Spring Break
CD Review: The B52's - "Funplex"
Issue date: 4/9/08 Section: The Edge
The B-52s are back! After more than a decade of silence, the band most commonly known for songs such as "Love Shack," "Roam," "Private Idaho" and "Rock Lobster" adds another album to the repertoire, mixing up the beat, sound and style with this updated addition.
Traditionally, the band made itself famous for bizarre songs with groovy, high-intensity beats that could only be described as some sort of a beach frenzy. It also had strange lyrics that made little to no sense to the average listener. Old B-52s songs were nothing short of fun and humorous, something to surely lift the spirits or heighten any party. This is also not to mention this band was one of the few bands in existence that accompanied some of its songs with ridiculous animal noises and sound effects made by the two female vocalists of the group.
"Funplex" doesn't quite do that. The wacky lyrics are there, as is Fred Schneider's goofy voice, but the beats and overall sound of the band is much different. There is also a lack of demented animal noises. If anything, "Funplex" sounds much more electronic, having more of a "space age" feel to it. It's the type of sound that makes one think the band members are in a recording studio in cheap, aluminum moon suits drinking beer and rocking out to their own new musical pieces in a strobe-light-filled zero gravity environment.
This diversion from the classic B-52s is not bad in the slightest. It's something completely unexpected, and as a stand-alone piece (casting all memories of old songs aside), "Funplex" is a nice album to rock out to when one is in a silly mood. As mentioned earlier, the lyrics are still quite funny, especially in the songs "Funplex," "Love in the Year 3000" and "Deviant Ingredient," where the singers rip into consumerism and the diverse sexual appetites of people in modern culture.
In remembrance of the band's rich history, there are even a couple of live tracks tossed on the CD, featuring a few songs that made the band famous. This is obviously for filler, bumping up the track count from 11 to 13, but it still is a nice gesture and homage.
Overall, though, "Funplex" is an album that should be regarded as a stand-alone work by The B-52s. It's a stray from the band's beloved sound and may seem somewhat disappointing in that aspect. However, it is still a zany freak-out to listen to, and for those looking to travel on a musically induced, electronic drug trip, a dose of "Funplex" comes heavily recommended.
- Scott Waldyn
edge staff
Traditionally, the band made itself famous for bizarre songs with groovy, high-intensity beats that could only be described as some sort of a beach frenzy. It also had strange lyrics that made little to no sense to the average listener. Old B-52s songs were nothing short of fun and humorous, something to surely lift the spirits or heighten any party. This is also not to mention this band was one of the few bands in existence that accompanied some of its songs with ridiculous animal noises and sound effects made by the two female vocalists of the group.
"Funplex" doesn't quite do that. The wacky lyrics are there, as is Fred Schneider's goofy voice, but the beats and overall sound of the band is much different. There is also a lack of demented animal noises. If anything, "Funplex" sounds much more electronic, having more of a "space age" feel to it. It's the type of sound that makes one think the band members are in a recording studio in cheap, aluminum moon suits drinking beer and rocking out to their own new musical pieces in a strobe-light-filled zero gravity environment.
This diversion from the classic B-52s is not bad in the slightest. It's something completely unexpected, and as a stand-alone piece (casting all memories of old songs aside), "Funplex" is a nice album to rock out to when one is in a silly mood. As mentioned earlier, the lyrics are still quite funny, especially in the songs "Funplex," "Love in the Year 3000" and "Deviant Ingredient," where the singers rip into consumerism and the diverse sexual appetites of people in modern culture.
In remembrance of the band's rich history, there are even a couple of live tracks tossed on the CD, featuring a few songs that made the band famous. This is obviously for filler, bumping up the track count from 11 to 13, but it still is a nice gesture and homage.
Overall, though, "Funplex" is an album that should be regarded as a stand-alone work by The B-52s. It's a stray from the band's beloved sound and may seem somewhat disappointing in that aspect. However, it is still a zany freak-out to listen to, and for those looking to travel on a musically induced, electronic drug trip, a dose of "Funplex" comes heavily recommended.
- Scott Waldyn
edge staff
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