to spare, which means that I can't say how much I love every song on this LP. I purchased it yesterday at a flea market, and it's stayed on my turntable since. From Kate Pierson's trashy organ cords, to Cindy Wilson's intense screaming on "Dance this Mess Around," and the rather disrespectful cover of "Downtown," the album remains a gem in its own right, and should be purchased by everyone! It's just one of those albums, like "Thriller" or the "Flashdance" soundtrack. Anyway, the bottom line is, buy this album on whatever you can, whether it be vinyl (on which it sounds wonderful), cassette, or CD, you need to own this!!!!