Customer Reviews

World Outside

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

For whatever reason, the Psychedelic Furs' World Outside has just been one of those albums that has slipped through the cracks somehow. Actually, I do know why.

With all due respect to the other reviewer (who otherwise wrote a really good review, for someone who actually cares what SPIN Magazine thinks...), World Outside did not come out in 1992. It came out in 1991 and there's an enormous difference between 1991 and 1992 on the musical timeline. World Outside came out just a few short months before Nirvana's Nevermind was released and grunge swept everything else away. Everything smelled like Teen Spirit before anyone who cared about alternative music could really get to know World Outside. People like to think grunge just killed the "hair bands" but it also effectively killed the careers of a lot of 80s alternative holdovers. Or forced them to change. Indeed, when Richard and Tim Butler put out their next album (in 1994, as Love Spit Love), they had a decidedly harsher, guitar-based edge with virtually no synthesizers in sight (although, with Richard's trademark nicotine-coated voice, they still sounded for all the world like the Psychedelic Furs).

So why is World Outside important? Well, in retrospect, it's easy to see the Furs (and this album in particular) as the evolutionary link between 80's alternative bands like The Cure and Echo and the Bunnymen and 90's British icons like Oasis, The Verve, and even today's arbiter of cutting edge cool, Radiohead. Don't laugh -- compare the jumpy horns in "Don't Be A Girl" to the horns in Radiohead's "The National Anthem." If nothing else, there's a connection because those of us who grew up listening to the Furs in the 80's are now really into Radiohead. There is a link.

Okay, it's important, but is World Outside any good? I'm happy to say, yes. Maybe not a five star classic, but I personally think it challenges Mirror Moves as their best album (and, lyrically, World Outside probably IS their best). The highlights for me include the driving "Valentine," the fantastic 80's throwback "In My Head," the softly upbeat "Until She Comes," the la-la-la filled, anthemic "Tearing Down," and the yearning "There's A World." All together, it's a warm, emotional, yet upbeat album from a band that's just too important to ignore. Highly recommended.

Though I don't believe that the Furs have ever "officially" broken up, 1991's WORLD OUTSIDE was the last release before the Butlers went on to Love Spit Love. Many rock resources have bashed this album unjustly, the most outrageous being the SPIN ALTERNATIVE RECORD GUIDE which gives the album the lowest possible rating, though the reviewer admits he's never even heard it. The truth is that WORLD OUTSIDE is a remarkable release, the best Furs album since MIRROR MOVES, which just seemed to get lost in the emergence of the now largely forgotten grunge movement.

WORLD OUTSIDE still sounds fresh eight years later, with songs like "In My Head," "Until She Comes," "Don't Be A Girl," and "Get A Room" fully deserving prominence in any Furs fan's regular rotation. The album as a whole returns to the stripped down sound of earlier Furs releases and remains unburdened by the overproduction (and often one-dimensional lyricism) of later Furs releases like BOOK OF DAYS and MIDNIGHT TO MIDNIGHT (though MTM's "Heartbreak Beat" is an all-time great).

In summary, an essential Psychedelic Furs album, equal if not superior to MIRROR MOVES and TALK TALK TALK. Butler coughs a love song like no one else, and he does so magnificently on WORLD OUTSIDE.

This album and the similarly-overlooked and underrated Book of Days are far and away the Furs' best efforts. I've been a fan since they first came on the scene, and yes, I love their earlier stuff, too, but it's a real shame that these two masterpieces are so unappreciated. They coincide with the band's return to England after living for some time in New York, and represent a backlash to the commercial rut they'd gotten into with Midnight to Midnight. I believe the band was severely disappointed with the total lack of interest shown by the public and industry towards these albums, and the bad taste still lingers to the extent that not one song from either was included in their recent reunion tour :-(.

Although "World Outside" is probably too over-produced and over-stylized for its own good, and as compared to the band's prior albums, nevertheless, it is quite enjoyable, and continues the evolution of Richard Butler from post-punk/new wave artist to pop star (but check out the second "Love Spit Love" album which marks a return to his past!). I'm amazed that this album didn't receive more airplay, because I think many of the songs could have done very well on the American and British charts.

My favorite three songs on the album are "In My Head" (in which the band self-plagiarizes its main riff from "Like a Stranger" from "Mirror Moves"), "Until She Comes" (which is one massive double entendre), and "I Get a Room" ( reminiscent of "Torch" from the prior album). The other tracks are consistently good.

