Customer Reviews

Wonderland

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is the debut album from a British duo called Erasure. Synth guru Vince Clarke, having just left Yaz and Depeche Mode, teamed up with vocalist Andy Bell for what would be a long and enduring partnership. A friend of mine heard for the first time a few samples of Erasure's work, which he flippantly described as "Eurotrash." However snide that comment appeared to be, there is a grain of truth in that description. "Wonderland" won't win points for depth, nor is it even their best, but it's a good collection of above average neo-disco, synth heavy pop tunes. Their debut single "Who Needs Love (Like That)" was a bust on the UK charts, but since then, this infectious ditty would slowly grow to become a favorite among fans. "Oh L'Amour" is also another great slice of 1980's pop bliss with its killer chorus and cheesy-cute synths, and "Heavenly Action" stands out as well. But a personal favorite of mine is the catchy "March on Down the Line." On the first listen, Erasure's work may seem bubblegum and simple compared to their sophisticated peers Pet Shop Boys. But their music is original and can't be mistaken for anyone else, and this fine debut would be the beginning of a career that would spawn several UK Top 10 hits, a few platinum albums, and recognition in the States. Though it's far from a masterpiece, "Wonderland" is a solid debut.

Here's where all the campy dramatic flamboyant brilliant and dreamy music of Erasure all started! For fans of synth-pop, they come highly recommended as they are often imitated yet rarely surpassed. There are other Erasure offerings that may be better like I Say I Say I Say, Chorus, or The Innocents, depending on which fan you talk to. I adore them all.

My favorites include: "Who Needs Love Like That?"/"Cry So Easy"/"Love Is A Loser"/"My Heart...So Blue"/"March On Down The Line"/and of course one of the all time greatest songs "Oh L'Amour."

If you like synth-pop, you may be interested in checking out Iris and Agnes Poetry. Cheers!

There is too much to talk about when we want to talk about "Wonderland". This album has it all up beat songs ("oh l'amour", "Who needs love like that", "Heavenly action") and great tear jerkers ("cry so easy", "reunion", and my all-time-fav "My heart...So blue"). For a true Erasure fan, this is the must have. This is where it all began (if you count out Yaz). It's amazing that a group like this started out with such a great album and only two songs cracked into the US top 100 ("Oh L'Amour" and "who needs love like that"). But they were big in Europe before many people in the states even heard of them. Then came "The Innocents" and then they blew up. A girlfriend of mine back in high school turned me onto this group in the summer of '88 and I have every album since. They are great and I have many great memories from all of their songs. It's amazing how you can become so attached to a group (Depeche Mode, Yas, R.E.M., U2, etc.). But they came out before "Pop" was really cool.

I do believe that this is the best effort. Too many times in the albums that followed, they tried to obtain a following when they already had a devote fan club.

They produced some great albums over the years, but this is where it all began and this is why you should own it. Especially if you like any of they newer albums.

Songs you must have on your computer:

1. Oh L'Amour (great dance tune)
2. My Hear...So blue (Wave goodbye...)

3. March on Down the line (great up beat song right before "My Heart...So blue")
4. Reunion ("togehter we stand")
5. Who needs love like that (A big dance hit in the clubs)
6. Heavenly action (a great song that's uplifting).

ERASURE fans, if you don't have the original, then you are not true fans!

That's what I first thought when I heard "Who Needs Love Like That" on KISS FM in Los Angeles back in 1985. Well I was half right. Vince Clarke (half of Yazoo) was now making music with a certain Mr. Andy Bell, and I liked it. The album wasn't out yet so I bought the 12" and wore out my record player. When the album finally came out, I listened to it over and over again. There's no doubt that this album was a bleed over from Yazoo to Erasure (I'm sure this was more of Clarke's baby since he was the one who hired Bell). Erasure hadn't quite found their true sound yet 'til "The Circus". That's why I give the album four stars. All of the songs are great. But they do sound like Yazoo, and although that's not a bad thing, it's not really who or what Erasure really were. If you can find the U.K. version, get that one! It includes "Push Me Shove Me" and "Pistol" which are great songs.

Okay, I've finally got the duo's first album and it's pretty much what I expected. Of course I'd heard most of the songs through both the Pop CD (of course) as well as sound samples and MP3s before buying it. In short, this is more typical Vince Clarke synthpop...but what's not to like about that? Although it's nowhere close to the best Erasure would produce, this album served to show that Clarke had finally found a band he could stick with for more than an album or two. His pairing with Bell on "Wonderland" shows a marked improvement over all past efforts (DM and Yaz inclusive), and they would only continue to get better.

The first four songs plus O'Lamour are my favorites from this album with "Senseless" sticking out in my mind particularly as the favorite. A song that should have been included on this album is the b-side to the "Who Needs Love..." single called "Push Me, Shove Me" which is easily better than most of the songs here.

