Customer Reviews

Black Eye

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

 

 

I've been looking for this album since 1997 when I first saw Fluffy's video for their single "Hypersonic" (this album's second track). I was thrilled to find the album here - I couldn't find it anywhere else, may be because Fluffy was never a very well known, an insanely popular or a hugely successful band, especially in the US. Actually, the fact that Fluffy weren't better known or more successful than they were never quite made sense to me - Fluffy was a really good band and, probably, one of the most underrated bands ever. Fluffy was an all-girl punk rock band from UK and was (IMHO) at least on a par with such bands as Babes in Toyland, Veruca Salt and Bikini Kill. Fluffy was formed by Amanda Rootes (vocals and guitar) and Angie Adams(drums). Other band members were Bridget Jones (guitar) and Helen Storer (bass). "Black Eye" was their first and only album and I think it's a shame that they disbanded so quickly and never released anything else - because when you listen to "Black Eye" you realize just how much potential there was. "Black Eye" is pure punk rock written, composed and released in the era when grunge was king, which definitely had an influence on the lyrics...I'd say it's punk rock with grunge-y or post-grunge-y lyrics. I agree with another reviewer about the lyrics being simple, but that's what makes them good (again, IMHO). They are simple, but they are very honest, raw and compelling...the title song gave me shivers (I know it sounds a bit corny, I'm really sorry about that). "Black Eye"'s lyrics tackle subjects ranging from disappointment and dissatisfaction with one's life ("Nothing") and inequality in relationships ("Crossdresser", "Crawl", "Husband") to physical abuse ("Black Eye") and substance abuse ("Psychofudge", "Techicolour Yawn")...and I could be wrong but I think "Too Famous" is about Elvis. I also love that even though "Black Eye" stays within one genre (punk rock), it's not monotonous or redundant, it doesn't start to sound the same at any point unlike so many albums that are confined to just one genre - that's how different from one another all of the songs on this album are, not one of them resembles the other and none is forgettable or bland. I was actually really impressed by how many good tracks there were on this album (I loved all of them, except may be "Cosmetic Dog" and "Dirty Old Bird", didn't really like those songs) - I've had so many unfortunate experiences in the past when I really liked a single and then bought an album only to find out that everything else on that album was...well, not so great. But this is so not the case here - "Black Eye"'s a really good, honest, gripping, multidimensional album with lots of good tracks on it. Definitely not something you'll listen to just once. If you like punk rock, grunge, 90's music, all female rock bands, then you'll probably like this album.

If anyone enjoyed VH1's "bands on the run", you'll be surprised to see Harlow's frontwoman, Amanda, as singer/guitarist in her previous all-girl band. By the way (and I know this is a pretty dumb thing to say concerning a music record) the other three chicks are all gorgeous. As for the music, it is pretty much the sex pistols revisited, with some really cool guitar parts (like the bridge in "scream") and catchy (in a dark sort of way) choruses ("crawl"). All in all, it is a pretty decent record, and it shows some of Harlow's treats while being far from Harlow itself, so don't expect it to be what you watched in "bands on the run" - it is a must have for any Harlow fans oranyone with a Harlow fetish, though!

I really liked it, I listened to it at the radio station and I wanted to have it. I copied it and I wore out my tape so I ordered it off of the internet.

I grew up on the Pistols and it was a real treat to listen to this one. Maybe if we're lucky they'll put another one out real soon.

I DIDN'T BUY THIS CD...I TAPED IT...BUT I LIKED IT. IF YOU DON'T MIND SONGS THAT HAVE THE WORDS CONSTANTLY REPEATING THEMSELVES, YOU MIGHT LIKE THIS. IT'S VERY REPETITIVE...DON'T BE SURPRISED IF YOU GET MOST OF THE SONGS STUCK IN YOUR HEAD...AND STILL HAVE THEM STUCK AFTER A YEAR OF NOT LISTENING TOO THE ALBUM. I WARNED YOU...

For the most part it was good. But too repetative and empty. I could have thought of these lyrics. But it's good.

Winner of one of the worst CD's in my collection! I can't believe someone could give this 5 stars?