Customer Reviews

Coup D'Etat

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the fourth (counting the Metal Priestess EP) and last real Plasmatics album. It is an incredible piece of work. The intensity and anger that one 105 lb. woman can spit out is shocking. This is the epitome of the Plasmatics' critique of (and challenge to) societal values and standards. This album was made after two years of touring, during which Wendy O Williams was arrested numerous times, beat up by the police, and banned at numerous sites. Her disillusionment is so thick you can practically taste it. The Plasmatics evolved very quickly during their career and this album is very little like the first two albums, which I feel contained much more simple fun "club music." This album is much more raw - "Put Your Love In Me" is one of the hardest songs I've ever heard. This is the album where Wendy perfected her distinctive and hairy-raising scream.

Enjoy it, this is one of my favorites.

Wendy O. Back in the early 80's this stuff was considered I guess "noise metal" or just over the top. I was too young too appreciate the honesty and brutality of her music. Heavy guitars , chorus's that make you want to pump your fists in the air. Today people take music way too seriously, if it's about rock n roll or partying--it's another wimpy hair band, who cares? It's only Rock N Roll, and we all love it! God bless Wendy O , she's up there today hopefully looking down knowing that at least some people appreciated her music.

This was my introduction to the world of Wendy O. Williams and the Plasmatics. I first heard it back in 1992, at the age of 13, and it blew me away. This album contains a rawness and high level of anger and energy that cannot be found in mainstream metal. "Lightning Breaks" and "Path of Glory" are my faves. The songs contained on this disk are just as good as the punk-era plasmatics. This is the place to start for those of you interested in hearing the awesome power that is WOW.

Released by Capital Records back in 1982, "Coup D'Etat" is an earth-shattering album that emits the roar of heavy metal. During a time when AC/DC and Metallica were leading the male-dominated genre, this album enabled the Plasmatics to conquer the world. While Richie Stotts and Wes Beech highlight each track with wailing electric guitars, frontwoman Wendy O. Williams sings the lyrics with brutal, feline growls. This is an album that introduced the radical shock rocker to a stunned mainstream crowd, allowing her to force even the strongest men to their knees. While being one of the few adult film stars to enter New York's underground punk scene, she reigned supreme as the one-of-a-kind Metal Priestess.
In both "Put Your Love in Me" and "Rock 'N' Roll," Wendy accepts the topless role of a hardcore groupie. During the dramatic "Lightning Breaks," she seeks salvation in the blackness of unbridled sex and sin. "Mistress of Taboo" is a high-speed track about a leather-clad dominatrix who carries a whip in her velvet gloves. "Country Fairs" takes place in a strict Catholic village where nighttime pains and pleasures are inflicted on souls by fanged demons. The last three tracks are fueled by the Plasmatics's love of nihilism and the coming apocalypse. "Path of Glory" is a sacrificial curse that's intended to incide citywide riots. Before the attacks on 9/11, the alarming "Just Like on T.V." told of the devastation of nuclear war. "The Damned," an underrated classic co-written by bassist Chris Romanelli, is a powerful song about totalitarianism, and of how it ultimately terminates the human race by crushing the weak.
Almost every song on "Coup D'Etat" is a pumped up anthem for alienated rock fans. Although it doesn't contain the raw, anarchic sound of "New Hope" and "Beyond the Valley," this is a CD that shouldn't be missed. Wendy O. Williams will live forever!

Hey, I was totally into early eighties metal when I purchased this record. This record does not sound like the other records from that era, it is still very viable. I just listened to it a few weeks ago and I still love it. "Coup d Etat" did not fall into the trappings of eighties metal production, it is very straightforward with minimal additives, the drum sound is not too loud, etc. The songs themselves are excellent, very well written, the lyrics have a real punk-type ethos about them. I still laugh out loud every time I listen to "Put Your Love in Me", it's just so demanding! Yes, there are those elements of metal, and there are elements of punk, too, but in my opinion this album was a great "fence rider" between the two genres, which by the way, always seem to find themselves crossing alot. I only point this out, because of the argument over whether it's this or it's that, it doesn't really matter that much, I don't think. I'm sure Wendy O. herself probably didn't want to be pidgeonholed into a certain category, either. I own Metal Priestess, also, and yes, it is much more punky, but I generally listen to Coup d Etat more often, because of the better production and the really well written songs. It is one of my favorite records of all time, ever. You should also check out Raven "Rock Until You Drop", from that same era, another fantastic album.

Wendy O Williams became an icon after the masses heard her fury unleashed in all its glory. She was one of my true roll models during my high school years: fearless, revolutionary, extreme, and all the while likeable - she was everything the pretty, preppy school girls weren't and that's why I loved her. The music here is stunning, raw, and mind-numbing. This was the voice of a generation for mis-fit high school kids. Get it now!

EXCELENT heavy metal album from the legendary punk/metal outfit.This is one of my most listened metal albums of all times.Midtempo,abrasive,crunchy and poweful metal,with GORGEOUS vocal processing and breathtaking production.On the downside,I personally could have used more solos,but I guess they would'nt have been a good match to the general tempo and oppresive atmosphere of the album.I have worn the cassette tape I bought in'82,the vinyl record after that,and I really hope cd's don't wear out from repeated plays,if that tells you anything !!!!!

A couple of the other reviews I read are from disappointed punk rockers and skate through the realm of ignorance as a result. Every song on this album is a manaical metalfest. It breaks into my top 10 heavy metal albums of all time. Their previous albums don't even come close to this one as far as listening enjoyment from a metal standpoint, although Valley of 84 has 4 decent songs and Metal Priestess had 4 good songs. Their debut album was a horrible joke. This album was produced by Dieter Dierks (sp?), who produced all of the Scorpions great albums. The "wall of metal" sound is magnificent and Wendy O' puts on the greatest female screaming vocal performance in history, even surpassing Anne Boleyn of Hellion. After I brought this one home in 1982 and took it to some parties, everyone around here went out and bought a copy, wearing their Coup D'Etat cassettes to a frazzle. If you're a metalhead and a copy of this isn't in your collection, then you never really lived.

This CD is a little different, but still great.

"Stop" is a wild song sung on mania, it is heavily charged energy.

"Rock N Roll" is Wendy 's sultry voiced singing, very sexy song with a great beat. Beyond description, only listening to the full song will realize it's aggressive, erotic potency.

"Mistress of Taboo", that must have been written about Wendy herself and is really good example of their work.

Originally released in 1982,as this was the band's third and final album-only to signify their demise. WHY is it that so many happening punk bands as such usually have just two,maybe three actual albums out before disbanding? Example:New York Dolls,Stooges,Dead Boys,Pink Fairies,MC5. 'Coup D'Etat' isn't AS outstanding as their first two records 'New Hope For The Wretched' and 'Beyond The Valley Of 1984' (see my review of both), but still is decent. Tracks here that did the most for me are "Put Your Love In Me" (possibly the late Wendy O.Williams theme song?),their Motorhead cover "No Class","Mistress Of Taboo" and "The Damned"(always like catching this video,where Wendy O. drives a school bus through a tall stack of television sets).After looking at the liner notes,I see that this lp was produced by Dieter Dierks(best known for his work with the Scorpions and old school German krautrockers Tangerine Dream and Ash Ra Tempel).Never knew that.Worth checking out,that is if you dug the first two Plasmatics albums.