Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Both albums on one CD!, April 14, 1999
It's about time somebody put both FULL albums on one CD! Yes, 'New Clear Days' is a must-have, and while 'Turning Japanese' is certainly not THE worst song on that album it definitely isn't one of the best; that honor goes to both 'News at Ten' and 'Spring Collection', but it is a great album overall with nary a clunker. Very few albums from the New Wave era were consistently listenable all the way through, but The Vapors' first is a classic. They sound almost like a mod band (which is not a bad thing in my book) at times but stayed true on the pop course. 'Magnets' has its moments ('Jimmy Jones', 'Isolated Case') but sorely pales to that great first album.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Every song a winner!, August 29, 2002
Long ago I read an article that said that the Vapors took guitar New Wave farther than it had ever gone before - and they were right. There isn't a SINGLE bad song on this entire double-album collection! Which is a testimony to the songwriting skills of David Fenton, their lead singer (who is currently a lawyer in the UK, I believe). Magnets, their second album, is less edgy than their debut (New Clear Days), but displays far more maturity and depth - it was, simply, ahead of its time (and perhaps still is). Brilliant, real, edgy, and just really really good music. I'd hesitate to join others in comparing them to bands like the Knack or the Pretenders, because in my book the Vapors were better. They were among the very best bands the New Wave ever produced. Which was why, I suppose, they were doomed from the start. What sort of industry produces thousands of cookie-cutter albums from cretinous boy bands and bimbos like Britteny Spears and only two albums from the brilliant Vapors? Their music reminds me a little of another band that only managed to get albums made: the Cavedogs. Not as good as the Vapors, and of a far later era, but talented and very listenable. Try the Vapors and I think you'll find it to be a secret musical lodestone that draws you back year after year...to remember when music was sincere, real, and just plain great to hear.
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of my favorite bands ever!, September 20, 1999
By A Customer
The Vapors were one of the most interesting 'new wave' bands, and unfortunately, they called it quits far too early in their career. It was a joy to discover this reissue on CD. Nearly 20 years later, I still find my self playing their music, noodling along on my guitar and marveling at how bloody CLEVER they were. Their big hit (Turning Japanese) was amusing and light enough, but hardly representative of the breadth of their talent. If you listen to this CD, you will hear that every track on both LPs was a contender. Pop craftsmanship has always been in short supply, but the Vapors seemed to have a limitless stash of it. Makes me hopeful... perhaps when this pointless "Disco Rebirth" phase has ended, we can have a "New Wave Rebirth". Maybe I will even get the old scooter running again... :)
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Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
See all 21 tracks on this disc
by The Vapors 
