Customer Reviews

Broadcast

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I was 14 when I bought Broadcast in 1987. I had never heard a song like "(I Just) Died In Your Arms" before nor have I since. I must have overdosed on the tape in the summer of '87, exposing it to all my friends, who in turn, bought Broadcast. Now, 13 years later, I listen again, and it still has a nice upbeat sound to it. All 10 tracks are great, there's no album filler. In 1989, Cutting Crew released their second cd The Scattering, which is just as good as Broadcast. Unfortunately, no one paid attention to The Scattering and the Cutting Crew faded from view. I guess it's living testimony to the quality of an album if anyone still likes to listen to it more than a decade later. Those of us who enjoyed the Cutting Crew have a nice secret--an album that wasn't played to death by a band that didn't play on well after their prime. Buy this cd, it's worth the money.

I stumbled onto Broadcast at a used records store and decided to give it a whirl. It turned out to be a surprisingly awesome album. I'm used to some 80s new wave bands lacking depth on their albums beside their standout single - while When in Rome has some nice songs on their album, "The Promise" clearly stands alone.

Cutting Crew has a hard-hitting album, that confidently places the power single - "(I Just) Died in Your Arms" in the sixth slot. In between the beginning and the song we all knew beforehand are a pack of remarkably good songs. The first four are particularly effective - the energy of "Any Colour" carries over brilliantly into the passionate "One For the Mockingbird". "I've Been in Love Before" makes a smooth, total transition into emotional territory before the dramatic heights of "Life in a Dangerous Time" (a song written about 15 years too early).

By the time we come to "(I Just) Died in Your Arms", the power single isn't needed to convince us of the talent and vision of Cutting Crew - it only confirms what we already know.

Other strong songs on the album include the deceptively sedate "Sahara" and "It Shouldn't Take Too Long." The title track sounds curiously similar to the music of Howard Jones.

The above seven are, I think, the strongest songs on the album, but Cutting Crew makes no real mistakes with any of their songs. This is a remarkably packed album, and an essential addition to the collection of any 80s fan.

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As an aside, I should caution people not to put any stock in reviews that rip on Cutting Crew's main single and the album as a whole, without mentioning anything about the other songs. Transparent reviews like that clearly illustrate the reviewer's failure to listen to the album. Sad, but true.

I originally had this on vinyl when it was first released in the '80s. I listened to it on many a teenage night as I lay in bed. When I got rid of my old stereo, the turntable went with it and my vinyl sat forgotten collecting dust.

Recently, I got "Broadcast" on CD. I don't know if it's been remastered or what, but the sound is extraordinary. I hear so many new sounds and instrumentation that I didn't remember hearing from the vinyl.

Regardless, this album remains an excellent piece from the '80s. While not groundbreaking, they do have some creative moments. Gems include the wonderfully uplifting "One For the Mockingbird", the beautiful "I've Been In Love Before", the straight-forward rock of "Don't Look Back", and the soothing "Sahara". The big hit from this album was the ubiquitous "I Just Died in Your Arms", which holds up well after 15+ years.

This is one of my favorite albums from the '80s. I'd advise anyone who appreciates the '80s sound to add this to their collection.

Three Englishmen, a Canadian and one of the notorious pop
anthems of all times. That's how I would have described
the Broadcast affair if it wasn't for my roommate Chris.
We were freshmen back in 1987 and he used to listen to his
huge collection of cassettes the whole day long. CUTTING CREW's
songs were among his favourites so I nearly got brainwashed
by their constant repeat. However I got the chance to
crystallize a thorough opinion about this album. It sure
isn't innovative. Does that bother me? H..l no! They sure
sound too American for an English band ( sly old fox Kevin
is to blame for that). Does this bother me? H..l no!
They don't use very subversive or sophisticated lyrics.
Do I mind? Why bother? They made it very clear: Don't be
fooled by those who feed you words, they just twist & tighten
up the tourniquet (One For The Mocking-bird). The song that
has gotten to me the most is Sahara, cause it has this feeling of peacefulness, just like being in the eye of the storm.
I Just Died... has already taken its seat next to legends
like Hotel California & Satisfaction. Why this LP never
made the British TOP 40? Maybe Asterix & Obelix weren't
refering to the Romans after all. Who can say?

