Funplex (CD)

• Category:  Music  »  Rock & Pop  »  General Rock & Pop
• Format: CD   Learn more about the CD format using Tower WIKI.
• Release Date: March 25, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Astralwerks
• UPC: 094922873071
• WAPI (Tower ID): 111891453
• Average Customer Review:    (3 customer reviews)
• Tower.com Sales Rank: #1573 in Music (See Top 100 Music Bestsellers)
• #645 in Rock & Pop (See Top 100 Rock & Pop Bestsellers)
• #413 in General Rock & Pop (See Top 100 General Rock & Pop Bestsellers)

•  [The B-52's - Official Sitethis link opens a new window] 
  
•  [The B-52's - Myspacethis link opens a new window] 
  
•  [The B-52's - Wikipedia Entrythis link opens a new window] 
  
•  [The B-52's - Music at Last.fmthis link opens a new window] 
  

Spin (p.92) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "Here, they refresh all their tricks, with stripped-down, energetic guitar plus lithe electronics."
Entertainment Weekly (p.65) - "[T]he B-52s are still gloriously single-minded party animals more interested in giddily rocking love shacks than stoking intellects." -- Grade: B+
Q (Magazine) (p.102) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "The opening 'Pump' serves both as an irresistible invitation to party and a reminder of what we've been missing: slamming beat, Wilson and Kate Pierson shimmying like crazy as Fred Schneider barks out nonsense..."
Blender (Magazine) (p.76) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "[T]he guitars are cranked to garage-level rawness...[and] the long-missing Cindy Wilson is back sassing it up..."
Harp (magazine) (p.102) - "[T]he tones are kickier than ever and often serious and taut, there's nothing that'll cease the B's from practicing the best in Felliniesque pop and space kitsch. Primo."

The B-52's: Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, Keith Strickland.

On 2008's FUNPLEX, the B-52's fully awaken from their 16-year cryogenic freeze to finally present a studio follow-up to 1992's GOOD STUFF. While the vocals of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson remain as buoyant as ever, and the speak/sing voice of Fred Schneider is back in all its nasal glory, the band's New Wave dance-rock sound has been given an electronic face lift, thanks to both guitarist Keith Strickland and producer Steve Osborne (KT Tunstall, New Order), as best revealed on the pulsing "Juliet of the Spirits" and the campy, robotic "Love in the Year 3000." Those pining for the group's scrappier, more organic leanings will be pleased to hear the rockabilly-tinged "Pump," the sassy "Hot Corner," and the wonderfully lo-fi "Eyes Wide Open," all tracks that evoke the ensemble's gonzo Georgia-bred roots. Though FUNPLEX isn't a completely consistent affair, it successfully delivers the wacky, party-primed B-52's vibe, making it a fine (if belated) addition to the veteran act's catalogue.

The B-52’s - Funplex

If a group pioneers novelty rhetoric, are they doomed to be lumped into a category of like minded acts? Or are they to be placed on a peddle stool and revered? The B-52’s have never denied there marketable “cheese”, however, can we confuse these retro pop leaders with their watered down followers. Gimmick is a loaded word to connect with a band, and for the long lived B-52’s, an incorrect tag.

As the slick styled foursome enjoy their 50’s we find another commercially accessible release emerge from the unit. Funplex, filled with all the fun and gloss that should accompany a dance pop giant, conveys an idea of creating a world of fun for yourself to live in. This album doesn’t touch too much on the darker sense of music, except for a few dark laced surf riffs that are ultimately polished by the jubilee that is this album.

Feeling almost like a soundtrack Funplex serves up exciting tracks like “Hot Corner”, almost urging the listener to join their bus stop party, and “Juliet of the Spirits” standing alone as the only all girl effort on the recording.

Some of us remember the lighter, commercially viable B-52’s, whilst others choose to retain the more charged envelope pushing group that brought us “Dance This Mess Around”. Whether you reside in column A or B, this album has a place in your collection. If not for its supercharged dance pop quality that appeals to our guilty pleasures, then out of respect for an ensemble that created, maintained and lived and ideal they’ve been writing about for over 30 years.

Favorite Songs: “Hot Corner”, “Keep This Party Going”, “Deviant Ingredient”

Danny LIT – Tower Pulse – 4/9/2008

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