Customer Reviews

Coup De Grace / Where Angels Fear to Tread

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

 

 

I only know the separate albums, but this double pack sure is value for money! The two best albums by Mink Deville on one CD, packed with some of the best songs DeVille has ever written. Emotion, musicianship, lyricism, it's all here, folks! This is what Mink DeVille stood for: gritty production, soaring saxophone, heart-felt pain... Willy DeVille is the most romantic songwriter this side of the sun, I think. And the pleasure just seeps through every note.

Mink Deville were, quite simply, one of the great bands. There's no other way to put it. True, they never got too far on the road to popularity. Maybe, in the post-modern era, nakedly romantic love songs aren't cool any more. But, man--these guys had some incredible songs. "Harlem Nocturne" is a fun bonus, but the albums really stand on their own. Willy's read of "You Better Move On," with his endearing sincerity, is a highlight of the album.
These aren't quite the best albums in the Mink Deville corpus, and I'd recommend Cabretta and Le Chat Bleu (in that order) as a first entry point to the band. But they continued to subtly refine and deepen their sound throughout their life as a band, and Willy Deville is, quite simply, a wonderful songwriter. This compilation is well, well worth the time of any music fan who still believes in the idea of love.

Coup de Grace and Angels Fear to Tread were two VERY different Mink albums for many reasons. Coup de Grace was easily Mink's hardest hitting, rock-oriented offering; much of that's due, I believe, to drummer Tommy Price's appearance in the DeVille lineup. Price powers his way through tune after after, creating a power that was absent in any previous (and subsequent) DeVille albums -- either as a band or as solo artist. The material is strong, not great. Give Me One Good Reason, Maybe Tomorrow, and Love Me Like You Did Before are the rockers and translate in real fine live performances when Willy takes them on the road. The album is not wholly representative of DeVille -- just another side to a remarkable artist. Where Angels Fear to Tread is my personal least favorite album of all DeVille efforts. The material is not very compelling and most, if not all, of the drum parts are programmed. It's jarring to hear these two albums played one after the other, because of the gross difference in percussion.

I always struggle to describe the wonderful music of Mink DeVille. He showed up in the NY & NJ clubs at the same time as the new wave (Talking Heads, Television) bands crested. But he was a completely modern rocker with a Latin twist with strong influences from Ben E. King. Passionate, romantic, rocking, wistful -- Willy's keen songwriting and distinctive vocals combined with the best rhythm section I saw saw at a live performance to make a compelling musical product. This double set combines two fine LPs into one essential bargain.

Dissappointing...simply stunning. I consider myself to be an avrid music listener/buyer/critic, and I am incensed. I bought this stinky album because of the high reviews it recieved on this very netsite. I thought could trust it, but I guess was trajicklly mistaken. Thanks a lot bums.