Customer Reviews

Loudmouth : Best Of The Boomtown Rats

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

 

 

This compilation, issued in 1994, broke into the British Top 20. It is masterfully produced, and is truly a greatest hits' collection of one of the most underappreciated men in rock. Geldof's wide range of styles, from the punk of "Lookin' After No. 1" to the reggae of "House on Fire", to the sprightly nature of "Love or Something" shines through. There is something for everyone on this disc; it is well worth the investment. This album is identical to the American release "Great Songs of Indifference" except that Loudmouth has the added track "Crazy". Buy this version; "Crazy" alone is worth the cost.

Loudmouth throbs with the kind of pulsing beat you hear at late night bands in Irish taverns. Several of the songs are superb - the eerie nihlism of a high school massacre 'I don't like Mondays' the batchelor rat pack 'Rat Trap', the transcendental 'This is the World Calling,' and the, well indifferent, 'Song of Indifference'.

Sorry Adam,

While your review for the album is fairly accurate (It is a rather lovely piece of work), the assertion that it's identical to the US (or rather, Canadian) release is false. Track 5 "Love Or Something" is replaced by "Never in a Million Years", Track 11 "House on Fire" is replaced by "Up All Night", and Track 12 "The Beat Of The Night" is replaced by "Rain" (Interesting side note: This song was originally called "Dave" on the Rats LP "In the Long Grass", but Geldof & Co. were forced to rewrite the lyrics and rename the song as "..you're singing to another guy...faggots don't sell records". (Quote taken from "Is that It?" - Geldof's autobiography). The version included on the Canadian release is actually the original recording of "Dave", but listed as "Rain". This is the only known CD track release of any song from "In the Long Grass). Oh, and btw, "Crazy" is Track 7 on BOTH CDs.

Regardless, for any fan of the Rats (and to a lesser extent Geldof himself), this is a most worthy acquisition.

I have to admit when I first bought this disc I did so because it was hard to find original Boomtown Rats' discs. Geldof's solo career only took off because everyone was keen on the guy who gave us "Do They Know It's Christmas" and his humanitarian work.
Now that you can at least find "Tonic For the Troops" and other Boomtown Rats' discs, this compilation is not really worth the investment.