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Hee-Haw
Artist : The Birthday Party
List Price : $11.98 USD
Your Price : $10.99 USD
ProductGroup: Music
Release Date : 2000-05-16
Studio : Buddha
Label : Buddha
Avg. Customer Rating :  (5 reviews)
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Reviews
Customer Reviews for Hee Haw
Black Candles
Rating:
The prolific reviewer of unfashionable `lost' gems, has his work cut out yet again. Its not a huge challenge I suppose, sitting at a laptop listening to cracking music over and over again (that's when I'm not out hellraising you understand), trying to convey in mere words, what this stuff has meant over the years, and trying to impart a suggestion to any pop people out there in cyber land, what a certain group or sound is all about. Mere words.
Any-one coming to the Birthday Party now, is in for a surprise. It'll come as no surprise to learn that I think (therefore its true!) this compilation of their early singles, bits and bobs and whatever, contains their best work.
Vitally, it kicks off with a stormer; `Mr. Clarinet', and I dear reader, trusted friend, am struggling to illustrate just how good this song is. Screeching guitar and wild sax lead us into singer Nick Caves' wailing, haunting performance. He sounds as if he's in genuine pain, not just suffering for his `art'. First time I heard it, I thought the rest of the band were proper torturing him, you don't make noises like that, unless your bits are in a mediaeval device!
Anyway, that out of the way, we are then treated to another 12 stand-out songs, each very different, but each defined by the obviously insane Caves' eerie vocals. Tellingly, and blatantly, he's coming from the Pere Ubu/ Cramps camp (former brilliant, latter tedious), and this is one of those numerous occasions when the pupil turns out cleverer than the mentor, `Guilt Parade' indeed!
Later on, he has a nervous breakdown during, `the Hair Shirt', but that fabulous group(I was gonna say behind him, but I think they're more to the side.) just keep him this side of the abyss with some extraordinarily tight thrash and percussion. This is invigoratingly original and thoroughly modern rock music.
Whether Cave is genuinely crackers is another matter entirely, but you certainly wouldn't invite him round for dinner on this form.(imagine if it was spaghetti!)
Somebody told me the Birthday Party popped a bit when they came to England, (I always do), perhaps they should've stayed put in Oz. Clearly you shouldn't deprive a genius/mental of his inspiration.
Anyway, the Birthday Party's early stuff. Nice and simple on a cd. Endearing and enduring.
And not a donkey joke in sight.
Customer Reviews for Hee Haw Cd
Great Stuff
Rating:
This album is a collection of songs from from the very early days of the Birthday Party, many of which were recorded as the band "The Boys Next Door," (circa 1979) but this is definitely some good stuff. Songs like "the Friend Catcher" and "The Hair Shirt" definitely reflect the band's later darker direction. It doesn't end there; "A Catholic Skin," is a pounding rhythm-based jam, (read: deep, bass centered groove) as is the final track "The Hair Shirt,". For those looking for some great Post-Punk music this is an exceptional beginning. The Birthday Party were an intense group by design, and as an introduction into later, more chaotic works this re-release functions extremely well. Death rock owes much to these guys and I, for one, love them. Those who appreciate Nick Cave should get a lot out of this. Follow this album with the Mutiny/Bad Seed EP. The Birthday Party were immensely important, whether or not you like their insane songs. Listen. Learn and judge for yourself, no one else can say anymore than that.
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