Customer Reviews

Electric

5 star:		(60)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

When 'Electric' came out, the 'Goth' followers of 'Love' and 'Dreamtime' were shocked and in rage. How could 'The Cult' release such a follow up to their classic hits like 'Rain' or 'She sells sanctuary' ? Almost 25 years later we finally know the answer by being able to hear, what this album was supposed to sound like, since the original mix is included in the 'Rare Cult' box set. Being able to compare these two versions proves even more the genious of Rick Rubin. 'Love Removal Machine' would have been a heavy, multi layered, dark eighties anthem while Rubin's production transferred this track to a timeless rock classic. This whole album is full of energy, thanks to Rick Rubin's production and the great songwriting of Billy Duffy and Ian Asburry. 'Li'l Devil' is pure adrenaline, 'Wild Flower' is the Cult at their best and 'Memphis Hip Shake' closes this album like there is no tomorrow. While America was considering the stadium rock of 'Bon Jovi' or 'Poison' as the future of rock, 'The Cult' together with Rick Rubin took a step back and created a classic British rock album. Unfortunately, 'The Cult' focused on the American market afterwards and released more mainstream oriented records like 'Sonic Temple' or 'Ceremony'.

This is by far the best album by the Cult. If it weren't for the Pixies, this would be a shoe in for best rock album of the 80's. Overall it's one of the most well crafted, pure ROCK albums out there. Fantastic vocals by Ian. I challenge anybody to top his baritone howls. Billy's solo's are awesome, not to mention the fantastic, though simplistic riffs all over the album. Drumming is great, and the bass fits perfectly. I could do without "Born to be Wild", but the rest of the album is 5 stars in every sense of the rating.

This album is so simple musically, but full of so much emotion and energy. The recording is stripped down and mixed in wallace fashion with heavy bass drums, hi hats. Ian Astbury simply wails in true form. I can never get enough of this album in all of the years I have listened to it. -Mike http://www.ebooksontheweb.com

First off, I have to say I 'grew up' on this album. I heard it first when I was still an impressionable teen and like a fine wine, it has aged well over time. Although I have always given props to The Cult in whatever incarnation they went through, this album, through and through, is just great. It's one of the most exciting, albeit mindless, rock albums you're likely to come across. You won't find any thought provoking lyrics or anything but Billy Duffy just drives it and Ian Astbury has never given more attitude to his vocals. If this is the only Cult album you bless your ears with, then turn on, turn up and enjoy.

Electric represents a welcome departure from the usual over-produced, effects-laden Cult style to a world devoid of wishy-washy effects and filled with Marshall stacks cranked to 10. Rock fans must have been blown away in 1987 when this album was released, as it defied the trend of sound excess prevalent in the 80's. On Electric, Ian Astbury's vocals cut to the bone while Billy Duffy's guitars remain in your face for the entire album.

Rick Rubin's (producer) fondness for AC/DC is evident on tracks such as "Lil' Devil" (i.e. "Who Made Who"), "Aphrodisiac Jacket" (i.e. "Night Prowler"), and "King Contrary Man" (could have been on any AC/DC album). In fact, at some points during the album Duffy could easily be mistaken for Angus Young.

My three favorite tracks on the album - in order of preference - are "King Contrary Man", "Peace Dog", and "Outlaw". "King Contrary Man" is probably the hardest rocking song on this album, though "Born To Be Wild" gives it a run for its money. I listened to this track for at least an hour, repeating it several times! The lyrics contain a nod to Mississippi Delta blues legend Robert Johnson ("Down at the crossroads temptin' fate / Said yeah you can take my soul")

"Peace Dog" comes in a close second, featuring an excellent solo backed by a headbanging rhythm and vocal section. A notable line from the lyrics is "B-five-two baby, way up in the sky / Come drop your lovin' on me child".

Finally, "Outlaw" fades in with a fast, driving riff that will infect your mind for days to come. Duffy's searing solo on this track is memorable.

