Customer Reviews

Sophisticated Boom Boom

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you are a "hardcore" fan this review is intended for you, only you will understand.

I realize the track order of 1-10 reflects the European album release of SBB, I have it on cassette somewhere, the US release is slightly different, but somehow they messed it up. I think they took the US cd tracks and shuffled the order about to match the European version. The beginning of "do it" is tacked on to the end of "misty circles", like 6 seconds worth, if you select to go directly to "do it" on the cd player the beginning is lost. Same with 'absolutely nothing" the beginning of this song is tacked on to the end of "wish you were here". If they were going to reissue why not get it right. I am disappointed because this is my favorite DOA album.

The liner notes also irritated me. They talk about the lost possibly of including dub versions, mighty mixes, and a couple other different remixes none of which are available on this CD. I think they should have scrapped the remixes that are already on cd elsewhere and included the stuff that isn't OR have issued a 2 cd set. I feel the same about "selfish side" and "the stranger", while great songs and SBB single B sides, they don't belong on a SBB reissue, it is a different type of music, and would have opened up space on the cd for something else. I also realize now that "give it to me" is published or owed or something by a different company so they were not able to include here, which is disappointing because I like that song a lot. B*tch b*tch b*tch, I don't like complaining and whining, but there was probably only one chance to get this right and it didnt happen.

I still give this release five stars because the music is GREAT!

For Dead or Alive's first album, Zeus B. Held (the producer) helped the band create a VERY primal disco-funk fusion. Pete Burns' voice was at its rawest and sexiest here, sometimes roaring, sometimes purring some uproariously sick nympho/numbskull lyrics -- with, mind you, tongue planted firmly in cheek (although this album will certainly make you wonder, erm, *whose* cheek(s)!).

From a panting cover of KC's That's the Way to a swoony self-love ode (Far Too Hard), Sophisticated Boom Boom proves Dead or Alive never set out to make their music (overly) ponderous. The urge for sex (ie: You Make Me Wanna) and its sublimation on dance floors (ie: Wish You Were Here) are what drive this album, and in that very basic context, this is arguably DOA's finest hour.

The one exception to all the simplicity is the hypnotic tug of Misty Circles, a track DOA wrote and played live well before being signed to a major label (most folks aren't aware of Pete Burns' gothic indy phase). If you can decipher the lyrics, you'll get an idea of what Pete Burns was up to before he decided he wanted to sound like a Divine-doing-Donna-Summer record.

Having written all that, this is an all-or-nothing album: you'll either love it to pieces or want to cleave in two it with an axe!! Either way, you cannot ignore it once that bass starts slappin' and those horns start blarin'. Them there echo-chamber drums will give you one last chance before The Voice just kicks it out to cement your dooooom!!!

You stand duly warned!

For starters, let's hope all the DOA albums from the 80s get reissued in this fashion, considering you're most likely to find one of the two 12" versions of You Spin Me Round on any compilation, although a couple of their other SAW mixes have finally surfaced on compilations.

Ironically, this first DOA album is the last I would have expected to see reissued with all the 12" versions, allowing me to get rid of every vinyl 12" I had from this album (including the oddly non-DOA sounding b-sides). I agree with the other reviewer that the song order is a surprise for those of us who were used to the US song order, but as a note to that reviewer, I think maybe there is a defect in the indexing of the particular CD you got, because the issues you described are not apparent on my CD. Comparing those tracks to the versions on my original US CD, each song begins and ends exactly the same when you go directly to the track, without misplaced intros to any track being tagged onto the end of the song before it.

