Customer Reviews

Crocodiles

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Released in 1980, Echo & The Bunnymen's debut album "Crocodiles" was one of the years best new wave rock releases. I never considered Echo & The Bunnymen to be "punk" like British groups "Chelsea", "Sham 69" or "The Buzzcocks", although lead singer Ian McCulloch certainly had the "punk" look. I compare them to groups like XTC, U2 or even The Stranglers who had more of a unique style. Echo's songs consisted of mostly a three chord progression style but sounded fuller due to lead guitarist Will Sargaent and bassist Les Pattinson. Songs such as "Rescue", "Going Up", "Monkeys", "Stars Are Stars", "Villiars Terrace", "Pictures On My Wall" and "All That Jazz" are the standout tracks. This expanded version of "Crocodiles" includes six bonus tracks, "Do It Clean", "Read It In Books", "Simple Stuff", Villiars Terrace (Early Version)", "Pride (Early Version)" and "Simple Stuff (Early Version)". You also get the "Shine So Hard" EP which includes "live" versions of "Crocodiles", "Zimbo", "All That Jazz" and "Over The Wall" which have to be heard to be believed. This cd has also been remastered and sounds excellent with crisp highs, increased bass, midrange and output level. There's also an eleven page booklet enclosed with interesting information and pictures of Echo & The Bunnymen. This is one essential cd that should be in anyone's collection that enjoys classic new wave music. Highly Recommended!

Like many bands from the late 70s-early 80s, Echo and the Bunnymen had their roots in a more simplistic and straight forward approach. Crocodiles was released in 1980 and was the group's first album. Echo and the Bunnymen were formed by singer/guitarist Ian Mcculloch, guitarist Will Sergeant, bassist Les Pattinson, and drummer Pete De Freitas.
The album starts with the jangly plodding of "Going Up", and Mcculloch gives the listner their first glimpse at his beatifully sad voice. I personally love the way "Going Up" segueways into "Stars Are Stars" which is one of the albums strongest cuts. After hearing "Stars Are Stars" I was sold on the rest of the album. Crocodiles is the epitomy of what a great record can be without nonsensical overproductions. Like other contempories of the time (Cure's-Boy's Dont Cry, Joy Division/Warsaw, Magazine), all these bands went to achieve larger and larger audiences with each new albums' explorations, but personally all the above and the Bunnymen included, have their strongest outings on their first releases. Crocodiles ranges from morose and sad to somewhat upbeat and the entire album is carried by De Freitas' steady beats.
"Pride","Monkeys","All That Jazz" are the albums slower songs whereas "Stars Are Stars", "Crocodiles", "Villiers Terrace", and "Rescue" move Crodiles with more upbeat and pop sensibilities. Sergeant's unique playing style is somewhat reminiscent of Johnny Marr's (Smiths). The only track that feels out of place is the last song "Happy Death Men" through the song's repitetiveness, drags on to long. But never fret because the reissue of Crocodiles includes 10 bonus tracks.
The reissue of Crocodiles includes the Shine So Hard EP with live versions of "Crocodiles","Zimbo","All That Jazz", and an amazing version of "Over the Wall". The re-issue includes three great additional songs "Do It Clean", "Read It In Books", and "Simple Stuff". The reissue also includes earlier versions of some the album's songs and are basically just filler.
Echo and the Bunnymen would go on to release other classics such as Heaven Up There, Porcupines, and Ocean Rain, but the nexus of all things great created by the band, can be found on Crocodiles. Crocodiles may be one of the most underappreciated albums of its' time up there with the Soft Boys-Underwater Moonlight and Captain Beefheart's-Safe as Milk.

Echo and the Bunnymen introduced and/or were right on time in Crocodiles with the dark wave and post punk movement in music that included the Chameleons, Psychedelic Furs, the Church, Ride, Stone Roses, Sheyllean Orphan, later Cure, Patti Smith, Joy Division, Durutti Column, Charlatans UK, Slowdive, Coldplay, Bloody Valentine, and just about anything that came out of Manchester, Factory records, or .Crocodiles is a blueprint for the sounds of the late 1970's. From the first note you can hear the next Wave strapping on their Rickenbackers and Gresch guitars and building an empire of great music. Going Up includes us all as Ian McCulloch repeats the up up up in a way that feels like the age of 20 becoming 16 again. Happy Death Men is the challenge to explore chant and drone into closing explosions of sound. Rescue is everything a lonely rocker needs and Ian never loses touch that the song is all about the self and nothing more. Will Sergeant, along with Les Pattison and Peter de Freitas made shoe gazing a code of honor way before Ride hit the streets with Nowhere. You can hear the notes painting circles on the floor throughout Villiers Terrace. This album, Crocodiles, is one of the top essentials ever for understanding how the British Wave of the late 1970's became the trademark sound of dark England for the next 20 years. In a way first albums mean everything for the way a band makes it's way in the world, and Crocodiles is one of those great albums where music, thought and expression are equally important. For me this album was the gateway to a world of music that touches and inspires to this day.