Customer Reviews

New Hope for the Wretched

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I can listen to this album over and over again and enjoy it freshly each moment. Wendy's vocals on this album were unique and compelling. The musicians' sound was driving. Visually no band could match this one.

I saw them twice live in concert at small venues between 1978 and 1980. That was before Wendy had enough of a reputation to draw the local police, although I don't know if that ever stopped her much. She gave her all in every way.

The first time the lights went on and I saw them, I couldn't believe any band could look so strange. All in good fun. Wendy made the best use of a nurse's uniform I've ever seen. I didn't know what was going on when she fired a tommy gun above our heads and "glass" fell down on us. When she aimed at us and fired loud shots at us (blanks, fortunately), I suppose then I realized what performance art was.

The second time I saw them it was snowing heavily so attendance was light. I was able to stand up at the edge of the stage for the entire show. I made eye contact with Wendy a few times and she even smiled warmly at me once. It made my day. I sensed a basic decency in her, despite her wild reputation. When I later learned of her vegetarianism and love of animals, I felt confirmed in my early impression of her.

My impression was that their music declined after this album. Songs like "Living Dead", "Butcher Baby", the erotic "Sometimes I..." and their cover of "Dream Lover" are hard to surpass but the album has an overall consistency as well that sets it apart.

What a tragedy that she is gone. She indeed had provided new hope to some of us. You can enjoy this music for its great rock, for Wendy's energetic singing, and in memory of a special person and band. People who say they were all about money don't understand that the Plasmatics earned their money.

This cd still sounds so relevant, fast, and tight. Wendy O's delivery is amazing.The band smokes. Outtake "you think you're coming..." has typically awesome spoken WOW intro and totally rocks. BUY IT NOW, YOU MONKEY!

A CD repressing of the much deserved chilling 1980 debut by the Plasmatics.I mean,if 'New Hope...' isn't classic punk,I SERIOUSLY don't know what is.Love the lp cover,plus the album title.Not many bands could match chaos like this.Tunes that more than took me back were "Monkey Suit"(perhaps a theme song for some),"Living Dead","Test Tube Babies","Squirm" and the notorious "Butcher Baby".This CD version has tagged on several bonus tracks of some rather good quality sounding live cuts.So WHO in their right mind could resist?Line-up:Wendy O.Williams-vocals,Wes Beach-guitar,Jean Beauvior-bass,Richie Scotts-guitar(wasn't he the one who wore a pink tutu?)and Stu Deutsch-drums.An ABSOLUTE must-have.

Wendy O and the boys absolutly shred on this amazing mash of industrial punk/speed metal. To hear Wendy belt out "Dream Lover" is an out of body experience in itself. This album will leave you breathless. Wendy was a true rock and roll original!

The Plasmatics were.... I really don't know how to classify them.

Once in a lifetime. they were sooooo original, so rocking.

New Hope for the Wretched is a classic piece of music.

Wendy O'Williams rendition of Dream Lover is something you will listen to once, and then can't stop listening to it.

Man my ears smoke every time I listen to my vinyl copy of this.This is punk metal as good as it gets !!! With the bonus live tracks added at the end of both sides,this records clocks in at 60' + without loosing bottom end at all !!,really dunno how could they pul that stunt.Less metallic than COUP D' ETAT but much more original in it's approach,this defined the early punk/metal Plasmatics signature sound.

It's true, this is THE most under-rated band of all time. The first true crossover band fusing punk & metal. You may laugh at that but you have to keep in mind that this album came out in 1980 when punks and metalheads were diametrically opposed. I was the only person I knew of that liked (or at least would admit to liking) the Plasmatics at the time. Punks did'nt take them seriously thinking they were too metal, and metalheads certainly did'nt like them. Only truly open minded individuals *got* them. And yeah, it's true, they were always trashed in the rock press by silly pretentious critics. Now that all their stuff has been re-released on CD they are finally starting to recieve some acclaim. They were truly an act ahead of it's time. This is their best album in my opinion. It's near perfect in every respect, fast, furious, hard, raw, and incendiary with Richie Stotts buzzsaw guitars and Wendy's gutteral vocals. The extra tracks are 3 live songs that were included as b-sides on various singles. I recommend all their CD's, but if you only buy one, start with this one.

You'd better stand back and listen to Wendy's simple and profound lyrics accompanied by fast great dizzying music.

Money Suit has got to be one of the best of the band. Fast Food Service, hmmm, erotic lunch is also a great number along with Test Tube Babies which goes by so fast, but audible. Dream Lover , a potent version of Bobby Darren's.

Just a great CD and great Tribute to own ( especially for true fans of this short lived band ).

This is NOT FOR EVERYONE, but it's a great ice-breaker at parties, the quintessential head-banging record. Wendy's singing is less hoarse than later efforts, but just as guttural and raunchy. The playing, especially the guitar, is tight and furiously manic. The centerpiece of the album, well worth the price alone, is their cover of Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover." You have to hear it to believe it! Another stand-out is "Won't You" (P-S-Y-C-H-O!!!)

The Plasmatics became famous to me way before I ever heard them on record. They were all my brother would rave about when he picked up 'New Hope For the Wretched', and all he would play soon thereafter. Back then I thought he was nuts, but years later I had to tip my hat to him.

I was in need of a speed-punk rock'n'roll record, and I came across this import copy on Amazon. From the opening chords of 'Tight Black Pants', I knew I had it all wrong at age six. This stuff is and was pure genius of the punk order.

As with the Ramones, it's not technically impressive, but the conviction of the band is put forth immediately, and they never stop. Special props go to Richie Stotts and his one-note leads, which put him on equal footing with Johnny Thunders and Steve Jones for sheer attitude, and Stu Deutch's enviable bass-playing, which is what keeps this album rocking all the way through.

The bonus tracks are fine, if negligible... they don't take away from any of the originals, if that's what you may be worried about.

Be warned, however; this album is not representative of the Plasmatics later material (which would become more metal than thrash), and in fact is smarter and a lot more fun than anything they'd release subsequently.