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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
If I had to describe this album in one line....., October 6, 2005
...it would be, "post punk, pre new wave, English science-fiction pop rock". Personally, this is one of my favorite albums of all time, probably due to the wonderful discoveries of adolescence. But even then, I had a hard time falling in love with a couple of these tracks. When this album was released, I was a guitar slinging teenage rocker, rebelling against all things disco and synthesized. Songs like "Electrical Language" and "Japan" (which for some reason is not in Amazon's track listing) just had too much synthesizer for me. I've later come to appreciate these tunes more, which is indicative of "Drastic Plastic" as a whole - a bit of an acquired taste. Bill Nelson's fantastic guitar prowess doesn't so much take a back seat as it does support each song...and the songs are what make this a GREAT album. That's not to say that he doesn't throw down with some fat-toned, heart-felt wickedness that has made him one of the world's best unknown guitarists (except those already in the know). These tunes are what I call "cream-of-the-crop pop". Every song is filled with catchy hooks that not only keep you listening, but stay in your head long after the stereo power button is turned off. "Panic in the World" is the best example because it's simple and catchy. The only problem is that Mr. Nelson crams so many words in some of the lines that it's hard to make out the words, but that is also one of the endearing quirks. And compared to much of Be bop's prior releases, it is more "quirky" - "left of center".
"Superenegmatix" is a nod to early punk rock (which when this was released, punk WAS early), "Dangerous Stranger" is reminiscent of Nick Lowe, "New Mysteries" musically brings to my mind a futuristic, mechanical, marching army, and "Island of the Dead", is a morbid love ballad. There is a lot of ground that Be Bop Deluxe covers on Drastic Plastic. I have not heard the unreleased tracks yet, but the price of admission is well worth the listening experience.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Be Bop Deluxe - Drastic Plastic - Fantastic, May 30, 2008
On this, the last Be Bop Deluxe album, Bill Nelson decreed "let there be more synthesizers." And there were more synthesizers. And Bill Nelson saw that it was good, and made this album a New Wave album with less electric guitar than previous albums and released it unto the people.
Who promptly freaked out.
This is the accepted liturgy of most Be Bop Deluxe fans, but it isn't exactly the truth. Why? Well, first of all, this isn't a New Wave album. And the guitars aren't eliminated or even toned down that much. Let me elaborate. This really is not a pure "New Wave" disc as only about half the songs on here have a futuristic, New Wave sound. Yes, songs like "New Precision" and "Electrical Language" are synth-heavy New Wavers. But "Islands of the Dead" could have come off of Sunburst Finish. "Love in Flames" *sounds* New Wavey on first listen, but slow down the tempo and it sounds like it could have come right out of the 60s with that organ and distorted guitar carrying on the whole song. So it's just a Psychedelic song on speed. "Dangerous Stranger" sounds like it could have come out the *50s*.
Guitars are not diminished on this album, you just don't get the Bill Nelson Wankery(tm) of previous efforts. The guitars and the synthesizers here are for the most part balanced nicely (just listen to "Panic in the World"). "Dangerous Stranger" has hardly any synths, if any at all. I think this album is more varied than people give it credit for. The songs do not all sound the same, but the whole thing doesn't lose cohesion; in fact it holds together just fine. In fact, this just might be my personal favorite Be Bop Deluxe album.
One final thought: this album had a bigger impact on rock music than people give it credit for, too. Examples? Gary Numan was influenced by this band and I think this album in particular (in fact he got Bill Nelson to produce his 1983 album Warriors). Listen to the first four albums by the Cars. Imagine Bill Nelson singing instead of Ric Ocasek. 'Nuff said.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
End of Be Bop Deluxe, Start of Bill Nelson's wild ride, December 31, 2007
The end of Be Bop Deluxe was this cd (okay, I bought it on 8-track when it came out). It does vary wildly from song to song and moment to moment. If you want a consistant experience, you would be better off trying Sunburst Finish. For someone who is a bit more musically adventurous, it is a trip worth taking. You do get the dread of the Island of the Dead, but unlike the American release of the lp (or 8-track), the follow-up tune of Japan is not included. A look through the notes tells you that it is on Raiding the Divine Archive, but not this release. From Drastic Plastic, the Red Noise lp/cd is more understandable. The shortness of the songs follows through in Red Noise as do the lack of strong guitar solos. Remember, this is Be Bop, not Deep Purple.
If you want an interesting trip now on cd or on your mp3, this is an adventurous one for you.
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~ Be Bop Deluxe
~ Be Bop Deluxe
~ Be Bop Deluxe
~ Be Bop Deluxe
~ Bill Nelson
by Be Bop Deluxe 
