Customer Reviews

Modern Music

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

In the past, I've been somewhat perplexed on why critics favored earlier Be-Bop Deluxe albums, such as the previous SUNBURST FINISH, to this one. It is still my favorite of the band's studio releases. I was also alarmed that a band that came so close to breaking big, never did even after the release of MODERN MUSIC. (The irony of Bill Nelson singing "Modern Music on my radio" in the title song has never been lost on me.)

In hindsight, I realize that the concept album format here pretty much killed the album's chances, as the songs nearly all run together, and thus are difficult to isolate for radio airplay. This of course makes for a great whole-album listening experience as intended. But now with downloads and the ability to easily play albums out of sequence, concept albums like MODERN MUSIC become fragmented and incomplete, since the cadence of one song often serves as the opening phrase of the next. I imagine someone shuffling this album in their MP3 player could be in for a confusing, disconnected experience.

I'm afraid many of those classic 70's rock records (such as the Queen albums, QUEEN II and SHEER HEART ATTACK) will suffer the same fate. We don't sit down and listen to whole albums any longer; music is in the background of our lives now, carved up in nice 3 minute slices and served buffet style. I suppose it's the same effect as those classical compilation CDs (and vinyl records before them) which issue only excerpts of themes of the great composers' works, instead of movements or whole pieces, which listeners of the classics have had to suffer with long before the iPod generation.

So I'm doubtful that this Be-Bop Deluxe masterpiece will ever again be put in a context where it may be fully appreciated. This particular release even compounds the problem by including "bonus tracks", which had nothing to do with the original album. They might be nice for anyone who doesn't have them already (they're all from the last original Be-Bop Deluxe release, THE BEST OF AND THE REST OF, and so aren't special or unique tracks themselves); in truth they only remove us from the original musical atmosphere MODERN MUSIC creates. But since this is the only current release of the album available, I still must recommend it for those who haven't heard MODERN MUSIC before.

As for my "desert island" title: if you're picking one rock CD to bring somewhere that allows you to listen to music without interruption, MODERN MUSIC should certainly be a contender. Some believe it's a great collection of pop songs; others say it's a guitar master's album; still others believe it's progressive in its scope and more connected to the genre you'd find King Crimson or Yes. I think its brilliance is in crossing through all these genres and creating a whole greater than the interpretation of its parts. It is still modern music to me, some 30 years after its original release. When heard in its entirety, it is a marvel of musical ingenuity from a talented band which deserved much more success than they ultimately achieved.

When this record first came out, I was not well-schooled in the music of BeBop Deluxe. Their previous recording, "SUNBURST FINISH," had received some airplay where I lived (Los Angeles), but not much beyond the song "Fair Exchange." But I liked what I heard, and I somehow got this gut feeling that this band had in them something special. That "something special" turned out to be this recording, "MODERN MUSIC," which boasts good vocals, solid guitar work, interesting songs, but most of all - a special feeling or aura that seems to envelope the entire concept and project.

When this record came out I somehow felt compelled to buy it before ever hearing any of it on the radio, from a friend, or anywhere. I just plain bought it sight unseen, and it turned out to be one the best 'flyers' I've ever taken with regard to my impulsive music buying habits. "MODERN MUSIC" is Be Bop Deluxe's best album in every respect. More than anything, it's a completely conceptialized whole, comprised of two song sets, the former sides 1 and 2. Both boast strong songs, carefully sequenced and performed with energy and taste. The second of these is the elegant and powerful "Modern Music Suite," where the songs crossfeed dreamily one into another. Both "sets" of music have held up for me over an untold number of listens, spread out over a significant number of years (this record was released in the late 1970s).

Excellently recorded and produced, this is Bill Nelson's peak with regard to his Be Bop Deluxe period. If you enjoy other vintage 1970s recordings such as 10CC's "HOW DARE YOU," Genesis' "LAMB DIES DOWN" and "FOXTROT," "Todd Rundgren's "A WIZARD, A TRUE STAR" and "SOMETHING/ANYTHING" or any one of a dozen or more other such treasures, give this recording a try. The uninitiated among you will likely enjoy this time-capsule nugget as much as I have, and do.

NOTE: As others have mentioned here, this is apparently the same "REMASTERING" that resulted in the 1990 re-issue of this recording on CD (the one I own). Therefore, if you already have this record on CD, it is probably this very same re-mastering, as I don't think it was available on CD prior to 1990. In which case, enjoy your copy and spend your money on Bowie's "Scary Monsters," Television's "Marque Moon," Utopia's "Oops Wrong Planet," or some other 1970s classic.

If you are going to buy only one Be-Bop Deluxe Album, this should be it. It has all the energy you would want out of a 1970s rock band, and all the soulfull quality you could expect out of any song in any era. Bill Nelson was at his peak in writing on this album. I don't feel he has done any better since judging by the massive output he has put out over the past 25 years since this album.

The band is incredibly tight, the recording is excellent, the songs are great. The group is filled with competent musicians, and the song writing is excellent. This is the Be-Bop album to own.

The masters on these `08 Japan mini-sleeve CD's are the same exact masters produced in 1990 for the original issue of all the Be-Bop albums on CD, with the same bonus tracks. They are DESPERATELY in need of a sonic make-over.

It's nice having the original LP cover replicas, as the artwork for the Be-Bop albums were always imaginative affairs. However, the cost of these `sleeve editions, vs. the 18-year old audio, is an investment you really have to strain yourself to make.

Unless you just HAVE TO HAVE the `sleeves, if you already own the jewel-case versions, you should pass on these.

WHAT IS A JAPAN "MINI-LP-SLEEVE" CD?

