Customer Reviews

Romantics

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This 1979/1980 self titled release by The Romantics is one of the finest powerpop releases of the last 30 years. The track "What I Like About You" has risen to the status of legend and has become one of the most played and recognizable rock 'n roll anthems of all time. "What I like About You" exists in the same timeless and cherished rock 'n roll universe as songs like "you really got me", "louie louie" and "wild thing". But, before you label the Romantics as one hit wonders you'll need to get your facts straight;

"What I like about you" never reached the top 40. The highest billboard chart position of the song was #49. The album itself, while considered mildly successful, did not have a stellar chart performance. They finally DID have TWO top 40 hits from their 1983/84 album "In Heat" ("Talking in Your Sleep and "One in a Million"). So it's rather funny to hear of the Romantics referred to as "One Hit Wonders", when the "hit" referred to was not actually a "hit" and they had TWO other top 40 tunes.

The fact that the song "What I Like About You" has become a Rock 'n Roll standard, is a testament to the raw talent and songwriting brilliance of the Romantics. There are too few happy endings in Rock, but for the Romantics it was DESERVED and certainly EARNED. It's an absolute shame that the Romantics are continually neglected in various rock 'n roll guides, books, and by many so-called "authorities" and "critics" of rock.

The Romantics may have been off the mainstream radar for the majority of their career, but they have continued to grow and tour for over 30 years. When sampling the groups catalog you'll find "hit worthy" songs by the truck load. From sweet powerpop, raw garage rock, funky R&B tinged rock, a few Motown inspired efforts, British invasion inspired tracks, and blues based rock.

This release can stand solid next to the best efforts of the Kinks, Who, Stones and Beatles. In an era ruled by disco and dinosaur rock, the Romantics had the heart, vision and talent to bring the Rock 'n Roll dream back to life! If you claim to be a collector of REAL rock 'n roll, your collection will not be complete without this CD.

*** TEN STARS ***

-JM

I came of age in the early 80s, so I was a little late to catch this album the first time around. Of course, I was well aware of What I Like About You, although for its seeming ubiquitousness, only made about #49 on the charts. I actually used to wear out the their album from 1983 or so, called In Heat. I was tempted to get this debut album because it got great reviews and contained a cover of a song by my fav band, "She's Got Everything" by the Kinks. I must give my stamp of approval, as they did an admiral job and punked the original up a little. The absolute gem on here is "Tell It to Carrie", with "Keep In Touch" and "When I Look In Your Eyes" being A+ as well. I noticed the lyrics are more innocent and "romantic", as opposed to the more testosterone driven songs I remember from my teenage days listening to In Heat; whose title says it all. I say get this album for great power pop and one of the best Kink's covers this side of the Jam's "David Watts".

An important piece of music to own for any fan of REAL rock 'n roll!

In the late 70's and early 80's for just a brief moment in time it seemed as though Rock 'N Roll was born again. Groups like the Romantics, The Knack, Shoes, The Records and many others stormed the music scene. Taking their inspiration from groups like the Beatles, Stones, Kinks, and the Who this new wave of power-pop groups envisioned a bright future for rock 'n roll. Melody, harmony and a strong rock 'n roll beat were back in style!!!

The Romantics were leaders during what I call the "last breath of rock 'n roll". This album is a fantastic debut worthy of placement next to the best offerings by the Kinks, Beatles or any other "legendary" group you can offer up.

The Romantics are still out on the road giving it all they've got 24 years later. ...

Buy this CD - It's a MUST HAVE!!!

I have had this album in both vinyl and cd format. I cannot believe whenever I put this album on (even after a hiatus of several years) how it simply blows me away.

Fantastic tunes, great driving music, great party music and great to listen to when you are doing odd jobs around the house.

Just remember, TURN IT UP (to eleven even)!

This album was released during the new wave resurgence of 1980. Disco was still king and the pop charts were infested by the likes of Styx, Foreigner & Journey. Those were dark days indeed. This album was a welcome respite from all that stuff and it made the warm summer of 1980 seem even warmer. This album contains approximately 40 minutes of 3 part harmony, melodies that could haunt you, ringing guitars and a back beat that would make Dave Clark envious, plus you had to dance to it, there was no sitting down while this record was on. It could wake the dead. I rate this a strong buy.

...its scent would be "Smoky Dive Bar". Yes, one spin of this baby will transport you back to your favorite watering hole on a steamy summer night. My shoes feel sticky from the spilled 45 cent draughts.

Pure fun from beginning to end. The cool, obscure Kinks cover ("She's Got Everything" - BTW, this version is superior to Big Star's cover on "Sister Lovers", and I'm a huge LX fan) more than compensates for "What I Like About You"'s overexposure. So toss out those crummy grunge and emo disks, and P-A-R-T-Y!

This album (CD) is definitely one of the most awesome and powerful albums of the 80's (actually late 70's). Hard to believe it is a debut album but you wouldn't know it by the performances and the songs themselves. "What I Like About You" has been played to death and is on countless compilations but is still a classic. Worth having if only for "Tell It To Carrie", a great pop song, but the entire album is a pop-rock masterpiece.

THE ROMANTICS: Detroit's leather clad, carefully coiffed ROMANTICS practically defined power pop in the early 80s, welding the pristine vocal harmonies and jangly guitars of BADFINGER and THE RASPBERRIES to a hyperactive punk beat. Hard hittin' drummer JIMMY MARINOS also happened to possess a crackling, soulful shout of a voice, which, along with WALLY PALMAR's killer harmonica solo, helped propell supernova single WHAT I LIKE ABOUT YOU, a dance floor classic that's only grown more popular with each passing decade. Every track on their explosive debut disc boasts similar loud 'n clear high energy antics, from "shoulda hit big" band originals WHEN I LOOK IN YOUR EYES and TELL IT TO CARRIE to the lone cover tune, a catchy recasting of RAY DAVIES' SHE'S GOT EVERYTHING. THE ROMANTICS eventually veered off into a more mainstream direction and were rewarded with the lean, mid-tempo hit TALKING IN YOUR SLEEP...but they forged their fire-in-the hole reputation on this, their first and best self-titled party platter.

RATING: FOUR RED SUITS

Great album of hard rocking, semi-new wave, mostly rockin' guitar stuff. OK, so a lot of it is three cords and a hook line, but that's what The Romantics are all about.

The classic "What I like about you" is on here, but the rest of the songs are also excellent. They slicked up their act later, but this debut album is their best. Highly underrated album.

The boys play their hearts out on What I Like About You.Potential classics.