Customer Reviews

Godstar: The Director's Cut (Reis)

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

 

 

As someone who appreciates experimental and pop music equally, I have to say that this album features the best of each. Songs like Godstar and Just Like Arcadia are great pop (in the context of Psychic TV) songs, while A Mind Blown Is a Mind Throne and Abstract Reality showcase the band's avant garde sensibilities. Instead of the album feeling schizophrenic, it actually fits together somehow, offering variation rather than incoherence. The more experimental songs are by no means unlistenable or boring; on the contrary they are the most rewarding in my opinion. The cover songs add a period feel while touches such as P-Orridge's spoken word during the climax of Good Vibrations remind you that this is from the man who was once called a "wrecker of civilization".
The liner notes are a real treat. The essay by P-Orridge gives a lot of information, not just on the making of these songs but also on the history of his fascination with Brian Jones.
The more I listen to these disks, the more I wish Psychic TV's early albums were still in print. Thankfully, we have this.

im sorry to have to correct the other reviewer on here, but i feel the need to clarify the information at hand. this is the soundtrack to a movie that was never made (read the booklet for more info) on BRIAN JONES, not brian wilson. the opening lines of the title track should be enough to alert you of this particular fact. "this is a story/a very special story/it's about brain jones/the one on the rolling stones". do they do a cover of good vibrations? yes. does that have anything to do with anything? not really, i think they just dug the song.
that aside...
this album was previous released as an unfinished work under the title 'allegory and self: the starlit mire'. this was always one of my favorite ptv releases, but DONT GO GET IT!!! get this one instead. this is the album as it was intended to be. remastered and finalised, this is an AWESOME release that any fan is sure to adore. get it get it get it!

This is an overblown, filler-packed version of a what would have been a real good LP-length album.

But yes, the good stuff is real nice.
I am a big fan of these:
- Godstar (pick a version - Ready Steady Go is the best I think)
- As Tears Go By
- Je T'Aime, Moi Non Plus
- Just Like Arcadia
- Roman P
- Good Vibrations

I just think that unless you are a PTV fanatic (perhaps like some of the other reviewers?) it would be hard to recommend paying top dollar for this 2CD set. And it is a bit annoying to listen to the album straight through - as you'll hear 6 versions of the best track (Godstar).

I have read in the booklet that the movie on Brian Wilson ("Godstar") were to be shot in 1986. Psychic TV then never made it and now has released the soundtrack in 2004. What a great idea.
Me and my friends are extremely surprised because of the extraordinary quality of the songs. You will not find something similar. Strange, fresh, virtous musicians, same dark aspects in it. Some songs by Brian Wilson as great cover versions. My favourite is "Just like Arcadia". I have been listening to it for weeks now.