Have you ever lamented the loss of one of the 20th Century's great art forms, the 12" vinyl LP jacket? Then "mini-LP-sleeve" CD's may be for you.

Mini-sleeve CDs are manufactured in Japan under license. The disc is packaged inside a 135MM X 135MM cardboard precision-miniature replica of the original classic vinyl-LP album. Also, anything contained in the original LP, such as gatefolds, booklets, lyric sheets, posters, printed LP sleeves, stickers, embosses, special LP cover paper/inks/textures and/or die cuts, are precisely replicated and included. An English-language lyric sheet is always included, even if the original LP did not have printed lyrics.

Then, there's the sonic quality: Often (but not always), mini-sleeves have dedicated remastering (20-Bit, 24-Bit, DSD, K2/K2HD, and/or HDCD), and can often (but not always) be superior to the audio on the same title anywhere else in the world. There also may be bonus tracks unavailable elsewhere.

Each Japan mini-sleeve has an "obi" ("oh-bee"), a removable Japan-language promotional strip. The obi lists the Japan street date of that particular release, the catalog number, the mastering info, and often the original album's release date. Bonus tracks are only listed on the obi, maintaining the integrity of the original LP artwork. The obi's are collectable, and should not be discarded.

All mini-sleeve releases are limited edition, but re-pressings/re-issues are becoming more common (again, not always). The enthusiasm of mini-sleeve collecting must be tempered, however, with avoiding fake mini-sleeves manufactured in Russia and distributed throughout the world, primarily on eBay. They are inferior in quality, worthless in collectable value, a total waste of money, and should be avoided at all costs.

Every now and then an album comes along that is so beautiful and perfect as to suggest not only immense talent, but synchronicity. Be Bop Deluxe's masterpiece Modern Music, is one of those albums. To relegate it to a genre will only sell it short.

I have been listening to this on vinyl for thirty years. I finally picked up a CD for the car and after hearing it in its brilliant clarity, I realized I need to replace my vinyl copy! Funny, for some reason I always listened to side two first (tracks 7-15 on the CD). The entire side holds together as one unified piece. Hearing it in the original order on the CD makes perfect sense and flows beautifully. Modern Music is transcendent.

I can't decide which is better, this or Sunbirst Finish. Both albums are fabulous. This one has a concept style (side two on vinyl) where the songs run into each other. Play this first and get carried away in the dreamy lyrics and mesmerizing guitars from "Modern Music" to the haunting "Down on Terminal Street". Many metaphors describe this underated band best summed up by a British reviewer who said "it's rock music that paints pictures". I remember seeing them live with a big screen behind playing various sci-fi and other film clips during the set. The music brings memories rushing back.

In "Modern Music", each track is crafted to perfection and smoothly flows with driving melodic energy in a superb, dreamlike sonic journey. How this masterpiece as well as the band for that matter never really caught on here in the U.S. to the degree of greatness it deserves is a mystery to me. However, greater than ever sounding on CD, this is worth the purchase for music lovers who never experienced this "lost" gem. Bill Nelson is one great guitarist - just listen to "Dance Of The Uncle Sam Humanoids". Though it is just too short for me, this is one of the classic guitar instrumental songs of all time! Purchase and enjoy this CD !! You will not regret it!!

WHEN THE ALBUM FIRST APPEARED IN THE MID 1970'S, I SNATCHED IT UP IMMEDIATELY AND PROCEEDED TO WEAR OUT TWO TO THREE COPIES OVER THE ENSUING YEARS. IT'S DEFINATELY A THEMATIC ALBUM, FULL OF SHIMMERING, SCORCHING GUITAR WORK BY BILL, ACCOMPANIED, AS USUAL, WITH EACH SONG BLENDING INTO THE NEXT ONE, WITH OFTEN HILARIOUS LYRICS (IE: "I LEFT MY HOME SO LONG AGO TO FIGHT THE CREATURES OF THE U.S.A........" I RECOMMEND THIS TO ANYONE WHO LOVES GLAM/GLITTER/PSYCHEDELIC/HARD ROCK 'N ROLL.

So... someone please explain to me why Sunburst Finish somehow got the edge in terms of popularity and exposure while the bands equally impressive follow-up Modern Music has been left behind? Are you serious?

This album is *definitely* in the same league as Sunburst Finish. It contains the same kind of exciting and upbeat pop songwriting that the famous acts such as Cheap Trick, Sweet, Slade and Queen were mastering since the early 70's.

Be Bop Deluxe is underrated in comparison to those four bands, but an even bigger issue at the moment is why Modern Music isn't receiving the same kind of recognition that Sunburst Finish has. It surely deserves it!

I'm sitting here listening to tracks like "Orphans of Babylon" and the heavy melodic rock of "Autosexual" and for the LIFE of me I cannot figure out how pop music this creative and upbeat has been flying under the radar all these years.

Yes, please pick up Sunburst Finish, but ALSO pick up Modern Music as well. I'm not necessarily saying Sunburst Finish is worse in comparison- it's just that it's not really better either. Both albums are about equal as far as songwriting goes, in my book.

Please pick up this great slice of pop songwriting.

I just love this work to death. In fact, this is probably my favorite Be Bop release, although I'm still trying to lay my hands on Futurama. "Down on Terminal Street" is one of my all time favorite pieces, period. For some reason, I just seem to have an affinity for what's happening with that piece. This purchase is simply a no brainer. If you enjoy great compositions which take things well beyond the call of duty, cannot get enough great musicianship, and find that listening to one of the best of the Best guitarists only helps your psyche, then pick this disc (or LP) up.