Customer Reviews

Book of Love

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

 

 

I have received my last installment of this amazing collection...and it is superb!...especially that it is a 2 disc edition makes it even more inviting!

Disc 1 is the full album (minus the bonus tracks from the previous cd re-issue version), and they are remastered beautifully!

Disc 2 is the real treat!...2 live recordings, demo recordings that ended up signing them to Sire records, the main remix of I Touch Roses, and some other goodies....if you want to really complete your collection...download the Mp3 versions of the bonus tracks from the 1990 version...I did!.....

and as I have stated before...the packaging is not the best...the flimsy digipack must be handled with extreme care....

Book of Love were just one of the many bands I was in love with, when I was a teenager. I love them today as much as I did 23 years ago. So, when I saw their re-issued cds at my local independent record store, I immediately picked them up without hesitation. There are many things wrong with this re-issued cd. First, the cover art is over-exposed, so they look really dark on the cover. The ugly "noble rot" stamp on the bottom left-hand corner of the album cover just makes it worse. No, let me say that the unattractive florescent green promo sticker on the cd is hideous.
Now, for the songs. There isn't a significant difference in sound from the original issue of the cd. The extra tracks on the original cd are forgotten in this re-issue. The "live" versions of "Happy Day" and "Boy" were taken from san francisco's KRON TV AIDS awareness benefit concert. It sounds as if someone put a tape recorder up to the tv and hit the record button. The sound quality is lousy. Why not contact KRON TV and ask them to dig in their vaults, to perhaps get a better sound quality of the songs? I don't know...The only thing that is positive about this re-issue are the demo recordings.
In summary, the album artwork is really bad. The lyrics printed are tiny. For a band that hit the music scene very fast and made a big impression on those of us listening to the Cure and Depeche Mode and Erasure, this re-issue does not do this band justice. They deserve much better. Especially for this cd, which I consider their masterpiece.
Do get it if you are a Book of Love completist, as I am. Do not get it if you are not a big admirer of this band. Stick to the original issue of the cd.
This was a project that could have been much better:

--better sound quality of live songs
--All the remixes for "Modigliani"
--All the remixes ofr "You Make Me Feel So Good"
--All the remixes for "I Touch Roses"
--All the remixes for "Boy"
--exclusive photos for this time period.
--A complete discography for this recording period (including pictures of all the 12" record sleeves).
--packaging such as the re-issued CURE cds.

That would have been a perfect, top-notch re-issue.
Sorry, but this re-issue makes me feel so sad...
I expect nothing but the best, for a band that deserves it. Love you, Book of Love, despite my horrible review.

I agree with the above reviewer that the packaging on these reissues is pretty bad. The cover art is very poorly reproduced and there are typos, not to mention the difficulty in getting the CDs out without scratching them. Though it's hard to read, at least they reproduced the lyric sheet for this CD.

But the music sounds as good as it did 20 years ago - maybe better. It's great to have the bonus disc with demos, remixes and rarities. Love having the instrumental version of "Modigliani" on CD. I wish they had included the 5 bonus remixes that were on the previous CD issue but maybe we'll get lucky and get another CD release with just remixes.

I have to agree that the packaging on this release is shockingly bad. While BOL might not have the name recognition of Depeche Mode, OMD or Thompson Twins, their reissues really deserve better. This is going straight into iTunes so I don't need to take the discs out again.

That being said, the content of this CD is outstanding. In the 24 years (!) since it's original release, it's probably safe to assume most BOL fans have already acquired the original CD with it's bonus tracks (and if you haven't, GO FIND IT RIGHT NOW). I'm not that surprised those mixes were left off this version. What we get in return is the longer original mix of Lost Souls, which was edited for the 1986 release.

On top of that, a bonus disc! The live versions, recorded in mono, are nothing special, but I appreciate their inclusion as previously unavailable material. The demo versions are gems for anyone interested in the recording process and amusing novelties for the rest. Completists will be happy about the alternate mixes of I Touch Roses (though available elsewhere), Modigliani and Boy.

At just over 40 minutes, there was plenty of space left on the disc to include something like the Spirited Mix of Lost Souls or Mo'Dub'iani, and I'm a little disappointed they didn't take advantage of that.

But the real diamond on this disc is BOL's interpretation of We Three Kings, originally recorded for the Warner promo-only Christmas '87 sampler Yulesville. It's exactly what it should be: as classic a BOL track as Boy, I Touch Roses or You Make Me Feel So Good. Hat's off to them for finally putting this one on CD.

Overall, if you're just looking for "the hits", I would look for the original release. But if you're a BOL fan, you need this one too.

Wow. Although I subscribe to several alt music magazines and get my weekly EW, I was not aware of these releases until quite recently when BOL sent out an email flyer about their NY gig to promote the reissues. Any re-release is a "good" release in my opinion; it brings awareness to new collecters and music enthusiasts. Not to mention the material is re-mastered; 'loud' isn't always for the better; plus most 80's material was recorded in analog and/or early digital and can only be mastered so much; but it passes the test, I don't have to turn the music level on my iPod higher when listening to these newer BOL releases.

