Customer Reviews

Happy Planet

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

 

 

This is WOV 2, the Andy Prieboy WOV and it is pretty good. A lot of catchy songs and innovative lyrics. No real bad songs to speak of. If you are lucky enough to stumble across a copy, you should snag it. "Hollywood the Second Time", "When the Lights Go Out", and "Country of Man" are three standouts. Not saying this is better than the Ridgway WOV, just different.

This of course was the last studio release by one of the greatest and most underrated bands of all-time, Wall of Voodoo. For people not well educated on WOV (which I am guessing is nobody that would be here), there were two WOVs, one was fronted by Stan Ridgway, the second was fronted by Andy Prieboy. Both WOVs were equally brilliant. However, perhaps the strongest reason for Wall of Voodoo's greatness was the writing and guitar playing of Marc Moreland. On "Happy Planet", Prieboy's incredible voice and charisma are matched by the songwriting genius of Marc Moreland (the man that wrote "Mexican Radio"). All of the songs on this album are just brilliant and this might be the WOV masterpiece that somehow flew under the radar. Place it up there with "Seven Days.." and "Call of the West."

In college in 1987, all my friends were well-familiar with the album "Call of the West." Even now, I still clearly remember the day a few of us were sitting around, and my roommate pulled out the new Wall of Voodoo album he'd picked up. We sat there and listened a few minutes, and my then-girlfriend exclaimed, "Wow... It's like Wall of Voodoo grew up!" I think that's really the best review of this album that I've come across. I didn't know about the dichotomy between Ridgeway and Prieboy until I just read the other review of this album, but I'm sure that's much of the difference. This album has polish and drive that I never found in the frenetic effort of Call of the West. Highly recommended! Still a favorite listen of mine 20 years later.

A used copy of this CD will run you at least $30. It has 3 good songs -- Hollywood The Second Time being both a personal favorite and that of other reviewers. I really like the cover of Do It Again, and Ain't My Day sounds like a worthy extra from "Seven Days In Sammystown".
Now, "Sammystown" is easily worth $30. It is a haunting, unique album, possessed with passion.
The remainder of "Happy Planet" is OK. But only pay $30-or-more for the CD if you're a confirmed Wall of Voodoo-aholic.

This album was the last Wall of Voodoo ever made (ok, there technically was another called The Ugly Americans In Australia, but that was only an old live recording they released in order to fulfill their bad record contract)

The band was once again in turmoil, and despite that, they were still able to ride it out and finish the album! the album is great, and since it's hard to find, I recommend to anyone who is looking for it to snap up what you can while you can because since the record didnt break into the pop charts very well, it's unlikely it will ever be reprinted.