Customer Reviews

Wonderful

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

By 1995 Adam Ant was all but forgotten in the pop music world. Yet, the song "Wonderful" broke through the top 40 (and should have gone #1 without a doubt). An amazing feat considering the derision and ridicule Adam Ant endured up to that point. "Wonderful" is certainly his most mature work, and compared to his other albums, one of the highlights of his long career. The song "Wonderful" is worth the price of admission alone, but all the songs work nicely together. "Won't Take That Talk", "Beautiful Dream" (which also should have been #1), "1969 Again", "Yin & Yang", "Image Of Yourself", "Alien". Marco and Adam sound energized by having had another five years off and an album shelved by their previous record company.

After eleven years of listening to this album it has only gotten better with time. The sad part is it's been eleven years now since Adam has produced anything new. Also, the unfortunate media attention surrounding his bipolar disorder in recent years which has contributed to out of control behaviors (see gun waving in a pub) all makes a comeback unlikely, but you never know. He's proven everyone wrong at least three times in his career. "Wonderful" is definitely worth picking up if you're an Ant fan.

I absolutely love this album. The songs on this work of art suprised me when I first heard it. Being used to the loud drums of "Kings of the Wild Frontier" or the heavy guitar use in "Vive Le Rock," Wonderful was quite refreshing. Beautiful, poetic, sexy, soothing - there are not enough discription words for it! Lucky enough to meet him, I was and still am impressed by the lack of boundaries he sets for himself.

His expression of emotion is very well executed in hits like: "Beautiful Dream" "Yin & Yang" "Vampires" and "Very Long Ride." The music was very well written and practically weave a web for the lyrics to rest on. My personal favorite is "Image of Yourself" merely for the fact that it makes me feel good to listen to it.

If you are not a loyal fan or want to try some of his music, this is a good one to choose. Its a fun little piece that will always be at the top of my most-liked album list.

As I have heard it said, "either you like him or you don't." There is no middle ground and I pity the fool who says otherwise.

Many collectors with a large music library own a handful of releases which, to their dismay, are no longer in print. I have quite a few, and one of them is 1995's "Wonderful," the eighth studio album by Adam Ant. After dominating much of the 1980s with his high-concept brand of camp pop, Ant grew up and got serious, offering an appealing mix of mature, guitar-powered rock. It spawned one minor Top 40 hit, the title track, but its sales were disappointing (even for a past-his-prime 1980's star), and Capitol soon let "Wonderful" die an unfortunate death. That's too bad, because it's an underrated album that deserved better promotion and sales. Ant's longtime collaborator, Marco, reappears as a songwriter, but we also get help from Boz Boorer, who's also done a few tunes with Morrissey. "Won't Take That Talk" is a great opener, a fine balance of acoustic and electric guitars with some crisp production. The album takes a funky turn with the sensual "Beautiful Dream," followed by solid numbers "Gotta Be a Sin," "1969 Again," and "Alien." The years since "Wonderful" haven't been wonderful for Adam, though. His frequent run-ins with the law and his public battle with mental illness make it very likely that this could be his final album. But even though "Wonderful" is no longer in print, it's still worth the effort to get it used, either online or at a secondhand record shop.

(Side note: the album artwork and photography is by Anton Corbijn, known for his work with U2, Depeche Mode, and others. The pictures and display are done very well, proving why Corbijn is one of my favorite photographers.)

This really is WONDERFUL. It is a little known fact that he wrote this album for and dedicated this album to his then live-in girlfriend Heather Graham. Yes THAT Heather Graham. That is who he is describing as "wonderful". Hmm. I will forgive him for that. This album is much different than all of his other ones. I guess you could say its more mature. His voice and lovely face (in the album art) are as [great] as always- but he sounds so emotional on this album. He still talks about [love], but in a different way then his last albums. I love Gotta Be A Sin and could listen to it all day. Beautiful Dream (the song that is most blatently about [LOVE])is just a really great song to listen to, very relaxing. Vampires may be my favorite song on the album. Even if you aren't an Adam Ant fan (although- why wouldn't you be?????) you will enjoy this album for what it is. A GREAT album.

Hands down "Wonderful" is probably the most complete album in Adam Ants discogrophy. Some fans might be turned off by "Wonderful" because some of the songs or more pop than punk, but this is one Adam Ant album that you can listen to from start to finish and enjoy every song. Released in 1995, 5 years after "Manners & Physique" fans expected than Adam sans the make up was quite different than Adam of old. "Wonderful" picks up where "Manners & Physique" left off. The lyrics are so beautiful and introspective. Some of the most beautiful songs on the album include "Yin and Yang," "Angel," and "Vampires." The title track "Wonderful" is the perfect pop ballad. I'm just really surprised this album wasn't more critically acclaimed. "Beautiful Dream," and "1969 Again," are uptempo rock/pop songs that will please most listeners. The production is awesome as the vocals and instrumentals really compliment each other, this is definitly one of the best albums in Adam's discography, the sad part is we haven't seen an official studio release of new material since. One of my favorite songs on the album is the last cut, "Very Long Ride."

I bought this albulm when it was first released. After being a huge Adam Ant fan all throughout my preteen and teen years, I was so excited to finally hear something new from him. I absolutely hated it! It wasn't the Adam I knew! I recently came across this cd, in a box of other old albulms, when I was cleaning and decided to play it... WOW! I love it... I think Adam was way ahead of his time, honestly! I think he should have waited a little longer before releasing it. It would be a top seller now, for sure! Adam Ant never recieved the credit he deserved as being a really talented artist! I encourage every Ant fan, old and young to find a copy of this albulm, you'll love it!

"Wonderful" is perhaps one of the most honest, romantic love songs ever written (without the mush!) The lyrics are poetic and true to so many lives. Various other tracks are catchy and somewhat campy- but that is what makes them so fun and great. This man is so full of feeling with everything he does, you can't help but love him. I should give it 5 stars because of the "wonderful" track. I love this CD, and I would recommend Kings of the Wild Frontier and any other early recordings. He had the finese of Morrison-like poetry in the early 80's. Adam, Marco, if you ever read this...please keep up the great work. I would love to hear another CD!

Adam Ant shows grace and poetic style with beautiful lyrics on "Wonderful." Ant returns to glory with songs that captivate the heart and move the body into a sexual machine. A must for traditional rockers and fans of Adam Ant

If you are an Adam fan, I'm sure you already know by now that this is not his most stellar production. I cringed when I heard that he was coming out with another album after Manners & Physique - I didn't want to go through the embarrassment of defending him again to friends that never got him - but this was a pleasant surprise. I was espoecially glad to hear Very Long Ride as it sounded smack out of the Prince Charming era.

If you are not a long time Adam fan, but just enjoy pop music, especially melody. Then this album is a fine choice. The title track, along with Angel, Won't Take That Talk, and 1969 Again are easy to hum along to and don't require any deep philosophical thoughts to understand. There are a few throw away tracks on it, but nothing to scratch your head at and wonder why the CD was ever put into stores. Just relax and enjoy...

Let's just say I've written 2 other reviews on here and they have been ranting the praise of Adam Ant and his talents. The Wonderful cd is a great new addition to all of his other cd's. The title track is beautifully written, Vampires, Won't Take that Talk, and all the rest are "wonderful" peices of art......recorded by a talented singer/writer/actor.....and backed up by an amazing friend and equally talented guitarist Marco.