Customer Reviews

Straight to Goodbye

5 star:		(7)
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I've owned this CD for many years. I remember purchasing it on the day it was released. ...for the life of me I don't know why they didn't stick together. I think they could have made it big. I think it was something about Michael (lead singer) wanting to be more acoustic than the rest of the guys. Anyway, back to the CD. It's great! I still listen to it frequently and it sounds just as fresh as it did when I heard these songs for the first time. They kind of have a "Psychedelic Furs" sound. In fact, they toured with them. I keep hoping they will get back together and pick up where they left off, although it's probably best left as is - with great memories.

Pale Divine was awesome. They ruled the St. Louis music scene for several years in the late '80s/early 90's. Everybody knew they were going to be huge. We KNEW it. How could they miss? Record execs would come out to see their shows every weekend. They had excellent songs, a great image, loads of talent, a singer with incredible stage presence etc etc....and then: they released the aptly named "Straight to Goodbye" and called it a day. I recall the usual reasons: creative differences, the record company's failure to market the band etc..and they all went their separate ways. (The guitarist, Rich Fortus, is currently playing for Guns N Roses..) Our loss...

Every song on this disc is a keeper, and should have propelled them to international fame. Who knows? After the members sow their oats they may decide to hook up again. It's not too late.

So, pick up their debut/swan song while you can. There aren't many copies floating around out there.

As others pointed out, this is the best St. Louis band to never make it. I was a regular at their shows as a teenager, and lost count after 25. Stage presence is an understatement. The lead singer could hold a crowd in his control, and he had "the look". Richard Fortus is a great guitarist who went on to the band Love Spit Love. Interestingly enough, I now work at the corporate headquarters of one of the largest St. Louis companies, and the former Pale Divine drummer works there as well. He plays at some corporate functions with a few other amateur musicians.

Pale Divine really was the band that I will always remember from my teenage years. When camping, my friends and I still to this day bring guitars and sit around the campfire singing Pale Divine songs.

When I was in college I remember New Route Magazine, (which was really small, more like a pamphlet). It introduced mostly new bands you may not yet have heard of & every issue you could send away for the New Route Sampler cassette with a song or two from each artist/group - only paid shipping of $1.50. From the Sept/Oct 1991 issue, which had the Smashing Pumpkins on the cover, they had "Something About Me" which blew my sister & me away! We were so worried about wearing it out, so I'm thrilled to finally have it on CD! (Thank God I found it at a good price.) It was delivered yesterday & I'm so excited it's as good as I hoped & the reviews here have said! Nothing on it is dated & I absolutely agree, there's no reason they shouldn't have been HUGE. I love how it mixes my love of 'alternative' type music with rock; can't think of anybody else who does/did it as well. I'm shocked to find out that this was their only album, it broke my heart - & I'm dying with regret over never having seen them live! I've been playing it over & over for two days; I guess I better start listening to the other CDs delivered with it.

I've never before been compelled to write a review here, which should tell you something.

I loved this CD when I was younger and was always sad that they didn't stick together. This CD still holds up as great music to this day.

We caught them in St. Louis, Cape Girardeau and Columbia, MO during the early 90s. Great shows!

Favorite show story - seeing them at the Blue Note in Columbia. The band that played before them? A little known band called Rage Against the Machine who threw out some of their promo tapes during the show. (Yeah - I've still got that, too.)

I highly recommend picking this up.

The best to come out of STL! This cd is great from start to finish! They should be well known, but record company's are a-holes!

Jeremy(Ryan Schmidt friend)

I was a fan from the News Boys days and then the Eyes and Pale Divine. Didn't miss a show. Matter of fact, still enjoy seeing Michael play some of the old songs now a days. Those were some of the funnest years of my young adult life. Really miss those days. The CD is absolutely fabulous, as was the band. Damn record execs don't know what the hell they are doing......I highly recommend purchasing this CD.