7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
DON'T MISS OUT!!, September 2, 2002
I've loved this group for years now. Few people are aware of them and thats a shame, because they were ahead of their time both image-wise and musically. Vamp would've been more popular if their album had dropped during the "Alternative" craze of the early 90's instead of prior.
A Brittish "punk" rock group so to speak, the music of "Pop Art" had attitude. Wendy James, the frontWOMAN of this all male group had a tremendous voice, often singing in a "breathy" whisper type voice, only to be set into an occasional scream. She does this so well, that no other group sounds quite like Vamp. The men who back her up are skilled musicians as well.
Here are some examples of how Transvision Vamp were ahead of their time.
Long before Lil Kim named herself "Queen Bee", we have Wendy James claiming (in "Hanging Out With Halo Jones") "Well they used to call me Queen Bee, til I threw the throne"..."Hey now, I'm a girl of the times, A child of design. Romance, romance is cool..but I've got things to do."--Great strong lyrics with female ego that you see in today's music. "Trash City" has the whole futuristic thing going on. Then theres the fast-paced "I Want Your Love" where Wendy croons and pleads "I don't want your money honey, I want your love. And I don't want your car, baby, I want your (moan). I don't want your friends, they don't need a mention! I just want your love and all of your attention!"... Great lyrics, great song. "Psychosonic Cindy" has a pulsating beat that so well executed it surpasses any pop rock song of today. "Sex Kick" is just what it seems. A sexually aggressive song that pushes the envelope without breaking it. Then theres "Tell that Girl To Shut Up"... "Well you got that girl and she lives with you, and she does just what you want her to. And when I call you on the phone, she says you're not there, but I know your home. You better tell that girl to shut up. You better tell that girl I'm gonna beat her up"... Any woman who has been hated on by a jealous girl can totally dig this song.
Vamp slows it down on "Sister Moon" and "Wild Star" "Wild Star" is sung in an edgy breathy voice and has more great lyrics..."Oh you're a wild star king, you're my hero. You make the neon silver screen glow. You made all the stars fall right out of the sky, And all of those stars fell right into my eyes. You don't move...you just glide. You don't cruise, you just ride, ride, ride, ride on in." There's a tribute to Andy Warhol. (Andy Warhol's Dead") and the 60's like "Revolution Baby" giving this dynamic album more balance musically.
This is a pop album, but it's a pop album with many influences and much flair. Talented musicians, a distinctive frontwoman, and terrific lyrics make "Pop Art" a WORK OF ART". This should be in every music fan's collection. BUY IT...You snooze, you loose!!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Pop Art.... The first album, February 22, 2001
Pop Art was the first Official Transvision Vamp album. With 2 top 10 singles in australia and around the world. It was the album that put vamp on the map. As a result of this albums sucess, Velveteen was destined to be a sucess. Transvision Vamp were ahead of thier time and therefore didnot last as long as they may have. If this album were released today one would expect a much bigger audience, given the development of the alternative scene in the last decade.This is a great album, one tat can be played many times without wearing thin.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pop music that never was popular, January 13, 2005
By the time this album came out I did not have any chance to listen to it-in Medellin Colombia 3 radio stations controlled all the music in english, and they never dared to play Transvision Vamp, those latin-american stations were, in the 80's, controlled by the American Top Forty.
I got acquainted with this band in the 90's ,so I used to play it along with Nirvana and Hole and Stone Temple Pilots, and when you think of it,songs like Revolution Baby, I want Your Love,Sister Moon, Andy warhol's Dead,etc, can be seamlessly included on a playlist with all those alternative rock bands from the 90's.
Yep, this is 90's music created (and massively ignored) in the 80's, that can wow you now in the 00's.
If you like The Go-go's,Blondie and even Le Tigre and Hole, hurry up to listen this band!!!
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