Customer Reviews

Tonic for the Troops

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Made in EU in 2005, Serial# 982-677-4, Playing Time 50:13

Most of lyrics enclosed...

If you're like me, you've been waiting to "retire" your vinyl pressing of this as soon as a CD version was made available.

Like all 6 re-releases of their albums, the remastering job is excellent! If you're reading this, you probably don't need a description of the genre of music (and talent) included.

Instead, I'll focus this somewhat brief review on the differences in content between the North American vinyl pressing and this CD issue:

a) "Rat Trap" has been extended from a 4:58 track to a 5:14 version.
b) tracks 11 to 14 have been added!
c) 2 of the 3 bonus tracks that were added to the 1992 CD release (namely "Lying Again" and "So Strange") have NOT re-appeared on ANY of these remastered re-issues; the 3rd one ("How Do You Do?") can now be found on the "The Fine Art Of Surfacing" re-issue.

So don't discard you 1992 CD edition just yet!

This was the best Boomtown Rats album, and easily one of the best of the nascent British new-wave invasion that was crashing these shores with the likes of Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson and The Jam. More on their side of the album than the likes of The Clash or The Sex Pistols, The Boomtown Rats were already masters of brilliant power-pop singles with snappingly smart lyrics. "A Tonic For The Troops" delivered these strengths with relish, be it in the brilliant "Rat Trap" or the rave-up "She's So Modern."

Bob Geldolf was never a punk. He had more in common with a Mick Jagger than a Mick Jones. (Listen to the live version of "Rat Trap" in the bonus cuts, then tell me there's no Rolling Stones influence.) The band's musical skills and jumped a light-year from the snotty exuberenece of the debut, with Johnny Fingers' keyboards being strong enough to put some prog-rockers to shame.

I have to admit that my affinity for the American version of "Tonic" makes me wonder why the re-recorded version of "Mary Of The Fourth Form" wasn't included as a bonus track (and I bought the re-mastered debut to make sure I got that song and "Joey's On The Street Again"). Frankly, I could have lived without "Dun Laoghaire," even as a bonus cut. And the lackluster "Can't Stop" shows me why it got bumped from the US release. On the plus side, "Neon Heart" and "Do The Rat" are fun additions. The re-master is also a big plus.

Get some "Tonic." Even with all the Geldolf did in the Band Aid world to come, The Boomtown Rats were a perennially underrated band.

One of my Top 10 favorite albums of all time. Boomtown Rats best album shows a maturity in song-writing and musicianship that separated them from so many others from the 78' pack. Bob Geldof really shows a knack for combining witty social commentary with ultra snappy pop/punk musical stylings. I love the song 'Living in an Island' for its humorous take on suicidal depression. Their best singles are right here on this album (Like Clockwork/She's So Modern & Rat Trap) all here. 1978 seems to be the year when songwriting started pulling some bands away from the label of punk and maybe further towards New Wave. People/Bands like Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson, The Clash, the Stranglers & even The Jam. Absolutely no filler on this album. My favorite tracks would be 'She's So Modern', 'Blind Date' & 'Living in An Island' not to say that the single's 'Rat Trap' & 'Like Clockwork' aren't brilliant but I had those drilled into my head for a couple of years back in school & you know what they say about having too much of a good thing. So this is my favorite Album from 1978 & I think anyone out there who appreciates the music from the punk era 77-79 has to have this album along with all the other classics that seemed to come out around that time.
Oh, PS: This review is of the older CD which had (2) Extra tracks 'So Strange' & 'Lying Again'

It's great to hear the Rat's unique, late 70s sound digitally remastered. Worth the hefty price!