I do agree with some reviewers, the packaging could have been better, with a booklet showcasing all of the LP artwork; singles; etcetera. I should also note, that the track listings in Amazon's listing is INCORRECT, there are 12 tracks on the first disc, "Die Matrosen" is missing from the line-up, and the second disc has 11 tracks and is not in the correct order. What a treat the 5 demos are... this right there is worth the price; plus the "We Three Kings" holiday song previously only found on the WB vinyl promo only album "Yulesville".

For the self-titled BOL debut album, although it's unfortunate that the 5 previous bonus songs were removed from the original CD line-up, there is an interesting extended track that can be heard. Since the original CD release clocked in at 1.2 hours in length, one track was shortened by 30 seconds; now back in it's entirety, a much longer, and more dramatic ending to the "Lost Souls" song. I only wish that one of the first tracks BOL wrote together, "It's In Your Eyes", found on the 2001 Best of BOL album, was placed at the end of this new release.

Had I been in charge of this reissue and disc compilation, here's what the track listings would have been for both CDs; maybe iTunes Playlists, although some are still only found on vinyl:

Disc 1:
01. Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)
02. You Make Me Feel So Good
03. Still Angry
04. White Lies
05. Lost Souls [30 seconds longer!]
06. Late Show
07. I Touch Roses
08. Yellow Sky
09. Boy
10. Happy Day
11. Die Matrosen
12. Book Of Love
13. It's In Your Eyes
14. Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)(I Dream Of Jeanne Mix)
15. You Make Me Feel So Good (Flutter Mix)
16. I Touch Roses (Long Stemmed Version)
17. Boy (Extended)

Disc 2:
01. Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)(7" Remix)
02. You Make Me Feel So Good (Demo)
03. White Lies (Demo)
04. Lost Souls (Demo)
05. I Touch Roses (Demo)
06. Boy (Demo)
07. We Three Kings
08. Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)(Instrumental)
09. I Touch Roses (Full Bloom Mix)
10. Boy (Dub)
11. Modigliani (Lost In Your Eyes)(Requiem Mass)
12. You Make Me Feel So Good (Dub)
13. Lost Souls (Spirited Mix)
14. Mo'Dub'iani (Lost In Your Eyes)
15. Happy Day (Live)
16. Boy (Live)
17. Boy (a 2001 mix)

Extremely excited about these reissues and ANY BOL release.

Originally released in 1986, this New York City synthpop quartet's debut followed in the footsteps of UK acts like Yaz, Spandau Ballet and Depeche Mode. But even with the synthetic keyboards and drum machines, the band had a distinct voice in songwriter and lead singer Susan Ottaviano. Her vocals are deadpanned in front of skittering and throbbing dance beats, creating emotional tension in the contrast between passivity and activity. Those who fondly remember dancing to these post-disco synth sounds will enjoy the trip down memory lane; those who grew thirsty for drums and guitars in the mid-80s will find this a nightmare relived. Noble Rot's reissue includes the album's original dozen tracks but drops the five remixes added to previous CD editions. A second disc offers eleven alternates that include live versions of "Happy Day" and "Boy," five wonderfully primitive demos, and the instrumental version of "Modigliani." This is all stuffed inside a three-panel cardboard slip-sleeve (no plastic beds for the discs) with liner notes by Michael Paoletta and a microscopic reproduction of the original lyrics sheet. It's a treasure trove for fans, though it's a shame the remixes weren't included. 3-1/2 stars, if allowed fractional ratings. [©2009 hyperbolium dot com]

I wanted to let Book Of Love fans know that Amazon is telling everyone that they are able to obtain these re-issues but the truth is these are not being released until July 21st. Who says? Ted Ottaviano, that's who. I emailed him and was told the release date is July 21st.

Of course Amazon has great prices so pre-ordering helps, but don't expect them to ship anytime soon as Amazon states.

I mean, obviously, you now need to own TWO copies of this album if you are a completist who wants ALL the Book of Love 12" mixes on CD. Sure, it would have been nice to keep disc one just as it was on the original pressing of this disc, which had 12" mixes as bonus tracks, but if that wasn't going to happen, then they should have at least closed the book on Book's catalog from the first album by including the "spirited mix" of Lost Souls, which was originally on the 12" release of You Make Me Feel So Good. Ironically, a great and sneaky thing to note on this reissues= is that the original ALBUM version of Lost Souls actually runs 35 seconds longer than on the original pressing (from 4:50 to 5:25), but still, including the 12" mix would have made this collection complete, because we have the full bloom version of I Touch Roses (which was ALSO on the You Make Me Feel So Good 12") along with the mega rare Christmas track "We Three Kings" which originally appeared on a promotional album of Sire Records artists doing holiday songs back in the 80s. That alone makes this reissue gold, but I seriously could have done without demo versions and live versions to finally have the 12" mix of Lost Souls on CD instead (not that they would have needed to have removed any of that other material since there's plenty of room left between both discs to include that one last mix). Let's hope that perhaps the people at Hi-Bias will include this last lost mix on a future volume of Retro Active.