The B-52's

Cosmic Thing

Not the Old B-52's But Still Great

Review Score:

(10/10)
Ok, diehard fans, here's the straight stuff from another diehard fan. We're definitely missing Ricky's surf/twang guitar on this CD, but the B's pull it out anyway and this time, they actually hit a little mainstream.

You might consider commercial success and appeal to the more mainstream good, or bad. Personally, I hope these folks made lots of cash off of this release. They deserve it, for this work, yeah, but also to make up for the somewhat lukewarm receptions that some of their older releases experienced.

I like this CD less than the old B's stuff, but they haven't lost their old spirit and off-beat, nonsensical, non-sequitur, creative flair either. Ricky's twangy guitar is sorely missed, but the B's make up for it with techno synths in a way that only they could do.

Love Shack, the big single track, should get you movin' and shakin' in B-52's style, with Cindy railing on about a rusted roof and then Fred urging you to "c'mon and get your juke-box money." After all, his car is as big "as a whale," and you'll fit, no problem.

I like best, the first track, "Cosmic Thing." Simple, push push push shake shake shake rhythm that is bound to get your feet tapping, arms flailing, the whole bit. Even the "alien beings" are up there shaking their alien things!

Ok, other tracks worth mentioning are Junebug (who scares off the alligators and mosquitos) and Planet Z. I liked less the slower sing-alongers, like Roam, Bushfire and Deadbeat club, but that's just me.

Overall, this CD is just fun. Doesn't matter if you're listening to the music alone in your car, or with a billion other people. You can't help but feel part of the "Come on along!" spirit.

If you're a fan of the old B's, I recommend you go ahead and buy this one. They still got it, yeah. A little more tempered, bit more mainstream, but there is no mistaking that this CD is yet another marvelous work put together by a marvelous group.

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