Index Masters

Wall Of Voodoo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 27, 2005)
• Original Release Date: 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Rykodisc
• ASIN: B000AY9ORG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #45,472 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Longarm

2. The Passenger

3. Can't Make Love

4. Struggle

5. Ring Of Fire

6. Granma's House

7. End Of An Era (Live)

8. Tomorrow (Live)

9. Animal Day (Live)

10. Longarm (Live)

11. Invisible Man (Live)

12. Red Light (Live)

13. The Good, The Bad & The Ugly / Hang Em' High (Live)

14. Back In Flesh (Live)

15. Call Box (Live)

16. The Passeneger (Live)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wall of Voodoo was way ahead of their time, October 26, 2005

By 

George Dionne (Cape Cod, MA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Index Masters (Audio CD)

The Good
Not having heard of Wall of Voodoo before, and having been four years old when this album originally came out, I instantly made comparisons to Devo and the B52's once I heard the opening tones and bombastic vocal delivery on "Long Arm". The guitar tones are stunning as each ring out with a biting twang. I think I even hear a slide whistle in there. The keyboard tones of "Passenger" are reminiscent of the Knight Rider theme mixed with any creepy horror movie theme.

It doesn't get any more experimental sounding than "Can't Make Love". Vocalist Stan Ridgeway sounds as though he's on the brink of madness. The Johnny Cash cover "Ring of Fire" shows how ahead of their time Wall of Voodoo was, because it uses effects and rhythms similar to a lot of hard rock music today. You may smirk the way `fire' is pronounced and everything else that sounds like it; very new wave. The live tracks are twenty five years old, yet you can't tell much of a difference from them and the songs from the EP.

That says a lot for the group because they didn't have the technology that the industry has today to make great live recordings. "End of an Era" has a melancholy sadness to it as it explores growing up. "Animal Day" has a percussive beat that you can dance too and lyrics you can laugh too. "Red Light" shows you that there's nothing that drummer Joe Nanini won't tap on, as you hear everything from symbols to wooden blocks. The disc (and live set) concludes with a fervent rendition of "The Passenger".

The Bad
Nothing notable

The Verdict
On The Index Sessions it's evident that Wall of Voodoo was way ahead of their time. Their combination of rock guitars and experimental sounds fell right in line with their peers, as well as establishing them in a league of their own. However, I don't think the music world was really ready for them yet. So what's your reason now?

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars EP Into An Album, March 6, 2007

By 

David D. McFarland "Judemac" (Oceanside, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Index Masters (Audio CD)

A welcome sight, the original EP with added bonus tracks that some ended up as "B" sides on 12" singles. You just can't beat "Ring Of Fire" & "Can't Make Love". So buy this one & if you like this album, you'll want to get their first album "Dark Continent" which is a expensive one right now but worth the money & "Call Of The West". As long as Stan Ridgeway was the lead vocalist, this band was great.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Wave will never die!, January 11, 2007

By 

The Haze "The Haze" (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Index Masters (Audio CD)

Wall is great on this album. No negative things to say about this one. Its a great Wall of Voodoo venue without Mexican Radio. Shh..man Ring of Fire is one of the best I've heard!