Shaking the Foundations [IMPORT] [Import]

Rough Trade | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: True North Records
• ASIN: B00000IY1T
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #513,955 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Inconsistent, but a must have for the RT Fan, November 26, 2005

By 

H. Bell (Fairview, PA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shaking the Foundations [IMPORT] (Audio CD)

I've always loved the edge of Rough Trade. Shaking The Foundations contains some of their best (Shaking, Crimes) work and some of their routinely mediocre work (the rest of the album); however, if you like the edge of the band, it's a good listen. First side better than second (if you remember what an LP is), but that's true of most RT albums.

4.0 out of 5 stars A Slight Crack in the Foundation, July 8, 2010

By 

Kasey G (Toronto, ON) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Shaking the Foundations [IMPORT] (Audio CD)

Released at the end of 1982, "Shaking the Foundations" begged the question: Could Rough Trade become a triple-threat with a THIRD slice of near-perfect music-making up their sleeves?

Sadly, the answer is no, although for some reason Carole Pope has gone on record to say that of all the albums they recorded, this one is her favorite.

The arrangements on this album are much more sparse than those on "Avoid Freud" and "For Those Who Think Young" and synthesizers play a much bigger role, though not as big as on their next release, "Weapons", in 1983. Nona Hendryx provides backup vocals on many of the tracks.

The opener on "Foundations" is the lurid "Crimes of Passion". The song was released as the first single and managed to climb to #11 in some local Toronto markets. Some neighboring stations did not add the song to their playlist, despite showing strong support of Rough Trade in the past. Perhaps they weren't ready for the lyrics in the second verse where Carole sings about a gay couple in bed, who are assaulted by a knife-wielding jealous ex-boyfriend. "Crimes" is appealing, but as a single it's not as outstanding as "All Touch" or "High School Confidential".

"Endless Night" is a claustrophobic, menacing tune Carole penned inspired by the frustration she felt about gay people "having to defile your sexuality". The repetitive synth hook and dark lyrics give the song a sense of impending doom and I was expecting it to end with a gay bashing. I can only imagine what Carole would have done in a video for this song. This is one of the better tracks.

The title track appears third and opens with the kind of electronic sound that faceless club artists such as Debbie Deb and Connie would make popular in a few years. Carole sounds somewhat robotic at times on this one, and the music is too mechanical for my taste. This is not one of my favorites, but I'd still take this over any of the current fare by Britney, Ke$ha, Taylor Swift, etc.

A spoken intro leads into the slow burn "Vertigo", another synth-heavy, trance-inducing number. It is more enjoyable than the song before it.

Another very '80s-sounding track is "Numero Fatale" which is nothing special. Actually, it's quite mind-numbing.

"America: Bad and the Beautiful" is much better than it deserves to be. Carole rhymes off various American pop culture icons. Elizabeth Taylor, Ernest Hemingway, James Dean, Patty Hearst and others all get honorable mention. At least the synth in this one is not so monotonous, and the song has a fast, danceable beat.

The steady rhythm of "I Want to Live" brings us to Carole singing "I tried to bend over backwards for you". Her delivery of that line makes it more memorable than the song's title phrase. This is a very basic track.

"Kiss Me Deadly" opens with some funky guitar work and is an appealing, seductive tune, lyrically and musically; "I like to see your blood rise". It actually sounds like a parody of '80s porn music in some parts but is one of the more enjoyable offerings.

More synthetic instrumentation opens "Fire Down Below" where Carole quietly asks "Got a match". Carole's vocals and the interesting drumming save this one from being a bust.

A piano opens the closing number, "Beg For It" which was inspired by Carole's time with Dusty Springfield. Carole shines on this one, her vocals weary and desperate. "I've made an investment and there's no return", she sighs, making one last attempt at salvaging a hopeless relationship. At last we have a song with no synths; just basic piano, drums and guitar. It's a winner and ends the album on a much-needed positive note.

Of the five albums Rough Trade recorded between 1980 and 1984, I would say I like this one the least. "Weapons" wasn't that much better, but it had the fantastic Flower Power anthem "Paisley Generation" and downbeat, introspective "Softcore" to its credit. (As well as the wickedly funny commentary of bonus track "On With the Show).

It's not that "Shaking the Foundations" is really bad; it's just that "Avoid Freud" and "For Those Who Think Young" were so amazing it would be a tough act for any group to follow. I do give Carole and Co. credit for exploring new horizons rather than getting stuck in a rut.

For true Rough Trade/Carole Pope fans, this is certainly worth getting. The more casual listener should start with their earlier releases.