Customer Reviews

Throbbing Gristle - Greatest Hits

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Throbbing Gristle and their front man Genesis P-orrrige have been creating and then confounding the pop culture dialectic since 1976. Genesis P-orridige not only invented industrial music but also founded the first independent record label to promote it. If you listen to bands such as Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, or KMFDM, you owe a hand of gratitude to Throbbing Gristle; they invented the genre. This early industrial music was made mostly on homemade samplers and analog synthesizers made by band mates Sleazy and Chris Carter. Topics ranged from defecation, serial killers and burn victims. In short breaking many repressed late 70's and early 80's English social taboos. They made music than can only be described as pleasurable and disturbing at the same time. WARNING: Listen to this CD only in it's entirety from beginning to end, it like the Coum Transmissions performance art that inspired the music, is meant to be appreciated as art. All of it may not be immediately gratifying; it is metabolically designed to evoke physical and mental chemical reactions. ENJOY!

I agree that this isn't a definitive TG collection - where is "Persuasion" or "Weeping" and nothing from "Heathen Earth" - but it's still enjoyable enough. "Slug Bait" is actually more listenable here backwards as "Tiab Guls". By the way one of your US reviewers mentioned something about "United" being a top 10 hit in the UK - in your dreams pal! I can only assume he's confusing this "United" with the identically titled top 10 hit of the same era by those well-known Industrial pioneers, Judas Priest!

Stark, dangerous, beautiful, challenging. The word industrial can be misleading. If you consider Killing Joke (whom I adore) a bit challenging, then stay away from this. If you're open to music as art, music being arhythmic and confrontational then try this. This is legendary stuff. I first heard Subhuman in 1982 and it gave me shivers. It's 2005, I'm now 41, and it has the same effect. There are pieces that can lull a baby into sleep and pieces that make you want to bite your nails. It's the type of music that makes me want to personally thank the band for doing what they did.

The Throbbing Gristle came out of the arts, particularly the fringes of the performing arts scene in the North of England. They were thus outsiders on many levels from the get go. Their initial marginalization and their total commitment to pursuing their own vision as artists informs everything that they do.

The thing about the Throbbing Gristle is that their sound greatly varies from song to song, and while some of their stuff is rather melodic and filled with dance grooves, other stuff by them - particularly on some of their live recordings - is a kind of all out noise assault. And then some things by them, while not entirely abrasive, are really strange. I like them when they are really noisy, but I think that is probably an acquired taste. They were simply an experimental band with a wide range of influences.

For newcomers to the world of Throbbing Gristle, I'd definitely suggest starting here, and sampling their work. I know that some are fans of their more melodic stuff and gravitate toward Chris and Cosey, others of their noisier/more abrasive work, and lean toward Genesis P Orridge. Me, I like a bit of everything.

Because you already have all their other works, right? :) J/K. This is a good introduction to Throbbing Gristle, and for most, you probably won't need to go much further. Some of the songs are just funny, like Subhuman, and some are revolutionary, like AB/7A. For the true industrial music lover, this is a must have.

Was never aware that Throbbing Gristle even had any hits. Decent compilation of Gristle's trademark experimental / industrial sounds for you to thoroughly 'take in'. Good thing about Throbbing Gristle is that most of their music is JUST barely too strange for most, while at the same time acceptable by many. Does that make much sense? Tunes here that I thought were fairly good were "Hamburger Lady", the just plain weird "Subhuman", the noisy "What A Day" and "Adrenalin". Might appeal to fans of Skinny Puppy, Controlled Bleeding, Nurse With Wound and KMFDM. Check it out.

If you have heard Throbbing Gristle and are looking to buy some of their material, I would recommend this CD. It's not a very extensive collection but definitely covers most of their more interesting tracks like Hamburger Lady. Very bizarre stuff that sounds great when you're locked in a dark room with the stereo cranked and your illicit substance of choice!

I found this CD to be a good compilation of Throbbing Gristle songs. This CD contains early sounds of music like Nine Inch Nails and Ministry. If you like these bands, most likely you will like Throbbing Gristles Greatest Hits. Don't expect a hard edge. These tunes are ambient.

Bedhind this hilariously deceptive title is some really innovative music. It has not all aged very well but it was really groundbreaking and must be heard.

Essential. Essential. Essential. That's all I can say. Know your roots, rivethead!