Well, time for the reputation to take a hit. For the past few months, admittedly, I've got into a lot of 80's pop, mostly Duran Duran and, reviewed here, Adam Ant.
The reason for this is very, very strange. It began on channel 18 on freeview, the hits, when there was a classic hits weekend on. They showed 'Prince Charming' once, which immediately think to where I heard it from. I figured it later it was from that alcohol advert, as well as being shown on a documentary on the man himself, Adam.
Anyway, this got the addiction going, and when I saw this album on ebay going for a measly few quid, I had to bid for it. I got it a few days later, and threw it into my CD player. These are my thoughts:
Kings of The Wild Frontier - A very strong song. The intro is so teasing, being so stupidly hard to understand, but that makes it great. The drumming, as in each song, is so original and tribal. 4/5.
Dog Eat Dog - A classic. The lyrics I think are very strong, and very tribal (again). It sounds like they are going into war. The guitar is so 80's, yet so accomplished. When it goes up a note, it sounds triumphant. 4.5/5
Antmusic - The catchiest song on the album, with an infectious sing-along chorus. One to dance to. 4/5.
Stand and Deliver - This is where the fun starts. From the opening trumpet, you know that this is one of the most popular singles they could ever release. Again, the chorus is one to sing along to, and those who don't join should be shot. One of the best songs from the 80's. 5/5.
Prince Charming - The song that started the obsession, and you can see why. It's so beautiful, with lyrics of such simplicity yet elegance. From the first bang on the snare to the screaming, this song gets you hooked and doesn't let go. When it kicks in, you will do the dance. 6/5.
Ant Rap - OK, so here is a hitch. A band trying the new rap phenomenon. It's a strange one, usually a skip for me. The drumming is pretty good though. 2/5.
Goody Two Shoes - Greatdrumbeat to begin, but the song as a whole doesn't have the warrior power of past releases. Where's Adam's trademark squeal. The trumpet is a saving grace here, and the sing-along chorus. 2.5/5.
Friend or Foe - Back to the squeal, and thank bloody god. Though, the chorus sounds too damn clean to be a classic, a definite contrast from the excellent verse. I do love the 'Waaa's' mind. 3/5.
Desperate but not Serious - I love the intro, it's almost scary. But the song as a whole is just another average number. An improvement on the past few tracks though. 3.5/5.
Puss 'n' Boots - I quite like this song. First listen, I was a bit annoyed with this song, but it grows on you. It shows Adam's new infactuation with celebrity, shown by the lyrics. This wasn't as evident in early stuff. 3.5/5.
Strip - A weird one. The lyrics aren't all that great, but when the strings come in, it reminds me of Dexy's Midnight Runners. I think they stole it from them. Other than that, it's a nice song, but not a classic. What's with the woman? 3.5/5.
Apollo 9 - Does sound like a space shuttle going into space. the repeat of 'Five' is excellent around the beginning. The lyrics are again, pretty average, nothing like 'Prince Charming' or 'Dog Eat Dog'. It's good for a dance. 4/5.
Vive le Rock - One of the stronger songs. A great way to end the album with a nice bit of guitar and a sing along chorus. This is the one they did at Live Aid, and you can tell why. A great live song. 4.5/5.
As you can see, the second half is nowhere near as good as the first. Prominently, Adam and the Ants were a singles band, who didn't do much to change the music scene, but made people change their views to fashion and lifestyle. They were a fashionable band, but unfortunately, maybe fashion got in the way of the music during the midpoint in their careers. Buy this album if you want to hear a part of history, and maybe have a bit of a sense of humour. The songs may be outdated, but 'Prince Charming' and 'Stand and Deliver' may stand out in pop history forever.
