Dark Continent / Call of the West

Wall Of Voodoo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 10, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Raven (Aus)
• ASIN: B002QF32BG
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #28,515 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Raven presents two original, innovative wall of voodoo albums on one cd for the first time: dark continent (i.r.s., 1981) and call of the west (i.r.s., 1982). Wall of voodoo emerged from the late 1970s los angeles punk/alternative scene with a unique blend of machine-age junk music and off-kilter pop-rock. Like devo, wall of voodoo's sound was always challenging and entertaining, or as once described, 'classy halloween music, scary but pleasantly so'. The debut dark continent was brilliantly executed with a blend of hyperactive rhythm box beats, western and film noir-influenced guitar, colourful washes of synthesizer and lead singer stan ridgway's distinctive vocals and highly stylised cinematic narratives. Tracks like 'back in flesh' and 'full of tension' dealt with tense relationships in a suitably dark manner. Allmusic guide: 'if originality and artistic vision are any measure of a rock album's worth, dark continent delivers on both counts'. Call of the west is livelier and even more articulate, yielding the now-classic alternative hit 'mexican radio'. 'lost weekend' and 'factory' examined the quiet tragedy of suburban existence. There's intelligence at work and a bite to the music that continues to mark call of the west as a successful and altogether satisfying work. Ridgway left the band in 1983 for a prominent solo career and the band continued for another five years. With superb quality audio, detailed liner notes, colour booklet

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Both WoV Albums That Matter, On One CD, January 15, 2010

By 

Robert Szarka (Norwich, CT USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dark Continent / Call of the West (Audio CD)

If you don't already own these two classic albums on CD, here's the best of Wall of Voodoo's music at an affordable price. Given that Dark Continent has been out-of-print on CD for a while, this disc is also worth buying for that album alone. (The version of Call of the West included here doesn't differ appreciably from the earlier CD release.) There's nothing fancy about the packaging (unlike my vinyl copy, lyrics are not included); and, while the sound quality is quite good, it's nothing special. But this disc does get the job done.

If you're new to Wall of Voodoo, you're in for a real treat. This disc, plus The Index Masters, will give you all of their output that really matters: that is, all of co-founder Stan Ridgway's tenure with the band. Ridgway's voice and Marc Moreland's guitar were made to go together; and, while I'm also a fan of Ridgway's solo work, the compositions here are shorter, sweeter, and more energetic than when he is left to his own devices.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thanks for the re-release!!!, December 1, 2009

By 

D. O'Dell (Prescott, Arizona) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Dark Continent / Call of the West (Audio CD)

This IS the essential Wall of Voodoo. Add the WOV EP to your collection and you've got the best. Forget about 'Sammystown' and 'Happy Planet,' it ain't Wall of Voodoo without Stan Ridgway. I'm so glad this is finally available on CD, my 80s-issue LPs are about worn out! The WOV sound is truly unique, crazy drum-machine beats, Marc Moreland's (RIP) wicked surf/crunch guitar, killer synths and Stan Ridgway's visually-epic lyrics. Call it New Wave, industrial surf, cowpunk, whatever ---there just isn't anything else that sounds like Classic Wall of Voodoo.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wall of California Desert of Sound, April 22, 2010

By 

Gerardo Martinez Casas "Gary" (Charlotte, North Carolina) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Dark Continent / Call of the West (Audio CD)

It was the perfect desert music, a combination Los Angeles punk "X" and country rock "The Doors", at a perfect time, early 80's, where all music with soul in it had a chance to fly above it all. Well crafted tunes with fun and twisted rhythms under clever and road tested lyrics.