On a side not, I finally see where all the Yaz comparisons are coming from after hearing this album. This album seems like a transition musically for Clarke. While there are shades of what's to come, that disco/club sound of Yaz is still there for all to hear. Bell's vocals as well (which I never thought sounded close to Moyet's before) do seem rather close to Alison Moyet's on this album, most notably in "Cry So Easy". Fortunately, Bell would improve vocally over the next couple of albums and Clarke would evolve musically, forming the Erasure we all know and love today.

If, like me, you had the original U.S. version of Wonderland in the 80s, don't plan on getting rid of it and replacing it with this expanded edition. The track listings are slightly different. As others have mentioned, for instance, "Push Me Shove Me" was not on the US version, and also, the bonus tracks on the US CD were the 12" mixes of Oh L'amour and Who Needs Love Like That, which are on the CD2 on this edition (Who Needs Love remix renamed from Love that Mix version to Mexican mix). But most crucial, is that the US LP mix of Oh L'amour is like no other version--it's the version I used to hear on WLIR in NY and it is, in my opinion, the best version of the song. The UK mix to me sounds more like an edit of the 12" mix or something. So while it's nice to have a remaster with tons of bonus tracks, just know that you're not totally getting a replacement of your original US version.

Track listing:

CD1

CD1-1 Who Needs Love Like That 3:19
CD1-2 Reunion 3:25
CD1-3 Cry So Easy 3:35
CD1-4 Push Me Shove Me 5:10
CD1-5 Heavenly Action 3:30
CD1-6 Say What 3:56
CD1-7 Love Is A Loser 3:02
CD1-8 Senseless 3:26
CD1-9 My Heart... So Blue 4:31
CD1-10 Oh L'Amour 3:04
CD1-11 Pistol 3:30
CD1-12 Say What (Remix) 7:22
CD1-13 March On Down The Line (Remix) 6:07
CD1-14 Senseless (Remix) 5:06

CD2

CD2-1 Who Needs Love Like That (Mexican Mix) 6:11
CD2-2 Push Me Shove Me (Extended As Far As Possible Mix) 4:09
CD2-3 Don't Say No (Ruby Red Mix) 6:09
CD2-4 Heavenly Action (12" Mix) 6:11
CD2-5 March On Down The Line 3:46
CD2-6 Oh L'Amour (PWL Funky Sisters Say 'Ooh La La') 7:17
CD2-7 Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (Remix) 4:58

I remember back in the 80's listening to this and saying this is so new wave. I listen too it now and its the most innocent sounding music. The album is so melodic and bubbly I love it.

I love this album, though I realize that many people can't stomach the sweetness of the candy synth pop. I think this is Erasure at their happy & poppy best. In addition to happy, bouncy tunes like the classic "Who Needs Love Like That" and "Reunion" this album also has some sad and beautiful songs such as "Cry So Easy" "My Heart...So Blue", and "March on Down The Line". I know I'm in the minority among Erasure fans, but I think this is one of their best!

I remember listening to a tape of this(along with the innocents)back in the late '80s & being absolutely smitten with it. Imo it represents Erasures best work,strong from start to finish. The Innocents which has a dud or two is also brilliant but not quite as good. Simply put this cd is worth it for the sublime oh l'amour(erasures finest moment)alone. But the rest are sublime synth pop gems. If your thinking of investigating Erasure I highly suggest this cd followed by The Innocents. Btw my 5 star review should be taken in the context of synth pop. For eg it's not in the same universe as Ok Computer or Abbey Road other 5 star albums. But in the context of it's own genre it's a masterpiece.

there's not much to be said about 'wonderland' that's not already been said. but having said that, i'll throw in my two cents.

after yazoo (sadly) disbanned, vince placed an advert, got something like 40 demos, and consequently chose andy bell. the choice was obviously inspired as andy bell's velvet pipes and flair for the theatrical were a perfect marriage for vince's new, openly upbeat and unpretentious pop. though still a synthpop band, erasure pointed vince in a new direction (as the band name would indicate). gone were the minor-key masterpieces vince wrote in depeche ('photographic,' 'no disco') and yazoo ('don't go,' 'softly over'), and upfront and center were, well, theatrically upbeat songs. 'oh l'amour' still holds its status as one of the seminal songs of the decade. 'who needs love like that' is cheeky and fun. 'heavenly action' and 'reunion' are throwaway songs, but still great listening--easy and fun. 'love is a loser' is vince's answer to the beach boys. but the end of the album, with it's one-two punch of 'oh l'amour' and 'my heart...so blue' really make the album. the former a dance club staple, the latter and gut-wrenching ballad.

wonderland, for all its cheekiness, was a necessary springboard for a band that would grow, mature, refine its sound, and dominate the charts for the next 15 years. sometimes the perfect storm swells. as far as erasure is concerned, the stars aligned. they were perfect songwriter and vocalist, equally matched, equally talented, equally entertaining. and they turned it into the most successful synthpop duo ever (granted there aren't many, but the blow everyone else out of the water).

if you do buy 'wonderland,' seek out the import version as it contains two tracks unavailable on the american release, 'pistol' and 'push me shove me.' both are fantastic and essential erasure. if you need them, let me know. :)