Customer Reviews

Whammy

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

1. This aint the B-52's first album featuring synthesizers. They were definitly used on Wild Planet on a few tracks, and they were *heavily* used on the amazingly underrated Mesopatamia EP of 1982.

2. This is a great disc, the electronics used in it are quirky as hell, and I imagine purposely. These sound atypical of the synths used in the popular dance tracks of 1983.

3. To say this album is devoid of hooks is just an ignorant comment. Listen to Trism, Whammy Kiss, Song For..., Butterbean or Legal Tender one more time. The girls sound better vocally on this LP then Wild Planet or the debut (but not quite as good as they did on Mesopatamia).

4. This isn't the best B-52's disc, but I think it's maligned by some for no real reason, along with Mesopatamia and Bouncing Off The Satalites. I t seems some people only like the B-52's albums that were commercially successful...

We are going to pretend that "Mesopotamia," the album the B-52's did with David Byrne, and talking about their fourth album, "Whammy!" as if it were their third. So just nod your head and play along, because this 1983 album gets the mavens of kitsch back on track, albeit aided and abetted by drum machines and synthesizers. This is not a great album, but it certainly is fun and easy to dance to, which was always the strength of the B-52's (What? You thought it was the lyrics reflecting Fred Schneider's philosophy?). Fans of the group would at least have to judge "Song for a Future Generation" as being the best track on the album, but "Legal Tender," "Whammy Kiss," and the instrumental "Work That Skirt" are pretty good as well, but "Butterbean" is the song you will embarrass yourself singing in the kitchen. Overall "Whammy" is not as great as their debut album or as good as "Cosmic Thing," but a lot better than their next album "Bouncing Off the Satellites." For fans of the B-52's this one is certainly worth having. Note: There is one significant difference between this CD reissue and the originally "Whammy!" album. Gone is a cover of Yoko Ono's "Don't Worry," because of copyright troubles, and in its place is "Moon 83." I never heard the original so I cannot comment on the substitution beyond the obvious fact that "Moon 83" is one of the weakest tracks on the album.

This album, "Whammy!," is The B-52s' first move into electronic territory with including synthesizers and sessionmen, and everything. There are simply wonderful songs to be found here. The album has a wonderful start, "Legal Tender." Then, it continues with "Whammy Kiss," which is really good. Next, is my favorite, "Song For A Future Generation." Anyway, the songs are good, until the finish of "Queen of Las Vegas." I believe "Don't Worry" was originally track seven, but they ran into copyright problems with Yoko Ono, when the album was reissued, so it was pulled, and replaced by the weak "Moon 83'." Personally, from "Moon 83," on, the album has a sadly terribly weak finish. It's such a shame.

I must agree with the other reviewer in saying, "you can certainly tell the album was recorded in 1983..." Anyway, at times the synthesizer beats sound very clunky, but that's part of the kitsch and campiness The B-52's are all about. This album is truly a gem among their collection. I wish it only had "Don't Worry," and maybe the finish of the album wouldn't have sounded so weak.

I saw the B-52s at RED ROCK during their promotional tour for this album. They came out and sang "SONG TO A FUTURE GENERATION", sans any LIVE band, with this surreal "hello my name is Cindy, and I'm a CANCER" band introduction. I was STUNNED, because up until that time, the idea that a COMPUTER would play all the musical parts, and a band would just come out and sing to canned music, was unheard of. IT offended my every bone. Now this is almost the norm for many genres of modern rock. In that sense, this album was far ahead of itself. They were adding TONS of textures to their once ultra basic rock sound, thanks to the first programable sampler, which Peter Gabriel seemed to master for his album SECURITY, the Fairlight CMI. In that sense, this album is basically the band PROGRAMMING drum samples, keyboard samples, bass samples. So, the groove is a bit mechanical. SO, anyway, that concert. By the end of the concert, they were all jamming on real instruments, Cindy on her bongos, Kate on her Farfisa Keyboard, Keith and Rick on drums and guitar, and Fred using a little Casio type keyboard to push out some bass notes. I'm so sad to see that the Yoko Ono tribute they recorded on the first version of the LP, a version "Don't Worry, Kyoto", has not been released. Yoko had said publically she liked their sound. (It was obvious, that the B-girrrrls were influenced by Yoko.) So, that Yoko would force them to remove that song, is regrettable. BTW, for those who never heard that song, they basically had a one chord hypnotic backing track, and overtop that, Kate, and Cindy sang DONT WORRY over and over again, with Fred adding a spoken word "DONT WORRY" on top of that. It was cool, and didnt sound like anything else they had done, tho it sounded perfectly B-52s. I hated the song that replaced it, obviously something in the can from the sessions, that was not worth a B-side of a single. Oh well. This album is a holding pattern for the band, lyrically. Instead of ROCK LOBSTER or QUICHE LORRAINE, or even CAKE, you had BUTTERBEANS for the "FOOD" song. SCIFI was represented not by 53 Miles west of Venus, but rather TRISM. (a form of light speed space travel. far out.) IN that sense, I couldnt give it five stars. WHAMMY! isnt a first purchase for this band, but for fans, it's an essencial purchase.

