Word: mesopotamia
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...latest release, "Mesopotamia," a six-song "mini-disk," provides the first evidence that the group craves artistic progression. The work is a turn away from the undirected insanity of the first two albums to a sort of directed insanity, governed by David Byrne, the group's new producer and ployrhythm maestro of Talking Heads fame. Byrne seems to have effected a tilt by the band to the funk side of its background. "Mesopotamia" doesn't give up the fun of "The B-52's" and "Wild Planet". It merely is a rechanneling of the 52's focus from outrageous melodies...
...fans nonetheless may feel betrayed by this new direction. The songs off "Mesopotamia" are indeed relatively restrained compared to the manicle "Private Idaho" or "Planet Claire." And the sound is thicker, more introspective than their earlier work Critics say the 52's have been a "limited" hand all along all the latest albums shows, these harpies claim, is the pretentious drivel that arises when a cutesy band takes itself too seriously...
While the B-52's no longer bop indiscriminately, they have lost none of the loony, self-conscious humor that made them so endearing "Mesopotamia" is a very intelligent album, much more cerebral than say, "Wild Planet." But it still makes you want to dance, which more often than not makes or breaks a pop album...
...HUMOR EMERGES in later numbers like title cut "Mesopotamia" or "Throw that Beat in the Garbage Can." the 52's best trick has always been to create danceable tunes, with lyrics so ridiculous that you feel tremendously self-conscious while twitching your feel. "I am no student of ancient culture," warbles the silly frontman Fred Schneider in "Mesopotamia," which he trumpets in concert as being kind of "geological." Before I talk, I should read a book." Yeah, he should, but these don't sound like the sort of lyrics that go with dance music...
...which serves to show us that there is a lot more behind this hand than sheer, lovable eccentricity that they have happily not abandoned. Keep "Planet Claire," "Rock Lobster," and "Private Idaho" stored away in a safe place for future listening pleasure. You'll need em again, Go get "Mesopotamia." It's not limited or pretentious. Just try to keep still when playing it. Just try not to giggle. Bet you can't. The party's not stopping. It is just moving to a different room...