Customer Reviews

Pleasure Victim

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

As I listened to all of this CD, I kept asking myself why I didn't buy this when it first came out in 1983! I'd always heard Sex played on the radio and never investigated further. This CD is a great example of early 80s rock, with poppy-sounding synthesizers out in front and of course, Terri Nunn's sensual voice. If you can get past the overplayed Sex (I'm a ...) and listen to the rest of this CD, you'll realize what an enjoyable listen it is. Nothing wrong of course with Sex (I'm a ..), but if you think that's all Berlin was, you're missing a lot. Songs like The Metro (Yeah!!), Tell Me Why, World of Smiles (*g*), and the title track all sound hot. BTW, the bonus track is an extended version of Sex and while it doesn't add much to the CD, it's still a hoot to listen to, especially the ending.

Berlin only put out this EP and two albums in its original incarnation. The band reformed in 1999 with Terri back on vocals. I beleive they're currently working on a new CD. It will be interesting to see if it reaches the same heights and energy as this one did way back when.

Every track, with the exception of World Of Smiles, is mesmerizing and intoxicating. There was practically nothing like this out there in the music scene back in '82-'83 (maybe Missing Persons). While Sex was the most pronounced and overplayed track of the entire album,Tell Me Why,Pleasure Victim, Masquerade, and Torture were equally worthy of airplay time on the radio.Writer, producer, instrumentalist John Crawford and singer Terri Nunn and the rest of Berlin brought the California/West Coast New Wave sound to the forefront for the rest of the country; It was a pioneering and revolutionizing effort.The synthesizer work was incredible and very state-of-the art for early eighties which had just begun to lose the disco stigma. Berlin was also a group whose music was a precursor or blueprint for later artists of the 90's with regards to techno music.What also set this group apart from the rest of the other groups was Terri Nunn's strong, sensual and seductive vocals. Terri wasn't just looks but talent (still is)!...

After cutting a single and breaking up, bassist and synthesizer-man John Crawford and lead vocalist Terri Nunn resurrected Berlin with a new lineup that included Dave Diamond and Rick Olsen on guitars, Matt Reid on keyboards, and Rod Learned on drums, although he only performed on the first track of their debut EP, Pleasure Victim, the remainder being done by Daniel Van Patten.

The uptempo drum machines, sci-fi sounds, and swirly synths of "Tell Me Why" makes this a hallmark of early 80's New Wave. The sound is similar to one adopted earlier by Kim Wilde on her debut album. The title track sports a wall of synth and a more leisurely sound and BPM.

The next three songs ended up on Berlin's greatest hits album. "Sex (I'm A...)" will definitely go in rock history as a controversial single right from the first lyric. This uptempo synth number with grinding guitar has in its chorus vocals traded between Crawford (?) and Nunn: "I'm a man-I'm a goddess/I'm a man-Well, I'm a virgin/I'm a man/I'm a blue movie/I'm a man/I'm a b-tch/I'm a man-I'm a geisha/I'm a man-I'm a little girl/and we make love together." What I'm seeing here is that a man is just a man, and the many fantasies and roles he conjures up of a woman. It wouldn't surprise me if this is the most-played track for most listeners. Although I never had the pleasure of seeing the video, it did also gain more notoriety of being edited for MTV. In the eight minute extended version, there are more drums and synths, but at one point, the music cuts off to just drums, nad then the line "I'm a sl-t." Was that there to wake the listener or was that a confessional? (JK)

"Masquerade" has that "Kids In America"-type sound and the life in a late-night dance club, which has its incessant lifestyle and perils: "so they reached for tomorrow/but tomorrow never came." More pronounced keyboards feature in "The Metro," a bitter and sad retrospect about an encounter aboard a subway car.

Sci-fi style zaps and Cars-style synths figure in the weird "World Of Smiles" while "Torture" is a slow ballad of someone dying for love with some stark imagery: "kiss me, kick me, feel my blood."

A good first effort from the group, followed by greater things to come.

Being a big synth-pop fan, a friend of mine recommended this album. I was familiar with the big single off this album "Sex (I'm a...)" but had no idea it was filled with other gems.

This EP contains 8 synth-y tracks that will satisfy the tastes of any synth-pop fan. But it doesn't end there, along with a classic 80's sound there are amazing songs and vocals. Terri Nunn's vocals on this album are priceless. One thing you have to love about Nunn is her 'trademark' whisper (then shout!) voice.