It's hard to understand why the band called it quits after "World Outside" unless, of course, the three principles just couldn't stand each other. Brothers who play together in rock bands often spell disaster. But, the Psychedelic Furs ended on top of their game, and the two Butlers managed to reunite with "Love Spit Love," releasing two albums that are quite good and don't sound all that different from their old band. Plus, the three Furs still get together and periodically go on tour where you can now see them in smaller venues.

Since I have now reviewed all seven Furs album of original material, and I kind of like lists, these are the songs that I would include if I were making their greatest hits album (notice no "Love My Way" or "President Gas"):

1. India
2. Sister Europe
3. Susan's Strange
4. Pretty In Pink
5. Mr. Jones
6. Into You Like A Train
7. Forever Now
8. Run and Run
9. The Ghost In You
10. Heaven
11. Heartbreak Beat
12. Midnight To Midnight
13. Entertain Me
14. Book of Days
15. Parade
16. In My Head
17. Until She Comes
18. I Get A Room

A lot of Psychedelic Furs fans missed out on this album because the previous records Midnight to Midnight and Book of Days were not well received. They missed out on an excellent album. As much as I like early Furs, I am tempted to rate World Outside my favorite. It is definitely their most solid album. There is nothing weak on here. I can hit "Repeat All" on my CD player with no regrets. The slower tracks "Sometimes," "There's a World Outside," the single "Until She Comes," and, my favorite, the haunting "All About You" are among their best material. This album does not have the dance tracks like the Furs' earlier releases. There is very little saxophone. The overall sound is closer to Richard Butler's next band, Love Spit Love. World Outside is an excellent bridge between these two bands. Still, rockers like "In My Head" have resemblance to earlier Furs. So far, World Outside is the last Psychedelic Furs studio release. I hope it doesn't remain so but, if it does, they ended on a high note.

I can't believe the public ignored this gem of an album...this album combines beautifully crafted pop music featuring teriffic guitar hooks from Tim Butler, as well as Richard Butlers intriguingly abstract lyrics and rasping vocals. World Outside's more natural sounding production values keep the music from sounding overly slick and produced, giving it a timeless quality. One of the Fur's best, in my opinion. Favorite tracks include "In My Head" "Until She Comes" and "Get a Room".

I love this CD. I have played it more times and more often that any other in my collection. I liked the Furs before this album, but after it's release I bought everything they have. I have seen them 3 times (not to be missed) Just about died when after World Outside tour (1st time I saw them) they broke up. Thank god they are back together. I keep hoping for a brand new CD of new stuff. I'm ashamed that this album hasn't sold better it is first rate and my favorite of all. I've been a musician for over 40 years and I wish I was in this band!!
If you like the Furs buy this album for them and for you!

The Psychedelic Furs do not disappoint with their (seemingly) final and criminally-overlooked CD, "World Outside". The first three tracks alone ("Valentine", "In My Head", "Until She Comes") are worth owning the CD, not to mention "There's A World", and the other tracks. Don't really care for "Don't Be A Girl", but everything else on this album really shines. This is NOT just an album for the Psychedelic Furs fan, but should have much broader appeal to those who like well-made pop music. Recommended!

World Outside is a great record. I saw the band perform this live in Portland, Oregon and it was one of the best concerts I've ever seen. The album was produced by Steven Street (who produced the Smiths, Morrisey, and others) and that probably accounts for its' excellent sound. The cover art was a collaboration between Richard Butler and Vaughn Oliver of 23e/4AD fame. Altogether, a real creative milestone that seemed to be overlooked by many. If you can find the video for "Until She Comes" check it out. It's brilliant.

I agree with many here, this is one of the better Psychedelic furs records overall. It sometimes happens that a very good record fails to make the sales or recognition expected and "World Outside" certainly qualifies (As does "Loaded" by the Velvet Underground, one of the furs influences). Nearly all the songs are good, the production is maybe more "polished" and less raw than the early efforts. It is most similar to "Mirror moves" in this respect, but a little more raw and definitely more consistent. I have the first 2, "Mirror Moves", "book of days" and 2 "hits" collections. I saw them for the second time when this album just came out and they were selling the cd by the door at a place called Capitol ballroom. What a show, I remember them encoring with "get a room" and then "india" from their first- what a great way to cap it off. I can hear this album sounding fresh 16 years later with maybe some similar sounds coming from bands of today except that they lack the voice and lyrics of Richard Butler and John Ashton's intelligent guitar layerings... What a band.