Customer Reviews

Lonely Is An Eyesore [VHS]

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is one of the most cohesive compilations ever put together regarding overall sound as well as packaging. I still regret passing over the deluxe edition album, which included the 24 page book, in favor of the standard album that saved me a whole five dollars or so. Regardless, I still get chills listening to "Frontier" and "Muscoviet Mosquito" after twelve years. The comp. as a whole has a dark, atmospheric, post-punk sound that successfully documents 4AD's hey-day. I would recommend releases by any of the bands on the album, especially MEDUSA from Clan of Xymox, SPLEEN AND IDEAL from Dead Can Dance, IT'LL END IN TEARS and FILIGREE & SHADOW from This Mortal Coil, THROWING MUSES from Throwing Muses (available as IN A DOGHOUSE), VICTORIALAND from the Cocteau Twins, and THE LEGENDARY WOLFGANG PRESS AND OTHER TALL STORIES from The Wolfgang Press (if you can find it). Do not hesitate to buy this, the video of the same name is excellent as well and worth seeking out.

My first taste of Alternative Music when this album came out and the damage had been done, there was no turning back.
A mixture of Electro-sampling of Colourbox to the gurgle delights of Cocteau Twins and the atmospheric Dead Can Dance just signifies this as an undeniable classic. It has a blend of ambient music which mesmerizes the listener in many ways. Friends have borrowed it from me due to speculation of not understanding. Hence they purchased the album and further more, some of the bands forth coming LPs.
The a few tracks may sound slightly dated (e.g.Colourbox) but this is nearly 20 years ago and very few bands would even get close to becoming timeless in music form.
This compilation came in five forms, LP, CD, Cassette, Video and a limited edition wooden box set. Get any, listen for yourself and be hypnotised.

This is a seminal piece of audiovisual art; the music from some of the label's most successful acts: Dead Can Dance, Throwing Muses (award winning vid "Fish"), This Mortal Coil, Wolfgang Press and more. The music is exceptional in its own right, and the videos are among the best ever made. One of the few collections of music video in the world worth delivering on DVD and owning (Bjork's Volumen is another). Would love to see 4AD re-release this, or team with another company to get this material on the medium that would suit it best (DVD).

This is one of those videos I made the tragic mistake of loaning to a friend (correction: "ex-friend") oh-so-many years ago. I would love to see someone release this on DVD. "Fish" (Throwing Muses) and "Crushed" (Cocteau Twins) are standouts, but the entire video is breathtaking.

The best song on this album is "Fish" by Throwing Muses, from which the title of this moody, angst-ridden gets its name "Lonely is as lonely does. Lonely is an eyesore." I used to listen to this when I was 19,in 1993, wanting to be goth, writing bad poetry, and this seemed like the soundtrack to my life. It's a good mix of dark (Clan of Xymox, Dead can Dance) and light (Throwing Muses, Cocteau Twins).

In some small respects,it's now a bit dated but at the end of the day this compilation still has incredible bite and is a virtual personification of the 4AD label during its heyday.My friends and I played this record to death in my dorm room my freshman year in college in the fall of 1987(which is the now semi rare deluxe edition boxset that included the vinyl,booklet and companion video) The Cocteau Twins,Colourbox aka M/A/R/R/S and Throwing Muses along with the Pixies(whose college rock popularity would eclipse them all within two years)had just slowly becoming the inevitable darlings of the indie rock scene.Despite all their individual hype,this album seemed to only recieve a minimal buzz,even when MTV had a special "120 Minutes"devoted to it. While Colourbox's "Hot Doggie"now sounds simply old and silly,what with its mish-mash of sampling,Clan of Xymox's "Muscoviet Mosquito",Dif Juz's "No Motion" and the Muses' "Fish" all are as haunting and intense as ever. The Cocteaus add their signature bit of ethereal,spooky sweetness with "Crushed" and the Wolfgang Press "Cut the Tree"is beautifully heavy with its throbbing bass and gloomy vocals. A bit of caution,however:This is one of those few albums that should be played IN ITS PROPER ORDER.The flow and rhythm is executed in such a way that putting this on random/shuffle play becomes almost criminal.Also,you'll be doing yourself a HUGE favor if you can obtain the companion video."LIAE" is a brilliant CD and makes for a perfect soundtrack to reading,working on the computer or just simply daydreaming.

I have had this album for over 10 years, and I still listen to it often. For anyone who likes DCD and the Cocteau Twins...this is a great album to discover some of the other talent on the 4AD label. I also agree with the other reviewer that the video completely enhances the experience of this album...try to find!

I first bought this album 10 years ago & I never get tired of listening to it. If you like Dead Can Dance, Cocteau Twins, Xymox, Wolfgang Press, et al., this album is a must!

This is simply one of the best 4AD releases of the 80's. The cocteau twins, Wolfgang Press and Clan of Xymox songs are worth the price alone. The mood is very typical of the label's reputation, and sets the pace for future labels like Projekt and Cleopatra.

This album changed my life. Best compilation album ever. Other reviewers have said it already, and I concur. "Fish" is my favorite Throwing Muses song. It has a brilliant guitar duo and Kristen Hersh does this sigh that turns into a scary growl that you have to turn up loud to appreciate. "Cut the Tree" is my favorite TWP song and will leave you disoriented. "Acid Bitter and Sad" is one of the most lovely yet scary pop songs ever. "No Motion" is Dif Juz's best song and you will float away if you don't strap yourself down. "Crushed" is from that era when Cocteau Twins were at their most, well, Cocteau Twinsy. DCD's "Frontier" and "The Protagonist" may have you covering yourself with mud and barking at the moon. Clan of Xymox's "Muscoviet Mosquito" is among the best of their "Medusa" period, as good as "Michelle" or "Agonized by Love". The only blemish on this collection is the ridiculous Colourbox song, which still kind of baffles me. If you'd like to know what all the 4AD hype was about, buy this album, for it is THE defining event in the label's illustrious history. Stare at the cover and listen with headphones.