Customer Reviews

Futurama

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Can't believe I'm actually listening to this. Again. Haven't heard this collection of songs since I was a teenager in the mid '70's (a great time to be a teenager, too ;-)

Enough nostalgia. Futurama is one of the most beautiful and poetic records *ever* made by anyone. Words cannot due it justice. It also rocks from beginning to end (not to mention the 3 bonus tracks which are a real treat).

Thank you, Bill Nelson, for making this music.

After 'Axe Victim', Bill Nelson returns with a new band and new ideas based on dreams about his wife Jan. The result is probably the best Be Bop Deluxe release of their career. The songs are classic: Sister Seagull, Maid in heaven, Stage Whispers, Between the Worlds and Speed of the wind. These tracks have real staying power when other tracks from later releases were quickly forgotten. There are three bonus tracks with a total of 12 tracks. 'Futurama' is the best disc in the Be Bop Deluxe catalog. The booklet contains all the song lyrics as well as photos in this anniversary edition. EMI continues their high quality remastering with this title. Sound quality is superb. A must have for the serious fan. 12 tracks/45.49.

I have most of the Be Bop Deluxe material. Personaly speaking my favorite is the "Live" CD, but Im a musician and can appreciate the flawless performance that is the "Live" CD. Futurama is another excellent CD full of Very Good Songs. I dont buy a CD unless I know that Im going to enjoy most/all of the songs.(that means I buy my good stuff well after the release of the CD). All of the songs recorded by BeBop is recommended listening for the "Rock" fan. Bill Nelson is the "Best" guitarist Ive ever heard, and while singing lead vocals to boot !!! I have to admit that you probably really like BeBop, or dont care for them. For those that like, this CD is a must. For those that haven't heard, I recommend the "Live" CD. (Live in the Air Age).

Having been a BeBOP fan since "Axe Fictim" ,I would agree "Futurama" is the band's most accomplished work.Great guitar songs abound, the stunning "Sister Seagull", the mellow acoustic "Jean Cocteau", the rocking "Maid in Heaven" ,"Swan Song"-awesome. I never tire hearing the stirring fade-out of Soundtrack. This album got knocked for being "over-produced" and Roy Thomas Baker can get outa hand(see Queen), but this record is a full realization of Bill Nelson's vision and remarkable song writing and guitar playing talents-A lost rock Masterpiece.

Futurama is a landmark recording of the pop art glam era, beautifully produced by Roy Thomas Baker - although Bill Nelson himself may disagree with this view ! :-()

The record has not aged and stands up well against the brave new moderns who drew their influences from Be- Bop Deluxe.

Peter Cook

Author 'Sex, Leadership and Rock'n'Roll - Leadership Lessons from the Academy of Rock' - contains a cameo section on the genius of Bill Nelson

This is one of the finest albums that Be Bop Deluxe ever produced. It's one of the finest albums made, period. Why this band never really took off is beyond me. Bill Nelson is one of the finest guitarists around, but sadly, IMHO, his solo stuff pales in comparison to what he did with BBD. This album is chocked full of tasty treats, including Maid in Heaven, Sister Seagull, and Speed of the Wind as a Bonus Track. All the tracks are good as are all the BBD albums. There are few bands that I must have every album, but BBD is one of the few. I only wish that there were more.

The masters on these `08 Japan mini-sleeve CD's are the same exact masters produced in 1990 for the original issue of all the Be-Bop albums on CD, with the same bonus tracks. They are DESPERATELY in need of a sonic make-over.

It's nice having the original LP cover replicas, as the artwork for the Be-Bop albums were always imaginative affairs. However, the cost of these `sleeve editions, vs. the 18-year old audio, is an investment you really have to strain yourself to make.

Unless you just HAVE TO HAVE the `sleeves, if you already own the jewel-case versions, you should pass on these.

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.

The Guitarist, Bill Nelson, is one the best guitarists in the world. They weave arrangements with verve and aplomb. Highly recommend!

I believe it is a very good effort for a second album. Excellent song writing attributes to the overall great sonic output on this disc. Nelson is a music creating machine that is ever evolving. I only gave it four stars because I feel Axe Victim is a tall order to top on a second album. I love all of BBD material, as a rule.

Hot anthem glam sounds from the 70's meet Rush like populous prog sounds. Proto punk in places as well as proto wave. Way before its time. Classic Bill Nelson.