B-52s keep the party going
Booty-bots! Jelly-bones! Spandex-spiral vortex! Making space love in zero gravity!
Ah yes, all that sexy talk means the B-52s must finally be back. Our favorite Athenians (sorry, REM) have a new album to reward their fans who have waited since 1992's "Good Stuff" for new danceable tracks.
The new disc -- "Funplex" -- sounds like it could easily be the soundtrack of your local swinger's club. I'm just theorizing, of course. But throughout the 11 tracks, you just get an overwhelming urge to strip down to just a wide smile and jump into a steaming mass of guilty lovin' -- with a dozen strangers all grooving and grinding to the same beat.
The band's sound has been modernized with touches of electro and saw-buzzing guitars, but it doesn't dampen or overpower the irresistible vocal give-and-take of Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson. The trio sound as fresh today as they did on "Rock Lobster" or "Planet Claire" in the late 70s.
It's hard to spot a radio-friendly or top 40 hit among the tunes, but "Pump," "Funplex" and "Keep This Party Going" are good downloads to start with. (You'll have to wait until March 24 to buy the whole album anyway.)
Want the full-power sex-attack? Try "Love in the Year 3000." Just queue it up, lay back and enjoy. Clothing is optional.
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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THIS WEEK'S SHOW: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers rock Tampa Bay. To hear the latest "Stuck in the 80s" episode now, 
Ye olde iTunes only has "Funplex" the single available at the moment -- but it's a blast.
Who can resist lyrics like
"Faster pussycat, thrill thrill
I’m at the mall on a diet pill"?
Not me!
(Very hot review, by the way...)
Posted by: jane | January 31, 2008 at 12:20 PM
glad to see them shouting out Russ Meyer with those lyrics! I'll wait and see. I loved the early B-52s stuff but hated pretty much everything in the Love Shack/Good Stuff era. Perhaps they can bounce back. I am heartened to hear they rediscovered the guitar.
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | January 31, 2008 at 01:34 PM
Doug,
I don't really like much of what they've done since Ricky's death either (although "Love Shack" has grown on me a little bit by sheer force of repetition).
So while I really, really want to like the new album, I still wonder if anyone can recreate Ricky's post-punk, surf-twang guitar.
Posted by: Jeff in Cuba | January 31, 2008 at 02:10 PM
Meow, Mr. Spears.
Posted by: Marissa | January 31, 2008 at 07:42 PM