Thats what really makes this album more than just an every day 80's classic. The songs are sly, sentious and almost addictive. "Tell me why" has some of the best synth/drummachine/guitar combinations I've ever heard. "The Metro" has enough attitude to make an early 90's Madonna choke on her own dust. "Pleasure Victim", another great track, with a great opening line:

"We touched, there was temprature/ I'm not the same..../ Now your walking through my door, it's a pleasure game".

Coupled with a slow synth melody and softer drum sounds, this song deserves to be on the Greatest Hits compilation.

"Torture" and "World full of smiles" are both intriguing tracks. They have an almost dark, off-beat sound that seems to be the total opposite of Berlin's other singles.

I wish there were more than just 7 (origional) tracks since I love this sound so much. Still...this album is a must... a total classic.

If you want to listen to a tight sounding band with the sexiest female lead singer ever(Terri Nunn)? This is it! Great synths,and awsome guitar! Every song on PLEASURE VICTIM IS EXCELLENT. All Berlin's albums are great,especially this one! This started it all. I can listen to Terri's singing all day! She's the best! Buy PLEASURE VICTIM,LOVELIFE,and COUNT THREE AND PRAY. You'll be glad you did!

It's a pretty short CD, note the bargain basement price. If you a big time Berlin fan or want to hear some early 80's synth pop pick this up. Berlin became much more radio friendly with later hits like "No More Words," and the classic "Take My Breath Away," but it was these early songs that put this group in the New Wave category. The song "Metro" or "Riding on the Metro" is very synthesizer driven. As is, "Sex..I'm a.." I discovered this CD in the 90's and was really suprised that Berlin changed their style so much on later albums.

I was in 3rd Grade way back in the Philippines when I first listened to this recording. "The Metro" is one of Berlin's amazing song that I have ever listened to. They have the creativity to make techno-new wave catchy to the public. (Imagine the techno sounds of new order with a sultry version of the Go-go's all in one). Overall...Berlin is one band that's a must-listen and a must-buy!

Can naybody see that Berlin is much more than a girl and two guys? This is one of the best Cd's in my collection: a production I can really call music. There are some people who despise this group for its ability and guts to songwrite about sexual aspects, a taboo in the 1980's. Personally, I like the synth hooks and computer beats, which blend together nicely with Terri Nun's voice. If you are looking for a female alternative to Depeche Mode, you've found it. A collection of songs worth paying for.

I love this CD. It was one of my favorite albums of the 80's and played well at frat parties. It had great dance beats and Teri Nunn's voice had the delectable tone of a sultry sex kitten.

When I say this is my very favorite album, it might help you to know that I appreciate many "critically acclaimed" artists such as Dylan, Lou Reed, Jules Shear, and Roger Waters' Pink Floyd. So, having established that I'm not an airhead, let me tell you that this is a powerfully moving album, not to be taken lightly.

Whether primary songwriter John Crawford intended it or not, this is indeed a concept album -- I'd say what Dark Side of the Moon did for insanity, Pleasure Victim does for masochism. It requires listening from beginning to end. "Tell Me Why" opens the album with the anxiety and confusion of an unexpected rejection. "Pleasure Victim", then, may be seen as a recollection of submissive ecstacy, and "Sex (I'm A . . .)" inflates the ego with a laundry list of sexual roles (it also features a helluva guitar solo, by the way).

Side Two is sequenced perfectly. "Masquerade" tends to grate on my ears a bit (I notice it's written by someone else entirely), but the beautiful, soaring bridge makes it all worthwhile. If you haven't yet heard "The Metro", I don't know what to tell you -- words fail me to describe this hypnotic song; read the other reviews. I consider "World Of Smiles" to be the absolute highlight of this excellent disc . . . while it first appears to be hyper bimbo-pop, the choruses (enhanced with some eerie harmonies from singer Terri Nunn) are absolutely chilling.

After all that, there's "Torture", the summarization. "Forever for now, my heart screams for you / Desperate memories, broken and true . . . ." Make sure you're feeling stable before you listen to this song; it can push you over the edge.

Now for the bad news: This disc badly needs to be remastered. My cassette of it is both louder and more dynamic than the CD. Also, you can safely ignore the "Extended Version" of "Sex"; it does nothing new, and hearing the song twice throws the whole thematic balance out of whack.

I have little use for Berlin's subsequent albums, but this is a masterpiece. Perhaps someday, album-oriented radio will forgive the synthesizers, and give it the full-length spin it so richly deserves.