Customer Reviews

Pure Mania

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

 

 

The Vibrators released the second UK punk single (after the Damned and before the Sex Pistols) and this was the third UK punk album (after the Damned and the Clash but again before the Sex Pistols). Despite their historic importance the Vibrators have never really received the recognition they deserve, partly because they didn't have a Malcolm McLaren or a Bernie Rhodes behind them and partly because they didn't have (or want) a gimmick. The Damned had their wild burlesque, the Clash their political sloganeering and the Sex Pistols..... well they were the Sex Pistols!!! The Vibrators, however were content just to churn out finely crafted rock songs - main man Knox in particular has created some of the grittiest love songs this side of Lou Reed. They are still going today. No, not reformed like so many old punk bands recently, STILL GOING. Still producing great records (currently working on what I believe will be their 13th studio album) and still not so much underrated as just plain forgoten about. This is a crime.

This is in my top ten all time favorite releases by a punk band. The Vibrators were more on the poppier side of [other band], not as poppy as the [other band], but definitely not as crude as the Sex Pistols. This opens with "Into the Future", an instant punk classic. They can go from great punk-mush like "Sweet, Sweet Heart" and "Baby, Baby", to harder rocking all-out punk pop like "Stiff Little Fingers" and "I Need a Slave". The titles of these songs are pretty self-explanatory! This is one cd any self-proclaimed fan of punk should absolutely have in their collection!!!

Somehow, PURE MANIA by The Vibrators fell between the cracks. I guess they weren't as fashion conscious as the bands that followed The Sex Pistols and The Clash.

What a shame, because this CD contains some of the best punk/new wave material to come out of the UK; as good as The Clash & the Pistol's debuts. The Fashion conscious bands are gone and no one even recalls their music. This CD shows that bands which eschew fashion trands are often the one's who create true art.

Best cuts: Into the Future, She's Bringing You Down, London Girls, Petrol, Bad Time.

The opening track on this album promises to take you "Into the Future"- and if it sounds like this, then we have nothing to fear. Here we have a collection of stripped down rock songs delivered with that uniquely British attitude. Vibrators never promised to change the world, but here blended a range of influences from 60s pop, New York early-70s art-rock, and the prevailing mood of late-70s London. Really, this album is a collection of power pop songs, the like of which are nowhere to be found today. (Interestingly enough, REM covered the track "Baby Baby" on an obscure fanclub 7"). This album is a great example of pared-down R&B, presented in a dark, sleezy fashion. Sexist,yes.Sordid,yes. Essential,yes.

Where to begin? Finally the ORIGINAL UK mix (previous CDs have the remixed-for-the-US audio)! The drums explode, the bass rumbles and the guitar is like a divebomber. I can't recommend this enough to a Vibrators fan and to any curious about the 77 UK punk scene - this is one of the essentials and this release is definitive. The booklet has lyrics, liner notes, and photos. The album cover art is faithfully reproduced on the inlays. PLUS - it also has a couple live b-sides, a single version of "Whips and Furs" and the very rare first Vibrators single, "We Vibrate." Excellent all around!

I think Hangar Eighteen summed things up best. As for the negative review I can understand that one too. I was somewhat unimpressed on first listen and the anti-drug sentiment and lack of rebelliosness did put me off a bit, but after living with this album for a while I can say nothing generates as much fun and pleasure as this one. I even love the preachy "Stay Clean". It could be my favorite album of all time if the lyrics were a bit raunchier, but even with that shortcoming it always gets played when I need an adrenaline rush and it has a lot of tough competition as I have 1000's of CD's(just mentioned so the reader knows it ain't easy to get played). Right now it is in my top 10 list of favorite CD's as well. A punk classic.

worth every Pfennig, i've had this album for years and it never grows old, it is however a shame that these Guys never really got the spotlight as they should have.

When me and my friends "discovered" punk rock way back in 1979 along with records from The Sex Pistols, Ramones, Television, Stranglers, The Damned there was Pure Mania from the Vibrators.
A true reference of the british 77 period. Powerful and melodic Fender Precision bass playing, stomping, clean and suculent drum in chugging 4/4 patterns with tasty hi-hat, and fat, proficient guitar playing with vocals being swapped with lots of melody and punk snarl.
Much more musical than the subsequent wave of punk as much of the first wave brit acts was.
Wanna get good true 77 brit punk rock? Pure Mania is definetely a ticket.

Part of the second wave of punk bands that swept onto the UK scene, the foursome of Knox (guitar, keyboards, vocals), John Ellis (guitar, vocals), Pat Collier (bass, vocals) and John Edwards (drums) kept the politics to a minimum while delving into the roots of rock-n-roll through fast and stripped down numbers.

This debut album was released in June 1977 and the 15 tracks are covered in a swift 34:42, with the standout "Baby Baby" being issued as a single one month before the larger vinyl. Other choice cuts are "Yeah Yeah Yeah," "No Heart," "Petrol" and "Wrecked on You." The band Stiff Little Fingers took its name from one of the songs.

Considered part of a hefty list of UK "one-hit wonders" from this era and mostly forgotten by critics, the band broke up in 1980, reformed in 1982 and have been on the road since then. "Pogo Dancing," indeed.

I love this record. Doesnt seem like these guys got much notice in the USA I seem to be the only guy in my circle that knows them which is bad for them but cool for me because i look like some music guru when I bust this record out and show people and then they're like "Wow man this album rocks" and I'm like "I know biiaatchs".