Review Summary: I've got what it takes to drive you insane.
This is no wave reaching its peak. It’s not even up for debate.
As I sit here, taking in the unhinged funk insanity of
”Contort Yourself” and
”Roving Eye”, the idea of The Contortions’
Buy being the album that defines no wave as a whole isn’t all too far-fetched.
Buy, in all of its full-fledged psychosis and tight, bizzaro rhythms, truly makes no compromises. It goes to great lengths to throw a curveball at any opportune moment, but makes great use of their very evident love of James Brown, and funk in general.
Buy isn’t exactly
the most accessible album out there, thanks to the constant aural assault of shrill saxophones, the most abused-sounding slide guitar in existence and James Chance’s near-constant howling that compliments his disjointed vocal delivery. There truly isn’t much to say about
Buy that hasn’t been said already – it’s a thirty minute mindf
uck that requires little to no explanation. It takes no prisoners and dares you to indulge yourself in its manic aura, accessibility be damned.
Buy into it, will you?