For collectors, if you loved the song order of the US version, then you may have to keep that CD as well, but this CD is a MUST for the 12" versions of all the singles. You get:

13. Misty Circles (9:10)
14. What I Want (6:12)
15. I'd Do Anything (5:22)
16. That's The Way I Like It (5:52)
17. Keep That Body Strong (3:38)

Any album featuring a song with the chorus that bellows "You make me wanna sit on it, sit on it, ooh, ooh!" is a keeper. There is only one Pete Burns, and there is only one SOPHISTICATED BOOM BOOM - and boom boom it is, mining rough, raw Euro-disco trash like Bobby O. meets Divine meets Moroder and Cerrone in a blender with Burns' roaring Gothic howl over the top - and don't get me started on the bargain basement videos for THAT'S THE WAY and I'D DO ANYTHING, etc. - genius on a budget! You really owe it to yourself to drop bank on SBB - it was DOA's cult breakthrough and sowed the seeds for future hits to come...but here is where DOA was at its most primal, sexy, and truly dangerous.

Finally all their early 12 inch mixes and unavailable b-sides on CD. Even though I find it a bit strange that another record company has to release it since Sony/BMG didn't seem to care, shame on them, we, the fans, will be eternally grateful to Cherry Red records and Scott Davies. Thank you very much. And the 16-page booklet is breathtaking.

For the first time, this album is worth listening for, bonus tracks and improved sound, nice, it's the 80's again. I can't get enough of Misty Circles' dance mix, nine minutes of joyful mayhem, amen. My only regret is that the bonus tracks are almost melted into each other to fit the mood of the album which is like that too, but since they were taken from different 12 inch singles, I wouldn't have it done it that way myself, but I'm grateful anyway.

And since I've heard that only a thousand copies were released, you'd better buy it, before it's too late, I know I did.

Sophisticated Boom Boom was an absolute hit with the dance crowds especially in the hey day of New wave, punk and underground dance clubs of the 80s...Petes booming vocals and the brass horns and dance beats are like nothing else out there and probably wont ever be copied as he is an original and so is his music...this album is by far one of the best and darkest sounding of his career...the biggest hit being KC and Sunshine bands remake "Thats The Way I like it" but by no means the best song on the album!! Others such as "Id Do anything" "Misty Circles" and "You Make Me Wanna" and "Sit on It" are all extraodinary and unforgetfull...this is a must have that will never be outdated and never be matched even by Pete himself. The follow up CD to this titled "Youthquake" spawining his number one hit "You spin me round" as well as "In Too Deep" "Lover Come Back" "Big Daddy of the Rhythm" and "Cake and Eat it" was a move in a slightly lighter sound and more ready for the dance floor but the thing about both of these is that they are both the type of ablums that an artist releases that every single song is fantastic!! Its hard to release an album and have every song on the entire album be this good...Dead or Alive accomplished this with both of these and even the one after ...Mad Bad and Dangerous to know...get them all now!

I find this CD to be particularly enjoyable. It has really good rhythm and beat to it and you can dance to the music.
I strongly recommend it to everyone out there who is DOA fan and urge you to buy it. I own it and my only wish is to be able to find a DOA Video collection, but I have not been able to yet!

This is the album to buy for sleek times. Sleek sleek sleek. Absolutly Nothing Is a brillant song and was later used by choreographer George Alley for his "reganomics" masterpeice. buy this now.

This perfect LP was made even better by the additional tracks! Wonderfully simple bass lines and rhythm keep this disc spinning for days!

This is the first Dead or Alive album titled 'Sophisticated Boom Boom', however, I think a more appropriate title should be 'Raw Boom Boom', as the high energy sound displayed here and Pete's new booming raw deep voice, display to the music world that a new sound is here - abit here in its infancy - to blossom under their second attempt 'Youthquake'.

Critics rated this album as better than average at the time, however, there was a lack of a hit single to get the album sales and potential audience any where near where it deserved. The cover 'Thats The Way (I Like It)', made the top 40 in the UK and gave DoA some exposure at the time. But I'd rate it one of the weaker tracks on the album. Certainly 'What I Want', 'Misty Circles', and 'Far Too Hard' showcase brilliant raw energy. Pete's lyrics are complex and 'suggestive'. Any chorus that bellows - 'You Make Me Want To Sit On It, Sit On It, Sit On It, Uh, Uh' - makes you smile at how they could possibly come out with this kind of stuff. But it was 1984 after all!!

This album is a must for any Dead or Alive follower, no matter how late you came into the picture!!