Customer Reviews

Grave Disorder

5 star:		(29)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Grave Disorder" demonstrates that, far from being washed up old punksters, The Damned are alive and well and creating excellent and innovative music, far better than the botched "Not Of This Earth" from the mid-1990s and even their more commercial efforts on the MCA Label back in the 1980s. For those who loved "The Black Album," and "Strawberries," this is the album you've been waiting 15 years to hear.

The range of songs on "Grave Disorder" is extremely impressive - - from slow, haunting ballads to incredibly fast and hard charging punk rock - and the lyricism of Captain Sensible and the voice of Dave Vanian remain in fine form. New bandmembers Pinch, Patricia Morrison and Monty Oxy Moron are superb in their musical ability with noteworthy songs including "Song.com", "Democracy?" and "Would You Be So Hot (If You Weren't Dead?)"

If you want to hear great new music from a time-tested band, experience "Grave Disorder."

Wow-ee is this a great album or what??? The Damned absolutely refuse to die, and God bless `em for it. In my opinion, the truly great artists never stop writing and recording, and these guys must be in it for the love of music, because they have never matched the commercial success of the Clash or the Sex Pistols. However, I personally prefer the Damned to both of those bands, and Grave Disorder is a prime example of why. It's a near-perfect blend of punk, rock, pop, and psychedelia, with a touch of goth attitude thrown in.

The Damned are very serious about their music, but they never make the mistake of trying to SOUND serious in an effort to prove it. Sure, they have political and social concerns, but it never overpowers the music or threatens to weigh things down. There is a sense of theatrical fun and experimentation that runs through the album, and while they incorporate many different elements into their sound, their style is uniquely their own.

"Democracy" starts things off with explosive drumming by Pinch and ferocious guitar work by Captain Sensible, while Dave Vanian tells us that "Revolution changes nothing, and voting changes even less". This is followed up by "Song.com" a punk/Beach Boys hybrid which salutes the internet. After that comes "Thrill Kill" a first-person account of a serial killer's illicit fantasies intoned over an ominous minor key bass line. It's one of the best tracks on the album, and despite its (apparently) gruesome subject matter, Vanian's theatrical tongue-in-cheek approach makes it less horrific and more horror-movie-like (which was undoubtedly the idea).

"She" is a stomping psychedelic number, with a decidedly Sisters-of-Mercy-esque vocal at the end. "Looking for Action" is the closest thing to pure punk on the album, and it sounds like it could have easily fit in on the first Damned album (Damned Damned Damned). "Would You Be So Hot" examines the positive effects of death on one's level of popularity, and "Amen" is a scathing attack on organized religion, propelled by a throbbing two-chord riff and frantic drumming by Pinch.

"Absinthe", a moody minor key tune, features some odd but appealing chord changes and atmospheric theremin work by Vanian. I have to ask, when was the last time you heard theremin on a punk record? Hell, when was the last time you heard theremin on anything??? That fact alone should intrigue people enough to check out this innovative and diverse CD. "Neverland" is a timely parody of Michael Jackson that originally appeared on a Captain Sensible solo CD, but the chorus and the bridge are just so bloody magnificent he decided to redo it with the Damned.

"The End of Time" is another goth-flavored number with obsessive lyrics, and "Obscene", one of my personal favorites on Grave Disorder, has a lilting little melody which is offset by nightmarish keyboard effects. "W" has an almost techno feel and should be of particular interest to Bush-baiters, while the album closer, "Beauty of the Beast" features a gorgeous performance by Monty, the Damned's resident keyboard player.

The Damned are truly one of the most under-appreciated and undervalued bands out there, and this CD is proof of it. Don't remain in the dark about these creative geniuses. Pick this one up and find out for yourself.

Man! Wow! Finally I've got new music from the Damned to listen to! This album shows just how great this band was, and still is. It picks up where '82's "Strawbwerries" left off without skipping a beat. By the way, DO NOT get "Not of this Earth". It's Nothing like the Damned should sound like. Get this, "Strawberries", and "The Black Album" (get it on vinyl too!). Make sure you take a good listen to "Would You Be So Hot (If you weren't dead?)" It grew on me and now is stuck in my head for a week. I hope I don't wait 19 more years 'till the next one.

The Damned, now left behind as one of the Grandfathers of punk rock, come out of the wood work and prove that they can still show the new boys on the block a trick or two.

The Damned have always been at the fun end of punk rock, never giving a marbles for what other people think. Probably why now, with all members in their forties, they keep on rocking away unconcerned about their previous youth only policy. Even the first punks "The Who" had to change their most famous line from "I hope I die before I get old" to "I hope I die before I feel old".

The world would be a much grimmer place without the mad panto punk of The Damned. This dog still has very fond memories of The Damned supporting Marc Bolan & T. Rex, and watching a smashed out of his mind Captain Sensible pouncing about the Newcastle City hall stage in a bright turquoise dress whilst shredding the song "New Rose" with his guitar at full volume. It's these kinds of memories that stay with you for life.