I remember buying this album (yes, vinyl--when one could actually appreciate cover art and inner sleeves)and absolutely loving it. Yes it's silly, yes it's fun, yes it's simple and yes it's very electronic. A side step from the B's usual rock sound. Many artists of the B's time "experimented" with this new electronic sound (The Cars, Blondie etc). And I loved and still love it. This is most definately my favorite B's cover ever. I read somewhere that the cloud above them on the cover was raining cocaine. If you notice the dog licking the ground, there's white powder all over the ground and written in the powder is "The B-52's" (Look Closely, you'll see-although you might need the vinyl album to see it clearly). The only dissappointment with this album is when it was pressed onto CD, the track "Don't Worry" (written by Yoko Ono) was replaced by "Moon 83" for apparent copyright reasons. Luckily I have the vinyl as well as the CD. So at least I have a copy of that track. The song itself is nothing more than 2 words "Don't Worry" sung, screamed, and spoken by the B's in many different and kooky ways that only the B's could get away with! Love it!

I tend to like the albums that they made prior to Ricky's death much more than those that came after his passing. He was the heart and soul of the group. Even though this wasn't one of their best albums, it still retained the uniqueness of their style. Those that came after Ricky died became too commercialized and mainstream. My favorite cut in this will always be Big Bird... LOL

This is not a bad album. Many listeners would cite Bouncing Off the Satelites or This album was a bit more of a musical shift for the group; almost having the influence of Devo. This album saw heavy use of drum machine as opposed to live drum kit, and allows the album to maintain the same feel thoughout. Easily a dance album. The music is not as produced as Mesopotamia, but is not as thinly textured as their 2 early albums. Legal Tender was their first real video on MTV; the subject matter of counterfeiting is novel. Queen of Las Vegas is also an interesting idea. Butterbean is one of their most fun songs ever and reflects their southern roots. Most people extol Song for a Future Generation, yet after many listens does not have the energy and variety of most of their songs. Trism has lots of interesting harmonies. Whammy just wasn't my favorite track on the album. Big Bird carries interesting vocal motifs by the girls. Having not grown up listening to all the B-52's albums until the 90's, I find it interesting listening to a bands discography out of order. I would say for most people, it's either take or leave on this album. If you purchase, keep an open mind.

Ask anyone who purports to being a B52s fan which album is the one that fell through the cracks undeservedly and he or she will answer Whammy. Amazingly, this album did not make a dent on the charts while the two best singles ever released by the B52s, Whammy and Legal Tender round off this fine release. There are some stupid songs, to be sure, but the majority are fine experimental songs that show the band trying to use the vocals of Kate and Cindy to best of their ability. They use their vocals as instruments just like a keyboard or a guitar. The underproduction was in evidence just by the album art on the cover. It's a strange shot taken of the band at night, almost as though the concept were to spend as little money as possible on production and marketing. What a shame. Buy this to hear vintage B52s.

I had all of the other B-52's other releases before I bought this one recently.
I had been watching the video for "Legal Tender" online and got hooked on that
song. It is a very clever song about "making money" in your basement. I now
have many favorites from this disc. "Whammy Kiss" is mesmerizing and Ricky's
guitar is outstanding. Other stand out tunes are "Butterbean" and "Trism". All
of the tracks are great and "Big Bird" is one of their strangest songs ever.
If you are a B-52's fan and don't have this disc you should buy it. There
are many amazing moments from one of the world's most inventive bands.

This is one of my favorite B-52's albums. Years ago I had the cassette that contained "Don't Worry", in place of "Work That Skirt". They had to pull Yoko Ono's "Don't Worry" for copyright reasons. Regardless, this is quintessential B-52's. Unique, its a song about making money and it introduces the members. Yes Ricky Wilson actually sings to you! Worth the money. My favorite is "Whammy Kiss" and "Trism". I think "Queen of Las Vegas" is such a sad mom song. Kate and Cindy's singing is amazing and in full force - as always!