Customer Reviews

Katrina & The Waves

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

 

 

OK, I've listened to this CD and was disappointed because... these aren't the original versions of the songs. See kids, Katrina and the Waves came out with two albums in Canada on the Attic label: Walking on Sunshine and the imaginatively titled Katrina and the Waves 2. Brilliant, brilliant stuff; each album has 10 songs and they're banged out in about 1/2 an hour on each record (yep, they're not available on CD). As for this CD, half the songs are from their first Attic record and the other half are from the 2nd, and they've all been re-recorded. Unfortunately, something definitley got lost in transition... except for "Walking on Sunshine"; I'll always go with the horns version on this CD, 'cause it was the one I first heard. Fans, do yourself a favor, hunt down their first 2 Attic albums. They are worth it. And, oh, if anyone from Attic is reading this (does the label still exist?), put those records out on one disc!!! My record copies are wearing out!!!!!!

Anyone looking for this out of print gem should check out the still in print Katrina & the Waves CD "Anthology." It contains ALL ten of the songs on this album (in a different running order) as well as four tracks from the underrated follow-up album "Waves." Eight of these ten songs are also on the import compilation "Walking on Sunshine" with an improved sound as well.

Only a handful of Katrina and the Waves' songs reached my ears, primarily from this album and one single from their Waves album. From listening to their eponymous 1985 album, they seem to be a combination of the Bangles, Pretenders, with some clever pop hooks thrown in. And Katrina Leskanich's voice seems a smoother, poppier rendition of Chrissie Hynde and Vicki Peterson of the Bangles rolled in one. While displaying the hallmarks of 80's new wave, there are some nods to 50's and 60's sounds with a fiery guitar in spots.

"Red Wine and Whiskey" veers more towards Pretenders territory with its chugging harder-edged guitar. The fast-paced goodbye tune "Do You Want Crying," barely cracked the Top 40, sported a more pop sound despite keeping the Pretenders-like guitars

"Machine Gun Smith" is a throwback to old 50's rock and roll featuring a searing guitar solo towards the end of the song.

"Gonna sing you a sad sad song," says Katrina in the spoken intro of the 60's bluesy-gospel-soul ballad "Cry To Me," but it's also one of those songs of comfort. Her voice wavers from hard-edged rock chick to sensitive soul girl. Another standout cut here.

Their best known hit, "Walking On Sunshine," can either be seen as the epitome of girlish cornball pop or infectious fun with that poppy percussion section or the snappy horns that kick in during the intro and chorus. Maybe it's because it's been overplayed and ends up in some movie or other as the song cued in during the happy ending scene in comedies. Don't get me wrong, I like it... when it hits me in the right frame of mind, that is. Other times, I'm allergic to sunshine, metaphorically speaking.

However, the version of "Going Down To Liverpool" pales besides the Bangles' upbeat cover of it, despite the fact that it was Katrina and co. who originally did it. There's something wanting here, such as the tempo and arrangements. This and other songs here were originally done on their first two albums, and for their major label debut, they redid songs from those albums, with bad results in the case of this song.

"Mexico" combines 60's rock with a Latin "La Bamba"-type beat, and is a standout track. "The Sun Won't Shine Without You" shows Katrina can do a sentimental 60's R&B-style ballad. I get shades of Aretha's "You Make Me Feel" and Nazareth's "Love Hurts" listening to this.

The fun and rambling "The Game Of Love" with its southern-like guitars and sound, is a humorous song about a shy guy who doesn't know many dances, such as the alligator, bossa nova, or twist, and also, how to kiss. Katrina vows to teach him all those things as well as the title to boot. This could easily be done by the Georgia Satellites to give one an idea. She accompanies the music with shouts of "hit the books" and "get some learning."

Not bad of its sort, as other 80's new wave/power pop/etc. bands have been better, but at least they had "Walking On Sunshine" to make sure people remember them.

Great flippin' mid-eighties album here.
6 classics and 3 other strong to very strong songs.
From the handful of Chuck Berry-inspired rockers to the sweet, sweet twin ballads, this CD packs a super punch.
K&tW were never close to this consistant or catchy again, but for one moment they were...walking on sunshine.
"Sunshine" has been played to death in movies and on radio stations, but is a fine cut.
From the opening harmonies of "Red Wine & Whiskey", to the Bangles-covered "Goin Down to Liverpool", to the Stone-sy licks on "Game of Love" that closes this rockfest, this recording should be part of your collection.
Amazingly solid.
Perfect for driving down the highway on a summer day.

*** Get these songs on the "ANTHOLOGY", where he SOUND QUALITY is far superior. All the cuts are on on that Best of, plus some other good moments. A wiser purchase ***

"Katrina & the Waves" is a master-piece,no doubt about that! Strong songs,electric guitar,cheerful atmosphere,and a great singer.Katrina Leskanich can sing absolutely anything,from rock pieces to cool melodies.She has listened to soul music,and we can notice it in her singing. The whole album is more than pleasant.Take a good listen at it and ENJOY!

One of the great injustices of the music world was the failure of this terrific band to sustain the popularity brought to them by the glorious top ten single "Walking On Sunshine."

Although incorrectly dismissed as a "one hit wonder" (the band had four other hits crack the U.S. charts) this album alone has a slew of cuts to make future music historians wonder just what was wrong with the musical priorities on the mid 1980's. "Do You Want Crying," "Que Te Quiero," Going Down To Liverpool," "The Game of Love" and the blistering "Mexico" are just a few of the highlights of this magnificent example of power pop song craft.

I guess we just did not deserve Katrina and the Waves!

Everyone knows "Walking On Sunshine," (and "Going Down To Liverpool, thanks to the Bangles' version), but there are at least four or five other songs on this album that deserve to be heard:

"Red Wine & Whiskey" kicks things off in style, with Kimberly Rew's guitar licks figuring prominently in the song. A powerful, rousing chorus gives this tune a boost.

"Do You Want Crying" is an upbeat song with downer lyrics. Katrina really shouts out the title line.

"Que Te Quiero" is one of the best tunes on the album -- bouncy, catchy, lots of fun. "Mexico" follows with the same theme, and is equally uplifting.

Then there are the lackluster songs:

"Cry for Me" blatantly rips off Hendrix's "The Wind Cries Mary." Even with that song as a basis, "Cry" ends up being infinitely more boring.

"The Sun Won't Shine Without You" milks the "Sunshine" theme one more time, for not-so-good measure.

"Machine Gun Smith" doesn't have much of a melody, and I find it pretty annoying. It is not the sort of song that Katrina's voice is made for.

The good songs, though, are power-pop gems, and are worth the purchase price.