After rediscovering '(I Just) Died In Your Arms' on a local radio station, I went on a hunt to find this track to add to my music collection. My quest eventually led me to Cutting Crew's 'Broadcast' CD. And as a pleasant surprise, I discovered that all the other tracks were gems in their own right, and there were even a few familiar tunes I didn't even know they performed ('I've Been In Love Before', 'Life In A Dangerous Time'). It's one of those discs where I love listening to every tune from beginning to end... a rare find indeed. And it's 80's pop/new wave- one of my top fave genres to listen to! The best of both worlds...

I've heard of a second album by this group, but my efforts in finding it on CD have been fruitless. Sadly, "Broadcast" seems to be Cutting Crew's only enduring contribution to 80's pop. But considering how much I love this disc, I am happy to see that they took full advantage of their brief moment of glory. Good job guys.

'Late

Laugh though you may, this has been one of my favorite albums of the past 10 years. Maybe some of that has to do with my nostalgic feelings for 80s music, I don't know. But, I'm telling you, it's a good album. For some reason, their record company decided to promote the lamest track on the album, and the band ultimately went the way of Kajagoogoo, etc.

My memories of this album date back to 1988 when I got it's cassette from a friend.I listened to it, mostly in my car and never thought of changing it for months together.I had only heard I JUST DIED... before, but I found each and every other track as wonderful as I JUST..... This album is complete in all respects; the music, the lyrics, the variety, the compilation, everything. Till date, I am yet to find an album so complete and so bewitching. It has songs for different moods. ANY COLOR makes you dream. You would feel like falling in love with I'VE BEEN IN LOVE BEFORE. Listen to SAHARA if you are melancholy. The notes of the title song BROADCAST are so rythmic. LIFE IN A DANGEROUS TIME is really radical and the bass that it delivers is amazing. The voice of NICK VAN EEDE is simply enchanting, soothing and incomparable. An album that you will treasure & cherish all your life, the way I have over the last 15 years. If you are a music-lover of the eighties, you just cannot afford to miss out on BROADCAST.

Ah, man, the 1980's.What a great time it must of been, so mellow and carefree, A LOT of very fine music came out of this decade that can almost now be dubbed with the "Classic" moniker.Although I'm a casual fan, I wouldn't be able to remember it, for I arrived in 87'.Which, in retrospect, is even more of a reason why this disc(or-LP?????!!!)can be considered great music. Few albums like this one can be enjoyed even after all this time.Which brings me to this overlooked gem. Ok, so we have Cutting Crew with their debut and unfortunately last popular album;"The Broadcast". The year, in fact, is 1987(!!!!!) and lord knows the amazing single"(I Just) Died in Your Arms" is being played all over the radio. Ok, while still a well-writtened and melodic song, this tune was doomed to over-exposure.The talented outfit known as Cutting Crew was destined to be remembered only for this now ubiquitous 80's hit. But truth be told people, this song, taken out of context, sounds like it could've came from the 90's AS WELL!In addition, ALL of the songs on this album could've (SHOULD'VE!) been hits, bar-none.

What about the music itself you ask? Well, Cutting Crew certainly carved a sound all their own. The music could be classified as almost"jazzy" up-beat pop rock.Nick Van Edee's voice is smooth and has a pattened light -hearted energy to it. All the songs are very well written and the production is inpeccable.Synth's are employed but if only to add soothing atmosphere and hold the songs together.This music is NOT in anyway "New Wave".The band sounds as if they had been playing together for years. My personal favorite is the closing "Broadcast"- this song will leave you speechless, and almost take you on a journey. Put on the headphones, chill out, and listen to this tune and I promise you the stress will just dissolve. Definately a must have for any music fan.Check it out!

THERE WAS ALOT OF BANDS LIKE THIS OUT IN THE 80's BUT THIS ALBUM ALWAYS STOOD OUT TO ME BECAUSE IT WAS GREAT FROM START TO FINISH, ALOT OF THE OTHER GROUPS HAD THERE HIT SINGLES AND THE REST OF THE ALBUM WASN'T WORTH LISTENING TO,BUT NOT THIS ONE.MY FAVORITE SONG IS 'ONE FOR THE MOCKINGBIRD'

After a lot of time lookin' for the original remix, here it is.
This version contains the Original Full Extended Version of '(I've Just) Died In Your Arms' as 12''Mix lasting 6:46 minutes and the 7inch-B-Side of the original version 'For The Longest Time' + 2 Excellent Live Versions.
This Extended Version should be the same included in the 'Best of' but, there, it's round 2 minutes shorter (it's a compilation, I know).
Recommended. It sounds pretty good. Follow it like this version of Cutting Crew's Broadcast