And it's precisely that spirit of the absurd that is captured here on The Damned's fine new collection of up tempo raucous anthems, ironically released on Dexter Hollands very own label. (The fact being that Dexter's band Offspring covered The Damned's brilliant "Smash It Up" some years back).

So, what you have here is 13 fabulous cuts all featuring what you would expect from The Damned, speed, melody, aggression, attitude by the bucket load, a belly full of laughs. We mustn't forget David Vanian's preoccupation with all things about B movie horror, gothic and ghoulish, although all with tongue firmly planted in the side of his cheek. As a good sample of this check out his evil crooning on the spine chilling song "Thrill Kill".

The Damned have always been the sort of boys who would enjoy Pattaya, so I think it would be only fair if Pattaya enjoyed The Damned. But don't take them to be a nostalgia act especially within their ear shot or you could end up hurt or at least at the end of one of Captain Sensible's cunning little pranks.

So better break out the Tequilas and Snake Bites because The Damned are back. "Grave Disorder" is definitely Neat Neat Neat...

Never say die! Whoa, what great tuneage from the boys who everybody (including myself) counted out. "Amen" blasts religion more tunefully and funnier than "Anti-pope" of yore. This album reminds me of "The Black Album", but is a hell of a lot more (and less) mature. Good to have the Capn back. If you've been holding back on getting this, please reconsider. Oh yeah, and see em live too.

Unreal! For any hesitant 'old school punk' stalwarts, you don't know what you're missing. Without question, this is their best album yet. I've been listening to The Damned forever and can't recommend this album more highly. Also, if you're just getting into The Damed, start by buying this one!

Also, saw them last night at Cane's here in San Diego (9/30/01). I don't care what your plans are, when they come to town YOU MUST GO SEE THEM! Straight-up, it was the best, most energitic show I can recall seeing from any band, period. Super-tight! They played as if their lives depended on the satisfaction of the crowd. Tired? Working next day? Lazy? Tough! Get off your duffs and see these legends of punk put on the best show currently on the road.

This album certainly lives up to my expectations for what a Damned album should be. The tracks go from punk chaos, to psychedlic to goth ballads....a little bit of something for everyone. Favorite songs so far include "Song.com" (despite the title), Thrill Kill (awesome guitar and menacing vocals)and "Would you be so hot (if you weren't dead". A can't imagine any Damned fan being disappointed with this album and hopefully it will win them so new unholy converts.

I'm not sure I'd say they're "back" but I would say the Damned are still going strong. This is easily their best album since Anything and in some ways is their best since Machine Gun Ettiquette (my personal fave). Not only does this album really rock, but many of the lyrics are clever, timely and political but not in an annoying way. The opener, Democracy, is an instant Damned classic, as is "W" (about guess whom). There are a lot of other great (and catchy) tunes, many of which really rock like the old Damned. It's truly remarkable that the Damned have been going so strong for so long; I can't think of many other bands that can match them on this. As far as I'm concerned they've outdone the Stones' golden era (60s + 70s) . . . and I'm a big Stones fan.

my favorite damned albums are machine gun etiquette of course, the often overlooked black album, the phenomenal strawberries, and as surprising as it will sound the latest damned album "grave disorder" which im reviewing right here...democracy? is a rahter weak start compared to the past albums, but still a good song, the rest of the album picks up the pace and slows down for a haunting end. picture phantasmagoria with less keyboards and done better. not to mention it can be humorous at times as well...the song "w" proves that..."lookin for action" makes me laugh sometimes as well...the best two songs in my opinion that make this album a must to damned fans are "thrill kill" and "would you be so hot if you weren't dead?"...trust me when i say that the british still have what it takes to be punk in this new millenia. with the growing number of sellouts and punk bands in the US that are still around from this dayand age, they all sound old and gray compared to this(well maybe TSOL is an exception)...yeah the UK still has Adicts, GBH, Exploited, and The Damned. Anyways, I higly recommend this album.

Grave Disorder is so incredible it's impossible for me to choose a favorite song. The best thing about the album in general is that it sounds like The Damned. I was at first a bit wary about buying this album because some bands will take a long hiatus from making records only to return and sound like rubbish, or as if they've switched music genres completely. I am now sorry I ever doubted Grave Disorder. The Damned still know how to be The Damned. This CD not only sounds new, but it also gives a feeling of the continuation of a musical legacy and only adds to their collection of amazing songs. Dave Vanian's voice is in perfectly beautiful condition and every other member also seems to be top notch. A definite plus is all of the interesting sound clips, keyboards, backing vocals, and other add-ins that the band chose to include in just the right places in almost every song. And all of the lyrics to each track are included in the sleeve. A must have for any (as the liner notes put it) "discerning music lover!"