Customer Reviews

Cinéma Vérité

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
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This is a great cd and Dramarama is a great band. Don't expect all of their songs to be like "Anything, Anything" though. But they're all great songs and I love John Easdale's voice. I would definitely recommend this as well as their other cds.

This would definitely be in my collection of albums to have if I were stranded on a deserted island. My favorite song on the album is the Candidate, with Some Crazy Dame as a close second. Anything Anything has a life of it's own and will always have a special place in my heart.

If you don't have, get it! :)

Jen

Undoubtedly, the cut "Anything, Anything (I'll give you)" is the favorite here. It is probably the only song by this band that the well musically informed person knows about. I'd say the "average" but, those people would say "Who?" at the mention of this band. It's a shame, because mediocrity too often rises to the top and garners platinum...while these guys get relegated to the bargain bin. That's good for us people who KNOW good music. Ths CD is fun, but not as outstanding as "Vinyl" in it's consistency. As I said in my Vinyl review...the standouts are the aforementioned, and "Scenario". "Visiting the Zoo" is OK too. The cover of "Femme Fatale" is OK, but I liked the REM version better. Still a great CD even on just those cuts alone, I'd STILL recommend it.

Cinema Verite was the first major label release for Dramarama. The two most popular songs, "Anything, Anything" and "Scenario" were staples in the 80's of radio stations KROQ and 91X, not to mention numerous college radio stations such as KCPR. This is a raw album with a lot of energy when compared to their later works such as Vinyl. Fast pace, with melodic guitar chords, and lyrics which do not always make sense, but are fun and amusing.

As a long time Dramarama fan, I'll admit I came late to the game.
The first Dramarama album I bought was Vinyl and then on to Hi Fi Sci Fi and then momentarily went backwards to Wonderamaland - all spectacular albums crammed chock full of great rock laced with Easdale witty lyrics (Wonderamaland a tad weaker than the others). It wasn't until recently that I went back to where it all started and picked up this first album and then the second album - Box Office Bomb.
Wow - these guys came out of the gate roaring - Cinema Verite and BOB are both just as good as their later stuff.
I'd bought a couple greatest hits albums that contained songs off the first two albums (Steve & Edie, It's Still Warm, Scenario, Emerald City) and these songs were so good, it prompted me to pick up the first two albums.
What a joy it was to discover that Cinema Verite contains so many more top notch songs that would have been worthy for inclusion on any greatest hits.
Some Crazy Dame, Etc, Transformation - holy crap!
I've said it before and I'll keep saying it about bands as special as this - it's a crime that they aren't superstars and most people haven't heard their music.

I remember purchasing this album in 1986 when KROQ's Rodney Bingenheimer introduced this band. "Anything Anything" became all the rage, but the band also would regularly play "Scenario," "Some Crazy Dame," and "Visiting The Zoo" at their live gigs because those songs are cool, too. It was and will always be one of my favorite albums from the 1980s.

If there ever was a crying shame, or better yet something worth crying about it is that this album never saw any real light of popularity! I find it hard to believe we have sunk to rock bottom with charming record labels gently spoon feeding us music from the likes of Brittney Spears or 50 Cent which is about all he's worth! Think about it, it's kind of like how MacDonalds quietly removed mustard from all their burgers and you didn't even notice it wasn't being used anymore. Well that's music this very minute. We've lost alot of good ingredients he he! Well I first heard Dramarama when one of their last songs was featured on a skating video that shall remain nameless. The song was Hey Betty (not featured on this album ). I loved it and them istantly. Cinema Verite is a GEM! Nothing short of pure listening pleasure. Of course this album features their one and only true claim to fame the track "Anything Anything" but there is alot of really solid rock songs here. Hailing out of New Jersey they reached me all the way over here in my Igloo in Canada when I finally found a copy of "New Adventures in Hi-fi". Like all good things, they are hard to come by, and this album is no exception. So now that you've found a copy don't hesitate. But if your still not quite sure pick up a copy of their best of CD also advertised on this site. But be warned if you do go that route you will quickly own everything they've ever done! No really, you will! -mAd GaPpeR