Customer Reviews

Vaporized

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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... :)

Alas just as my vinyl LP has worn a hole I discover a full version of one the best, underappreciated and frankly endiscovered gems of the British Invasion version 2.0!! Everyone comments on "New Clear Days" but fails to recognize the depth and evolution of this band on their sophmore follow-up MAGNETS.

MAGNETS was a highly topical concept album discussing the impact of media and pop culture on society - this at time when concept albums were not cool - A musically and thematically compelling record you'll laugh, you'll cry - a must for any child of this era. Check-out "Live at the Marquee".

I echo the other review, if you think the Vapors was just Turning Japanese, you are one quarter right and three quarters wrong. All of these songs are as infectious, but Turning Japanese is the worst song on this CD. New Clear Days is pure power pop fun, Magnets should have been the White Album of the early eighties. Email me for more ravings

The Vapors were an incredible band for the time...They are an incredible band for this time!

It does no one justice to lable them a "new wave" band. They melded old sounds with the current technology like their counterparts the Jam. Slightly different results. But, equally absorbing.

Today we have Franz Ferdinand, the Kaiser Chiefs, the Killers, ect...Borrowed sounds from an era long lost. Personally, I grew up in the eighties. I loved the music...even the bad stuff. We all did. The Vapors should have been huge. At least on par with Echo & the Bunnymen, Depressed Mode, the Smith's, and more...

Buy this disc...or try and find them individually. You won't regret it!

This is one of my favorite pop-punk albums. Turning Japanese was the song that made The Vapors a one hit wonder, but that's not close to the album's best song.

That honor belongs to either News at Ten or Bunkers, both of which were picked up by the local punk act in Toledo when I loaned them the album. Amazing, hard, tight pop songs.

This is really good fun rock music.

For all the baggage apparently surrounding this not-so-famous British band, this compilation is surprisingly straightforward. Certainly far more even-keeled than the similar-sounding Bis, let alone any actual punk band.

And for what it's worth, it's a perfectly enjoyable throwback to when rock 'n roll ruled.

P.S. If nothing else, get it for the fact that their one megahit sounds a lot like everything else they've ever done. That's pretty damn rare.

This is perhaps one of the best value CDs out there, imho. Both of these albums contain one great song after another. And you get all of both albums on one CD(!) Ahh, the days of albums under 40 minutes. Not a wasted note here. Fans of current bands like Blink 182 or Green Day will like the Vapors. Neither New Wave, nor Punk (and not at all an 80s haircut band) the Vapors just made good rock music that you can sing/pogo too all night.

NEW CLEAR DAYS possesses that instant clarity of a memorable gem, but MAGNETS is a deeper, more interesting album in many ways. Give it a few listens and really let the lyrics sink in: this is a fairly intelligent bit of postmodern commentary, considering that most people dismissed Vapors as the one-hit wonders behind "Turning Japanese."

"Johnny's in Love Again" is also quite a song.