Though some tracks are radio-friendly ("Wild Flower", and the Stones-esque "Love Removal Machine") they have just enough edge to keep hardcore hard rock fans from pressing fast-forward. While I generally dislike cover songs, "Born To Be Wild" on Electric is about as nasty and grinding as I've ever heard it played, and it pays homage to Steppenwolf.

On an interesting side note, the 1997 CD remaster includes detailed liner notes - filled with all the lyrics, discography specific to Electric, and a biographical article by Pat Gilbert.

I rate the overall album five stars because every track is strong; none deserve to be skipped. If you like to play it loud, live for crunching riffs, or like AC/DC - buy this album NOW.

the Cult's Electric changed the face of rock music. Although Love yielded the fantastic She Sells Sanctuary, Electric saw the band combining T-Rex style word play and classic American imagery with AC/DC influenced Riffs. Oddly enough, given Astbury's later preoccupation with Native imagery, this feels like a rock and roll cowboy album. Just look at the band names and lyrical style of the Grunge era to get an idea of this album's influence. Band names such as Grunttruck, Soundgarden, Temple of the dog all borowed from the Cult's T-Rex influenced word combination style and/or quasi-spiritual imagery. Just listen to the pre-Pearl Jam album by Mother Love Bone to hear some seriously Cult-influenced tracks. WildFlower, Aphrodesiac Jacket, Peace Dog, Li'l Devil and Love Removal Machine (with its reverse Start Me Up riff) are among the best rock tracks of the past 20 years. Sonic Temple was good but nothing touches this album.

I enjoy Pink Floyd for their deep lyrics, Led Zeppelin for everything, Sex Pistols and Henry Rollins for creativity. Every band puts out albums that some people don't like, this one happens to be my favorite from The Cult for the fact that they can play Rock 'n Roll! Now Zeppelin knew how to incorporate blues and rock like geniuses that they were but the Cult does a pretty good job here too. No, I'm not comparing the bands. This release just rocks! Sure it was a departure from what they had done in the past but that's how bands mature. The U2 of today is not the U2 of 20 years ago. This is the release where they found out they can play hard and got away from all those weird ones of their early times. I liked where they were going with Love and this release was my first Cult purchase and what turned me on to them (Wild Flower played on 91X in San Diego while in High School did it). At the time of this release it was nice to not hear another Depressed Mode/Cure/Pet Shop Boys/Echo & The Bunnymen clone in the Alternative market. Electric was never mainstream rock but it was rock nonetheless. Enjoy it for what it is.

This is quite possibly THE GREATEST hard rock album of all time. Every song on this album is great. To use an old cliche, it's a "timeless classic." The Cult totally rocked on this album. Ian Astbury's voice is like a primal scream while the guitars are fierce and almost terrifying at times. ELECTRIC is on my list of greatest rock albums of all time. Period. TEN STARS

Personally, I think it's great they did'nt make "Love" part two, cause this album just kicks you in the face man! Don't get upset,"Lovies", here me out. I listened to nothing else but this album for a year, and even today it blows the doors off all this bubble gum punk/numetal/top40/MTV crap. "ELECTRIC" is an unadulterated rock album, comparison to anything else does'nt do it justice. Ian has the most powerful lungs you'll ever hear, and Duffy's guitar just punches through the walls. The band is just solid and the songs have alot of raw snap. This record does'nt need all the theatrics, the music is the epitome of energy(too much enthusiasm?(don't care!)). I'm not going to break down any songs or tracks cause they all stand up on thier own. After this album kicks you in the face, don't look up.

I noticed a lot of people who loved their first two albums diss this one. Let me guess you probaly also like new wave and punk which is fine, but people tend to forget the Cult are an eclectic band that doesn't honor just one genre or have a signature sound and never make the same album twice and if it ticked you off that they cranked up their sound well then i'm glad they did. I like all the cult's albums old and new and theyone of my favorites.